Carnegie Mellon University
College of Engineering  ›  Biomedical Engineering  ›  Academics  ›  Undergraduate Programs  ›  TCB Track

Tissue and Cell Biotherapeutics (TCB) Track

Note: This new track combines the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (BMTE) and Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology (CMBT) tracks together. Students currently in either BMTE or CMBT track may choose to switch to this track.

Overview

The TCB track addresses issues at the interface of materials science, biology and engineering. The topics include the interactions between materials and cells or tissues, the effects of such interactions on cells and tissues, the design of materials for biological applications, and the engineering of new tissues. It emphasizes fundamentals and applications of biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, material science, and processes on the nanometer to centimeter size scale. Students in this track acquire an understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of life processes and build skills in quantitative modeling of live cell-based biotechnologies and in technologies that exploit the unique properties of biomolecules and materials in non-biological settings.

Targets

The TCB track is ideal for students interested in combining the education of Biomedical Engineering with Materials Science & Engineering or with Chemical Engineering. The track may also interest students in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Engineering who have an interest in molecular aspects of Biomedical Engineering. It provides the necessary foundation in chemistry, molecular processing, and/or materials science. Students of this track may develop careers in biotechnology, tissue engineering, biopharmaceuticals, biosensors, drug delivery, and biological aspects of environmental engineering.

Planning Tools

Sample Schedule for Material Science & Engineering Majors

Sample Schedule for Chemical Engineering Majors

Sample Schedule for Environmental Engineering Majors

Track Requirements

In addition to the Biomedical Engineering core requirements, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • One (1) Required TCB Elective
  • Two (2) TCB Electives (either Required or Additional)

Required Electives (must take at least one of the following)

42-611/27-709 Biomaterials (12)
42-612/27-520 Tissue Engineering (12)
42-620 Engineering Molecular Cell Biology (12) 
42-624 Biological Transport and Drug Delivery (9)
42-615 Biomaterial Host Interactions in Regenerative Medicine (12)

Additional Electives

42-613/27-570 Polymeric Biomaterials (12)
42-616 Bio-nanotechnology: Principles and Applications (9)
42-626 Drug Delivery Systems (9)
42-645/24-655 Cellular Biomechanics (9)
42-667 Biofabrication and Bioprinting (12)
42-695 Special Topics: Engineering Protein Therapeutics (12)
03-320 Cell Biology (9)
06-685 Bioseparations and Bioprocess Analytical Technologies
06-722 Bioprocess Design (12)
42-X00 BME Research* or  39-500 CIT Honors Thesis* or 42-6XX Clinical Course (Surgery for Engineers/ Precision Medicine/ICU Medicine) (9-12)

* The 42-x00 research project (42-200/300/400 Sophomore/Junior/Senior Biomedical Engineering Research Project OR 39-500 CIT Honors Research Project) must be on a BME topic that is aligned to the track, supervised or co-supervised by a BME faculty member, and conducted for 9 or more units of credit. 

Some Special Topics and newly offered or intermittently offered courses may be acceptable as track electives. Students should consult with their BME advisors and petition the BME Undergraduate Affairs Committee for permission to include such courses as track electives. The course petition form can be found here.

Revised (10/31/2023)