Biomedical Engineering - Bachelor of Science (BSBM)

Requirements

Prerequisites and Passing Grades

Required Courses and Credits

Required courses in engineering, physical science, and mathematics are interwoven throughout the curriculum to provide a balanced education in the fundamentals of the biomedical engineering profession. The core courses are complemented by technical electives, humanities and social sciences electives, free electives, and a writing course, for a total of 128 credits required for the degree. 

Optional Program Tracks

Two distinct tracks are offered for students preparing for medical school:

• Pre-medical track biomechanics option: For students interested in going to medical school and are interested in human motion, performance, disabilities, prosthetics or orthopedics.
• Pre-medical track bioinstrumentation option: For students interested in going to medical school and are interested in medical devices, such as biosensors and imaging systems, or robotic surgical tools.

Premedical Biomechanics Track

For more information, including curriculum requirements, visit the program's Advising & Curriculum webpage.

Premedical Bioinstrumentation Track

For more information, including curriculum requirements, visit the program's Advising & Curriculum webpage.

Plan(s) of Study

Premedical Biomechanics Track

Premedical Bioinstrumentation Track

Learning Outcomes

Program Educational Objectives

The biomedical engineering program at CU Boulder is dedicated to preparing each of our graduating students for one or more the following achievements within 5-10 years of receiving their undergraduate degrees:

• Professional engineering employment in life sciences and healthcare industries, in interdisciplinary areas including but not limited to the medical device industry, engineering consulting, biomechanics, digital health and biotechnology, with promotions and increasing levels of leadership and responsibility over time.
• Completion of graduate degree in biomedical engineering or related fields, with subsequent employment in academy, industry or related professions.
• Completion of medical or other professional school, with subsequent placement in residency, clinical practice and/or other professional employment.

General Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

• Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
• 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.
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
• 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.
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Biomedical Engineering Specific Outcomes

Upon graduation, students will be able to:

• Apply principles of engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry, calculus-based physics, mathematics (through differential equations) and statistics.
• Solve biomedical engineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems.
• Analyze, model, design and realize biomedical engineering devices, systems, components or processes.
• Make measurements on and interpret data from living systems.

Bachelor's–Accelerated Master's Degree Program(s)

The bachelor's–accelerated master's (BAM) degree program options offer currently enrolled CU Boulder undergraduate students the opportunity to receive a bachelor's and master's degree in a shorter period of time. Students receive the bachelor's degree first but begin taking graduate coursework as undergraduates (typically in their senior year).

Because some courses are allowed to double count for both the bachelor's and the master's degrees, students receive a master's degree in less time and at a lower cost than if they were to enroll in a stand-alone master's degree program after completion of their baccalaureate degree. In addition, staying at CU Boulder to pursue a bachelor's–accelerated master's program enables students to continue working with their established faculty mentors.

BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering

Admission Requirements

In order to gain admission to the BAM program named above, a student must meet the following criteria:

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.000 or higher. 
• Have no MAPS deficiencies (students admitted to CU Boulder prior to Summer 2023 only).
• Have at least junior class standing.
• Have completed all prerequisite courses with a passing grade at the time of admission: BMEN 2000, BMEN 2010 and BMEN 3010.

Program Requirements

Students may take up to and including 12 hours while in the undergraduate program which can later be used toward the master's degree. However, only 6 credits may be double-counted toward the bachelor's degree and the master's degree. Students must maintain a 3.000 GPA while in the BAM program.

Students must apply to graduate with the bachelor's degree and apply to continue with the master's degree early in the semester in which the undergraduate requirements will be completed.