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, students take engineering courses in mechanics, circuits, computer programming and materials, followed by specialized courses in biomedical engineering. The design process is woven throughout the curriculum. Students gain skills in manufacturing processes and biological synthesis while following the guidelines for FDA approval for a medical device.
Curriculum
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’ attention to prerequisites is important. 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.
For Students Admitted through UNC-Chapel Hill
- Sample Curriculum Plan
- Audit form
- Students taking courses in different semesters than outlined in the Sample Plan should consult the flowchart to ensure prerequisites are met: 2020-2021 UNC Flowchart for Biomedical Engineering.
- Specialization electives can be planned using the Specialization Elective Flowchart.
For Students Admitted through NC State
- Sample Curriculum Plan
- Students taking courses in different semesters than outlined in the Sample Plan should consult the flowchart to ensure prerequisites are met: 2020-2021 NC State Flow Chart for Biomedical Engineering.
- Specialization electives can be planned using the Specialization Elective Flowchart.
STEM Electives (Advised Engineering electives)
Please click here 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 here for additional questions.
Advising
- Faculty advisors can help you with class choices, curriculum planning and advice on career decisions, including industry careers, graduate programs and medical programs. You will be assigned a faculty advisor soon after admission to the program. Check mypack.ncsu.edu to find the name of your advisor.
- First-year students are advised by the College of Engineering. Contact engineering@ncsu.edu.
- Career advisors can help you with advice on career decisions, graduate programs and medical programs. You will be assigned to a BME faculty member as your career advisor soon after admission to the program.
- Curriculum advisors can help you with choosing classes at both UNC and NC State and other issues related to the BMHE curriculum. The curriculum advisors are a select group of faculty and staff who are most familiar with our curriculum.
Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes
Program Educational Objectives
The graduates of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Engineering (BMHE) undergraduate program will:
Student Outcomes
Upon graduation, our students will have acquired:
- 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
UNC Advising Contacts
1st Year and Students A-M
Students N-P
Students Q-S
Students T-Z