2026-2028 Catalog

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the principles and tools of traditional engineering fields, such as mechanical, materials, electrical, and chemical engineering, are applied to biomedical problems. Engineering plays an increasingly important role in medicine in projects that range from basic research in physiology to advances in medical devices, biotechnology, and the improvement of health care delivery. By its very nature, biomedical engineering is broad and requires a foundation in the engineering sciences as well as in physiology and other biological sciences. 

The BS degree program in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. 

Concentrations

Bioinstrumentation

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The bioinstrumentation concentration prepares students for entry level jobs in the medical device industry where a deeper understanding of electrical engineering skills are necessary.

Cell Therapy

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The cell therapy concentration prepares students for employment in the biotechnology and regenerative medicine industry, with specific focus on the cell therapy field.

Mechanical Design

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

The mechanical design concentration prepares students for employment in the product development, design, or manufacturing fields in the medical device industry.

Individualized Course of Study

Offered at: San Luis Obispo Campus

An Individualized Course of Study in Biomedical Engineering is also an option. It is not a formal concentration. Students instead select support and technical elective coursework in consultation with a faculty advisor. Those who do not declare a concentration will default to the Individualized Course of Study.

Program Learning Objectives

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
  2. An ability to 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.
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. An ability to 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.
  5. 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 objective.
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Degree Requirements and Curriculum

In addition to the program requirements listed on this page, students must also satisfy requirements outlined in more detail in the Minimum Requirements for Graduation section of this catalog, including:

  • 40 units of upper-division courses
  • 2.0 GPA
  • Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR)
  • U.S. Cultural Pluralism (USCP)

Note: No Major or Support courses may be selected as credit/no credit. In addition, no more than 12 units of cooperative or internship courses can count towards your degree requirements.

MAJOR COURSES
BMED 1101Introduction to Biomedical Engineering1
BMED 2212Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering3
BMED 2310Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering2
BMED 2311Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab1
BMED 2420Principles and Applications of Biomaterials4
BMED 3102Biomedical Engineering Professional Development1
BMED 3410Biomechanics3
BMED 3425Biomedical Engineering Transport4
BMED 3430Biomedical Modeling and Simulation2
BMED 4440Bioelectronics and Instrumentation3
BMED 4460Medical Physiology for Engineers3
BMED 4465Senior Project: Design I2
BMED 4466Senior Project: Design II2
Concentration or Individualized Course of Study
(See list of Concentrations and Individualized Course of Study below) 118-19
SUPPORT COURSES
BIO 1151Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 24
BIO 2231Human Anatomy and Physiology I4
or BIO 2232 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
CHEM 1120Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 24
CHEM 1122Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity4
ENGR 2211Introduction to Mechanics4
ENGR 2212Introduction to Engineering Dynamics2
MATH 1261Calculus I (2) 24
MATH 1262Calculus II4
MATH 2263Calculus III3
MATH 2341Linear Analysis4
ME 3341Fluid Mechanics3
PHYS 1141General Physics I4
PHYS 1143General Physics II4
STAT 3210Engineering Statistics (Upper-Division 2/5) 23
GENERAL EDUCATION (GE)
(See GE program requirements below)30
FREE ELECTIVES
Free Electives0
Total Units130-131
1

BMED majors may not count any internship or cooperative education (BMED 4495) units toward degree requirements.

2

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

 

Concentrations

Bioinstrumentation

REQUIRED COURSES
BMED 3355Electrical Engineering Concepts for Biomedical Engineering3
BMED 4445Biopotential Instrumentation3
MATH 3351Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems3
Technical Electives
Select from the following: 9-10
Microfluidics/MEMS Design
Microfluidics/MEMS Design and Fabrication Laboratory
Micro/Nano Fabrication
Micro/Nano Fabrication Laboratory
Biomedical Signal Transduction and Data Acquisition
Biomedical Imaging
Introduction to Computational Neuroscience
General Physics III: Modern Physics
Optics
Solid State Physics
Total Units18-19
 

Cell Therapy

REQUIRED COURSES
BIO 3351Principles of Genetics3
BIO 4456Immunology4
BIO 4457Molecular Biology Laboratory3
BMED 3360Cellular Immunotherapy3
BMED 3362Regenerative Medicine Therapies3
Technical Electives
Select from the following:3
Microfluidics/MEMS Design
Micro/Nano Fabrication
Micro/Nano Fabrication Laboratory
Drug Discovery and Development
Senior Thesis
Principles of Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Imaging
Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics
Cell Transplantation and Biotherapeutics Laboratory
Total Units19
 

Mechanical Design

REQUIRED COURSES
BMED 3330Intermediate Biomedical Design3
or ME 3329 Mechanical Systems Design
IME 1140Technical Graphics Communication for Design and Manufacturing1
IME 1143Introduction to Design and Manufacturing2
ME 3328Design for Strength and Stiffness4
Support Electives
Select from the following:3-4
Human Genetics
Introduction to Metal Casting and Prototyping
Materials Joining
Technical Electives
Select from the following:5-6
Applied Finite Element Analysis
Skeletal Tissue Mechanics
Reliability for Design and Testing
Design of Experiments for Industrial Applications
Intermediate Dynamics
Advanced Strength of Materials
Orthopedic Biomechanics
Composite Materials Analysis and Design
Total Units18-19
 

Individualized Course of Study

REQUIRED COURSES
Support Electives
Select from the following:9-10
Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Human Genetics
Principles of Genetics
Bioinformatics Applications
Cell Biology
Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Organic Chemistry: Fundamentals and Applications
Biochemistry: Fundamentals and Applications
Test Design and Analysis in Manufacturing Engineering
Principles of Materials Engineering for Non-Majors
Materials Laboratory I
Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems
General Microbiology I
Technical Electives
Select from the following:9-10
Electrical Engineering Concepts for Biomedical Engineering
Applied Finite Element Analysis
Medical Device Evaluation and FDA Regulatory Processes
Microfluidics/MEMS Design
Microfluidics/MEMS Design and Fabrication Laboratory
Micro/Nano Fabrication
Micro/Nano Fabrication Laboratory
Biopotential Instrumentation
Special Advanced Topics
Special Advanced Laboratory
Senior Thesis
Principles of Tissue Engineering
Biomedical Imaging
Skeletal Tissue Mechanics
Advanced Issues in Biomaterials
Bioseparations and Clinical Diagnostics
Current and Evolving Topics in Biomedical Engineering
Reliability for Design and Testing
Design of Experiments for Industrial Applications
Advanced Materials Characterization
Nanoscale Materials
Intermediate Dynamics
Access by Design: Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering
Total Units18-19
 

General Education (GE) Requirements  

General Education (GE) Requirements

  • 43 units required, 13 of which are specified in Major and/or Support.
  • If any of the remaining 30 Units is used to satisfy a Major or Support requirement, additional units of Free Electives may be needed to complete the total units required for the degree.
  • See the complete GE course listing.
  • A grade of C- or better is required in one course in each of the following GE Areas: 1A (English Composition), 1B (Critical Thinking), 1C (Oral Communication), and 2 (Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning). 
Lower-Division General Education
Area 1English Communication and Critical Thinking
1AWritten Communication3
1BCritical Thinking3
1COral Communication3
Area 2Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
2Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units in Support) 10
Area 3Arts and Humanities
3AArts3
3BHumanities: Literature, Philosophy, Languages other than English 3
Area 4Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.)
4AAmerican Institutions (Title 5, Section 40404 Requirement)3
4BSocial and Behavioral Sciences3
Area 5Physical and Life Sciences
5APhysical Sciences (3 units in Support) 10
5BLife Sciences (3 units in Support) 10
5CLaboratory (may be embedded in a 5A or 5B course) (1 units in Support) 10
Area 6 Ethnic Studies
6 Ethnic Studies3
Upper-Division General Education
Upper-Division 2/5Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning or Physical and Life Sciences (3 units in Support) 10
Upper-Division 3Arts and Humanities3
Upper-Division 4Social and Behavioral Sciences (Area 4 courses must come from at least two different course prefixes.)3
Total Units30
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

Biomedical Engineering

Concentration Not Yet Declared - BS in Biomedical Engineering
Suggested Four-Year Flowcharts are planning guides and do not represent a required course sequence. 
Courses may be completed in a different order, provided requisite requirements are satisfied.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Units
BMED 1101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1
CHEM 1120 Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 4
MATH 1261 Calculus I (2) 1 4
PHYS 1141 General Physics I 4
General Education Requirement (1A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 2310 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering 2
BMED 2311 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab 1
CHEM 1122 Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity 4
MATH 1262 Calculus II 4
PHYS 1143 General Physics II 4
General Education Requirement (1B) 3
 Units18
Second Year
Term 1
BMED 2212 Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering 3
BIO 1151 Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 4
ENGR 2211 Introduction to Mechanics 4
MATH 2263 Calculus III 3
General Education Requirement (1C) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 2420 Principles and Applications of Biomaterials 4
BIO 2231
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4
ENGR 2212 Introduction to Engineering Dynamics 2
MATH 2341 Linear Analysis 4
General Education Requirement (3A) 3
 Units17
Third Year
Term 1
BMED 3102 Biomedical Engineering Professional Development 1
BMED 3430 Biomedical Modeling and Simulation 2
STAT 3210 Engineering Statistics (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 3
Concentration Course or Elective 3
General Education Requirement (3B) 3
General Education Requirement (4B) 3
 Units15
Term 2
BMED 3410 Biomechanics 3
BMED 4440 Bioelectronics and Instrumentation 3
ME 3341 Fluid Mechanics 3
Concentration Course or Elective 3-4
General Education Requirement (4A) 3
 Units15
Fourth Year
Term 1
BMED 3425 Biomedical Engineering Transport 4
BMED 4460 Medical Physiology for Engineers 3
BMED 4465 Senior Project: Design I 2
Concentration Course or Elective 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 3) 3
General Education Requirement (6) 3
 Units18
Term 2
BMED 4466 Senior Project: Design II 2
Concentration Course or Elective 3
Concentration Course or Elective 3
Concentration Course or Elective 3-4
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 4) 3
 Units14-15
 Total Units130-131
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

 

Bioinstrumentation 

Bioinstrumentation Concentration - BS in Biomedical Engineering
Suggested Four-Year Flowcharts are planning guides and do not represent a required course sequence. 
Courses may be completed in a different order, provided requisite requirements are satisfied.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Units
BMED 1101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1
CHEM 1120 Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 4
MATH 1261 Calculus I (2) 1 4
PHYS 1141 General Physics I 4
General Education Requirement (1A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 2310 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering 2
BMED 2311 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab 1
CHEM 1122 Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity 4
MATH 1262 Calculus II 4
PHYS 1143 General Physics II 4
General Education Requirement (1B) 3
 Units18
Second Year
Term 1
BMED 2212 Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering 3
BIO 1151 Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 4
ENGR 2211 Introduction to Mechanics 4
MATH 2263 Calculus III 3
General Education Requirement (1C) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 2420 Principles and Applications of Biomaterials 4
BIO 2231
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4
ENGR 2212 Introduction to Engineering Dynamics 2
MATH 2341 Linear Analysis 4
General Education Requirement (3A) 3
 Units17
Third Year
Term 1
BMED 3102 Biomedical Engineering Professional Development 1
BMED 3430 Biomedical Modeling and Simulation 2
BMED 3355 Electrical Engineering Concepts for Biomedical Engineering 3
MATH 3351 Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems 3
STAT 3210 Engineering Statistics (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 3
General Education Requirement (3B) 3
General Education Requirement (4B) 3
 Units18
Term 2
BMED 3410 Biomechanics 3
BMED 4440 Bioelectronics and Instrumentation 3
ME 3341 Fluid Mechanics 3
Concentration Technical Elective 3-4
General Education Requirement (4A) 3
 Units15-16
Fourth Year
Term 1
BMED 3425 Biomedical Engineering Transport 4
BMED 4460 Medical Physiology for Engineers 3
BMED 4465 Senior Project: Design I 2
Concentration Technical Elective 3
General Education Requirement (6) 3
 Units15
Term 2
BMED 4445 Biopotential Instrumentation 3
BMED 4466 Senior Project: Design II 2
Concentration Technical Elective 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 3) 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 4) 3
 Units14
 Total Units130-131
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

 

Cell Therapy

Cell Therapy Concentration - BS in Biomedical Engineering
Suggested Four-Year Flowcharts are planning guides and do not represent a required course sequence. 
Courses may be completed in a different order, provided requisite requirements are satisfied.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Units
BMED 1101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1
CHEM 1120 Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 4
MATH 1261 Calculus I (2) 1 4
PHYS 1141 General Physics I 4
General Education Requirement (1A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 2310 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering 2
BMED 2311 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab 1
CHEM 1122 Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity 4
MATH 1262 Calculus II 4
PHYS 1143 General Physics II 4
General Education Requirement (1B) 3
 Units18
Second Year
Term 1
BMED 2212 Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering 3
BIO 1151 Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 4
ENGR 2211 Introduction to Mechanics 4
MATH 2263 Calculus III 3
General Education Requirement (1C) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 2420 Principles and Applications of Biomaterials 4
BIO 3351 Principles of Genetics 3
MATH 2341 Linear Analysis 4
ENGR 2212 Introduction to Engineering Dynamics 2
General Education Requirement (3A) 3
 Units16
Third Year
Term 1
BMED 3102 Biomedical Engineering Professional Development 1
BMED 3360 Cellular Immunotherapy 3
STAT 3210 Engineering Statistics (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 3
ME 3341 Fluid Mechanics 3
BIO 2231
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4
General Education Requirement (4A) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 3362 Regenerative Medicine Therapies 3
BMED 3410 Biomechanics 3
BMED 4460 Medical Physiology for Engineers 3
BIO 4457 Molecular Biology Laboratory 3
General Education Requirement (3B) 3
General Education Requirement (4B) 3
 Units18
Fourth Year
Term 1
BMED 3430 Biomedical Modeling and Simulation 2
BMED 4465 Senior Project: Design I 2
BIO 4456 Immunology 4
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 3) 3
General Education Requirement (6) 3
 Units14
Term 2
BMED 3425 Biomedical Engineering Transport 4
BMED 4440 Bioelectronics and Instrumentation 3
BMED 4466 Senior Project: Design II 2
Concentration Technical Elective 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 4) 3
 Units15
 Total Units131
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

 

Mechanical Design

Mechanical Design Concentration - BS in Biomedical Engineering
Suggested Four-Year Flowcharts are planning guides and do not represent a required course sequence. 
Courses may be completed in a different order, provided requisite requirements are satisfied.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Units
BMED 1101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1
CHEM 1120 Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 4
MATH 1261 Calculus I (2) 1 4
PHYS 1141 General Physics I 4
General Education Requirement (1A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 2310 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering 2
BMED 2311 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab 1
CHEM 1122 Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity 4
MATH 1262 Calculus II 4
PHYS 1143 General Physics II 4
General Education Requirement (1B) 3
 Units18
Second Year
Term 1
BMED 2212 Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering 3
BIO 1151 Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 4
ENGR 2211 Introduction to Mechanics 4
MATH 2263 Calculus III 3
General Education Requirement (1C) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 2420 Principles and Applications of Biomaterials 4
BIO 2231
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4
ENGR 2212 Introduction to Engineering Dynamics 2
MATH 2341 Linear Analysis 4
General Education Requirement (3A) 3
 Units17
Third Year
Term 1
BMED 3102 Biomedical Engineering Professional Development 1
BMED 3410 Biomechanics 3
IME 1140
IME 1143
Technical Graphics Communication for Design and Manufacturing
and Introduction to Design and Manufacturing
3
ME 3328 Design for Strength and Stiffness 4
ME 3341 Fluid Mechanics 3
General Education Requirement (4A) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 3330
Intermediate Biomedical Design
or Mechanical Systems Design
3
BMED 3425 Biomedical Engineering Transport 4
BMED 4460 Medical Physiology for Engineers 3
STAT 3210 Engineering Statistics 3
General Education Requirement (3B) 3
 Units16
Fourth Year
Term 1
BMED 3430 Biomedical Modeling and Simulation 2
BMED 4465 Senior Project: Design I 2
Concentration Support Elective 3-4
Concentration Technical Elective 2-3
General Education Requirement (4B) 3
General Education Requirement (6) 3
 Units15-16
Term 2
BMED 4440 Bioelectronics and Instrumentation 3
BMED 4466 Senior Project: Design II 2
Concentration Technical Elective 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 3) 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 4) 3
 Units14
 Total Units130-131
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.

 

Individualized Course of Study

Individualized Course of Study - BS in Biomedical Engineering
Suggested Four-Year Flowcharts are planning guides and do not represent a required course sequence. 
Courses may be completed in a different order, provided requisite requirements are satisfied.

 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Units
BMED 1101 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1
CHEM 1120 Fundamentals of Chemical Structure and Properties (5A) 1 4
MATH 1261 Calculus I (2) 1 4
PHYS 1141 General Physics I 4
General Education Requirement (1A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 2310 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering 2
BMED 2311 Introduction to Electrical Design in Biomedical Engineering Lab 1
CHEM 1122 Fundamentals of Chemical Reactivity 4
MATH 1262 Calculus II 4
PHYS 1143 General Physics II 4
General Education Requirement (1B) 3
 Units18
Second Year
Term 1
BMED 2212 Introduction to Mechanical Design in Biomedical Engineering 3
BIO 1151 Life: Molecules and Cells (5B & 5C) 1 4
ENGR 2211 Introduction to Mechanics 4
MATH 2263 Calculus III 3
General Education Requirement (1C) 3
 Units17
Term 2
BMED 2420 Principles and Applications of Biomaterials 4
BIO 2231
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
or Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4
ENGR 2212 Introduction to Engineering Dynamics 2
MATH 2341 Linear Analysis 4
General Education Requirement (3A) 3
 Units17
Third Year
Term 1
BMED 3102 Biomedical Engineering Professional Development 1
BMED 3410 Biomechanics (Support Elective) 3
ME 3341 Fluid Mechanics 3
STAT 3210 Engineering Statistics (Upper-Division 2/5) 1 3
Support Elective 3
General Education Requirement (4A) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 3425 Biomedical Engineering Transport 4
BMED 4460 Medical Physiology for Engineers 3
Support Elective 3-4
General Education Requirement (3B) 3
General Education Requirement (4B) 3
 Units16-17
Fourth Year
Term 1
BMED 3430 Biomedical Modeling and Simulation 2
BMED 4440 Bioelectronics and Instrumentation 3
BMED 4465 Senior Project: Design I 2
Technical Elective 3
Support Elective 3
General Education Requirement (6) 3
 Units16
Term 2
BMED 4466 Senior Project: Design II 2
Technical Elective 3
Technical Elective 3-4
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 3) 3
General Education Requirement (Upper-Division 4) 3
 Units14
 Total Units130-131
1

Required in Major or Support; also satisfies General Education (GE) requirement.