6.021J is the header course for the department's "Bioelectrical Engineering" concentration. This course has virtually all of its course materials online, including project assignments and supporting documentation. The course materials are largely based on the textbook, Cellular Biophysics, written by Professor Thomas F. Weiss (see the publisher site for more information).

This course is jointly offered through four departments, available to both undergraduates and graduates. This course introduces the principles of mass transport and electrical signal generation for biological membranes, cells, and tissues. Topics covered include: mass transport through membranes (diffusion, osmosis, chemically mediated, and active transport), electric properties of cells (ion transport), equilibrium, resting, and action potentials, kinetic and molecular properties of single voltage-gated ion channels. Laboratory and computer exercises illustrate the course concepts. Students engage in extensive written and oral communication exercises. This course is worth 4 Engineering Design Points.