Biomedical Engineering (BSBiomedE/MSE)
Integrated Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering/Master of Science in Engineering Program
The integrated degree program results in simultaneously awarding a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BSBME) and a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree offered by the graduate program in biomedical engineering. The objective of the Integrated BSBME/MSE Program is to enable prepared undergraduates in Biomedical Engineering to earn two degrees in a shortened time period. By applying AP and Credit by Exam courses, having students take recommended summer courses, and allowing seniors to enroll in graduate-level engineering courses reserved for graduate credit, the program enables graduates to complete both degree requirements in five years.
Admission
Current undergraduate BME students may begin the application process to the Integrated BSBME/MSE Program option in the first term of their third year. Admission includes the two steps outlined below. Undergraduate students not in the biomedical engineering major are not eligible to apply. It is expected that all students selected for the program in Step 1 and have been successful in their first graduate-level coursework will be selected for admission in Step 2. Successful completion will be evaluated and determined by the department’s Domestic Graduate Admission Committee and the Graduate Advisor.
Step 1. Students go through the first step in application for admission to the Integrated BSBME/MSE Program in the second term of the third year. The Step 1 application is internal through the department and includes a resume, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation. Qualified applicants will be selected based on the applicant’s progress to degree completion, grade point average, and other qualifications included in the application materials. Selected students will be notified early in the summer after the third year of their admission status for the integrated program, allowing them to meet with an academic advisor to plan graduate coursework in the first term of their fourth year.
Step 2. Students go through the second step in the application after the second term of their fourth year. The Step 2 application is formal through the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) and includes a resume, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and a TOEFL score (if required). Qualified applicants will be selected based on success in graduate-level engineering courses in the first term of their fourth year, grade point average, and other qualifications included in the application materials.
If a student in their fourth year is taking graduate courses and would be on track to complete the integrated program but did not apply in their third year through Step 1, they may also choose to apply in Step 2 and formally apply through OGA by the normal admission deadline. These students will be evaluated for admission on the same criteria.
Advising
Once admitted, students will be advised each semester by the graduate advisor and an academic advisor to complete coursework required for the BSBME degree in their fourth year, and completion of the coursework required for the MSE degree in their fourth and fifth years.
Information regarding the integrated program requirements and policies may be obtained from the Biomedical Engineering Academic Advising Office.
Licensure
Preparation for Health Professions
Students who plan to attend medical or dental school in Texas must complete coursework in addition to that required for the degree to meet professional school admission requirements; those who plan to attend schools outside Texas may need additional coursework. The student is responsible for knowing and meeting these additional requirements, and assistance and information are available in the Health Professions Office in Natural Sciences. Additional information about preparation for health professions is available online.
Preparation for Law
There is no sequential arrangement of courses prescribed for a pre-law program. The Association of American Law Schools puts special emphasis on comprehension and expression in words, critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals, and analytical power in thinking. Courses relevant to these objectives deal with communication of ideas, logic, mathematics, social sciences, history, philosophy, and the physical sciences. Services for pre-law students are provided to students in all colleges by Liberal Arts Career Services, and to engineering students by the Engineering Career Assistance Center (ECAC). Additional information about preparation for law is available online.
Objectives
Achievement of the program outcomes gives students the foundation for accomplishing the biomedical engineering program educational objectives. A few years after graduation, students are expected to be able to:
- Conduct themselves with exemplary professional ethics and highest integrity
- Demonstrate a quantitative, analytical, and systems approach to problem solving in their professional practice
- Demonstrate a continuous quest for professional excellence and success
- Participate in continuing education to expand their knowledge of contemporary professional issues
- Exhibit effective scientific, technical, communication, and resource management skills in their professional practice
Outcomes
Graduates of the biomedical engineering program are expected to have:
- 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 specific needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, societal, 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 judgements, 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 judgement to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
Total Hours Required: 156
Undergraduate: 126
Graduate 30
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| BME 303L | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 206L | Introductory Laboratory Experiments in Biology | 2 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BME 303 | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 204 | Introduction to Chemical Practice | 2 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 19 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BME 214L | Computational Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 311 | Network Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (advisor approval required) | 3 |
| CH 328M or CH 320M |
Organic Chemistry I or Organic Chemistry I |
3 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| E S 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| BME 313L | Introduction to Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 335 | Engineering Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| BME 344 | Biomechanics (advisor approval required) | 3 |
| BCH 369 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BME 245L | Experimental Principles of Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 343 | Biomedical Engineering Signal and Systems Analysis | 3 |
| BME 365R | Quantitative Engineering Physiology I | 3 |
| BME 352 | Engineering Biomaterials | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BME 261L | Development and Analysis in Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 349 | Biomedical Instrumentation | 3 |
| BME 365S | Quantitative Engineering Physiology II | 3 |
| BME 353 | Transport Phenomena in Living Systems | 3 |
| BME 355 | Molecular Engineering (advisor approval required) | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| BME 370 | Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design I | 3 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| BME 371 | Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Graduate coursework | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 6 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 9 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| Graduate Coursework | 9 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 156 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||
| Concentration | ||
| Hours chosen from: Technical area engineering electives (see below) | 6 | |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Degree (see details below) | 96 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 96 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 24 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| College Requirements - Engineering | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Graduate Degree | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Graduate Engineering Requirements | ||
| Graduate University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 156 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
In order for integrated program students to complete both the BSBME and MSE degrees in five years, the department waives six semester credit hours (SCH) of technical area electives in lieu of six hours of graduate engineering reserved for graduate credit taken in the fourth year. This reduces the total undergraduate degree requirements for integrated program students from 132 to 126 hours. The remaining required six hours of technical area electives required for the undergraduate degree must be taken in engineering (see concentrations below).
Students complete 12 hours of graduate coursework in their fourth year and 18 hours of graduate coursework in their fifth year to complete a total of 30 SCH of graduate coursework for the graduate degree as described in the Graduate Catalog. Students have the option of choosing the coursework or thesis options for the MSE degree as described in the Graduate Catalog. Which courses the student takes will be determined with the graduate advisor and academic advisor to ensure compliance with degree requirements and meet the students’ career goals.
Students unable to successfully complete the integrated program, or who wish to terminate pursuit of the graduate degree for any reason, may obtain an undergraduate degree by satisfying all of the requirements for the standalone degree. Six graduate hours taken in the fourth year may count toward 12 hours of technical area electives required to complete the entire 132 hours required. An undergraduate leaving the integrated program will be on a trajectory to graduate with the undergraduate degree in the same timeframe prior to admission to the integrated program.
Graduates of the integrated program will receive both degrees simultaneously after successfully completing the 126 undergraduate hours and 30 graduate hours required, to reach a total of 156 hours. It is expected that students in this program will graduate with both degrees in a total of five years to completion.
Concentrations
For a list of courses in the Concentration options, please see the below pages under either Concentration on the Requirements tab or on the Course Lists tab. The courses must be engineering courses.
- Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation (BSBiomedE)
- Biomedical Engineering, Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering (BSBiomedE)
- Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biomedical Engineering (BSBiomedE)
- Biomedical Engineering, Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics (BSBiomedE)
Degree-Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BSBiomedE)
Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| Biomedical Engineering | ||
| BME 214L | Computational Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 245L | Experimental Principles of Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 261L | Development and Analysis in Biomedical Engineering Design | 2 |
| BME 303 | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
| BME 303L | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design | 3 |
| BME 311 | Network Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (advisor approval required) | 3 |
| BME 313L | Introduction to Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BME 335 | Engineering Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| BME 343 | Biomedical Engineering Signal and Systems Analysis | 3 |
| BME 344 | Biomechanics (advisor approval required) | 3 |
| BME 349 | Biomedical Instrumentation | 3 |
| BME 352 | Engineering Biomaterials | 3 |
| BME 353 | Transport Phenomena in Living Systems | 3 |
| BME 355 | Molecular Engineering | 3 |
| BME 365R | Quantitative Engineering Physiology I | 3 |
| BME 365S | Quantitative Engineering Physiology II | 3 |
| BME 370 | Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design I | 3 |
| BME 371 | Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II | 3 |
| Subtotal | 51 | |
| Biochemistry and Biology | ||
| BCH 369 | Fundamentals of Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIO 206L | Introductory Laboratory Experiments in Biology | 2 |
| BIO 311C | Introductory Biology I | 3 |
| Subtotal | 8 | |
| Chemistry | ||
| CH 401 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 |
| CH 402 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| CH 320M | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| or CH 328M | Organic Chemistry I | |
| Subtotal | 11 | |
| Mathematics | ||
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| Subtotal | 12 | |
| Physics | ||
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| Subtotal | 8 | |
| Rhetoric and Writing | ||
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Additional Required Hours | ||
| E S 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 96 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
Prior to registration, students must receive approval from the advising office for courses to be used to fulfill technical and nontechnical course requirements. The student must take all courses required for the degree on the letter-grade basis and must earn a grade of at least C- in each, except for those listed as remaining Core Curriculum.
Each student should choose a concentration by the end of the sophomore year and plan an academic program to meet the area requirements during the next two years.
Plan II Honors Program
Students enrolled in the Plan II Honors Program are encouraged to contact the Biomedical Engineering Academic Advising Office, in addition to the Plan II Office to ensure that requirements for both programs are met. Plan II courses may count toward biomedical engineering program requirements.