This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The major in biomedical engineering builds on the foundation provided by the BSE core requirements, preparing students for the challenges and opportunities associated with careers in the profession.
Focus Areas
All BSE students complete a focus area within their chosen major. Students majoring in biomedical engineering select one of four preapproved focus areas: bioimaging, biomechanics and biomaterials, cellular engineering, or computational bioengineering. Each focus area may be designated pre-medicine by completing a specific set of electives.
Bioimaging
Bioimaging represents the acquisition, processing, and visualization of structural or functional images of living systems. Medical imaging and image processing are integral to the extraction of anatomical and biological information from the systems level down to the molecular level. Bioimaging clinically seeks to reveal, diagnose, or examine diseases and also investigates normal anatomy and physiology.
Biomechanics and Biomaterials
Biomechanics is the study of structure and function. It is the application of principles from classical mechanics to problems in biological systems. This focus area emphasizes cardiovascular and/or musculoskeletal biomechanics. The study of biomaterials plays an important role in the design of implants and surgical instrumentation for both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal applications.
Cellular Engineering
Cellular engineering involves the application of engineering principles to problems in cellular and molecular biology, particularly as they relate to human health. The goal of this focus area is to equip students with the quantitative tools necessary to understand, manipulate, and control cellular and subcellular processes for a range of biomedical applications, including those related to stem cells, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Computational Bioengineering
Computational bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for modeling and understanding biological data and systems that are typically represented by large amounts of data. Computational bioengineering is a combination of computer science, statistics, informatics, and engineering to analyze and interpret biological and genomic data. It is used for the identification of candidate genes to better understand the genetic basis of disease, unique adaptations, and differences between populations.
Educational Objectives
The department provides undergraduate students with a contemporary education in a multidisciplinary field of engineering. Its objective is to produce graduates who:
advance the biomedical field through the responsible analysis and development of devices, systems, processes, and policies that improve human health;
pursue a wide range of career options, including those in industry, academia, and medicine; and
collaborate on multidisciplinary teams and become leaders in their chosen fields.
The Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) with a major in biomedical engineering requires a minimum of 128 s.h. of credit, plus up to two 1 s.h. departmental seminars. At the time of graduation, students must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all college work used to complete degree requirements and in all UI coursework in order to be awarded the BSE.
All BSE students are required to take the same collegiate curriculum. For information about these collegiate requirements, see the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, BSE in the catalog. 6 s.h. of a student's major courses fulfill the collegiate curriculum's basic science and college-level math requirement. Students completing the major in biomedical engineering fulfill the collegiate statistics requirement through BIOS:4120 Introduction to Biostatistics or STAT:3510 Biostatistics.
The major in biomedical engineering may include the following departmental seminars depending on when a student declares the major.
The program has been designed carefully to enable students to satisfy the entrance requirements of the Graduate College.
The BSE with a major in biomedical engineering requires the following coursework.
Requirements Summary
Requirements
Hours
Collegiate Curriculum
49
Basic Science and College-Level Math, from Major Requirements or Focus Area coursework
6
Major Requirements
40
Focus Area
33-34
Major Requirements
Major requirements include a set of common courses (38 s.h.) and two capstone design courses (8 s.h.).
Common Courses
Students in the bioimaging or computational bioengineering focus areas may choose between ENGR:2130 Thermodynamics or ENGR:3110 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering.
Each focus area has a group of four required courses (12–13 s.h.) and a list of suggested electives (21 s.h.).
Pre-Medicine Focus Area Electives
Students who choose to pursue pre-medicine can select any focus area and complete five of the following courses (16 s.h.) as their additional electives.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering (if not taken to fulfill major requirements)
3
Additional Electives–Bioimaging
The following courses are suggested additional electives for the bioimaging focus area. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor when selecting electives.
Additional Electives–Biomechanics and Biomaterials
The following courses are suggested additional electives for the biomechanics and biomaterials focus area. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor when selecting electives.
The following courses are suggested additional electives for the cellular engineering focus area. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor when selecting electives.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Engineering (if not taken to fulfill major requirements)
3
Additional Electives–Computational Bioengineering
The following courses are suggested additional electives for the computational bioengineering focus area. Students are encouraged to consult their academic advisor when selecting electives.
Additional courses from the "Computational Bioengineering Electives" list
3
Courses from the "Pre-Medicine Focus Area Electives" list
3-4
Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G Programs)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering students in biomedical engineering may pair their degree with an Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) program, which allows the student to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in five years of study. BME undergraduates are eligible to apply for the following U2G graduate programs and any other participating U2G programs. See the Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) website for available programs.
BSE/MS in Biomedical Engineering
The College of Engineering offers a combined Bachelor of Science in Engineering/Master of Science for biomedical engineering undergraduate students who intend to earn an MS in biomedical engineering. Students admitted to this program are allowed to apply up to 12 s.h. of graduate coursework towards both the BSE and MS degree requirements and attend and participate in the departmental graduate seminar. Students may begin to work on their coursework or master's thesis starting as early as the summer following the junior year of undergraduate studies.
Students applying to the BSE/MS program in biomedical engineering must meet the following criteria at the time of application:
a minimum of 80 s.h. completed towards their BSE degree;
a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 or higher; and
identification of a research mentor if pursuing a thesis master's degree.
BSE/MPH (Occupational and Environmental Health Subprogram)
The combined BSE in biomedical engineering/MPH with the occupational and environmental health subprogram enables undergraduate students majoring in biomedical engineering to begin work toward the MPH degree while completing their bachelor's degree. Students may count 15 s.h. of credit toward both the BSE and the MPH degree requirements. See the Master of Public Health, MPH (occupational and environmental health subprogram) in the catalog.
BSE/MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
BSE students majoring in biomedical engineering who are interested in earning a Master of Science in electrical and computer engineering may apply to the combined BSE/MS program offered by the College of Engineering. The combined program permits students to count a limited amount of credit toward the requirements of both degrees. See the MS in electrical and computer engineering in the catalog.
BSE (Biomechanics and Biomaterials Track)/MS in Occupational and Environmental Health (Industrial Hygiene Subprogram)
BSE students majoring in biomedical engineering in the biomechanics and biomaterials track who are interested in earning a Master of Science in occupational and environmental health with an industrial hygiene subprogram may apply to the combined BSE/MS program offered by the College of Engineering and the College of Public Health. The combined program permits students to count a limited amount of credit toward the requirements of both degrees, enabling them to begin the study of public health before they complete the bachelor's degree. See the MS in occupational and environmental health Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) information on the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health (College of Public Health) website.
BSE graduates with a major in biomedical engineering may pursue career opportunities in biomedical industries, such as design and development of biomedical instrumentation, diagnostic aids, life support systems, prosthetic and orthotic devices, and man-machine systems; or they may pursue traditional career opportunities in industry, such as those rooted in mechanical or electrical engineering disciplines. Other career options are available in government (Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, National Institutes of Health, Veterans Affairs). Some biomedical engineering graduates elect to continue formal education in engineering, medicine, or law. On average, 93–98% of graduates are employed in their field of study or pursuing advanced education within seven months of graduation.
Engineering Career Services develops and promotes experiential education and professional opportunities for students in the College of Engineering. Professional staff coordinate the college's co-op and internship program, engage in employer outreach, and provide opportunities for students to network with employers, including an engineering career fair each semester and other programming related to career development.
Engineering Career Services offers individual advising and class presentations on résumé and cover letter preparation, job and internship search strategies, interviewing skills, job offer evaluation, and much more. Engineering Career Services partners with the Pomerantz Career Center to facilitate on-campus interviewing, postgraduation outcome collection, and the university's online recruiting system, Handshake.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Biomedical Engineering, BSE
This sample plan is currently being reviewed and will be added at a later date.
