BMEL: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis in Mechanical Engineering

All BME degrees combine high-level coursework from mathematics, the sciences, engineering, and USC's general education program. The B.S. in Biomedical (Mechanical) Engineering is an area of emphasis for students interested in the mechanics of medical devices and biological systems. Your courses will begin with the BME core curriculum and then add a carefully selected course sequence that includes mechanical engineering classes.

The sample 4-year schedules show the recommended sequence of courses for the BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis on Mechanical Engineering. The sequences listed ensure that all prerequisite and co requisite requirements are met and take into consideration the many courses which are only offered once a year, during either the spring or fall semester.

In many cases, it is not possible for students to follow the recommended schedule exactly. Factors such as an academic minor, AP or transfer credits, participation in sports, or the need for preparatory courses may necessitate taking courses in a different order. When a student deviates from the recommended course schedule, he/she should make an alternative four-year plan along with their academic advisor to ensure a timely graduation. It is important in the planning of an alternative schedule to consider the following:

  1. Prerequisites and co requisites
    Many courses in the BMEL curriculum involve prerequisite and co requisite courses.
  2. Class Scheduling
    Not all classes are offered every semester. The catalog provides information in the course description about what term classes are being offered, but please refer to the Schedule of Classes issued during the pre-registration period.

Below you can find a sample four-year schedule for the BS BMEL degree, and a list of technical elective categories and courses.

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.

BMEL Program Course Plan Beginning Fall 2020

This course plan is for students who are following the program requirements established Fall 2020 or later. If you are following an earlier set of course requirements, please check with your advisor or view the catalogue from the appropriate year.

A print-friendly version of this flowchart may be found in the Viterbi Undergraduate Handbook.

BS BMEL: First Year: Fall

BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units

MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units

CHEM 105aL: General Chemistry - 4 units

WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units

ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy (Elective) - 2 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: First Year: Spring

CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units

MATH 126: Calculus II - 4 units

BME 101: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units

GE: GE Category C - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Second Year: Fall

MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units

PHYS 151L: Mechanics & Thermodynamics - 4 units

GE: Category B - 4 units

BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Second Year: Spring

BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units

MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units

BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units

PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Third Year: Fall

BME 423: Statistical Methods in BME - 4 units

AME 201: Statics - 3 units

EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units

ITP 308: Comp.-Aid. Design for Biomechanical Systems - 3 units

WRIT 340: Advanced Writing - 4 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: Third Year: Spring

MASC 310: Materials Behavior and Processing - 4 units

AME 204: Strength of Materials - 3 units

AME 301: Dynamics - 3 units

CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry or four units of 400-level BME courses - 4 units

GE: GE Category A - 4 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: Fourth Year: Fall

BME 404: Biomechanics - 4 units

BME 413: Bioengineering Signals and Systems - 4 units

BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement and Instrumentation or BME 403L: Physiological Systems - 4 units

BISC 320L: Molecular Biology - 4 units

Technical Elective: Choose from Approved List - 2 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: Fourth Year: Spring

AME 309: Dynamics of Fluids - 4 units

BME 403L: Physiological Systems or BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement and Instrumentation - 4 units

BME 415: Regulation of Medical Products or BME 416L: Development and Regulation of Medical Products - 2 or 4 units

Technical Elective: Choose from Approved List (if needed) - 2 units

GE: Category C - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BMEL Organic Chemistry Option

BS BMEL students may choose to take either CHEM 322aL or an additional four-units of 400-level BME courses.


BME 415 or BME 416L Option

BS BMEL students must take either BME 415 (2 units) or BME 416L (4 units). Students who take BME 405L in the fall will be expected to take BME 416L in the spring to have a full-year design experience.

Students who choose to take BME 415 will need to take two additional units of Technical Elective coursework.


BMEL Technical Electives

Depending on your catalogue year, either one, three, five, six, or seven units of technical electives are required

Beginning with the 2020 catalogue year, BMEL students are required to take 1-3 technical elective units. The required unit count is determined by whether the student takes BME 416L or BME 415.

All units must be upper-division engineering courses.

Courses may be offered by:

ASTE, AME, BME, CHE, CE, CSCI, EE, ENE, ENGR, ISE, ITP, MASC, or PTE.


BMEL Program Schedule 2016-2018

BS BMEL: First Year: Fall

BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units

MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units

CHEM 105aL: General Chemistry - 4 units

ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy - 2 units

WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: First Year: Spring

CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units

MATH 126: Calculus II - 4 units

BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units

GE: GE Category C - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Second Year: Fall

MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units

PHYS 151L: Mechanics & Thermodynamics - 4 units

GE: Category B - 4 units

BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Second Year: Spring

BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units

MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units

BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units

PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Third Year: Fall

BME 423: Statistical Methods in BME - 4 units

AME 201: Statics - 3 units

EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units

ITP 308: Comp.-Aid. Design for Biomechanical Systems - 3 units

CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry - 4 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: Third Year: Spring

MASC 310: Materials Behavior and Processing - 3 units

AME 204: Strength of Materials - 3 units

AME 301: Dynamics - 3 units

Technical Elective: Choose from Approved List - 3 units

GE: GE Category A - 4 units

Total Units - 16

BS BMEL: Fourth Year: Fall

BME 404: Biomechanics - 3 units

BME 413: Bioengineering Signals and Systems - 4 units

BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement and Instrumentation - 4 units

BISC 320L: Molecular Biology - 4 units

WRIT 340: Advanced Writing - 3 units

Total Units - 18

BS BMEL: Fourth Year: Spring

AME 309: Dynamics of Fluids - 4 units

BME 403L: Physiological Systems - 4 units

BME 416: Development and Regulation of Medical Products - 3 units

Technical Elective: Choose from Approved List - 3 units

GE: Category C - 4 units

Total Units - 18

BMEL Technical Electives 2008-2016

Six units of technical electives are required

Select one course from the following list and the second course can be any upper division engineering course with department approval.

Course:
BME 410
BME 414
BME 416

Units:
3
3
3

Prerequisite:
CHEM 322aL
none
Junior

Published on February 1st, 2017Last updated on November 1st, 2021