BMEN: BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis in Electrical Engineering
All BME degrees combine high-level coursework from mathematics, the sciences, engineering, and USC's general education program. The B.S. in Biomedical (Electrical) Engineering is an area of emphasis for students interested in the building of electronic biomedical devices. Your courses will begin with the BME core curriculum and then add a carefully selected course sequence that includes electrical engineering classes.
The sample 4-year schedules show the recommended sequence of courses for the BS in Biomedical Engineering, Emphasis on Electrical 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 BMEN 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 BMEN 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.
BMEN 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 consult the appropriate year's USC catalogue
A print-friendly version of this flowchart may be found in the Viterbi Undergraduate Handbook.
BS BMEN: First Year: Fall
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units
CHEM 105a: General Chemistry - 4 units
ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy - 2 units (Elective)
WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: First Year: Spring
CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units
MATH 126: Calculus II - 4 units
GE: GE Category A - 4 units
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Second Year: Fall
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units
PHYS 151L: Mechanics and Thermodynamics - 4 units
BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units
ITP 165: Introduction to C++ Programming - 2 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Second Year: Spring
PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units
BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units
MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units
EE 109L: Introduction to Embedded Systems - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Third Year: Fall
EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units
EE 250: Distributed Systems for the Internet of Things - 4 units
BME 423: Statistical Methods - 4 units
Technical Elective - 2 units
WRIT 340: Communication for Engineers - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Third Year: Spring
BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units
EE 338 or EE 354L: First Track Course - 4 units
Technical Elective - 4 units
GE: GE Category B - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Fall
BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement & Instrumentation or BME 403L: Physiological Systems - 4 units
BME 413: Bioengineering Signals & Systems - 4 units
BISC 320L: Molecular Biology - 4 units
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
Technical Elective - 2 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Spring
BME 403L: Physiological Systems or BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement & Instrumentation - 4 units
BME 415: Regulation of Medical Devices or BME 416L: Dev. and Reg. of Medical Devices - 2 units or 4 units
EE 348L or EE 454L: Second Track Course - 4 units
Technical Elective - 2 units (If needed)
CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry or a 400-level BME course - 4 units
BME Organic Chemistry Option
BS BMEN 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 BMEN 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.
BMEN Students choose an Analog Track or a Digital Track
Analog Track
Students who choose the Analog Track will take EE 338L and EE 348 as their two Track courses.
Digital Track
Students who choose the Digital Track will take EE 354L and EE 454L as their two Track courses.
BMEN Technical Electives Beginning Fall 2016
Depending on your catalogue year, three, four, six, eight, or ten units of technical electives are required
In addition to at least one 400-level BME course, you must take additional units of upper-division engineering coursework to reach the total Technical Elective unit requirement.
BMEN Program Schedule 2016-2019
BS BMEN: First Year: Fall
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
MATH 125: Calculus I - 4 units
CHEM 105a: General Chemistry - 4 units
ENGR 102: Engineering Freshman Academy - 2 units
WRIT 150: Writing and Critical Reasoning - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: First Year: Spring
CHEM 105bL: General Chemistry - 4 units
MATH 126: Calculus II - 4 units
GE: GE Category A - 4 units
BME 101 or GE: Intro to Biomedical Engineering or GE Category B - 4 units
ITP 165: Introduction to C++ Programming - 2 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Second Year: Fall
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
MATH 226: Calculus III - 4 units
PHYS 151L: Mechanics and Thermodynamics - 4 units
BME 202: Control & Communication in the Nervous System - 4 units
Total Units - 15
BS BMEN: Second Year: Spring
PHYS 152L: Electricity and Magnetism - 4 units
BME 210: Biomedical Computer Simulation Methods - 4 units
MATH 245: Mathematics of Physics & Engineering I - 4 units
EE 109L: Introduction to Embedded Systems - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Third Year: Fall
EE 202L: Linear Circuits - 4 units
EE 250: Distributed Systems for the Internet of Things - 4 units
BME 423: Statistical Methods - 4 units
BME 425: Introduction to Biomedical Imaging - 3 units
WRIT 340: Communication for Engineers - 3 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Third Year: Spring
BISC 220L: General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology - 4 units
EE 338 or EE 354L: First Track Course - 4 units
BME 416: Dev. and Reg. of Medical Devices - 3 units
Technical Elective - 3 units
GE: GE Category B - 4 units
Total Units - 18
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Fall
BME 405L: Senior Projects: Measurement & Instrumentation - 4 units
BME 413: Bioengineering Signals & Systems - 4 units
BISC 320L: Molecular Biology - 4 units
GE: GE Category C - 4 units
Total Units - 16
BS BMEN: Fourth Year: Spring
BME 403L: Physiological Systems - 4 units
EE 348L or EE 454L: Second Track Course - 4 units
Technical Elective - 3 units
CHEM 322aL: Organic Chemistry - 4 units
BMEN Students choose an Analog Track or a Digital Track
Analog Track
Students who choose the Analog Track will take EE 338L and EE 348 as their two Track courses.
Digital Track
Students who choose the Digital Track will take EE 354L and EE 454L as their two Track courses.
BMEN Technical Electives Beginning Fall 2016
Depending on your catalogue year, three, four, or six units of technical electives are required
Select one additional 400-level BME course. Possible courses are: BME 404, BME 406, BME 410, BME 430, BME 451, BME 452, BME 453, BME 459, or BME 490.
In addition to the 400-level BME class, you must take additional units of engineering coursework to reach the total Technical Elective unit requirement.
The remaining unit must be upper division engineering coursework.
Published on February 1st, 2017
Last updated on November 12th, 2021