Undergraduate Majors and Minors

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Engineering

The bachelor of science degree program in biomedical engineering offers four specialized degree options. Each option provides a tailored academic plan, allowing students to focus on key areas, including biochemical engineering, biomaterials, medical imaging and devices, and biomechanics.

Biochemical Option

Possible Career Directions: Pharmaceutics, manufacturing, vaccine development, medicine, quality control
Courses: Organic Chemistry; Bio-transport Phenomena; Bio-Fluid Mechanics; Reaction Kinetics of Biological Systems
Academic Plans:
- View the Biochemical Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State Before Summer 2018
- View the Biochemical Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State After Summer 2018

Biomaterials Option

Possible Career Directions: Medical device design, development, manufacturing, quality control
Courses: Organic Chemistry; Intro to Material Sciences; Biomedical Materials; Biomedical Polymeres
Academic Plans
- View the Biomaterials Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State Before Summer 2018
- View the Biomaterials Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State After Summer 2018

Medical Imaging and Devices Option

Possible Career Directions: Medical device design, development, manufacturing, quality control
Courses: Circuits and Devices; Electrical Circuit Design or Engineering; Electromagnetics or Digital Signal Processing; Medical Imaging
Academic Plans
- View the Medical Imaging and Devices Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State Before Summer 2018
- View the Medical Imaging and Devices Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State After Summer 2018

Biomechanics Option

Possible Career Directions: Design, develop, and test medical devices (e.g., prosthetic limbs, surgical tools, cardiovascular implants)
Courses: Dynamics; Mechanical Response to Engineering Materials; Bio-fluid Mechanics
Academic Plan:
- View the Biomechanics Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State Before Summer 2018
- View the Biomechanics Option Academic Plan for Students Entering Penn State After Summer 2018

Minor in Biomedical Engineering

Overview

The Penn State Department of Biomedical Engineering offers an undergraduate minor in biomedical engineering. The minor is open to students in any undergraduate program, but it is particularly suitable for engineering students seeking careers in health-related professions.

The biomedical engineering minor allows students to develop interests in medical engineering applications while pursuing an undergraduate degree in another engineering major, physics, or other applied science.

View the biomedical engineering minor information in the Penn State Bulletin »

Admission Requirements

All students who wish to apply to the biomedical engineering minor should be in their fifth semester at Penn State, admitted to a major, and have completed the required courses:

Applicants should fill out the Biomedical Engineering Minor Admissions Form and return it to 206 Hallowell for department approval.

Due to the entrance-to-minor requirements, you may not register for this minor using eLion. It is the student’s responsibility to get his or her minor adviser’s approval for any subsequent changes to the application.

Minor Requirements

Students must complete 18-20 credits with a grade of C or better to successfully complete the minor. Nine credit hours must be completed in biomedical engineering coursework.

Choose 3-4 credits of physiology:

Choose 3-4 credits of molecular/cell biology: