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Biomedical Engineering

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Undergraduate Study

For undergraduate curriculum in biomedical engineering leading to the degree Bachelor of Science.

engineering.iastate.edu/bme/

Administered as an interdepartmental degree program.

Biomedical engineering seeks to better human health by designing engineered systems that can interface with biomedical systems or by controlling the biomedical systems themselves. Biomedical engineers leverage their deep understanding of fundamental scientific disciplines including physics, chemistry and biology as well as a broad understanding of different traditional engineering disciplines such as chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering. Broad areas of biomedical engineering include medical molecules and materials, biomedical mechanics and manufacturing and biomedical instrumentation that allow for engineering of cells and tissues or delivery of drugs and vaccines or devices that can detect or alleviate disease, regenerate tissue or assist after injury.

Practicing biomedical engineers work in research, uncovering fundamental properties of either biomedical systems or the engineered systems with which they interface. They work as product engineers, bringing innovative technology to bear in a usable product that can pass approval processes by the relevant regulatory organizations or process engineers, developing manufacturing approaches that can produce products economically, safely and under the proper conditions to ensure their use in the human body. Finally, biomedical engineers work in technical sales, intellectual property or governmental regulation.

The curriculum of biomedical engineering includes broad training in math, chemistry, physics, biology as well as engineering sciences such as thermodynamics, materials, fluid and solid mechanics and circuits. The curriculum also provides training in areas such as disease therapeutics and drug delivery, implants and tissue engineering, advanced diagnostics and biosensors, prosthetics and organ mechanics, medical device manufacturing, and medical imaging and equipment electronics. This training will culminate in lab and design courses that will emphasize a synthesis of these topics to design, build and test biomedical systems.

The curriculum will prepare students for a career in serving society through designing and manufacturing biomedical systems that improve human health. The curriculum will also prepare students to navigate difficult ethical questions through training in bioethics and will include broader training in the social sciences and humanities. This prepares graduates to better gauge the impact of biomedical engineering design decisions on broader society. Finally, graduates will be well-trained to communicate both with other technical colleagues as well as the broader public that benefits from the biomedical engineering products.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the biomedical engineering curriculum should have, at the time of graduation:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. 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.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Program Educational Objectives

The objectives of the biomedical engineering program at Iowa State University are to produce graduates who:

  • Will excel in careers as professional biomedical engineers in the businesses and industries related to biomedical engineering.
  • Will successfully pursue research and advanced studies in biomedical engineering or in related professional fields such as medicine, law and business.

A cooperative education program is available to students in biomedical engineering.

Curriculum in Biomedical Engineering

Total credits required: 129

See also basic program and special programs.
The BME Program requires a grade of C or better from any transfer credit course that is applied to the degree program but will not be calculated into the ISU cumulative GPA, Basic Program GPA, or Core GPA.

BASIC PROGRAM: 24 CR.

A minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Basic Program GPA). See Basic Program for Engineering Curricula in College of Engineering section.

BME 1600Biomedical Engineering Problems with Computer Applications Laboratory3
CHEM 1670General Chemistry for Engineering Students4
or CHEM 1770 General Chemistry I
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
Engineering Orientation
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
MATH 1650Calculus I4
MATH 1660Calculus II4
PHYS 2310Introduction to Classical Physics I4
PHYS 2310LIntroduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory1
Total Credits24

Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr.

Complete a total of 12 cr. with at least 6 cr., but not more than 9 cr., from the same department.

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES1: 3 CR.

U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)1: 3 CR.

COMMUNICATION PROFICIENCY:

ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
ENGL 3140Technical Communication3

Bioethics: 3 cr.

Choose from PHIL 3310 Moral Problems in Medicine, PHIL 3360 Bioethics and Biotechnology, or PHIL 3430 Philosophy of Technology

Foundational Courses: 34 cr.

BIOL 2120Principles of Biology II3
BIOL 2120LPrinciples of Biology Laboratory II1
BIOL 3350Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology3
BIOL 3500Comprehensive Human Anatomy4
or BMS 4470 Introduction to Human Gross Anatomy
or BMS 4480 Principles of Human Gross Anatomy
CHEM 1670LLaboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering1
or CHEM 1770L Laboratory in General Chemistry I
MATH 2650Calculus III4
MATH 2670Elementary Differential Equations and Laplace Transforms4
MATE 2730Principles of Materials Science and Engineering3
ME 2310Engineering Thermodynamics I3
or MATE 3110 Thermodynamics in Materials Engineering
PHYS 2320Introduction to Classical Physics II4
PHYS 2320LIntroduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory1
STAT 3050Engineering Statistics3
Total Credits34

FOUNDATIONAL ELECTIVES2: 14 CR.

BME 3600Biotransport3
BBMB 3030General Biochemistry3
CE 2740Engineering Statics3
CHEM 1780
1780L
General Chemistry II
and Laboratory in College Chemistry II
4
CHEM 2310
2310L
Elementary Organic Chemistry
and Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry
4
EE 2850Problem Solving Methods and Tools for Electrical Engineering4
EE 3140Electromagnetics for non Electrical Engineers3
EE 4420Introduction to Circuits and Instruments2
EE 4480Introduction to AC Circuits and Motors2
ME 3240L
ME 3240
Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory
and Manufacturing Engineering
4
ME 3450Engineering Dynamics3
ME 3700Engineering Measurements3

B M E Core: 24 cr.

Biomedical Engineering First-Year Learning Community
CHE 2200Introduction to Biomedical Engineering3
BME 2700Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design2
BME 3400Numerical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering3
BME 3500Bioinstrumentation3
BME 3500LBioinstrumentation Lab1
BME 3520Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics3
BME 3520LMolecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics Lab1
BME 3540 Introduction to Biomaterials3
BME 3540LSurvey of Biomaterials Lab1
BME 4200Biomedical Engineering Design I2
BME 4300Biomedical Engineering Design II2
Total Credits24

Note: Transfer students with transfer credits in Biomedical Engineering core courses must earn at least 15 semester credits in ISU courses in this category at the 3000-level or above to qualify for the B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering.  

ELECTIVES2: 12 CR.

Complete 6 credits of BME Electives from approved list6
Complete 3 credits of Engineering Electives from approved list3
Complete 3 credits of Bioscience Electives from approved list3
Total Credits12
1

These university requirements will add to the minimum credits of the program unless the university-approved courses are also approved by the department to meet other course requirements within the degree program. U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) and International Perspectives courses may not be taken Pass-Not Pass.

2

Electives used to meet graduation requirements may not be taken Pass-Not Pass.

Four-Year Plans

Medical Molecules and Materials Emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 16504MATH 16604
ENGL 15003CHEM 17803
CHEM 17704CHEM 1780L1
CHEM 1770L1PHYS 23104
BME 16003PHYS 2310L1
BME 1040RequiredBIOL 21203
LIB 16001BIOL 2120L1
ENGR 1010R 
 16 17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003BIOL 33503
PHYS 23204MATH 26504
PHYS 2320L1CHE 22003
CHEM 23103MATE 27303
CHEM 2310L1BME 27002
MATH 26704PHIL 3310, 3360, or 34303
 16 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 44804BME 35003
MATE 31103BME 3500L1
BME 35203BME 35403
BME 3520L1BME 3540L1
BME 34003STAT 30503
EE 44202BME 36003
 ENGL 31403
 16 17
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BME 42002BME 43002
BBMB 30303SSH Elective3
BME Elective3Engineering Elective3
SSH Elective3BME Elective3
SSH Elective3Bioscience Elective3
 SSH Elective3
 14 17
Total Credits: 131

BioMedical Mechanics and Manufacturing Emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 16504MATH 16604
ENGL 15003SSH Elective3
CHEM 16704PHYS 23104
CHEM 1670L1PHYS 2310L1
BME 16003BIOL 21203
BME 1040RequiredBIOL 2120L1
LIB 16001 
ENGR 1010R 
 16 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003BIOL 33503
PHYS 23204MATH 26504
PHYS 2320L1CHE 22003
CE 27403MATE 27303
MATH 26704BME 27002
 PHIL 3310, 3360, or 34303
 15 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 44804BME 35003
ME 23103BME 3500L1
BME 35203BME 35403
BME 3520L1BME 3540L1
BME 34003STAT 30503
EE 44202BME 36003
ME 3240L1ENGL 31403
 17 17
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BME 42002BME 43002
ME 32403SSH Elective3
BME Elective3Engineering Elective3
SSH Elective3BME Elective3
ME 34503Bioscience Elective3
 SSH Elective3
 14 17
Total Credits: 130

BioMedical Instrumentation Emphasis

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 16504MATH 16604
ENGL 15003EE 28504
CHEM 16704PHYS 23104
CHEM 1670L1PHYS 2310L1
BME 16003BIOL 21203
BME 1040RequiredBIOL 2120L1
LIB 16001 
ENGR 1010R 
 16 17
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 25003BIOL 33503
PHYS 23204MATH 26504
PHYS 2320L1CHE 22003
SSH Elective3MATE 27303
MATH 26704BME 27002
 PHIL 3310, 3360, or 34303
 15 18
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 44804BME 35003
ME 23103BME 3500L1
BME 35203BME 35403
BME 3520L1BME 3540L1
BME 34003STAT 30503
EE 44202ENGL 31403
 16 14
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
BME 42002BME 43002
EE 44802SSH Elective3
EE 31403Engineering Elective3
BME Elective3BME Elective3
SSH Elective3Bioscience Elective3
ME 37003SSH Elective3
 16 17
Total Credits: 129

Biomedical Engineering Minor

Minor supervised by an interdisciplinary faculty committee, administered by the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department. The Biomedical Engineering minor is a unique opportunity for engineering students to acquire a multi-disciplinary engineering and life sciences background for entering the field of biomedical engineering.

The program is open to all undergraduate engineering students at Iowa State University. This minor will provide students with a foundation of core biology and engineering relevant to further study in biomedical engineering along with an introduction to the application of engineering principles to biomedical problems from a multidisciplinary perspective as well as the applications within the majors of the participating departments.

A minimum of 17 cr. meeting the six requirements below with a minimum of 9 of those credits not being used to meet degree requirements and a minimum of 6 cr. at the 3000 level or above. No more than 3 cr. of 4900 credit may be applied to this minor.

BIOL 2120Principles of Biology II3
CHE 2200/2200Introduction to Biomedical Engineering3
BIOL 2560Fundamentals of Human Physiology3
or BIOL 3350 Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology
Introductory Engineering Elective *3
Advanced Engineering Elective **3
Professional Elective ***2-3
Total Credits17-18

*A second (Introductory) engineering course from a department other than that of your major. The topic of the course should have ready application to later BME-related electives in that discipline (CE 2740CHE 2100CPRE 2810EE 2010EE 3140, or EE 4420 and EE 4480EM 3240 or ABE 3780IE 2710MATE 2730ME 2310; or other courses approved by Minor Chair).

** 3000-5000 level engineering course with clear biomedical engineering application (BME 4900BME 3410EE 4500CHE 4400MATE 4560IE 4470IE 5710ME 5500 or other courses approved by Minor Chair).

*** 3000-5000 level engineering or life sciences course with clear biomedical engineering application OR BME 4900 OR departmental 4900 with biomedical engineering topic OR 2000+-level life sciences laboratory course (If a 2000-level course is chosen here, the student will need to meet the required 6 cr. of 3000+ courses by substitution of a higher-level course for the other requirements or by taking an additional course.), OR 3000-5000 level BME course.