The Biomedical Engineering program offers four streams for students to customize their degree to their interest area. Students take common core courses for their second year which prepare them for specialization in one of four streams of our undergraduate program. In third year, they focus their studies in one of the streams: Cellular Bioengineering, Biomechanics & Biomaterials, Biomedical Systems & Signals, or Biomedical Informatics.
The undergraduate program is fully accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers.
This curriculum list is unofficial. The official curriculum for a cohort (a group of students starting the same program in the same year) is determined by taking the appropriate UBC Calendar curriculum listing for four sequential years.
| CATEGORY 1 | Calendar page for Category 1 | |
| 2020W | Entered UBC | 1st year student |
| 2021W | Entered BMEG | 2nd year standing |
| 2022W | Going into Streams | 3rd year standing |
| CATEGORY 2 | Calendar page for Category 2 | |
| 2021W | Entered UBC | 1st year student |
| 2022W | Entered BMEG | 2nd year standing |
| 2023W | Going into Specializations | 3rd year standing |
The 2022/2023 Academic Calendar contains a note that says “the intake of students into streams was discontinued after the 2021W Year 3 Cohort”. To clarify further, this change from Streams to Specializations applies to students who entered UBC in 2021W and achieve third year standing in 2023W.
Current students with questions about their curriculum should review the Course Planning and Registration Guide or consult an advisor.
Not all courses will be available each year.
CORE COURSES
The below tables detail courses that all Biomedical Engineering Students take during their degree.
YEAR 2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMEG 201 | Technical Communication for Biomedical Engineers | 3 |
| BMEG 210 | Thermodynamics in Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| BMEG 220 | Circuits and Electromagnetics with Application to Biomedical Engineering | 4 |
| BMEG 230 | Biomechanics I | 4 |
| BMEG 245 | The Fundamental Units of Life: From Cells To Systems | 4 |
| BMEG 250 | Cellular Physiology and Biophysics | 4 |
| BMEG 257 | Biomedical Engineering Design I | 4 |
| CHBE 251 | Transport Phenomena I | 4 |
| CPEN 221 OR CPEN 223 1 | Principles of Software Construction OR Software Design for Engineers | 4 |
| MATH 253 | Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| MATH 256 | Differential equations | 3 |
| MATH 2642 | Vector Calculus for Electrical Engineering | 1 |
| Total | 40 |
1 Students interested in pursing the Biomedical Informatics or Biomedical Systems and Signals streams should take CPEN 221
2 Delivered with BMEG 220
YEAR 3
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 202 | Introductory Medical Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMEG 310 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 4 |
| BMEG 321 | Biomedical Instrumentation | 3 |
| BMEG 350 | Human Structure/Function from Cells to Systems | 4 |
| BMEG 357 | Biomedical Engineering Design II | 3 |
| BMEG 371 | Transport Phenomena within Cells and Tissues | 3 |
| CHEM 233 | Organic Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 235 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| STAT 251 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| Technical Electives | 6 |
|
| Complementary Studies Electives | 3 |
|
| Total | 36 |
YEAR 4
Stream Courses
STREAM COURSES
By the end of their second year, students will be able to start focusing their learning in any of our four broad streams. This offers you the chance to make your undergraduate experience truly tailored to your interests.
BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS
The Bioinformatics stream explores the use of patient health care information to understand disease and pathophysiology, and to improve outcomes.
Core Stream Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 302* | General Biochemistry* | 3 |
| CPSC 221 | Basic Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 |
| CPSC 340 | Machine Learning and Data Mining | 3 |
| CPSC 1211 | Models of Computation | 4 |
| OR | ||
| MATH 220 | Mathematical Proof | 3 |
| Total | 13 or 14 |
* This course is not required if you entered this Stream in 2022W, but it is a valid technical elective. Students who are not required to take BIOC 302 need to take an additional 3 credits of technical elective from the list below to make up a total of 27 credits of all stream courses (core and electives).
1 CPSC will accept APSC 160 and CPEN 221 to exempt CPSC 110
Stream Electives
Choose 13 (if taking CPSC 121) or 14 credits (if taking MATH 220) from electives*
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 |
| BMEG 400B | Linear Systems in Optics | 3 |
| BMEG 400C | Modern Biomedical Optical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 400D | Clinical Informatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400E | Genome Informatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400F | Biomedical Robotics | 3 |
| BMEG 400H | Synthetic Biology Bootcamp | 3 |
| BMEG 400M | Workshop | 2 |
| BMEG 420 | Medical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 490A | Introduction to Academic Research | 3 |
| CHBE 381 | Bioprocess Engineering I | 3 |
| CPEN 321 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| CPEN 421 | Software Project Management | 4 |
| CPEN 441 | Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design | 4 |
| CPSC 302 | Numerical Computation for Algebraic Problems | 3 |
| CPSC 304 | Introduction to Relational Databases | 3 |
| CPSC 320 | Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis | 3 |
| CPSC 322 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| CPSC 344 | Introduction to Human Computer Interaction Methods | 3 |
| CPSC 425 | Computer Vision | 3 |
| CPSC 445 | Algorithms in Bioinformatics | 3 |
| ELEC 221 | Signals and Systems | 4 |
| ELEC 331 | Computer Communications | 4 |
| ELEC 462 | Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems | 3 |
| STAT 406 | Methods for Statistical Learning | 3 |
| Total | 13 or 14 |
*A minimum of 7 credits must be taken from APSC 486; BMEG 400B; BMEG 400C; BMEG 400D; BMEG 400E; BMEG 400F; BMEG 400H; BMEG 400M; BMEG 420; CHBE 381; CPEN 321; CPEN 421; CPEN 441; ELEC 221; ELEC 331; ELEC 462
Note: CPSC courses are typically in high demand campus-wide, and there are no reserved seats for technical electives. SBME students will have to register in the general seat pool; this pool can fill up quickly, as these seats are available to students in other departments as well.
BIOMECHANICS & BIOMATERIALS
The Biomaterials & Biomechanics stream focuses on the application of principles of classical mechanics to problems in biological systems and views the body as an engineered structure.
Choose 17 credits from electives
Core Stream Courses
Stream Electives
Choose 17 credits from electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 |
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMEG 372 | Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery | 3 |
| BMEG 373 | Microfluidics | 3 |
| BMEG 400B | Linear Systems in Optics | 3 |
| BMEG 400C | Modern Biomedical Optical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 400F | Biomedical Robotics | 3 |
| BMEG 400H | Synthetic Biology Bootcamp | 3 |
| BMEG 400M | Workshop | 2 |
| BMEG 420 | Medical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 470 (Previously BMEG 370) | Cellular Responses to Forces and Biomaterials | 3 |
| BMEG 490A | Introduction to Academic Research | 3 |
| CPEN 3121 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 |
| MECH 360 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| MECH 380 | Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 410D | Engineering Dynamics | 3 |
| MECH 4332 | Biofluids | 3 |
| MECH 436 | Fundamentals of Injury Biomechanics | 3 |
| MECH 462 | Finite Element Analysis | 3 |
| MECH 463 | Mechanical Vibrations | 3 |
| MECH 469 | Dynamic System Modeling | 3 |
| MTRL 495 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| Total | 17 |
1 BMEG students may take CPEN 312 with BMEG 220 and CPEN 221. Please note students may be required to learn diodes and transistors (BJTs and MOSEFTs) content through self-study outside of class. Contact registration@ece.ubc.ca for registration.
2 BMEG students may take MECH 433 without MECH 380. Please contact course instructors for registration.
BIOMEDICAL SYSTEMS & SIGNALS
Biomedical System and Signals stream provides an understanding of the fundamental processes that produce and transform signals in biological systems, and the method by which these signals are transformed to general information.
Core Stream Courses
Stream Electives
Choose 20 credits from electives*
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 |
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMEG 400B | Linear Systems in Optics | 3 |
| BMEG 400C | Modern Biomedical Optical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 400D | Clinical Infomatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400E | Genomic Informatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400F | Biomedical Robotics | 3 |
| BMEG 400H | Synthetic Biology Bootcamp | 3 |
| BMEG 400M | Workshop | 2 |
| BMEG 420 | Medical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 490A | Introduction to Academic Research | 3 |
| CHBE 381 | Bioprocess Engineering I | 3 |
| CPEN 3121 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 |
| CPSC 121 | Models of Computation | 4 |
| CPSC 221 | Basic Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 |
| CPSC 330 | Applied Machine Learning | 3 |
| CPSC 340 | Machine Learning and Data Mining | 3 |
| ELEC 321 | Stochastic Signals and Systems | 4 |
| ELEC 331 | Computer Communications | 4 |
| ELEC 421 | Digital Signal and Image Processing | 3 |
| ELEC 422 | Biosignals and Systems | 3 |
| ELEC 442 | Introduction to Robotics | 3 |
| ELEC 462 | Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems | 3 |
| ELEC 463 | Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory | 3 |
| ELEC 464 | Nanotechnology and Nature | 3 |
| ELEC 465 | Microsystems Design | 3 |
| ELEC 473 | Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems | 3 |
| MATH 220 | Mathematical Proof | 3 |
| MECH 4642 | Industrial Robotics | 3 |
| Total | 20 |
* A minimum of 13 credits must be taken from APSC 486; BMEG 400B; BMEG 400C; BMEG 400D, BMEG 400E, BMEG 400F; BMEG 400H; BMEG 400M; BMEG 420; CHBE 381; CPEN 312; ELEC 321; ELEC 331; ELEC 421; ELEC 422; ELEC 442; ELEC 462; ELEC 463; ELEC 464; ELEC 465; ELEC 473; MECH 464.
1 BMEG students may take CPEN 312 with BMEG 220 and CPEN 221. Please note students may be required to learn diodes and transistors (BJTs and MOSEFTs) content through self-study outside of class. Contact registration@ece.ubc.ca for registration.
2 MECH 464 will accept BMEG 320 as pre-requisite for this course.
Note: CPSC courses are typically in high demand campus-wide, and there are no reserved seats for technical electives. SBME students will have to register in the general seat pool; this pool can fill up quickly, as these seats are available to students in other departments as well.
CELLULAR BIOENGINEERING
Cellular Bioengineering stream applies the engineering principles of design, analysis, and methodology to cellular and molecular biology for the development cell-based therapeutics in regenerative medicine and drug delivery.
Core Stream Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BMEG 374 | Cellular Bioengineering: Laboratory and Design | 3 |
| BMEG 470 | Cellular Responses to Forces and Biomaterials | 3 |
| CHBE 3811 | Bioprocess Engineering I | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
1 CHBE 381 will accept BMEG 245 instead of BIOL 112. Please us our contact form for registration requests.
Stream Electives
Choose 15 credits from electives*
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 |
| BMEG 372 | Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery | 3 |
| BMEG 373 | Microfludics | 3 |
| BMEG 400B | Linear Systems in Optics | 3 |
| BMEG 400C | Modern Biomedical Optical Imaging | 3 |
| BMEG 400D | Clinical Informatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400E | Genome Informatics | 3 |
| BMEG 400F | Biomedical Robotics’ | 3 |
| BMEG 400H | Synthetic Biology Bootcamp | 3 |
| BMEG 400M | Workshop | 2 |
| BMEG 474 | Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine | 3 |
| BMEG 490A1 | Introduction to Academic Research | 3 |
| BMEG 490B1 | Introduction to Academic Research | 3 |
| CAPS 4212 | Advanced cellular & molecular physiology | 3 |
| CHBE 481 | Bioprocess Engineering II | 4 |
| CHEM 211 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis | 4 |
| MICB 2023 & 4 | Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology | 3 |
| MICB 2124 | Introductory Immunology and Virology | 3 |
| MICB 302 | Immunology | 3 |
| MICB 306 | Molecular Virology | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
* A minimum of 9 credits must be taken from APSC 486; BMEG 372; BMEG 373; BMEG 400B; BMEG 400C; BMEG 400D; BMEG 400E; BMEG 400F; BMEG 400H; BMEG 400M; BMEG 474; CHBE 481.
1 Credit will only be given to either BMEG 490A or BMEG 490B, not both.
2 CAPS 421 will accept all of BMEG 245, BMEG 250, BMEG 350 as pre-requisites for this course. Please contact course instructors for registration.
3 MICB 202 will accept all of BMEG 245 and BMEG 250 as pre-requisites for this course. Please us our contact form for registration requests.
4 MICB 212 will be accepted as an equivalent of MICB 202 during years that MICB 202 is not offered. Three (3) credits for either MICB 202 OR MICB 212 will count towards the total elective credits for the Cellular Bioengineering stream.
Discover More