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:
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
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
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:
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:
Choose 9-12 credits of supporting courses:
- Any BME 400-level or BIOE 500-level course
Choose 0-3 credits of electives:
- MATSE 403
- BME 443
- MATSE 404
- BME 444
- I E 327
- B E 308
- B E 468
- CH E 340
- CH E 438
- NUC E 420
- E E 455
- CMPEN 455
- E E 453
- PHYS 472
- M E 491 (offered at Behrend campus only)
- Other courses will be considered upon request
Questions and requests specific to the BME minor should be emailed to bmeminor@engr.psu.edu.
Contact Information
- Undergraduate Office
206 Hallowell Building
814-863-6614
BME Major:
- Email bmemajor@engr.psu.ed
BME Minor:
- Email bmeminor@engr.psu.edu