Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering (BS)
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!
Students studying biomedical engineering at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill are challenged with a curriculum at the interface of engineering and medicine. During the first year, students are introduced to the fundamentals of engineering. These courses include calculus, physics, chemistry and biology. All of which provide the foundation for future engineering courses. Once accepted into the program, students take engineering courses in mechanics, circuits and materials followed by specialized courses in biomedical engineering. The design process is woven throughout the curriculum. Students take courses that familiarize them with manufacturing processes while preparing them for the capstone senior design course that use a Design Control Process based on the FDA's Quality System Regulations. Computers are used throughout the program. Graduates will be prepared for professional employment in research, design, engineering and the life sciences. First year students interested in this curriculum should enroll in the Engineering First Year program and select BME as their intention.
Plan Requirements
Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering (BS): 124 Total Units
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME 201 | Computer Methods in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 209 | Introduction to the Materials Science of Biomaterials | 4 |
| BME 298 | Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing I | 2 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BME 205 | Introduction to Biomedical Mechanics | 4 |
| BME 207 | Biomedical Electronics | 4 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME 301 | Human Physiology : Electrical Analysis | 4 |
| MA 341 or MA 331 |
Applied Differential Equations I or Differential Equations for the Life Sciences |
3 |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BME 302 | Human Physiology: Mechanical Analysis | 4 |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| BME 398 | Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing II | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME 451 | Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I | 3 |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BME 452 | Biomedical Engineering Senior Design II | 3 |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 107 | |
| 1 | A grade of C or higher is required. |
| 2 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
| 3 | Students should consult their academic advisors to determine how to complete this requirement. |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Additional Breadth (Humanities/Social Sciences/Visual and Performing Arts) | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP U.S. Diversity (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 17 | |
BME 3x5 Gateway Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GRP 051 | ||
| BME 315 | Biotransport | 3 |
| BME 325 | Biochemistry for Biomedical Engineers | 3 |
| GRP 053 | ||
| BME 335 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| BME 345 | Biomedical Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| GRP 054 | ||
| BME 345 | Biomedical Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| BME 355 | Biocontrols | 3 |
| GRP 046 | ||
| BME 365 | Linear Systems in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 375 | Biomedical Microcontroller Applications | 3 |
| GRP 057 | ||
| BME 375 | Biomedical Microcontroller Applications | 3 |
| BME 385 | Bioinstrumentation | 3 |
BME Specialty Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Regenerative Medicine | ||
| BEC 483 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 |
| BEC 583 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 |
| BIT 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
| BIT 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
| BME 462 | Biomaterials Characterization | 3 |
| BME 483 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 |
| BME 484 | Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BME 583 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 |
| BME 584 | Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BME 584 | Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| CE 282 | Hydraulics | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| MAE 308 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| PO 466 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
| PO 566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
| TE 463 | Polymer Engineering | 3 |
| Rehabilitation Engineering | ||
| BME 425 | Bioelectricity | 3 |
| BME 444 | Orthopaedic Biomechanics | 3 |
| BME 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 |
| BME 525 | Bioelectricity | 3 |
| BME 544 | Orthopaedic Biomechanics | 3 |
| TE 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 |
| Biosignals and Imaging | ||
| BME 412 | Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| ECE 455 | Industrial Robotic Systems | 3 |
| ECE 456 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ECE 461 | Embedded System Design | 3 |
| ECE 556 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ECE 561 | Embedded System Design | 3 |
| Medical Microdevices | ||
| BME 412 | Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| BME 522 | Medical Instrumentation | 3 |
| CE 282 | Hydraulics | 3 |
| E 304 | Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | 3 |
| ECE 436 | Digital Control Systems | 3 |
| ECE 505 | Neural Interface Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 522 | Medical Instrumentation | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| MAE 308 | Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Critical Path Courses – Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving (CP) 1 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments (CP) 1 | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research (CP) 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I (CP) 1 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science | 3 |
| CH 202 | Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II (CP) 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (CP) 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (CP) 1 | 1 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME/BMME 201 | Computer Methods in Biomedical Engineering (CP) | 3 |
| BME/BMME 209 | Introduction to the Materials Science of Biomaterials (CP) | 4 |
| BME/BMME 298 | Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing I (CP) | 2 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II (CP) | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory (CP) | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BME/BMME 205 | Introduction to Biomedical Mechanics (CP) | 4 |
| BME/BMME 207 | Biomedical Electronics (CP) | 4 |
| CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME/BMME 301 | Human Physiology : Electrical Analysis | 4 |
| MA 341 or MA 331 |
Applied Differential Equations I or Differential Equations for the Life Sciences |
3 |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| Engineering Elective | 3 | |
| PHI 325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BME/BMME 302 | Human Physiology: Mechanical Analysis | 4 |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| BME 3x5 Gateway Elective | 3 | |
| BME/BMME 398 | Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing II | 2 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BME 451 or BMME 697 |
Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I or |
3 |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BME 452 or BMME 698 |
Biomedical Engineering Senior Design II or |
3 |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| BME Specialty Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 124 | |
| 1 | A grade of C or higher is required. |
| 2 | A grade of C- or higher is required. |
Career Opportunities
Biomedical engineers are employed by hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device and testing companies, government agencies, universities, and medical schools. With so many areas of specialization within the field, graduates are encouraged to further their education by attending graduate or professional school after graduation. Graduates from this program have attended graduate programs in biomedical engineering, physical therapy, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, microbiology, virology, public health, and sports physiology, among others, at many different institutions. Graduates who have taken additional courses to satisfy entrance requirements have also been accepted by medical, dental and pharmacy schools.