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:
- Prerequisites and co requisites
Many courses in the BMEL curriculum involve prerequisite and co requisite courses. - 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
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
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, 2017
Last updated on November 1st, 2021