Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (B.S.Bm.E.)
Nature of the Program
The biomedical engineering discipline is among the fastest growing engineering disciplines due to the rapid advancement of medical technologies and treatment and diagnosis strategies; in fact, many are claiming this century as the one that will revolutionize the biological sciences. These advancements will provide immense benefits for society globally. The biomedical engineering curriculum is designed to give graduates a broad background in the areas of biomedical engineering, including biomaterials, biomechanics and biomedical imaging. Students have the ability to design a set of technical electives based on interest and career aspirations. The goal for these electives is to enhance a student’s knowledge in one or more of the focus areas so they can be prepared for graduate school, any professional school, or a job in a specific industry. The Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Program Educational Objectives
- Graduates will be engaged in their professional careers and/or post graduate training as demonstrated by their abilities to identify and solve important biomedical engineering problems, develop and implement new and valuable ideas with potential applications to healthcare, and to engage in lifelong learning opportunities.
- Graduates will be able to work competitively in diverse professional environments as demonstrated by their abilities to work on teams and independently, to provide leadership, and to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.
- Graduates will behave professionally and ethically, be committed to responsible safety practices, and articulate the societal impact of their work.
Click here to view the Suggested Plan of Study
Curriculum in Biomedical Engineering
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
Students must meet the following criteria to qualify for a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree:
- Complete a minimum of 127 credit hours
- Satisfy WVU's undergraduate degree requirements
- Satisfy Statler College's undergraduate degree requirements
- Complete all courses listed in the curriculum requirements with the required minimum grades
- Attain an overall grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a WVU grade point average of 2.00 or better
- Attain a Statler grade point average of 2.00 or better
- A maximum of one math or science courses with a grade of D+, D, or D- may apply towards a Statler College degree
- Complete a survey regarding their academic and professional experiences at WVU, as well as post-graduation job placement or continuing education plans.
The Statler GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU with a subject code within Statler College (BIOM, BMEG, CE, CHE, CPE, CS, CSEE, CYBE, EE, ENGR, ENVE, ETEC, IENG, IH&S, MAE, MINE, PDA, PNGE, SAFM, SENG) excluding ENGR 140, ENGR 150, and CS 101. The WVU GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU. The Overall GPA is computed based on all work taken at WVU and transfer work.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 19 | |
| Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements | 5 | |
| Math and Science Requirements | 46 | |
| Biomedical Engineering Program Requirements | 57 | |
| Total Hours | 127 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 | 18 | |
| ENGR 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 19 | |
Fundamentals of Engineering Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Fundamentals of Engineering courses. | ||
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Problem Solving 1 | 2 |
| Engineering Problem Solving (Select one of the following): | 3 | |
| Introduction to Chemical Engineering | ||
| Engineering Problem Solving 2 | ||
| Introduction to Nanotechnology Design | ||
| Introduction to Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Design | ||
| Total Hours | 5 | |
Math and Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum grade of C- is required in all Math and Science courses. | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| Principles of Biology and Principles of Biology Laboratory (GEF 8) | ||
| General Biology 1 and General Biology 1 Laboratory and General Biology 2 and General Biology 2 Laboratory | ||
| BIOL 235 | Human Physiology | 3 |
| or BIOL 117 & 117L | Introductory Physiology and Introductory Physiology Laboratory | |
| CHEM 115 & 115L & CHEM 116 & CHEM 116L | Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory | 8 |
| CHEM 233 | Organic Chemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 233L | Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory | 1 |
| MATH 155 | Calculus 1 (GEF 3) | 4 |
| MATH 156 | Calculus 2 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 251 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 261 | Elementary Differential Equations | 4 |
| PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory (GEF 8) | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | General Physics 2 and General Physics 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| STAT 215 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics ** | 3 |
| or IENG 213 | Engineering Statistics | |
| Total Hours | 46 | |
Biomedical Engineering Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BMEG 201 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| BMEG 310 | Biomedical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 230 | Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BMEG 311 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| BMEG 315 | Transport Phenomena in Biological Systems | 4 |
| BMEG 340 | Biomechanics | 4 |
| BMEG 321 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics for Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BMEG 420 & 420L | Biomedical Instrumentation and Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory | 4 |
| BMEG 455/455S | Biomedical Senior Design 1 (Fulfills Writing and Communication Skills Requirement) | 4 |
| BMEG 456S | Biomedical Senior Design 2 | 3 |
| EE 221 | Introduction to Electrical Engineering | 3 |
| EE 221L | Introduction to Electrical Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| Technical Electives (18 Credit Hours) | ||
| Science Electives: Choose at least 6 credit hours from the following: | 6 | |
| Introductory Biochemistry | ||
| Introduction to Biochemistry Laboratory | ||
| Biotechnology and Society | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Biology and Cellular & Molecular Biology Laboratory | ||
| Biometry | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
| Molecular Genetics Laboratory | ||
| Neuroscience 1 | ||
| Neuroscience 2 | ||
| Introduction to Human Biochemistry | ||
| Introductory Analytical Chemistry and Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry 2 | ||
| Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| Instrumental Analysis and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | ||
| Methods of Structure Determination and Methods of Structure Determination Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry: Brief Course and Physical Chemistry: Brief Course Laboratory | ||
| Biochemistry 2 | ||
| Biochemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| Safety Education Principles and Content | ||
| Introduction to Microscopy and Introduction to Microscopy Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Human Anatomy | ||
| Health Care Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Mathematical Physics | ||
| Introductory Modern Physics | ||
| Optics | ||
| Engineering Electives: Choose at least 9 credit hours from the following: | 9 | |
| Cellular Machinery | ||
| Applied Bio-Molecular Modeling | ||
| Introduction to Tissue Engineering | ||
| Research | ||
| Honors Research | ||
| Polymer Science and Engineering | ||
| Polymer Processing | ||
| Mathematical Methods in Chemical Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Digital Logic Design | ||
| Introduction to Data Structures and Introduction to Data Structures Laboratory | ||
| Electrical Circuits | ||
| Digital Electronics | ||
| Signals and Systems 1 | ||
| Signals and Systems 2 and Signals and Systems Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Microfabrication | ||
| Introduction to Digital Image Processing | ||
| Biomedial Microdevices | ||
| Engineering Statistics ** | ||
| Human Factors Engineering | ||
| Mechatronics and Mechatronics Laboratory | ||
| Statics | ||
| Dynamics | ||
| Mechanics of Materials | ||
| Intermediate Mechanics of Materials | ||
| Materials Science | ||
| Other Elective: Choose at least 3 credit hours from the Science or Engineering Electives | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 57 | |
- **
IENG 213 cannot fulfill both the statistics requirement and a technical elective.
Suggested Plan of Study
It is important for students to take courses in the order specified in the Plan of Study as much as possible; all prerequisites and concurrent requirements must be observed. A typical B.S.Bm.E degree program that completes degree requirements in four years is as follows.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 115 & 115L (GEF 8) | 4 | CHEM 116 & 116L | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 2B) | 4 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | ENGR 102 | 3 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | PHYS 111 & 111L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 201 | 4 | BIOL 235 | 3 |
| EE 221 | 3 | BMEG 230 | 3 |
| EE 221L | 1 | CHEM 233 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | CHEM 233L | 1 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | 4 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | STAT 215 | 3 |
| 19 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 311 | 3 | BMEG 310 | 3 |
| BMEG 321 | 3 | BMEG 315 | 4 |
| BMEG 420 & 420L | 4 | BMEG 340 | 4 |
| GEF Course 4 | 3 | GEF Course 5 | 3 |
| GEF Course 6 | 3 | ||
| 13 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 455 & 455S | 4 | BMEG 456S | 3 |
| Science Technical Elective | 3 | Science Technical Elective | 3 |
| Engineering Technical Elective | 3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
| GEF Course 7 | 3 | Two Engineering Technical Electives | 6 |
| 13 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 127 | |||
Accelerated Program
Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's in Biomedical Engineering
Students must fulfill all degree requirements for the B.S.BmE in Biomedical Engineering and all the requirements of the M.S.BmE in Biomedical Engineering. Students must also meet all the requirements of the ABM.
ABM Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Coursework | 127 | |
| Shared Bachelor's/Master's Coursework | 12 | |
| Graduate Coursework | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 157 | |
Shared Coursework Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Courses completed must be at the 400 or 500 level. At least one course must be at the 500 level. | ||
| See BSBME and MSBME for list of elective course options. | ||
| Courses: | ||
| Engineering Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Science Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Science Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
It is important for students to take courses in the order specified as much as possible; all prerequisite and concurrent requirements must be observed. A typical ABM B.S.Bm.E.. & M.S.Bm.E. degree program completes degree requirements in five year is as follows.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOL 115 & 115L (GEF 8) | 4 | CHEM 116 & 116L | 4 |
| CHEM 115 & 115L (GEF 2B) | 4 | ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | 2 | ENGR 102 | 3 |
| ENGR 191 | 1 | MATH 156 (GEF 8) | 4 |
| MATH 155 (GEF 3) | 4 | PHYS 111 & 111L (GEF 8) | 4 |
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 201 | 4 | BIOL 235 | 3 |
| CHEM 233 & 233L | 4 | BMEG 230 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | EE 221 & 221L | 4 |
| MATH 251 | 4 | MATH 261 | 4 |
| PHYS 112 & 112L | 4 | STAT 215 | 3 |
| 19 | 17 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 311 | 3 | BMEG 310 | 3 |
| BMEG 321 | 3 | BMEG 315 | 4 |
| BMEG 420 & 420L | 4 | BMEG 340 | 4 |
| GEF 4 | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| GEF 5 | 3 | Engineering Technical Elective* | 3 |
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 455 & 455S | 4 | BMEG 456S | 3 |
| Engineering Technical Elective* | 3 | Engineering Technical Elective | 3 |
| Science Technical Elective | 3 | Science Technical Elective* | 3 |
| GEF 7 | 3 | Technical Elective* | 3 |
| 13 | 12 | ||
| Fifth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BMEG 501 | 3 | BMEG 602 | 3 |
| BMEG 601 | 3 | Graduate Elective | 3 |
| BMEG 697 | 3 | BMEG 697 | 3 |
| 9 | 9 | ||
| Total credit hours: 145 | |||
* Indicates courses that will be shared between the BS and MS programs
Major Learning Outcomes
Biomedical Engineering
Upon graduation, all Bachelors of Science students in Biomedical Engineering will have:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
These outcomes are achieved via rigorous individual courses in all basic areas of biomedical engineering, the natural and life sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences. A flexible electives program allows specialization in areas such as biochemistry, biomechanics, biomaterials, and bioelectronics.
The Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Department uses an outcomes-assessment plan for continuous program improvement. Course work and design projects, in conjunction with yearly interviews provide the measures of learning outcomes. These outcomes-assessment results provide feedback to the faculty to improve teaching and learning processes.