Curriculum & Advising

The undergraduate degree offered by our department is a B.S. in Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering, which is granted jointly by UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University. Students in this program get a broad background in engineering, including topics in mechanical, electrical, materials science and computer engineering, before specializing. They learn how to apply these techniques and tools to address problems in biology and medicine.

Steps to a Degree

Students are challenged with a curriculum at the interface of engineering and medicine. During the first year, students are introduced to the fundamentals of engineering. These courses include Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology and provide the foundation for future engineering courses. Once accepted into the program and beginning in their sophomore year, students take engineering courses in mechanics, circuits, computer programming and materials, followed by specialized courses in biomedical engineering. The biomedical engineering design process is woven throughout the curriculum. Through design, students gain skills in manufacturing processes and biological synthesis while following the guidelines for FDA approval for a medical device.

The curriculum, as for all sciences and engineering, is vertically structured, with experience and knowledge from each course serving as a foundation for subsequent courses.  Students are also encouraged to engage in laboratory research or have an internship experience in industry.

All required courses are offered on both campuses in alternating semesters, and all graduation requirements can be met on the student’s home campus. If students miss a scheduled course due to study abroad, co-op or life circumstances, they are permitted to make up the course offered at the partner campus. Students may also travel to the partner campus also for general education courses and elective courses.

STEM Electives (Advised Engineering electives)

Please click this link to download the latest class list.

• Please note that this list does not include BME Gateway Electives or Specialization Electives, but any of those courses will meet the STEM (advised engineering elective) requirement.
• It must be an extra course and cannot double count for the gateway/specialty electives requirements (i.e., fourth gateway elective or fifth specialty elective)

Please contact BME Advising for additional questions.

Pre-Health Professions

For students pursuing pre-health professions, there are additional courses to complete outside of our program requirements to meet the prerequisites for your intended health profession.

The Health Professions Advising offices are responsible for advising a Pre-Health student’s course needs. Admission requirements vary between programs and between schools and are subject to change. We strongly encourage you to meet with the Health Professions Advising Office at UNC or the Health Professions Advising Office at NC State to ensure that you meet all requirements for your intended program.

As an example, a typical Pre-Medicine BME student may need to take the additional courses listed below, which are not part of the BME curriculum:

Most medical schools require a grade of C or higher in prerequisite coursework. Some schools require other courses in addition to those listed above.

Other programs, e.g., dentistry, pharmacy, have different requirements available on the Health Professions Advising websites linked above.

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

Objectives

The graduates of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering (BMHE) undergraduate program will:

1. Acquire additional skills and knowledge in biomedical engineering or other disciplines;
2. Meet or exceed the expectations of their employers in the biomedical engineering workplace or other professional careers;
3. Adapt to evolving technology and changing career opportunities.

Outcomes

Upon graduation, our students will have acquired the following:

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

UNC Advising Contacts