Biomedical engineering

The bachelor of science in biomedical engineering prepares students to become leaders, innovators, and self-educators throughout their biomedical and bioengineeringcareers. The undergraduate program trains students to apply engineering techniques to the analysis of biological systems, providing full integration of biology and engineering.

This undergraduate degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, and it is intended for students who are interested in becoming practicing engineers or continuing on with graduate study.

Our curriculum provides students with the core biomedical engineering fundamentals. Beyond the core, students take 4 electives that provide depth in a particular area or breadth across biomedical engineering. Students wishing more depth could focus on:

• Biomechanics and Rehabilitation
• Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine
• Imaging and Biophotonics

Students must complete a minimum of 48 courses, including the following. Only Social sciences/humanities and unrestricted courses may be taken P/N.

CORE COURSES (26 COURSES)

• Mathematics (4 courses: Math 220, 224, 230, 234)
• Engineering analysis and computer proficiency (4 courses)
• Basic sciences (4 courses: Physics 135-2, 135-3; Chem 102, 103 or Chem 171, 172)
• Design Thinking and Communications (2 courses) - Most engineering majors require a third communications course, but for BME, this is incorporated into BMD_ENG 390-2.
• Social sciences/humanities (7 courses)
• Unrestricted electives (5 courses)

BASIC ENGINEERING (5 COURSES)

A. Thermodynamics - 1 course from those listed below
BMD_ENG 250 Thermodynamics
MECH ENG 220 Thermodynamics I

B. Fluids and Solids - 2 courses as specified below
BMD_ENG 271 Introduction to Biomechanics and
BMD_ENG 270 Fluid Mechanics or
MECH ENG 241 Fluid Mechanics I

C. Material Science - 1 course
MAT SCI 201 Principles of the Properties of Materials

D. Probability, Statistics, and Quality Control - 1 course from those listed below
BMD_ENG 220 Introduction to Biostatistics
IEMS 303 Statistics I
MECH ENG 359 Reliability Engineering

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING CORE (11 COURSES + 1 ZERO CREDIT SEMINAR)

• BMD_ENG 101: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (Zero Credit)
• BIOL SCI 215: Genetics and Molecular Biology or BIOL SCI 219 (Formerly called 216): Cell Biology
• CHEM 210-1: Organic Chemistry
• BMD ENG 301: Systems Physiology
• BMD ENG 302: Systems Physiology
• BMD ENG 303: Systems Physiology
• BMD ENG 305: Intro to Biomedical Signals and Electrical Circuits
• BMD ENG 306: Biomedical Systems Analysis
• BMD ENG 307: Quantitative Experimentation and Design
• BMD ENG 350: Transport Fundamentals
• BMD ENG 390-1: Biomedical Engineering Design
• BMD ENG 390-2 or BMD_ENG 391-SA: Biomedical Engineering Design (This counts for McCormick under the communications requirement)

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ELECTIVES (4 COURSES)

Four courses must be completed. Two must be from category A below. Two must be from category B, which includes many courses. Please see the PDF version of the curriculm for category B options.
Students may choose to focus all these courses in a particular area of biomedical engineering, but this is optional.

Category A courses are:

• BMD_ENG 317: Biochemical Sensors
• BMD_ENG 325: Introduction to Medical Imaging
• BMD_ENG 327: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• BMD_ENG 333: Modern Optical Microscopy and Imaging
• BMD_ENG 343: Biomaterials and Medical Devices or MSE 370: Biomaterials
• BMD_ENG 344: Biological Performance of Materials
• BMD_ENG 346: Tissue Engineering
• BMD_ENG 349-1: Bioregenerative Engineering
• BMD_ENG 349-2: Regenerative Engineering Applications
• BMD_ENG 366: Biomechanics of Movement
• BMD_ENG 371: Mechanics of Biological Tissues
• BMD_ENG 377: Intermediate Fluid Mechanics

TECHNICAL ELECTIVES (2 UNITS)

Students are urged to choose technical electives that emphasize engineering design. Technical electives may include:

• BIOL SCI: 215 or 219 (the one not used in the BME core), 218
• CHEM: 101, 210-2, 210-3
• DSGN: 240, 245, 246 (0.5 unit each)
• EECS: 211, 230
• ME 240
• Any course in engineering, science, or mathematics at the 300 level or higher, provided that it is graded. (BME 399 independent study is not graded.) Approval may be required for some offerings of BMD_ENG 395: Special Topics.
• BMD_ENG 388-SA and 389-SA may be technical electives but may not be used in Category B.

Requirements

• Common Application or Coalition Application*
• Official secondary school transcript and school report
• Counselor recommendation
• At least one teacher recommendation
• Official SAT or ACT scores†
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (ONLY international applicants whose first language is not English or whose schooling has not been in English)
• Recommended: two SAT subject tests
• Nonrefundable application fee of $75 or fee waiver
• Early Decision Agreement (ONLY Early Decision applicants)
• Midyear transcript (ONLY Regular Decision applicants)
• Music audition (ONLY School of Music applicants)
• Required for home-schooled applicants: 3 SAT subject tests 

Scholarships

• Northwestern University Scholarship
• No-Loan Arch Scholarship
• No-Loan Pledge Scholarship
• Debt Cap Scholarship
• National Merit Scholarship
• Founders Scholarship
• Karr Achievement Scholarship