A History of Excellence
USC's Bachelor of Science program in Biomedical Engineering
was launched in 1974. Since its inception, the BME program
has attracted many of the highest-achieving students
at USC, including University valedictorians and salutatorians,
as well as School of Engineering valedictorians. Our
department also claims a large share of all Trustee
and Presidential Scholarships awarded to the brightest
freshmen entering USC.
Our students receive rigorous training in both science
and engineering, giving them a strategic advantage in
today's healthcare industry. Graduates of our program
have built successful and rewarding careers as medical
doctors, engineers, and researchers. Whether progressing
to the biomedical industry, medical school, or graduate
school, they possess a versatile set of skills to creatively
approach the ever-evolving challenges of medical care.
Through the various Biomedical Engineering programs,
BME students and faculty work to comprehend the function
and structure of the human body through the application
of engineering principles and to use this understanding
to improve human health and well-being. The Department's
mission to provide the highest quality undergraduate,
graduate and post-graduate education to prepare students
for diverse professional careers at the interface of
engineering, biology and medicine is reflected in our
academic programs described herein.
BME Program Educational Objectives
The Program Educational Objectives of the Department
of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern
California are designed to promote technical competence,
professionalism, and citizenship.
Graduates will have fundamental knowledge in science
and engineering and the ability to apply engineering
principles to define and solve problems in engineering
and medicine. Graduates will have the ability to design
and test devices, components, processes and systems
that meet desired needs in biomedical engineering.
Graduates will be prepared professionally and personally
to practice engineering in biomedical and other technology-based
industries, as well as to succeed in medical school
and advanced graduate studies. Graduates will have the
leadership capabilities and communication skills to
succeed in multidisciplinary teams. Graduates will understand
that their professional responsibility includes continued
development of their knowledge and skills throughout
their careers.
Graduates will understand the societal consequences
of engineering decisions and will be committed to an
ethical and socially professional practice.
BME Program Outcomes
Taking into consideration our Educational Program
Objectives, the BME Undergraduate Committee drafted
the BME program outcomes that describe the knowledge
and skills students should have acquired when they graduate
with a Bachelor's degree from our program. The faculty
approved the program outcomes at the same time as the
Educational Program Objectives. The BME program outcomes
state that students successfully completing the program
should be able to:
- Apply knowledge of mathematics, physical sciences,
life sciences and engineering to formulate and study
or solve engineering problems, including problems
at the interface of engineering, medicine, and biology
- Plan and conduct experiments as well as analyze
and interpret experimental measurements collected
on physical systems and living systems
- Design electronic, mechanical and/or computer-based
devices and software for applications including medical
instrumentation, physiological measurement and signal
processing, prosthesis development, and engineering
simulation of living systems
- Understand the professional, ethical and societal
responsibilities pertinent to the practice of engineering
- Communicate effectively using appropriate technology
and information resources to document work, analyze
engineering problems and solutions, and present project
results
- Lead a team of student engineers performing a laboratory
exercise or a class project; participate in various
roles to the team and understand the contribution
of each role to the team's effort
- Be independent learners who can master new knowledge
and technologies
- Utilize their broad liberal education to explore
and analyze the impact of engineering and technology
solutions on society and health care
- Select and use modern engineering tools for analysis,
design, experimentation and testing
- Successfully engage in further education in engineering,
medicine and biomedical sciences
All information contained here is summarized from the
USC Catalogue and is considered non-official. For all
rules, regulations, procedures, and outlines, please see
the current academic year USC catalogue. 
