Biomedical Engineering B.Bm.E.

In bioelectricity/instrumentation (BEI), we seek to record, process, image, and control biomedical signals and develop instrumentation for biological research and medical applications. Specific examples of bioelectricity and instrumentation include cardiac pacemakers for restoring heart rhythm, braincomputer interfaces to link the brain and environment, and anatomical and functional imaging systems (optical, ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging) to assess tissue conditions at various scales and resolution.

Students in the sub-plan of biomaterials are expected to become acquainted with the general principles of designing, synthesizing, processing, and characterizing biomaterials and learn to use biomaterials to solve problems in biology and medicine. Courses on life science, fundamentals of materials science and engineering, and interactions between materials and living elements are relevant.

Biomechanics is the study of motion and the forces that produce motion in biological systems. The biomechanics sub-plan includes mechanics of tissues and biomaterials, whole body kinematics, and biomechanical design. This sub-plan prepares students to work on tissue mechanics problems, mechanical aspects of biomaterials selection, design of mechanical systems for biomedical use and to understand the dynamics of large scale motions.

Biomedical Transport Process involves three fundamental processes: momentum transfer, mass transfer, and heat transfer. They share similar biophysical and mathematical descriptions. Momentum transfer underlies flow fluid in the subject known as fluid mechanics. Applications of fluid mechanics in BME range from predicting blood flow in vessels, to flow of samples in "lab on chip" microfluidic systems, to flow of cell culture medium through tissue engineered cartilage in bioreactors. Mass and heat transfer refer to the ability to deliver molecules and energy, respectively, from a source to a target. Applications of mass and heat transfer range from predicting blood oxygenation rates in capillaries from oxygen in lung alveoli and in hollow fibers from pure oxygen gas in "heart lung machines," to movement of mRNA generated in the cell nucleus to cytoplasmic ribosomes. BTP is highly mathematical and computational in nature, since the basis of making such predictions is formulating and solving the equations that govern momentum, mass, and energy balances. As suggested in the above applications, BTP is relevant in almost every physiological / cellular process and almost all medical devices.

In cell and molecular bioengineering, we take advantage of natural biological processes for the advancement of industrial biotechnologies. For example, by harnessing the power of genetic manipulation, we can control cellular production of small molecules, enzymes (catalysts) and other biomolecules that can be used in the treatment of disease and / or in the development of nanoscale medical devices. Additionally, one desperate need is to improve approaches to discovering new drugs, and students in this sub-plan will be well positioned to pursue graduate work and ultimately a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

In cell and tissue engineering (CTE), we seek to control biological function at the cell and tissue level. Tissue engineering could include bioreactors for controlled physical/chemical stimuli, drug, and nutrient transport through tissue, and tissue mechanical properties. Specific examples of cell engineering include control of cell migration, division, growth, and death through therapeutic drugs or other molecular agents, such as those released from drug eluting stents. Students should be aware that there are relatively few bachelors degree level positions that directly relate to CTE. Rather, most of the positions in CTE tend to be filled by PhD level engineers, and so further study is usually required such as graduate or medical school. This sub-plan is useful preparation for that path.

The Digital Health sub-plan aims to prepare BME students to manage and analyze big data problems that face the medical industry. As medical health records are becoming digitized it provides the opportunity to use machine learning tools for medical discovery. Students will learn how to identifying disease biomarkers and traits that identify patients that are at risk for diseases and assess the best therapies suited to the patients needs. Students in this sub-plan will take machine learning and data management classes.

The medical device sub-plan covers an extreme range from implantable coronary artery stents to refrigerator sized blood testers. Some courses, such as Advanced Biomaterials, Computer Aided Product Realization, Quality Engineering, Design and Manufacturing, and Designing Experiments could be helpful for any career in devices. Students interested in electronic devices (which can range from pacemakers to giant blood testers) might consider the EE courses covering Fundamentals, Microsystems, Microcontrollers, Communications, and Analog/Digital Design. Students considering work in the broad area of stimulation and monitoring (pacemakers to nerve stimulators to EKGs) should take Advanced Bioelectricity. For a career in external medical devices (such as cardiac assist, dialysis, or blood testers), the courses on Advanced Biomedical Transport, Electric Drives, Motion Control, Advanced Mechanisms Design, Stress Analysis/Sensing/Transducers, and Robotics are helpful.

In neural engineering, we use engineering principles to understand how the brain works and develop new technology to interact and treat the brain. The curriculum for this sub-plan is designed to teach students the basics of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and the fundamentals of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, tinnitus, and epilepsy. Students will also develop engineering skills such as signal processing, image processing, instrumentation and computational modeling as well as electrode design, amplifier and filter design, brain machine interfaces, cochlear implants, and deep brain stimulation.

Biomedical engineering (BME) encompasses a broad range of approaches to improving health through technology. To function as a biomedical engineer, it is important to go beyond a broad training in the core principles of BME to also gain a depth of expertise in one or more specialized areas of BME. To facilitate this, the department requires that 27 credits of advanced engineering and science coursework be completed beyond that in the core curriculum. These advanced courses have a coherent theme and meet the requirements specified in the "degree requirements" section. Because BME is a rapidly evolving field, it is important that the areas of emphasis not be rigidly codified, but rather that students be allowed to customize their advanced studies to suit their own particular interests. Thus, if students do not choose one of our predefined emphasis areas, they are able to work with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to create a customized course list for their area of interest. It is necessary that the engineering and science elective (ESE) courses be technically coherent and that the courses be mainly in engineering and at an advanced level.

Integrated Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering / Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BBmE/MS)

The integrated BBmE/MS degree program allows students to complete both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five total years. It is exclusively available to students in the Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Program at the University of Minnesota. The program allows students with strong academic performance records to take additional credits at undergraduate tuition rates during their final semester(s) of the BBmE which can be applied towards the MS program. The program awards a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering degree and a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree. By offering the 4+1 degree, students can streamline their education in a condensed time frame allowing them to accelerate their entry into high paying jobs. Graduates of a 4+1 program will have a competitive advantage over other applicants due to the comprehensive understanding of both biomedical engineering fundamentals (through the BBmE) and specialized knowledge in biomedical engineering (through the MS). 

BBmE website: https://cse.umn.edu/bme/biomedical-engineering-undergraduate-program

MS website: https://cse.umn.edu/bme/masters

BBmE/MS website: https://cse.umn.edu/bme/integrated-bachelors-masters

Eligibility Requirements

At the time of application, students must have completed all sophomore-level BMEn coursework (BMEn 2101, 2151, 2401, 2501) and at least four of the five  junior-level BMEn lecture courses (3011, 3015, 3111, 3115, 3211) and four of the five BMEn junior-level lab courses (3215, 3311, 3315, 3411, 3415). Students who have not completed the required courses or their approved equivalents are not eligible to apply to the BBmE/MS. Students will not be permitted to advance to the MS portion of the program unless their undergraduate degrees are conferred.

Application Timing

Students apply to an integrated degree program the semester prior to the last year of undergraduate academic study. This provides the student one year (two semesters) to complete undergraduate degree requirements and take graduate level courses.

Application Procedure

Students must submit the BME Integrated Degree Program (IDP) Application. Applicants will be asked to complete an application which includes a personal statement describing interest in the integrated degree program and how it fits their career goals. 

Application Deadlines

Fall Admission opens following the posting of spring semester grades. Final deadline for admission is June 1; spring Admission is not available for the BBmE/MS.

Application Review

The Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Coordinator will facilitate the review of applications. Final approval for admission will be determined in consultation with the Department Head.

Application Decisions

Students will be notified of the outcome of their application via email by July 1 for a fall start.

In rare instances, students can be conditionally admitted to the IDP when there is a delay in the posting of grades from spring of the junior year. Admission can be revoked should the student not successfully complete the remaining junior level coursework prior to the end of the fall term following conditional admission.

Undergraduate Degree Progress

The Undergraduate Program Coordinator will assist students in undergraduate degree planning including identifying courses that will be taken during the final year of the BBmE that will be transferred into the MS upon completion of the BBmE. The Director of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty Subplan Advisors may be consulted to provide input on course selection for the undergraduate degree program. 

Courses taken for the MS do not require advanced approval so long as they are BMEN 5xxx or 8xxx level courses. Should a student wish to take a course as an undergraduate for use in the graduate program that does not meet this requirement, they will need to obtain approval in advance of registering for the class from the Graduate Program Coordinator. 

Students admitted to this IDP will complete and be awarded the undergraduate degree within 4 years (8 semesters) for NHS and 3 years (6 semesters) for NAS students. Admission into the IDP will be revoked if the awarding of this bachelor’s degree exceeds 8 semesters for NHS students and 6 semesters for NAS students. 

The Undergraduate Program Coordinator shall be responsible for reviewing the student’s APAS and making any necessary exceptions related to the IDP sub-plan, including ensuring that courses to be transferred into the MS are moved into the IDP portion of the APAS prior to the 10th day of classes in each semester the student is taking any coursework to be transferred. 

The associated bachelor’s degree must be awarded prior to the beginning of the master’s career. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees cannot be awarded simultaneously.

Admission to the graduate program is guaranteed providing the student meets the following requirement: cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher

Once enrolled in the master’s degree, students must complete a minimum of one semester (10 course credits) as a registered graduate student completing the master’s degree requirements before the awarding of the master’s degree.

Courses and Credits Eligible for Transfer

Students can apply a maximum of 20 credits taken during their senior year towards their master's degree. The 20 credits should come from BMEN graduate level courses (BMEN 5xxx or 8xxx level courses). 4xxx level courses are not transferable to a student’s master’s degree. 

Complete course(s) and earn up to 20 credit(s) from the following:

• BMEN 5xxx-level courses

• BMEN 8xxx-level courses

• Additional coursework may be allowed with prior approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies

Credits cannot be double counted (used for both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements). This includes credits used for other undergraduate degrees, majors, or minors.

Credits for a course cannot be split between the undergraduate degrees, majors, or minors and graduate degree programs.

Courses that will be used to fulfill the master’s degree requirements must appear in the undergraduate degree sub-plan by the tenth day of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the courses. Any final edits or updates to this sub-plan must be reflected on the APAS no later than the last day of instruction in the semester in which the undergraduate degree will be awarded.  Courses not in this sub-plan by that time cannot be updated later and, therefore, will not be eligible for use towards the master’s degree.

The Transfer Credit from Undergraduate to Graduate Program form will be completed by the Undergraduate Program Coordinator during the summer between completion of the BBmE and matriculation into the masters program. The Graduate Program Coordinator will then send the form to the student to review for accuracy and for their signature.