Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering lies at the interface of engineering and life sciences. Using engineering and design principles, a biomedical engineer works towards the advancement of biology and medicine, developing innovative technologies and solutions to health-related problems, such as new tools and models to diagnose, monitor, treat, and prevent disease.

The undergraduate program in Biomedical Engineering, housed in the department of Systems Design Engineering at Waterloo, is a stand-alone engineering program. The program provides an integrated systems approach to the study of biomedical engineering, where basic knowledge and skills such as biology, mechanics, physics, chemistry, system analysis and design are taught in the context of biomedical related applications while taking into consideration the complexity of biomedical systems.

The first three years of the program are intended to provide each student with a solid engineering background in areas relevant to biomedical issues.Throughout these three years the student's ability to grasp real engineering problems is enhanced by courses in systems design methodology followed by a series of challenging problem-solving experiences in the Biomedical Design Workshops. A focus is then given to the whole curriculum and the student learns to apply the lecture material, to develop skills in solving biomedical problems while developing design and project management abilities.

The final year of the program is comprised mostly of elective courses, allowing the student to focus on one or more areas of study. This provides the required background for a future year of advanced study to the MASc degree, or for a rewarding career in industry or government with a Bachelor's degree (BASc).

1st Year

• Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
• Computer-Aided Design
• Digital Computation
• Introduction to Biomedical Design
• Physics I - Statics
• Fundamental Engineering Math 1
• Matrices and Linear Systems 
• Seminar
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Human Factors in the Design of Biomedical and Health Systems 
• Physics II - Dynamics
• Chemistry Principles
• Fundamental Engineering Math 2
• Numerical and Applied Calculus

2nd Year

• Seminar
• Statistics and Experimental Design  
• Prototyping, Simulation and Design
• Mechanics of Deformable Solids
• Mechanics of Deformable Solids Laboratory
• Engineering Biology
• Engineering Biology Laboratory
• Seminar
• Linear Signals and Systems
• Materials Science for Biomedical Engineers 
• Physiological and Biological Systems
• Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory
• Digital Systems
• Digital Systems Laboratory
• Advanced Engineering Math 1
• Work-term Report

3rd Year

• Seminar
• Control Systems
• Control Systems Laboratory
• Anatomical Systems Modelling
• Biomedical Engineering Design
• Biomedical Engineering Ethics
• Seminar
• Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 1
• Engineering Biomedical Economics
• Biomedical Transport: Biofluids and Mass Transfer
• Physics of Medical Imaging
• Circuits, Instrumentation, and Measurements
• Circuits, Instrumentation, and Measurements Laboratory
• Work-term Report

4th Year

• Seminar
• Optimization and Numerical Methods 
• Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2
• Work-term Report 
• Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3

Electives

• Biomedical Engineering Ethics
• Engineering Design, Economics, and Impact on Society
• Environmental Sustainability and Ethics
• Environmental and Sustainability Assessment I
• Environmental and Sustainability Assessment II
• Environment and Development in a Global Perspective
• Conservation/Resource Management of the Built Environment
• Economic Impact of Technological Change and Entrepreneurship
• Impact of Information Systems on Organizations and Society
• Societal and Environmental Impacts of Nanotechnology 
• Biomedical Ethics
• Technology and Social Change
• Society, Technology and Values: Introduction
• Design and Society
• Biotechnology and Society
• Cybernetics and Society
• The Computing Society
• Information Technology and Society
• Technology in Canadian Society
• Design, Systems, and Society
• Gender, Culture and Technology
• Engineering Biomedical Economics
• Economics and Life Cycle Analysis
• Engineering Design, Economics, and Impact on Society
• Engineering Economics: Financial Management for Engineers
• Engineering Economics of Design

Requirements

• English, minimum grade of 4. Overall average of 4.
• Atestat o Srednem Obrazavanii (Secondary school leaving certificate).
• Passes in at least six subjects at the Senior (Grade 11) level, including required courses.
• English Language Test.
• Official translations are required.
• If your first language is not English, you may need to meet ourEnglish language requirements.Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) - Test Of English as a Foreign Language min 90, IELTS Academic - International English Language Testing System  min 7.0. 

Scholarships

• Marjorie Barber Entrance Scholarship
• Chachra Family Entrance Scholarships
• Arthur F. Church Entrance Scholarships
• Class of 1986 Entrance Scholarship
• Engineering International Student Entrance Scholarship
• Faculty of Engineering Entrance Scholarships
• Isabel Farrar Entrance Scholarships
• Fred Groch Entrance Scholarship
• Colonel Hugh Heasley Engineering Scholarships
• June Lowe Entrance Scholarship
• Paul and Suzanne Koenderman Entrance Scholarship in Engineering
• Motorola Engineering Scholarship