Nov 21, 2024

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biomedical Engineering BS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Are you interested in biology, medicine and engineering but can’t decide which one to pick? UB’s biomedical engineering (BME) program lets you explore all of your interests in one do-it-all major. If you get excited about things like making 3D models of the brain to improve cancer care, designing wearable medical sensors, and using artificial intelligence to prevent cardiac deaths-and you’re good at science and math-then BME could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Visit the Biomedical Engineering academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Biomedical Engineering department page for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria

Minimum overall GPA of 2.500 required
Matriculated student with academic good standing at the University at Buffalo.
Satisfactory performance in a series of core courses (see below). There are two paths to meet this requirement.
1. Standard: Completion of four core courses with a combined core course grade point average of at least 2.500.
2. Fast-Track: Completion of at least two of the four core courses (graded on an A-F bases) with a combined core course grade point average of at least 3.000.

Engineering Core Courses:

Calculus 1 (MTH 141 or MTH 153)
Calculus 2 (MTH 142 or MTH 154)
General Chemistry 1 (CHE 101, CHE 105, or CHE 107)
General Physics 1 (PHY 107 or PHY 117)

Current students wishing to pursue the Biomedical Engineering BS must follow the instructions on the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Supplemental Application. See the complete School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Admissions Policies for details.

Course Requirements

Biomedical Engineering Core (94-96 credits)

BE 201LR - Principles of Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
BE 202LR - Applied Medical and Engineering Biology Credits: 3 *
BE 304LR - Principles of Medical Imaging Credits: 3
BE 305LR - Biomaterials and Mechanics Credits: 3
BE 307LR - Biomedical Circuits and Signals Credits: 3
BE 308LR - Biofluid Mechanics Credits: 3
BE 309LR - Biomedical Chemical Principles 1 Credits: 3 OR
CHE 203LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 OR
CHE 251LLR - Contemporary Organic Chemistry Credits: 5
BE 310LR - Biomedical Chemical Principles 2 Credits: 3 OR
CHE 204LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 OR
CHE 252LLR - Contemporary Organic Chemistry Credits: 5
BE 311LLB - Biomedical Engineering Cellular and Molecular Lab Credits: 3
BE 312LLB - Biomedical Engineering Biosignals Lab Credits: 3
BE 403LR - Biomedical Instrumentation Credits: 3
BE 405LR - Transport Processes in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 4
BE 406LR - Biological Systems Engineering Credits: 3
BE 436LR - Biomechanics of Human Movement Credits: 3
BE 493SEM - Research and Design in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
BE 494SEM - Senior Capstone Design Project Credits: 3
CHE 107LR - General Chemistry for Engineers I Credits: 3.5 AND
CHE 127LAB - General Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory 1 Credits: 0.5 OR
CHE 101LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4 AND
CHE 113LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1 OR
CHE 105LLR - Chemistry: Principles and Applications Credits: 5
CHE 108LR - General Chemistry for Engineers II Credits: 3.5 AND
CHE 128LAB - General Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory 2 Credits: 0.5 OR
CHE 102LR - General Chemistry Credits: 4 AND
CHE 114LAB - General Chemistry Credits: 1 OR
CHE 106LLR - Chemistry: Principles and Applications Credits: 5
EAS 199SL - UB Seminar Credits: 3
EAS 200LR - Electrical Engineering Concepts for Non-Majors Credits: 3 OR
EE 202LR - Circuit Analysis Credits: 3
EAS 202SEM - Engineering Impact On Society Credits: 1
EAS 207LR - Statics Credits: 3
EAS 230LLB - Engineering Computations Credits: 3 **
EAS 305LR - Applied Probability and Statistics Credits: 4
EAS 360LEC - STEM Communications Credits: 3
MTH 141LR - College Calculus I Credits: 4
MTH 142LR - College Calculus 2 Credits: 4
MTH 241LR - College Calculus 3 Credits: 4
MTH 306LR - Introduction to Differential Equations Credits: 4
PHY 107LR - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHY 108LR - General Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 158LAB - General Physics II Lab Credits: 1 ***

Three Technical Electives (minimum 9 credits)

Upper-division (300/400 level) electives, at least two of which must be Biomedical Engineering (BE) 400-level courses. See the Academic Advising Report (AAR) for a complete list of options.

Technical Electives in Biomedical Engineering

BE 400LEC - Biomedical Engineering Special Topics Credits: 3 (topics vary)
BE 420LEC - Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine Credits: 3
BE 422LEC - Cell Engineering Credits: 3
BE 432LEC - Machine Learning for Biomedical Data Credits: 3
BE 442LEC - Introduction to Biomedical Optics and Ultrasound Credits: 3
BE 450LEC - Orthopedic Science and Engineering Credits: 3
BE 451LEC - Electrochemical Aspects of Metallic Biomaterials Credits: 3
BE 453LEC - Rehabilitation Engineering Credits: 3
BE 454LEC - Design of Neuroprosthetic Systems Credits: 3
BE 455LEC - Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Credits: 3
BE 459LEC - Introduction to Neural Engineering Credits: 3
BE 460LEC - Intro to MRI Credits: 3
BE 461LEC - Introduction to Biomedical Image Analysis Credits: 3
BE 462LEC - Engineering Principles of Computer Tomography Credits: 3
BE 463LLB - Introduction to Data and Image Processing Using LabVIEW Credits: 3
BE 464LEC - Techniques in Medical Imaging Credits: 3
BE 472LEC - Biomedical Microtechnology and Nanotechnology Credits: 3
BE 480LLB - BioMEMS Fabrication Laboratory Credits: 3
BE 496TUT - Biomedical Engineering Senior Internship Credits: 1-3 ****
BE 498TUT - Biomedical Engineering Senior Research Credits: 1-3 ****
BE 499TUT - Biomedical Engineering Senior Independent Study Credits: 1-4 ****

Technical Electives in Other Departments

BIO 319LEC - Genetics Credits: 3
BIO 417LEC - Neurobiology Credits: 3
BIO 418LEC - Integrative Neuroscience Credits: 3
BCH 410LEC - Biomedical Genetics Credits: 3
CE 410LEC - Molecular Modeling Credits: 3
CE 450LEC - Protein Engineering Credits: 3
CSE 435LEC - Information Retrieval Credits: 3
CSE 473LEC - Introduction to Computer Vision and Image Processing Credits: 3
CSE 536LEC Computational Biology Credits: 3
IE 320LEC - Engineering Economy Credits: 3
EE 428LEC - Biomems and Lab-On-a-Chip Credits: 3
EE 426LEC - Wearable and Implantable Sensors Credits: 3
EE 480LEC - Biomedical Electronics Credits: 3
IE 409LEC - Six Sigma Quality Credits: 3
MAE 381LEC - Engineering Materials Credits: 3
MAE 478LEC - Cardiovascular Biomechanics Credits: 3
PGY 300LEC - Human Physiology Credits: 4
PGY 405LEC - Cellular and Molecular Physiology Credits: 4
300 and 400 level MTH courses excluding: 306, 399, 411, 458, 459, 495, 496, 497, 499

Total Credits Required for Major: 111

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 128

Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Notes

* Students are permitted to take BIO 201 /BIO 211 in lieu of BE 202 , however BE 202 is strongly preferred for Biomedical Engineering majors. The BIO 201 /BIO 211 option should only be utilized by students transferring into the program with these courses already completed or when they are pursuing a pre-health major that requires BIO 201/211.

**Students are permitted to take alternative programming courses EAS 240 or CSE 115 in lieu of EAS 230 , however EAS 230 is strongly preferred for Biomedical Engineering majors. The alternative programming courses should only be utilized by students transferring into the program with EAS 240 , CSE 115 , or EAS 999TRCP (general programming for transfer students) already completed. View our Computer Programming Requirement website for more information on the programming alternatives and self-study packages.

***Students are permitted to use PHY 151 and PHY 152 in lieu of PHY 158 , however PHY 158 is preferred for engineering majors.

****Only one informal course (496, 498, or 499) offered by the Biomedical Engineering Department or other department may count as a technical elective. Only students who have completed BE curriculum courses through and including third year fall courses can register for BE 496 , BE 498 , or BE 499 for TE credit.

Special Notes: Not all courses are offered every year or every semester, you should utilize the class search in HUB to determine if the course is being offered. Undergraduate students who take BE 400-level courses cannot retake the same course as a Graduate student at the 500-level.

***** The following MTH courses are not accepted: MTH 306 , MTH 399 , MTH 411 , MTH 458 , MTH 459 , MTH 495 , MTH 496 , MTH 497 , MTH 499

Special Notes: Not all courses are offered every year or every semester, you should utilize the class search in HUB to determine if the course is being offered. You may request to take courses other than those listed. You must make the request to the Undergraduate Director for approval by emailing the Academic Coordinator the course syllabus for review.

Academic Requirements

Students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must have a minimum GPA of 2.000 in technical classes (engineering, math, and science classes). to be in good standing and graduate with an undergraduate degree. To maintain academic standards and determine eligibility for continued enrollment, the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences reviews the academic records of all students in an approved undergraduate SEAS major. This academic review is conducted at the end of each fall and spring semester.

View the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Academic Review Policy

Students seeking an undergraduate engineering degree from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences must complete 30 undergraduate credit hours of junior/senior level courses required in their major at the University at Buffalo.

Curricular Plan

A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall

EAS 199SL - UB Seminar Credits: 3
MTH 141LR - College Calculus I Credits: 4
CHE 107LR - General Chemistry for Engineers I Credits: 3.5
CHE 127LAB - General Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory 1 Credits: 0.5
Pathway Credits: 3
ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4 OR Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 17 or 18

First Year Spring

MTH 142LR - College Calculus 2 Credits: 4
CHE 108LR - General Chemistry for Engineers II Credits: 3.5
CHE 128LAB - General Chemistry for Engineers Laboratory 2 Credits: 0.5
PHY 107LR - General Physics I Credits: 4
EAS 202SEM - Engineering Impact On Society Credits: 1
ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4 OR Pathway Credits: 3 OR

Total Credits: 16 or 17

Second Year Fall

MTH 241LR - College Calculus 3 Credits: 4
EAS 200LR - Electrical Engineering Concepts for Non-Majors Credits: 3
BE 201LR - Principles of Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
PHY 108LR - General Physics II Credits: 4
PHY 158LAB - General Physics II Lab Credits: 1

Total Credits: 15

Second Year Spring

MTH 306LR - Introduction to Differential Equations Credits: 4
EAS 230LLB - Engineering Computations Credits: 3
BE 202LR - Applied Medical and Engineering Biology Credits: 3
EAS 207LR - Statics Credits: 3
EAS 360LEC - STEM Communications Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Third Year Fall

BE 311LLB - Biomedical Engineering Cellular and Molecular Lab Credits: 3
BE 305LR - Biomaterials and Mechanics Credits: 3
BE 307LR - Biomedical Circuits and Signals Credits: 3
BE 309LR - Biomedical Chemical Principles 1 Credits: 3 OR
CHE 203LEC - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3 OR
CHE 251LLR - Contemporary Organic Chemistry Credits: 5
EAS 305LR - Applied Probability and Statistics Credits: 4

Total Credits: 16 or 18

Third Year Spring

BE 312LLB - Biomedical Engineering Biosignals Lab Credits: 3
BE 304LR - Principles of Medical Imaging Credits: 3
BE 308LR - Biofluid Mechanics Credits: 3
BE 310LR - Biomedical Chemical Principles 2 Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Fourth Year Fall

BE 403LR - Biomedical Instrumentation Credits: 3
BE 405LR - Transport Processes in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 4
BE 493SEM - Research and Design in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
BE Elective Credits: 3
BE Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 16

Fourth Year Spring

BE 494SEM - Senior Capstone Design Project Credits: 3
BE 406LR - Biological Systems Engineering Credits: 3
BE 436LR - Biomechanics of Human Movement Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3
UBC 399MNT - UB Curriculum Capstone Credits: 1
Technical Elective Credits: 3*

*Up to one course from outside of BME can be used to satisfy the Technical Elective.

Total Credits: 16

Total Credits Required: 128

Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes

The curriculum provides opportunities for students to develop the following knowledge, skills, and behaviors by the time of graduation:

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.

(HEGIS: 09.05 BIO- BIOMEDICAL ENGINRNG, CIP: 14.0501 Biomedical/Medical Engineering)