Undergraduate Study
For undergraduate curriculum in biomedical engineering leading to the degree Bachelor of Science.
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:
- 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.
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 1600 | Biomedical Engineering Problems with Computer Applications Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 1670 | General Chemistry for Engineering Students | 4 |
| or CHEM 1770 | General Chemistry I | |
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication | 3 |
| Engineering Orientation | ||
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| MATH 1650 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 1660 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 2310 | Introduction to Classical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 2310L | Introduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
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 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 3140 | Technical Communication | 3 |
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 2120 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 2120L | Principles of Biology Laboratory II | 1 |
| BIOL 3350 | Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 3500 | Comprehensive Human Anatomy | 4 |
| or BMS 4470 | Introduction to Human Gross Anatomy | |
| or BMS 4480 | Principles of Human Gross Anatomy | |
| CHEM 1670L | Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering | 1 |
| or CHEM 1770L | Laboratory in General Chemistry I | |
| MATH 2650 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 2670 | Elementary Differential Equations and Laplace Transforms | 4 |
| MATE 2730 | Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| ME 2310 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| or MATE 3110 | Thermodynamics in Materials Engineering | |
| PHYS 2320 | Introduction to Classical Physics II | 4 |
| PHYS 2320L | Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
| STAT 3050 | Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
FOUNDATIONAL ELECTIVES2: 14 CR.
| BME 3600 | Biotransport | 3 |
| BBMB 3030 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| CE 2740 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| 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 2850 | Problem Solving Methods and Tools for Electrical Engineering | 4 |
| EE 3140 | Electromagnetics for non Electrical Engineers | 3 |
| EE 4420 | Introduction to Circuits and Instruments | 2 |
| EE 4480 | Introduction to AC Circuits and Motors | 2 |
| ME 3240L & ME 3240 | Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory and Manufacturing Engineering | 4 |
| ME 3450 | Engineering Dynamics | 3 |
| ME 3700 | Engineering Measurements | 3 |
B M E Core: 24 cr.
| Biomedical Engineering First-Year Learning Community | ||
| CHE 2200 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 2700 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 3400 | Numerical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 3500 | Bioinstrumentation | 3 |
| BME 3500L | Bioinstrumentation Lab | 1 |
| BME 3520 | Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics | 3 |
| BME 3520L | Molecular, Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics Lab | 1 |
| BME 3540 | Introduction to Biomaterials | 3 |
| BME 3540L | Survey of Biomaterials Lab | 1 |
| BME 4200 | Biomedical Engineering Design I | 2 |
| BME 4300 | Biomedical Engineering Design II | 2 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
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 list | 6 | |
| Complete 3 credits of Engineering Electives from approved list | 3 | |
| Complete 3 credits of Bioscience Electives from approved list | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
- 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | CHEM 1780 | 3 |
| CHEM 1770 | 4 | CHEM 1780L | 1 |
| CHEM 1770L | 1 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| BME 1600 | 3 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| BME 1040 | Required | BIOL 2120 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | BIOL 2120L | 1 |
| ENGR 1010 | R | ||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | BIOL 3350 | 3 |
| PHYS 2320 | 4 | MATH 2650 | 4 |
| PHYS 2320L | 1 | CHE 2200 | 3 |
| CHEM 2310 | 3 | MATE 2730 | 3 |
| CHEM 2310L | 1 | BME 2700 | 2 |
| MATH 2670 | 4 | PHIL 3310, 3360, or 3430 | 3 |
| 16 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 4480 | 4 | BME 3500 | 3 |
| MATE 3110 | 3 | BME 3500L | 1 |
| BME 3520 | 3 | BME 3540 | 3 |
| BME 3520L | 1 | BME 3540L | 1 |
| BME 3400 | 3 | STAT 3050 | 3 |
| EE 4420 | 2 | BME 3600 | 3 |
| ENGL 3140 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BME 4200 | 2 | BME 4300 | 2 |
| BBMB 3030 | 3 | SSH Elective | 3 |
| BME Elective | 3 | Engineering Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | BME Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | Bioscience Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits: 131 | |||
BioMedical Mechanics and Manufacturing Emphasis
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | SSH Elective | 3 |
| CHEM 1670 | 4 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670L | 1 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| BME 1600 | 3 | BIOL 2120 | 3 |
| BME 1040 | Required | BIOL 2120L | 1 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| ENGR 1010 | R | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | BIOL 3350 | 3 |
| PHYS 2320 | 4 | MATH 2650 | 4 |
| PHYS 2320L | 1 | CHE 2200 | 3 |
| CE 2740 | 3 | MATE 2730 | 3 |
| MATH 2670 | 4 | BME 2700 | 2 |
| PHIL 3310, 3360, or 3430 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 4480 | 4 | BME 3500 | 3 |
| ME 2310 | 3 | BME 3500L | 1 |
| BME 3520 | 3 | BME 3540 | 3 |
| BME 3520L | 1 | BME 3540L | 1 |
| BME 3400 | 3 | STAT 3050 | 3 |
| EE 4420 | 2 | BME 3600 | 3 |
| ME 3240L | 1 | ENGL 3140 | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BME 4200 | 2 | BME 4300 | 2 |
| ME 3240 | 3 | SSH Elective | 3 |
| BME Elective | 3 | Engineering Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | BME Elective | 3 |
| ME 3450 | 3 | Bioscience Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | ||
| 14 | 17 | ||
| Total Credits: 130 | |||
BioMedical Instrumentation Emphasis
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | EE 2850 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670 | 4 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670L | 1 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| BME 1600 | 3 | BIOL 2120 | 3 |
| BME 1040 | Required | BIOL 2120L | 1 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| ENGR 1010 | R | ||
| 16 | 17 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 2500 | 3 | BIOL 3350 | 3 |
| PHYS 2320 | 4 | MATH 2650 | 4 |
| PHYS 2320L | 1 | CHE 2200 | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | MATE 2730 | 3 |
| MATH 2670 | 4 | BME 2700 | 2 |
| PHIL 3310, 3360, or 3430 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BIOL 3500, BMS 4470, or BMS 4480 | 4 | BME 3500 | 3 |
| ME 2310 | 3 | BME 3500L | 1 |
| BME 3520 | 3 | BME 3540 | 3 |
| BME 3520L | 1 | BME 3540L | 1 |
| BME 3400 | 3 | STAT 3050 | 3 |
| EE 4420 | 2 | ENGL 3140 | 3 |
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BME 4200 | 2 | BME 4300 | 2 |
| EE 4480 | 2 | SSH Elective | 3 |
| EE 3140 | 3 | Engineering Elective | 3 |
| BME Elective | 3 | BME Elective | 3 |
| SSH Elective | 3 | Bioscience Elective | 3 |
| ME 3700 | 3 | SSH Elective | 3 |
| 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 2120 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| CHE 2200/2200 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BIOL 2560 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 |
| or BIOL 3350 | Principles of Human and Other Animal Physiology | |
| Introductory Engineering Elective * | 3 | |
| Advanced Engineering Elective ** | 3 | |
| Professional Elective *** | 2-3 | |
| Total Credits | 17-18 | |
*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 2740; CHE 2100; CPRE 2810; EE 2010, EE 3140, or EE 4420 and EE 4480; EM 3240 or ABE 3780; IE 2710; MATE 2730; ME 2310; or other courses approved by Minor Chair).
** 3000-5000 level engineering course with clear biomedical engineering application (BME 4900, BME 3410, EE 4500; CHE 4400; MATE 4560; IE 4470; IE 5710; ME 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.