Biomedical Engineering, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Biomedical engineering applies engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine in order to enhance health care. Students involved in biomedical engineering learn to work with living systems and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of medical care. Biomedical engineers work with other health care professionals including physicians, nurses, therapists and technicians toward improvements in diagnostic, therapeutic and health delivery systems. Biomedical engineers may be involved with designing medical instruments and devices, developing medical software, tissue and cellular engineering, developing new procedures or conducting state-of-the-art research needed to solve clinical problems.
There are numerous areas of specialization and course work within biomedical engineering. These include:
- Bioinstrumentation: the application of electronics and measurement techniques to develop devices used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease, including heart monitors, intensive care equipment, cardiac pacemakers and many other electronic devices.
- Biomaterials: the development of artificial and living materials used for implantation in the human body, including those used for artificial heart valves, kidney dialysis cartridges, and artificial arteries, hips and knees.
- Biomechanics: the study of motion, forces and deformations in the human body, including the study of blood flow and arterial disease, forces associated with broken bones and their associated repair mechanisms, mechanisms of blunt trauma including head injuries, orthopedic systems, and the forces and movement associated with human joints such as the knee and hip.
- Tissue and cellular engineering: the application of biochemistry, biophysics and biotechnology toward the development of new cellular and tissue systems and an understanding of disease processes, including development of artificial skin and organs, cell adherence to artificial materials to prevent rejection by the body, and the development of new genetic cellular systems to treat diseases.
- Medical imaging: the development of devices and systems to image the human body to diagnose diseases, including the development and data processing of the CAT scan, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), medical ultrasound, X-ray and PET (positron emission tomography).
- Rehabilitation engineering: the development of devices and prosthetics to enhance the capabilities of disabled individuals, including design of wheelchairs, walkers, artificial legs and arms, enhanced communication aids, and educational tools for the handicapped.
A unique aspect to the undergraduate biomedical engineering is the practicum series, EGRB 101 and 301, which involves biomedical engineering students participating in medical rounds at the VCU Medical Center’s MCV Hospitals, in medical research laboratories throughout the medical center and the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, and in medical seminars, case studies and medical laboratories. This unique opportunity is the only one of its kind in the nation and involves the cooperation of the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest and most prestigious medical centers.
Biomedical engineering curriculum
Technical elective tracks
General education requirements
Biomedical engineering curriculum
| Freshman year, fall semester | Credits |
| BIOL 152 Introduction to Biological Science II | 3 |
| CHEM 101 General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEZ/FRSZ 101L General Chemistry Laboratory I | 1 |
| EGRB 101 Biomedical Engineering Practicum I | 2 |
| MATH 200 Calculus with Analytic Geometry | 4 |
| UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I | 3 |
16 |
|
| Freshman year, spring semester | |
| CHEM 102 General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEZ/FRSZ 102L General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 |
| EGRB 102 Introduction to Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 201 Calculus with Analytic Geometry | 4 |
| UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II | 3 |
14 |
|
| Sophomore year, fall semester | |
| EGRE 206 Electric Circuits | 4 |
| MATH 301 Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHIS 309 Introductory Quantitative Physiology I | 4 |
| PHYS 207 University Physics I | 5 |
16 |
|
| Sophomore year, spring semester | |
| EGRB 103 Introduction to Biomechanics | 3 |
| EGRB 215 Computational Methods | 3 |
| MATH 310 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| PHIS 310 Introductory Quantitative Physiology II | 4 |
| PHYS 208 University Physics II | 5 |
18 |
|
| Junior year, fall semester | |
| EGRB 307 Biomedical Instrumentation | 4 |
| EGRB 310 Biomechanics | 4 |
| EGRB 427 Biomaterials | 3 |
| ENGL 200 Writing and Rhetoric Workshop II (or other university core research and academic writing course) | 3 |
| PHIL 213 Ethics and Health Care | 3 |
17 |
|
| Junior year, spring semester | |
| EGRB 301 Biomedical Engineering Practicum II | 2 |
| EGRB 303 Biotransport Processes | 4 |
| EGRB 308 Biomedical Signal Processing | 4 |
| Core curriculum elective | 3 |
| Technical elective | 3 |
16 |
|
| Senior year, fall semester | |
| EGRB 401 Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Studio | 3 |
| STAT 541 Statistics for Engineers and Scientists | 3 |
| Core curriculum elective | 3 |
| Technical electives | 9 |
18 |
|
| Senior year, spring semester | |
| EGRB 402 Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Studio | 3 |
| Core curriculum elective | 3 |
| Technical electives | 9 |
15 |
|
| Total minimum requirement | 130 |
Technical elective tracks
Biomedical engineering students must select all technical electives from one of the four technical elective tracks.
| Pre-medical track | Credits |
| BIOL 151 Introduction to Biological Science I | 3 |
| BIOZ 151L Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory I | 1 |
| BIOZ 152L Introduction to Biological Science Laboratory II | 1 |
| BIOL elective | 3 |
| CHEM 301 Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEZ 301L Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | 2 |
| CHEM 302 Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEZ 302L Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | 2 |
| EGRB 403 Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| Biomechanics and biomaterials track | |
| BIOL 218 Cell Biology | 3 |
| EGRB 403 Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 405 Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGRB 406 Artificial Organs | 3 |
| EGRM 309 Materials Science for Engineers | 3 |
| EGRM 420 CAE Design | 3 |
| EGRM 421 CAE Analysis | 3 |
| ENGR 427 Robotics | 3 |
| ENGR 454 Automatic Controls | 3 |
| Rehabilitation engineering track | |
| EGRB 405 Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| EGRB 406 Artificial Organs | 3 |
| EGRB 420 Rehabilitation Engineering | 3 |
| EGRB 421 Human Factors Engineering | 3 |
| EGRM 420 CAE Design | 3 |
| EGRM 421 CAE Analysis | 3 |
| ENGR 427 Robotics | 3 |
| MGMT 346 Technology and Management | 3 |
| PSYC 406 Perception | 3 |
| Instrumentation and electronics track | |
| EGRB 407 Physical Principles of Biomedical Imaging | 3 |
| EGRB 408 Advanced Biomedical Signal Processing | 3 |
| EGRB 409 Microcomputer Applications in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 224 Introduction to Microelectronics | 4 |
| EGRE 254 Digital Logic Design | 3 |
| EGRE 303 Electronic Devices | 3 |
| EGRE 307 Integrated Circuits | 4 |
| EGRE 310 Microwave and Photonic Engineering | 3 |
| EGRE 335 Signals and Systems I | 3 |
| EGRE 364 Microcomputer Systems | 4 |
| ENGR 427 Robotics | 3 |
| ENGR 454 Automatic Control | 3 |
Core curriculum requirements
Biomedical engineering majors fulfill the Tier II core curriculum requirements via selection of courses in the topical areas as follows:
- Quantitative literacy: MATH 200
- Research and academic writing: ENGL 200 or another research and academic writing course
- Humanities/fine arts: PHIL 213
- Social/behavioral sciences: from approved list
- Natural/physical sciences: from approved list