Biomedical Engineering

Bachelor of Science
Biomedical Engineering

The biomedical engineering program at Missouri S&T is designed to prepare students for engineering careers in the health and life-sciences field. The two tracks focus on biomanufacturing and on biomaterials and can be customized to accommodate students preparing for medical school. The interdisciplinary program will equip graduates with the knowledge and skills required to excel in career paths in biotechnology, biomedical device development, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and healthcare management.   

For the bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering a minimum of 129 credit hours is required. These requirements are in addition to credit received for algebra, trigonometry and basic ROTC courses. An average of at least two grade points per credit hour (equivalent to a grade of C) must be attained. At least two grade points per credit hour must also be attained in all courses taken in biomedical engineering (BME), chemical engineering (Chem Eng), and materials science and engineering (MS&E).

Each student's program of study must contain a minimum of 21 credit hours of course work in general education and must be chosen according to the following rules:

  1. All students are required to take one American history course, one economics course, one humanities course, and ENGLISH 1120. The history course is to be selected from HISTORY 1200HISTORY 1300HISTORY 1310, or POL SCI 1200. The economics course may be either ECON 1100 or ECON 1200. The humanities course must be selected and meet the requirements as specified under "Engineering Degree Requirements" published in the current undergraduate catalog.
  2. Depth requirement. Three credit hours must be taken in humanities or social sciences at the 2000 level or above and must be selected from the approved list. This course must have as a prerequisite one of the humanities or social sciences courses already taken. Foreign language courses numbered 1180 will be considered to satisfy this requirement. Students may receive humanities credit for foreign language courses in their native tongue only if the course is at the 3000 level or above. All courses taken to satisfy the depth requirement must be taken after graduating from high school.
  3. The remaining courses are to be chosen and meet the requirements as specified under "Engineering Degree Requirements" published in the current undergraduate catalog and may include one communications course in addition to ENGLISH 1120.
  4. Any specific departmental requirements in the general studies area must be satisfied and meet the requirements as specified under "Engineering Degree Requirements" published in the current undergraduate catalog.The prerequisites for the upper level course must be completed with a passing grade. 
  5. Special topics, special problems, and honors seminars are allowed only by petition to and approval by the student's department chairman.
  6. Biomedical engineering and chemical engineering majors are encouraged to take the fundamentals of engineering exam prior to graduation.  It is the first step toward becoming a registered professional engineer. 
  7. Students pursuing a pre-med minor should consider taking BIO SCI 1113 and BIO SCI 1219 (4 cr. hr.) in year 1, which will count as a track elective. ECON 1100 or ECON 1200 can be taken in a later semester.

Biomedical Engineering
Biomanufacturing Track

Freshman Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
FR ENG 11001CHEM 13203
CHEM 11001COMP SCI 1500 or 1972 and 19823
CHEM 13104MATH 121544
CHEM 13191PHYSICS 11354
MATH 1214 or 121144ECON 1100 or 12003
ENGLISH 11203 
HISTORY 1200, or 1300, or 1310, or POL SCI 12003 
 17 17
Sophomore Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CHEM ENG 210014CHEM ENG 211013
MATH 22224CHEM ENG 32103
PHYSICS 21354CHEM 22103
BIO SCI 22133CHEM 22191
BIO SCI 22191MATH 33043
 Track Elective33
 16 16
Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
BME 31004CHEM ENG 31503
CHEM ENG 312013CHEM ENG 52503
BIO SCI 33333Track Elective33
BIO SCI 33391SP&M S 11853
STAT 34254ENGLISH 35603
PHILOS 32233 
 18 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
BME 40913BME 409723
CHEM ENG 42013BME 53003
CHEM ENG 42103CHEM ENG 42203
CHEM ENG 42413Track Elective33
MS&E 52103Upper Level Humanities or Social Science Elective3
 15 15
Total Credits: 129

Note: The minimum number of hours required for a degree in biomedical engineering is 129.

1

A grade of "C" or better is required in CHEM ENG 2100 & CHEM ENG 2110 in order to enroll in Chem Eng 3120 .

2

Communications emphasized course (See bachelor of science degree, general education communications requirement).

3

A minimum of 9 cr. hr. from BIO SCI 1113 and BIO SCI 1219, or BIO SCI 2223, or BIO SCI 3783, or BIO SCI 4353, or BIO SCI 4373, or CHEM 2220 and CHEM 2229, or CHEM ENG 3131, or CHEM ENG 3141, or CHEM ENG 4110, or BME 5100, or BME 5200, or BME 4099, or any class from the approved list published on the Chemical Engineering web site. Only 3 cr. hr. of BME 4099 may be used.  

4

MATH 1208 or MATH 1210 and MATH 1211 may be substituted for MATH 1214. MATH 1221 may be substituted for MATH 1215.

Biomedical Engineering
Biomaterials Track

Freshman Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
FR ENG 11001CHEM 13203
CHEM 11001COMP SCI 1500 or 1972 and 19823
CHEM 13104MATH 121534
CHEM 13191PHYSICS 11354
MATH 1214 or 121134 
ENGLISH 11203 
HISTORY 1200, or 1300, or 1310, or POL SCI 12003 
 17 14
Sophomore Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CER ENG 22102CER ENG 32303
CHEM 22103CIV ENG 22003
MATH 22224CHEM 22203
PHYSICS 21354MATH 33043
BIO SCI 22133STAT 34254
BIO SCI 22191 
 17 16
Junior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
CHEM ENG 32103CER ENG 32203
BME 31004MS&E 52103
BME 41003Track Elective23
BIO SCI 33333SP&M S 11853
BIO SCI 33391ENGLISH 35603
ECON 1100 or 12003 
 17 15
Senior Year
First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits
BME 40913BME 409713
MS&E 53103BME 51003
Track Elective23BME 52003
PHILOS 32233BIO SCI 37833
Upper Level Humanities or Social Science Elective3Track Elective23
 Track Elective23
 15 18
Total Credits: 129

Note: The minimum number of hours required for a degree in biomedical engineering is 129.

1

Communications emphasized course (See bachelor of science degree, general education communications requirement).

2

A minimum of 12 cr. hr. of track electives. At least 3 must be selected from CHEM ENG 5250 or MS&E 4810 or MS&E 5810 or ELEC ENG 2100 and ELEC ENG 2101 or ELEC ENG 2200 and ELEC ENG 2201 or BME 4099. The remaining 9 cr. hr. may be from that list or BIO SCI 1113 and BIO SCI 1219 or BIO SCI 4383 or BIO SCI 4666 or BIO SCI 5533 or CHEM 2219 or CHEM 2229. Only 3 cr. hr. of  BME 4099 may be used.  

3                     

MATH 1208 or MATH 1210 and MATH 1211 may be substituted for MATH 1214. MATH 1221 may be substituted for MATH 1215.                


 

BME 2001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)

This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course. Variable titles.


BME 3001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)

This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course. Variable titles.


BME 3100 Fundamentals of Transport in Biomedical Engineering (LEC 4.0)

This course covers the fundamentals of momentum, energy, and mass transport with an emphasis on the applications in biology and biotechnology. General differential equations for momentum, energy, and mass transfer are presented and solved for a variety of biomedical engineering problems. Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or better in Math 3304 and either Chem Eng 2110 or Cer Eng 3230.


BME 4000 Special Problems (IND 0.0-6.0)

Problems or readings on specific subjects or projects in the department. Consent of instructor required. Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor.


BME 4001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)

This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course. Variable titles.


BME 4091 Biomedical Engineering Design I (LEC 3.0)

Design considerations for biomedical engineering manufacturing and biomaterials design emphasizing traditional engineering design concepts and engineering economic analysis. Prerequisites: Preceded or accompanied by English 3560 and either Chem Eng 5250 or MS&E 5310.


BME 4097 Biomedical Engineering Design II (LEC 3.0)

Application of engineering design principles to the solution of a biomedical engineering problem. Communication emphasized course. Prerequisites: BME 4091.


BME 4099 Undergraduate Research (IND 0.0-6.0)

Designed for the undergraduate student who wishes to engage in research. Not for graduate credit. Not more than six hours allowed for graduation credit. Subject and credit to be arranged with the instructor. Prerequisites: Consent of instructor required.


BME 4100 Biomedical Polymers and Metals (LEC 3.0)

The structure of polymers and metals and their use in bio-applications with emphasis on how the structures influence processing, mechanical properties, and corrosion. Prerequisites: Chem Eng 3210.


BME 5001 Special Topics (LAB 0.0 and LEC 0.0)

This course is designed to give the department an opportunity to test a new course. Variable titles.


BME 5100 Drug and Gene Delivery Systems (LEC 3.0)

Overview of drug and gene delivery systems, rational design for their applications with an emphasis on structure-property-function relationships. Three major parts: polymers and nanoparticles as drug and gene carriers; strategies to deliver drugs and genes; in vitro and in vivo techniques of assessment and validation. Prerequisites: Chem 2210 and Bio Sci 2213.


BME 5200 Materials as Hard Tissue Devices (LEC 3.0)

The structure-property relationships of materials employed as medical devices, as well as the bone, cartilage, and ligament that they are designed to replace. The behavior of materials in the physiological environment, the tailoring of that behavior as a response to both bulk and surface properties, and the future of hard tissue medical devices. Prerequisites: BME 4100 or MS&E 5210.


BME 5300 Vaccine Manufacturing (LEC 3.0)

The development, manufacturing, and approval process of vaccines are covered. Vaccines that use attenuated or inactivated viruses, viral components and mRNA as the active ingredient are discussed. The manufacturing process includes the making of the active ingredient, vaccine formulation and delivery. The class includes three remote lab experiments. Prerequisites: Senior standing in an engineering discipline, physics, chemistry, or biology.


BME 5311 Integrity and Ethics in Bioengineering (LEC 1.0)

Study of ethical, social, and legal issues that arise in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and in biomedical research. Emphasis on professional attitudes and standard practices. Prerequisites: Senior or graduate standing.