The Bachelor of Science program in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, , under the General Criteria and the Criteria for Bioengineering, Biomedical, and Similarly Named Engineering Programs Program Criteria.
The Department of Biomedical Engineering provides undergraduate instruction leading to a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BME). Biomedical engineering prepares students for leadership positions in the biomedical industry, academy, business, education and entrepreneurship, and for success in a global environment. Our distinguished faculty includes internationally renowned researchers in biomedical science and engineering. Students will have opportunities to interact with faculty to pursue cutting-edge biomedical engineering research. They will learn and develop professional skills to advance their careers and to become leaders in the fields of engineering, biology, medicine and business. The program places strong emphasis on inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches for teaching and learning, and offers ample opportunities for students to design and implement innovative ideas and technologies in a dynamic, enriched, cutting-edge environment. Students will have diverse career opportunities in academia, industries and businesses, working to improve human health and well-being through scientific and technological innovations.
The biomedical engineering curriculum builds upon the base provided by the first-year engineering program in Watson College. The first-year core curriculum provides students with a broad foundation in engineering fundamentals, natural sciences and mathematics. Depth in biomedical engineering is subsequently obtained through a series of required courses. The biomedical engineering curriculum is designed to offer students solid training in core engineering subjects (through core courses) while at the same time providing students with in-depth training in specific areas (through biomedical science and engineering electives). There are four concentrations that a student can choose to pursue for their career and professional skill training in the department: the pre-health concentration offers students training opportunities to pursue medical professions; the biomaterials and bio-pharmaceutical technology concentration offers students training opportunities to pursue biotechnology professions; the biomedical devices and instrumentations concentration offers students training opportunities to pursue biomedical and biomanufacturing professions; and the computational biosystems concentration offers students training opportunities to pursue medical bioinformatics and computational industrial professions.
The educational objectives of the undergraduate program in biomedical engineering are to ensure that our graduates are prepared for the workforce in the broad field encompassed by biomedical engineering, and to pursue graduate studies in biomedical or other engineering fields, the sciences, or other disciplines such as business, law or medicine.
The department serves incoming first-year students, community college graduates, and transfer students from other institutions seeking a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
To receive the BS BME degree, students must complete a minimum of 126 credit hours in the courses outlined below with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) and a minimum 2.0 grade point average in required biomedical engineering courses. In addition, all °®¶¹´«Ã½ students must also meet the General Education requirements. For more details, refer to the General Education section of the Bulletin or consult with the Watson College Advising Office or the undergraduate program director for biomedical engineering.
In the table below, the courses listed in the first year/fall semester and first year/spring semester constitute Watson College’s common first-year program for engineering students. The common first year is administered by the Engineering Design Division, as described in the Engineering Design Division section of the Bulletin. The four-year curriculum listed below provides one possible sequence of coursework. Other course sequences are possible, as long as students meet necessary prerequisite or corequisite requirements.
A Four-Year Graduation Plan for Non-Pre-Med BME Students
| First Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| MATH 224/225 Differential Calculus/Integral Calculus | 4 |
| CHEM 111 Chemical Principles | 4 |
| EDD 111 Intro. to Engineering Design | 2 |
| EDD 103 Engineering Communications I | 2 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Physical Activity/Wellness (Y, S, B) | 1 |
| Total | 17 |
| First Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| MATH 226/227 Integration Technique and Application/Infinite Series | 4 |
| PHYS 131 General Physics I | 4 |
| EDD 112 Intro. to Engineering Analysis | 2 |
| EDD 104 Engineering Communications II | 2 |
| BIOL 113 Intro. to Cell & Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Physical Activity/Wellness (Y, S, B) | 1 |
| Total | 17 |
| Second Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 201 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 324 Ordinary Differential Equations for Scientists/Engineers | 4 |
| CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Second Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 203 Biomedical Modeling and Numerical Methods | 3 |
| BME 213 Biomolecular Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 323 Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 132 General Physics II Calculus-based | 4 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Total | 18 |
| Third Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 313 Biomaterials | 3 |
| BME 318 Biomechanics | 3 |
| BME 324 Biomedical Instruments | 4 |
| BME 330 Biothermodynamics | 3 |
| BME Depth Elective* or Science Elective** | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Third Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 303 Bio-Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| BME 340 Bioinformatics and Biostatistics | 3 |
| BME 351 Biomedical Engineering Lab | 1 |
| BIOL 311 Cell Biology or BIOL 401 Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Fourth Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 413 Biomedical Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| BME 432 Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| BME 433 Human Physiology | 3 |
| BME 450 Biomedical Engineering Design I | 3 |
| BME Depth Elective* | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| Fourth Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 451 Biomedical Engineering Design II | 3 |
| Science Elective (must be 4 credit hours)** | 4 |
| BME Depth Elective* or Science Elective** | 3 |
| BME Depth Elective* | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
* BME depth electives are chosen from your concentration
** Science electives include: PSYC 111, PSYC 220, ANTH 240, ANTH 243, any 300-level or higher course in BCHM, BIOL, CHEM, or PSYC.
Students must complete 30 credits of college-level math and basic science appropriate to biomedical engineering. If students fail to meet the minimum 30 credits, additional math and/or science electives will be required. It is important that students meet with their major department to discuss options.
A Four-Year Graduation Plan for Pre-Med BME Students with MCAT Preparation
| First Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| MATH 224/225 Differential Calculus/Integral Calculus | 4 |
| CHEM 111 Chemical Principles | 4 |
| EDD 111 Intro. to Engineering Design | 2 |
| EDD 103 Engineering Communications I | 2 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Physical Activity/Wellness (Y, S, B) | 1 |
| Total | 17 |
| First Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| MATH 226/227 Integration Technique and Application/Infinite Series | 4 |
| PHYS 131 General Physics I | 4 |
| EDD 112 Intro. to Engineering Analysis | 2 |
| EDD 104 Engineering Communications II | 2 |
| BIOL 113 Intro. to Cell & Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Physical Activity/Wellness (Y, S, B) | 1 |
| Total | 17 |
| Second Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 201 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 324 Ordinary Differential Equations for Scientists/Engineers | 4 |
| CHEM 231 Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Second Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 203 Biomedical Modeling and Numerical Methods | 3 |
| BME 213 Biomolecular Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 323 Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 132 General Physics II Calculus-based | 4 |
| Pre-Med Elective* | 4 |
| Total | 18 |
| Third Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 318 Biomechanics |
3 |
| BME 324 Biomedical Instruments | 4 |
| BME 330 Biothermodynamics | 3 |
| CHEM 341 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry | 4 |
| Pre-Med Elective* | 4 |
| Total | 18 |
| Third Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 303 Bio-Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| BME 340 Bioinformatics and Biostatistics | 3 |
| BME 351 Biomedical Engineering Lab | 1 |
| Pre-Med Elective* | 4 |
| Pre-Med Elective* | 4 |
| Total | 15 |
| Fourth Year/Fall Semester | Credits |
| BME 313 Biomaterials | 3 |
| BME 413 Biomedical Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| BME 432 Ethics in Engineering | 3 |
| BME 433 Human Physiology | 3 |
| BME 450 Biomedical Engineering Design I | 3 |
| BME Depth Elective** | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| Fourth Year/Spring Semester | Credits |
| BME 451 Biomedical Engineering Design II | 3 |
| BIOL 311 Cell Biology or BIOL 401 Molecular Genetics | 4 |
| BME Depth Elective** | 3 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| General Education Elective (A, G, N, D) | 4 |
| Total | 18 |
* Pre-med electives: BIOL 117, BIOL 403, CHEM 332, CHEM 335, PSYC 111, ANTH 240, ANTH 243, any 300-level or higher course in BCHM, BIOL, CHEM, or PSYC.
** Students who plan to take the MCAT must choose two additional BME depth electives from any of the BME concentrations except pre-health, if needed, to satisfy the requirement to take 45 credit hours of engineering coursework.
The MCAT is typically taken after the third year. Before the MCAT is taken, it is suggested that the following courses are completed: BIOL 113, BIOL 117, BIOL 403, CHEM 111, CHEM 231, CHEM 332 and 335 (L), CHEM 341, PHYS 131, PHYS 132, PSYC 111, BME 340, ANTH 240, and ANTH 243.
Students must complete 30 credits of college-level math and basic science appropriate to biomedical engineering. If students fail to meet the minimum 30 credits, additional math and/or science electives will be required. It is important that students meet with their major department to discuss options.
General Education electives must be selected to satisfy the °®¶¹´«Ã½ General Education requirements.
BME Concentrations
Students are required to select a concentration area to gain more in-depth knowledge and specialty training in biomedical engineering. Students must complete any two courses from the courses listed within a concentration to officially complete the required concentration. Courses chosen from a concentration fulfill the BME depth electives.
Biomaterials and Bio-pharmaceutical Technology Concentration
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- BME 442 Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery
- BME 463 Bioprocess Engineering
- BME 473 Advanced Biomaterials and Biocompatibility
- BME 483 Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Devices and Instrumentations Concentration
-
- BME 420 Biomedical Devices and Diagnostics
- BME 424 Bioimaging
- BME 428 Biophotonics and Image Processing
- BME 443 Quantitative Instrumental Bioanalysis
- EECE 260 Circuits
- EECE 301 Signals and Systems
Computational Biosystems Concentration
-
- BME 401 Python for Biomedical Analysis
- BME 453 Biomedical Data Management and Regulatory Sciences
- BME 470 Advanced Bioinformatics
- BME 472 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
- BME 484 AI in Biomedical Engineering
- ISE 314 Computer Program for Engineers
Pre-Health Concentration
Students who wish to complete the pre-health concentration, but do not plan to take
the MCAT, must complete two courses from the pre-health concentration (below) in addition
to any two engineering depth electives from any of the other three BME concentrations.
The two additional depth electives are required to satisfy the requirement to take
45 credit hours of engineering coursework.
-
- BIOL 114 Intro. to Organisms & Populations Biology
- CHEM 332 Organic Chemistry II
- CHEM 335 Organic Chemistry Lab
- CHEM 341 Intermediate Inorganic Chemistry
- PSYC 111 Psychology
- BIOL 403 Biochemistry
Note: If a student prefers to take a non-BME course somewhere else and wishes to transfer it to count toward the BS BME degree at °®¶¹´«Ã½, then the course must be listed here for equivalency prescribed by °®¶¹´«Ã½.
Required Course Prerequisites
The following courses, or their equivalent(s), are required prerequisites for the major:
If students do not place into MATH 224, then MATH 223 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 108 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 107 (or its equivalent) and, if needed, MATH 106 (or its equivalent) are required prerequisites for completion of the major.
Students who have not had adequate course preparation may need to take CHEM 100 prior to taking CHEM 104 or CHEM 111.
While EDD 103/111/104/112 is preferred, in rare cases, under advisement from the Watson Advising Office, a first-year composition course and an introduction to computer programming course may be used to meet the EDD 103/111/104/112 requirement.
Honors Program
The honors program in biomedical engineering (BME) is designed for high-caliber students who are interested in more vigorous and in-depth academic challenges. Students enrolled in this program will have access to a variety of research opportunities unavailable to other students. To graduate with honors in BME, the student must attain a 3.5 GPA for all courses necessary for graduation. Students in the BME honors program must complete a 3-credit hour biomedical engineering honors research project course. The student must propose a research project, in conjunction with a faculty advisor who will sponsor the work, conduct the study, and write and defend an honors thesis. An honors research advisory committee composed of at least three BME faculty members will evaluate the work and thesis and will determine whether the student satisfactorily completes the honors thesis work. Alternatively, students can choose to present their honors thesis work in the BME Honors Thesis Symposium organized by the Department Honors Program Committee. In this case, the Department Honors Program Committee will evaluate the work and thesis and will determine whether each student satisfactorily completes the honors thesis work. The 3-credit hour honors research course can be counted as a BME engineering elective to satisfy the undergraduate degree requirement. For more information, visit the . Non-BME majors or exceptional students who lack one or more of the BME major requirements may petition the undergraduate program director for acceptance into the BME Honors Program.
Biomedical Engineering Minor
The biomedical engineering (BME) minor is open to students in all majors. It is designed to provide non-BME students a solid foundation in biomedical engineering and an in-depth training in professional skills in addition to their study in their primary major. The biomedical engineering minor curriculum consists of three core courses and three electives for a total of 18 credit hours. Students enrolled in this minor program must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. All courses taken to satisfy the BME minor requirements must be taken as letter grade.
Core Courses: Choose three (minimum nine credit hours)
-
- BME 201 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
- BME 203 Biomedical Modeling & Numerical Methods
- BME 213 Biomolecule Engineering
- BME 303 Biofluid Mechanics
- BME 313 Biomaterials
- BME 318 Biomechanics
- BME 324 Biomedical Instrumentations
- BME 340 Bioinformatics and Biostatistics
- BME 351 Biomedical Engineering Lab
- BME 413 Biomedical Transport Phenomena
- BME 433 Human Physiology
- BME 450 Biomedical Engineering Design I
- BME 451 Biomedical Engineering Design II
Elective Courses: Choose three (minimum nine credit hours)
-
- BME 401 Python for Biomedical Analysis
- BME 420 Biomedical Devices and Diagnostics
- BME 424 Bioimaging
- BME 428 Biophotonics & Image Processing
- BME 442 Nanotechnology and Drug Delivery
- BME 443 Quantitative Instrumental Bioanalysis
- BME 453 Biomedical Data Management and Regulatory Sciences
- BME 463 Bioengineering Processes
- BME 470 Advanced Bioinformatics
- BME 472 Experimental Design and Statistical Analysis
- BME 473 Advanced Biomaterials and Biocompatibility
- BME 483 Tissue Engineering
- BME 484 Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Biomedical Engineering
For more information, visit the .