Program Overview

Biomedical Engineering (BS)

The Biomedical Engineering (BS) program at NC State University is a joint program with UNC-Chapel Hill, offering students a unique opportunity to explore the interface of engineering and medicine. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in engineering principles, as well as specialized courses in biomedical engineering.

Overview

Students in the Biomedical Engineering (BS) program are introduced to the fundamentals of engineering in their first year, including calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology. 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, and students take courses that familiarize them with manufacturing processes while preparing them for the capstone senior design course.

Degree Requirements

The Biomedical Engineering (BS) program requires a total of 110 hours of coursework. The plan of study includes:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CH 101: Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 (3 hours)
    • CH 102: General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (1 hour)
    • E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving (1 hour)
    • E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments (1 hour)
    • MA 141: Calculus I (4 hours)
    • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
    • MA 241: Calculus II (4 hours)
    • PY 205: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I (4 hours)
    • PY 206: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (1 hour)
    • Select one of the following Economic Courses: (3 hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BME 201: Computer Methods in Biomedical Engineering (3 hours)
    • BME 209: Introduction to the Materials Science of Biomaterials (4 hours)
    • BME 298: Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing I (2 hours)
    • MA 242: Calculus III (4 hours)
    • PY 208: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BME 205: Introduction to Biomedical Mechanics (4 hours)
    • BME 207: Biomedical Electronics (4 hours)
    • CH 221: Organic Chemistry I (4 hours)
    • CH 222: Organic Chemistry I Lab (1 hour)
    • MA 341: Applied Differential Equations I (3 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BME 301: Human Physiology: Electrical Analysis (4 hours)
    • CH 201: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science (3 hours)
    • CH 202: Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory (1 hour)
    • BME 3x5 Gateway Elective (3 hours)
    • STEM Elective (3 hours)
    • PHI 325: Bio-Medical Ethics (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BME 302: Human Physiology: Mechanical Analysis (4 hours)
    • BME 3x5 Gateway Elective (3 hours)
    • BME 3x5 Gateway Elective (3 hours)
    • BME 398: Biomedical Engineering Design and Manufacturing II (2 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BME 451: BME Senior Design: Product Development (3 hours)
    • BME Specialty Elective (3 hours)
    • BME Specialty Elective (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BME 452: BME Senior Design: Product Implementation and Strategy (3 hours)
    • BME Specialty Elective (3 hours)
    • BME Specialty Elective (3 hours)

BME 3x5 Gateway Electives

• BME 315: Biotransport (3 hours)
• BME 325: Biochemistry for Biomedical Engineers (3 hours)
• BME 335: Biomaterials (3 hours)
• BME 345: Biomedical Solid Mechanics (3 hours)
• BME 355: Biocontrols (3 hours)
• BME 365: Linear Systems in Biomedical Engineering (3 hours)
• BME 375: Biomedical Microcontroller Applications (3 hours)
• BME 385: Bioinstrumentation (3 hours)

BME Specialty Electives

• Group 061: Pharmacoengineering
  • BME 516: (3 hours)
  • BME 570: ImmunoEngineering (3 hours)
  • BME 498: Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering
  • BMME 511: Genetic Engineering
  • BMME 523: Biomolecular Engineering
  • BMME 524: Biomolecular Sensing Technologies
  • BMME 527: Engineering Principles in Targeted Photomedicine
• Group 062: Regenerative Medicine
  • BIT 466: Animal Cell Culture Techniques (2 hours)
  • BME 483: Tissue Engineering Technologies
  • BME 448: Functional Tissue Engineering (3 hours)
  • BME 462: (3 hours)
  • BME 484: Fundamentals of Tissue Engineering (3 hours)
  • BME 498: Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering (3 hours)
  • MAE 201: Thermal-Fluid Sciences (3 hours)
  • MAE 308: Fluid Mechanics (3 hours)
• Group 063: Rehabilitation Engineering
  • BME 418: Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems (3 hours)
  • BME 425: Bioelectricity (3 hours)
  • BME 438: Bone Mechanobiology (3 hours)
  • BME 444: Orthopaedic Biomechanics (3 hours)
  • BME/TE 467: Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements (3 hours)
  • BME 456: Rehabilitation Robotics (3 hours)
  • BME 498: Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering
• Group 064: Biosignals and Imaging
  • BME 412: Biomedical Signal Processing (3 hours)
  • BME 418: Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems (3 hours)
  • BME 425: Bioelectricity (3 hours)
  • BME 463: Biomedical Optics and Lasers (3 hours)
  • BME 464: Microscopy (3 hours)
  • BME 498: Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering
• Group 065: Medical Microdevices
  • BME 412: Biomedical Signal Processing (3 hours)
  • BME 418: Wearable Biosensors and Microsystems (3 hours)
  • BME 498: Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering
  • BME/ECE 522: Medical Instrumentation (3 hours)
  • E 304: Introduction to Nano Science and Technology (3 hours)
  • ECE 436: Digital Control Systems (3 hours)
  • ECE 505: Neural Interface Engineering (3 hours)

Career Opportunities

Biomedical engineers are employed by hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical device and testing companies, government agencies, universities, and medical schools. 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.

Career Titles

• Anesthesiologist (MD)
• Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
• Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Manager
• Biomedical Engineer
• Cardiologist (MD)
• Chemical Engineer
• Dentist (DDS)
• Dermatologist (MD)
• Engineering Professor
• Family Practitioner (MD)
• General Internists (MD)
• Gynecologist (MD)
• Mechanical Engineer
• Medical Technologist
• Nanosystems Engineers
• Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
• Obstetrician (MD)
• Occupational Physician (MD)
• Ophthalmologist (MD)
• Orthodontist (MD)
• Pathologist (MD)
• Pediatrician (MD)
• Psychiatrist (MD)
• Radiologist (MD)
• Sales Engineers
• Surgeons (MD)