Biomedical Engineering
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineering is an exciting, rapidly growing field that allows graduates to apply their knowledge and skills to the prevention of injury and improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of medical disorders. UC’s biomedical engineering curriculum has two tracks: biomechanics and medical device innovation. Biomechanics emphasizes the study of forces, motions, shape changes (deformations) and failure of biological tissues and organ systems. Medical device innovation emphasizes the design and development of new medical products and surgical instruments.
Success Factors
Biomedical engineers have a solid foundation in the theory, methods and applications of engineering at the interface with biology and medicine. Successful biomedical engineers think innovatively and use math and science to solve problems. Skills in calculus, physics and chemistry are particularly important.
Career Possibilities
Graduates of this major pursue many different careers. A few examples include:
- Medical device design
- Technical sales
- Medical device manufacturing
- Medical equipment testing and maintenance
- Biomedical research and product development
- Technical advising
Majoring in Biomedical Engineering
UC’s biomedical engineering program is a bachelor’s degree program designed to be completed in five years. Students are required to alternate quarters of practical work assignments with quarters of on-campus study during their second, third and fourth years.
All freshmen in the College of Engineering have a similar program of study consisting of courses in chemistry and physics, mathematics, social sciences and humanities. Curricular options include biomechanics and medical device innovation. A decision on which track to pursue does not need to be made until the third year. A premedical option is available in both tracks for students who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine.
Curriculum
This curriculum information is intended as a general information guide for students considering enrollment in this program. These online tools are designed to assist you, but are not a substitute for planning with an academic or faculty advisor.
If you are currently confirmed or enrolled, you can check your degree requirements online. If you are considering transferring to this major from another school use the Course Applicability System (CAS) to see how credits you have earned will apply to this major at UC. For course descriptions by college, click here.
Please visit http://www.eng.uc.edu/currentstudents/curriculuminfo/bme for up to date curriculum information.
UC Advantages and Special Opportunities
Hands-on training is stressed in biomedical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. Students gain professional industry experience through UC’s nationally ranked cooperative education program. Students frequently co-op with companies such as Atricure, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Biomet, Depuy, and with research laboratories in the Colleges of Engineering and Medicine and in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Atricure, located in West Chester, OH, designs and manufactures surgical instruments to treat cardiac disorders. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, located in Blue Ash, OH, is a division of Johnson & Johnson and designs and manufactures medical instruments for minimally invasive surgery. Biomet and Depuy, located in Warsaw, IN, design and manufacture total join replacements and other orthopedic implants. The president and co-founder of Biomet is a graduate of the UC College of Engineering.
Admission Requirements
Admission criteria for this program vary based on the relative strength of test scores, class rank and GPA. Please see the Freshman Class Profile for this major in the Quick Facts sidebar on this page for the range of academic credentials typically accepted into this program. Test scores in the lower range may be acceptable with higher class rank and/or GPA.
Freshmen applying to this program should also have completed the following college preparatory subjects:
- English (4 units)
- Mathmatics including algebra, geometry and either pre-calculus or calculus (4 units)
- Chemistry (1 units)
- Physics (1 unit)
- Social sciences (2 units)
- Fine arts (1 unit)
- Additional college-prep subjects (2 units)
Transferring to UC Requirements
Transfer students in good standing from accredited colleges and universities will be considered for admission to the college at the first, second and third-year levels. The degree requirement of professional practice experience normally precludes acceptance beyond the third-year level. For further detailed information such as required grade point average, please refer to http://www.eng.uc.edu/prospectivestudents/transferadmission/.
Changing Majors within UC Requirements
Students changing majors from outside programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers.
International Student Requirements
International students must display proficiency in the English language through successful completion of the TOEFL. The College of Engineering requires a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test).
International applicants who score a minimum of 480 on the critical reading portion of the SAT will not be required to take the TOEFL.
Application Deadlines
Freshmen must begin the program during fall quarter. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. High school students who wish to be considered for scholarships must apply by December 1 of their senior year.
Accreditation
The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
The biomedical engineering program at the University of Cincinnati is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
