Biomedical Engineering

Sc.B. in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is a dynamic and growing field that applies engineering principles to the fields of biology and medicine. Biomedical engineers design new drugs; genetically engineered organisms; medical implants; and medical instruments. They also use their understanding of biology to re-invent man-made materials and products.

The biomedical engineering curriculum at Brown prepares students for careers in biomedical engineering and biotechnology, as well as careers in diverse areas such as medicine, law, business, and health care delivery. BME students master the fundamentals of both the physical sciences and life sciences, and learn to apply these principles to a broad spectrum of problems in biomedical engineering.

The biomedical engineering program is administered jointly by the Division of Biology and Medicine and the School of Engineering under the umbrella of the Center for Biomedical Engineering. Students have access to the programs and facilities of both departments as well as Brown's affiliated hospitals. This structure makes biomedical engineering a unique program at Brown, and enables students to participate in a range of exciting interdisciplinary research projects.

The concentration has the following general structure:

  • The interdisciplinary core program for biomedical engineering, taken in the first four semesters. The BME core shares much of the content of the other engineering programs, but includes additional courses in biology and chemistry, and has a different focus in mathematics
  • Four required upper-engineering courses
  • Three biomedical engineering electives
  • A capstone design course
  • Four approved courses in the humanities and social sciences

For complete requirements, please see the University Bulletin.

SEM. COURSE DESCRIPTION
I ENGN 0030 or ENGN 0031 Introduction to Engineering or Honors Introduction to Engineering
  MATH 0190 AP Calculus (Physics/Engineering)
  CHEM 0330 Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure
  Elective †  
II ENGN 0040 Dynamics and Vibrations
  MATH 0200 Intermediate Calculus (Physics/Engineering)
  CHEM 0350 Organic Chemistry I
  Elective  
III APMA 0350 Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
  ENGN 0510 or PHP 2510 Electricity and Magnetism / Principles of Biostatistics
  ENGN 1490 Biomaterials
  Elective  
IV ENGN 0720 Thermodynamics
  BIOL 0800 Principles of Physiology
  APMA 1650 or ENGN 0520 Statistical Inference I / Circuits and Signals
  Elective  
V ENGN 0810 Fluid Mechanics
  ENGN 1230 Instrumentation Design
  Elective  
  Elective  
VI ENGN 1110 Transport and Biotransport Processes
  Upper Level Elective (3 of 12 listed courses)
  Elective  
  Elective  
VII ENGN 1930L Biomedical Engineering Design and Innovation
  Upper Level Elective (3 of 12 listed courses)
  Elective  
  Elective  
VIII ENGN 1930L Biomedical Engineering Design and Innovation
  ENGN 1210 Biomechanics
  Upper Level Elective (3 of 12 listed courses)
  Elective  
† A minimum of four electives must be in the humanities and social sciences.