Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science offered by VCU’s Department of Biomedical Engineering is a comprehensive and well-rounded curriculum in all aspects of the biomedical industry. The program objectives and anticipated student outcomes of our undergraduate program serve as the guidelines for our curriculum.

Students learn math, general sciences such as chemistry and physics, and engineering foundation courses in the first two years of study. By the third and fourth year, students progress into taking core biomedical engineering courses such as biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation and biotransport processes, to name a few. Senior year, students take the biomedical engineering senior design studio along with their choice of technical electives.

Students should follow the course requirements for the year they entered VCU. The exception is that technical electives may be chosen from the latest offerings, but the number of credits that are required is specified by the bulletin for the year of entry. Please see Scott Robinson for an accurate description of the courses for your year and an up-to-date list of current technical electives being offered for each track.

Students must, by the end of their sophomore year, pick from one of three tracks:

• Cellular, tissue and regenerative engineering
• Biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering
• Biomedical instrumentation and imaging

Student Academic Advising

Scott Robinson, in the Engineering Office of Students Services is the primary academic advisory for undergraduate Biomedical Engineering students. Mr. Robinson is the most knowledgeable in the Office of Student Services about the BME program, but other advisories can help with many issues. If further clarification is needed, Rebecca Heise, Ph.D., Director for Undergraduate Program and Associate Professor, can be contacted. Students are also encouraged to meet with individual BME faculty members about courses and careers, although they will often be less knowledgeable about curriculum specifics.

Students who are in additional programs such as the Honors College or Pre-professional programs should also contact their academic advisers for those programs as well to ensure they are completing the requirements necessary for those programs. Those students who are interested in Minors in other areas should contact the relevant VCU department.

Graduation Requirements

Graduate requirements are specified in the VCU Bulletin for the year of entry of a student into VCU. The online DegreeWorks helps to monitor completion of the requirements. Students should check at least once a term with the student academic adviser to ensure all requirements are being completed on-time for the targeted graduation date.