Overview

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a dual-degree program that culminates with students receiving both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (BS/MS) in Biomedical Engineering concurrently. This program is available only to qualified students enrolled in the undergraduate program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami. This program is intended to give qualified Biomedical Engineering students the opportunity to acquire both a baccalaureate degree (BSBE) and a Master of Science (MSBE) degree in five years rather than the 4 plus 2 years (approximately) that is traditionally expected. The two degrees are awarded simultaneously when the combined requirements have been met for both degrees.

  • Juniors enrolled in BME who have maintained at least a 3.0 CGPA have the option to apply for admission to the combined BS-MS in Biomedical Engineering program.
  • Those who are accepted into this accelerated program must maintain at least a 3.0 CGPA and a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for the final 30 credit hours to meet the requirements of the Graduate School.
  • Up to 6 credit hours of engineering electives earned during the fourth year can be counted toward the 30 credit hours required for the MS degree. If their schedule allows, students may be able to complete an additional 6 credits of graduate classes during their fourth year.
  • Students must be registered for a minimum of 12 undergraduate credit hours per semester in their fourth year.
  • Students can register for a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours in each semester of their fourth year.
  • If a student needs to withdraw from the BS/MS BME program then all the requirements for the BS degree must be completed for graduation with the BS BME degree.

Admission Requirements

The dual BS/MS program is available only to qualified undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Typically, students must have undergraduate student status and a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0 at the time of application.

Qualified students must apply prior to the beginning of final exams in the second semester of their junior year. Students are strongly advised to apply to the BS/MS program as early as possible in their junior year to facilitate academic advising and course selection in the second semester of their junior year. Before submitting an application, interested students should discuss the program and the possibility of entering the program with an academic advisor.

Curriculum Guidelines

In the dual-degree BS/MS program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the first four years of the curriculum are altered as follows:

  • In the senior year, up to two 3-credit Undergraduate Engineering Electives can be replaced with 3-credit Graduate Engineering Electives
  • If their schedule allows, students may be able to register for an additional 6 credits of graduate courses in the senior year.

In the fifth year, BS/MS students complete their graduate course requirements, including completion of the MS Project (BME 707 and BME 708). Students in the BS/MS program must also complete exactly two physiology courses chosen from BME 601, BME 602BME 603 as part of their graduate requirements.

Graduate Engineering Electives taken in the senior year must be chosen from dual-enrollment engineering course offerings, with the approval of their academic advisor. The credits of Graduate Engineering Electives completed in the fourth year are counted toward the 30 credits required for the MS degree.

Students admitted in the dual degree BS/MS program can take a maximum of six (6) graduate credits per semester in their senior year, for a maximum of twelve (12) graduate credits per year, without incurring additional costs if they are full-time undergraduate students during this period. Students should register for courses towards their graduate degree as "G" credits and not as "U" credits. These registrations must be completed prior to taking courses. Retroactive add/drops will not be processed.

To register for graduate credits during their senior year, students must be in senior status and must complete and submit the Graduate School’s Application for Undergraduates to Take Graduate Coursework form. This form must accompany the Add/Drop and/or Course Request form to ensure that students are registered with the correct registration status.

In the Senior year, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits each semester to maintain full-time status as an undergraduate student. After completing the senior year, students must register as graduate students.

Graduation Requirements

Students accepted into the dual degree program must maintain at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA, and meet all other pertinent Graduate School requirements, including a minimum of 3.0 GPA in the credits applied toward the MS degree. 

Curriculum Requirements

BSBE/MSBE

Students in the BSBE/MSBE program are required to complete the following courses for the dual degree::

BSBE REQUIREMENTS (128 CREDIT HOURS)
Engineering Courses
EGN 110Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering1-3
EGN 114Global Challenges Addressed by Engineering and Technology3
BME 112Introduction to Biomedical Engineering2
BME 211Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Engineers3
BME 221 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Design I)1
BME 222 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Project I)2
BME 321 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Design II)1
BME 322 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Project II)2
BME 335Biomaterials3
BME 336 (NEW COURSE: Living Systems Engineering)3
BME 340 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Instrumentation I)4
BME 341 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Instrumentation II)3
BME 360 (NEW COURSE: Applied Biotransport)3
BME 370 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Signal Analysis)3
BME 375Fundamentals of Biomechanics3
BME 420 (NEW COURSE: Capstone Project I)3
BME 421 (NEW COURSE: Capstone Project II)3
BME 512Regulatory Control of Biomedical Devices3
Engineering Electives15
Math and Science Courses
BIL 150General Biology4
BIL 151General Biology Laboratory1
BME 265Medical Systems Physiology4
BME 310Mathematical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering3
BME 312Biomedical Statistics and Data Analysis3
CHM 113Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHM 121Principles of Chemistry4
MTH 151Calculus I for Engineers5
MTH 162Calculus II4
MTH 311Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
PHY 106College Physics Laboratory I1
PHY 201University Physics I for the Sciences4
PHY 202University Physics II for the Sciences4
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 107First-Year Writing II: STEM3
Quantitative Skills:
Calculus I for Engineers (fulfilled through the major)
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People and Society Cognate9
STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
MSBE REQUIREMENTS (30 CREDIT HOURS)
Engineering electives taken as graduate courses6
Two physiology courses chosen from BME 601, BME 602, BME 6036
BME 707Master’s Project I1
BME 708Master’s Project II2
Five additional graduate courses15
Total Credit Hours158

Curriculum Requirements

BSBE/MSBE  (Pre-Med Track)

Students in the BSBE/MSBE Pre-Med track complete the same core curriculum, with a special set of electives that meet the medical school admission requirements:

BSBE REQUIREMENTS (133 CREDIT HOURS)
Engineering Courses
EGN 110Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering1-3
EGN 114Global Challenges Addressed by Engineering and Technology3
BME 112Introduction to Biomedical Engineering2
BME 211Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Engineers3
BME 221 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Design I)1
BME 222 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Project I)2
BME 321 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Design II)1
BME 322 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Project II)2
BME 335Biomaterials3
BME 336 (NEW COURSE: Living Systems Engineering)3
BME 340 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Instrumentation I)4
BME 341 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Instrumentation II)3
BME 360 (NEW COURSE: Applied Biotransport)3
BME 370 (NEW COURSE: Biomedical Signal Analysis)3
BME 375Fundamentals of Biomechanics3
BME 420 (NEW COURSE: Capstone Project I)3
BME 421 (NEW COURSE: Capstone Project II)3
BME 512Regulatory Control of Biomedical Devices3
Math and Science Courses
BIL 150General Biology4
BIL 151General Biology Laboratory1
BIL 160Evolution and Biodiversity4
BIL 161Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory1
BMB 401Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences4
BME 265Medical Systems Physiology4
BME 310Mathematical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering3
BME 312Biomedical Statistics and Data Analysis3
CHM 113Chemistry Laboratory I1
CHM 121Principles of Chemistry4
CHM 205Chemical Dynamics Laboratory1
CHM 206Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory2
CHM 221Introduction to Structure and Dynamics4
CHM 222Organic Reactions and Synthesis4
MTH 151Calculus I for Engineers5
MTH 162Calculus II4
MTH 311Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations3
PHY 106College Physics Laboratory I1
PHY 201University Physics I for the Sciences4
PHY 202University Physics II for the Sciences4
General Education Requirements
Written Communication Skills:
WRS 105First-Year Writing I3
WRS 107First-Year Writing II: STEM3
Quantitative Skills:
Calculus I for Engineers (fulfilled through the major)
Areas of Knowledge:
Arts and Humanities Cognate9
People and Society Cognate9
STEM Cognate (9 credits) (fulfilled through the major)
MSBE REQUIREMENTS (30 CREDIT HOURS)
Two physiology courses chosen from BME 601, BME 602, BME 6036
BME 707Master’s Project I1
BME 708Master’s Project II2
Seven additional graduate courses21
Total Credit Hours163

Suggested Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
FallCredit Hours
BIL 150 General Biology 4
BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1
EGN 114 Global Challenges Addressed by Engineering and Technology 3
MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
BME 112 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 2
CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
CHM 121 Principles of Chemistry 4
EGN 110 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering 1-3
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
WRS 107 First-Year Writing II: STEM 3
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore Year
Fall
BME 211 Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Engineers 3
BME 221 1
MTH 311 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
PHY 106 College Physics Laboratory I 1
PHY 201 University Physics I for the Sciences 4
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
BME 222 2
BME 265 Medical Systems Physiology 4
BME 310 Mathematical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering 3
PHY 202 University Physics II for the Sciences 4
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours16
Junior Year
Fall
BME 312 Biomedical Statistics and Data Analysis 3
BME 321 1
BME 340 4
BME 370 3
BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics 3
Engineering Elective 2 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
BME 322 2
BME 335 Biomaterials 3
BME 341 3
BME 360 3
Engineering Elective 2 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours17
Senior Year
Fall
BME 336 3
BME 420 3
BME 512 Regulatory Control of Biomedical Devices 3
Graduate Engineering Elective 3 3
Graduate Course 4 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours18
Spring
BME 421 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
Engineering Elective 2 3
Graduate Engineering Elective 3 3
Graduate Course 4 3
 Credit Hours18
Fifth Year (Graduate)
Fall
BME 707 Master’s Project I 1
Graduate Course 4 3
Graduate Course 4 3
Graduate Course 4 3
 Credit Hours10
Spring
BME 708 Master’s Project II 2
Graduate Course 4 3
Graduate Course 4 3
 Credit Hours8
 Total Credit Hours152
1

PS/HA Cognate: Students must complete a minimum of 1 People & Society (PS) cognate and 1 Humanities & Arts (HA) cognate, to be selected from the list of available cognates.  Each cognate should be a minimum of 3 courses (minimum of 9 credits). 

2

Students complete 15 credits of Engineering Electives, which can include a minor in another engineering discipline. Engineering Electives can be chosen from any BME or other engineering course offerings. Students should map their elective sequence in advance to ensure that electives taken in the junior year satisfy the pre-requisites of the electives that they wish to take in the senior year.

3

Graduate Engineering Electives must be selected from 600 level dual-enrollment BME or engineering course offerings. BME 601BME 602, and BME 603 or any other 600 level course that does not also have a 500 level section cannot be counted as graduate engineering electives.

4

Graduate courses are 600 or 700 level courses chosen from the BME course offerings with the approval of the advisor. Up to 6 credits of graduate courses can be taken in other engineering disciplines. 

Suggested Plan of Study

Pre-Med Track

Plan of Study Grid
Freshman Year
FallCredit Hours
BIL 150 General Biology 4
BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1
EGN 114 Global Challenges Addressed by Engineering and Technology 3
MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5
WRS 105 First-Year Writing I 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
BME 112 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 2
CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
CHM 121 Principles of Chemistry 4
EGN 110 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering 1-3
MTH 162 Calculus II 4
WRS 107 First-Year Writing II: STEM 3
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore Year
Fall
BIL 160 Evolution and Biodiversity 4
BIL 161 Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory 1
BME 221 1
CHM 205 Chemical Dynamics Laboratory 1
CHM 221 Introduction to Structure and Dynamics 4
MTH 311 Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
BME 211 Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Engineers 3
BME 222 2
CHM 222 Organic Reactions and Synthesis 4
PHY 106 College Physics Laboratory I 1
PHY 201 University Physics I for the Sciences 4
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
 Credit Hours17
Junior Year
Fall
BMB 401 Biochemistry for the Biomedical Sciences 4
BME 265 Medical Systems Physiology 4
BME 310 Mathematical Analysis in Biomedical Engineering 3
BME 321 1
CHM 206 Organic Reactions and Synthesis Laboratory 2
PHY 202 University Physics II for the Sciences 4
 Credit Hours18
Spring
BME 312 Biomedical Statistics and Data Analysis 3
BME 322 2
BME 335 Biomaterials 3
BME 340 4
BME 370 3
BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics 3
 Credit Hours18
Senior Year
Fall
BME 336 3
BME 341 3
BME 420 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
Graduate Course 2 3
 Credit Hours18
Spring
BME 360 3
BME 421 3
BME 512 Regulatory Control of Biomedical Devices 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
PS/HA Cognate 1 3
Graduate Course 2 3
 Credit Hours18
Fifth Year (Graduate)
Fall
BME 707 Master’s Project I 1
Graduate Course 2 3
Graduate Course 2 3
Graduate Course 2 3
Graduate Course 2 3
 Credit Hours13
Spring
BME 708 Master’s Project II 2
Graduate Course 2 3
Graduate Course 2 3
Graduate Course 2 3
 Credit Hours11
 Total Credit Hours163
1

PS/HA Cognate: Students must complete a minimum of 1 People & Society (PS) cognate and 1 Humanities & Arts (HA) cognate, to be selected from list of available cognates.  Each cognate should be a minimum of 3 courses (minimum of 9 credits).  Students in Premed Track are highly encouraged to choose cognates that include PSY 110 and SOC 101.

2

Graduate courses are 600 or 700 level courses chosen from the BME course offerings with the approval of the advisor. Up to 6 credits of graduate courses can be taken in other engineering disciplines.