Print this page. About the Program
The College of Engineering and Computing at the University of South Carolina offers a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering. The bachelor’s in biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary degree offered jointly by the departments of mechanical and chemical engineering. Biomedical engineering blends traditional engineering techniques with the biological sciences and medicine. There are many complex areas in this engineering field, but the end result is simple: Biomedical engineers create innovative solutions to age-old challenges.
Career Opportunities
In addition to making valuable contributions to improved health, biomedical engineers enjoy high salaries and have myriad job possibilities, including:
• vaccine development and tissue engineering
• biosensor development to detect chemical warfare agents
• manufacturing artificial joints and other body parts
• medical equipment design and selection
• medical instrument development
• development of implantable biomaterials
• energy sustainability and the environment
• research.
The University Career Center is available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
To be admitted into the College of Engineering and Computing, you must meet all University admissions standards and College of Engineering and Information Technology requirements. University requirements for freshmen include a completed application, nonrefundable application fee, high-school record complete up to the time of application (including record of at least 20 academic units of study earned as required by the University), and entrance examination scores (either SAT or ACT). Details for all applicant categories can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Program of Study (130 hours)
The baccalaureate curriculum provides for eight semesters of study in general education, science education, and biomedical engineering education. Your general education requirements will include six hours of English (composition and literature) and 12 additional hours of fine arts electives and history electives. Fifty-eight hours of your degree requirements must come from science education courses, to include 20 credit hours of college biology, including basic biological principles I and II, cell and molecular biology, and anatomy and physiology; 13 credit hours of college chemistry, including general chemistry I and II and one semester of organic chemistry; 14 credit hours of college mathematics, including calculus I and II, vector calculus, and differential equations; 3 credit hours of statistics; and 8 credit hours of college physics, including essential physics I and II. Your biomedical engineering education courses will include 33 hours of courses such as Fluid Mechanics; Professional Development and Ethics in Biomedical Engineering I, II, and III; and Senior Biomedical Engineering Design I and II. Twenty-one hours of technical and biomedical electives will round out your studies.
Of Special Interest
We can thank biomedical engineers for the artificial heart, insulin pumps, kidney dialysis, MRI systems, mechanical respirators, laser-based eye surgery, and hearing aids. Biomedical engineers of the future will continue to improve on these discoveries. Our faculty achievements and publications span the spectrum of major offerings. Ongoing research is supported by grants from sources such as the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and private foundations. More than 95 percent of our faculty hold doctoral degrees. As an undergraduate, you will be encouraged to work in research laboratories and be exposed to hands-on learning right from the start. Your oral and written skills will be developed through interaction with the college’s Professional Communications Center. The college also sponsors the High Technology Business Incubator, which assists in the startup of new business concepts. We conduct collaborative research with business and industry, and students gain career-related experience through cooperative education. Professional organizations within the college include the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Society of Black Engineers, and the Society of Women Engineers. Honorary societies for each discipline and Tau Beta Pi, a national honorary engineering fraternity, also have active chapters.
Biomedical Engineering Department's Web site