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 not yet accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers. All undergraduate engineering programs in Canada become accredited when the first cohort graduates.
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, beginning in the year a student starts the program. 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
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs | Co-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 39 | |||
| BMEG 201 | Technical Communication for Biomedical Engineers | 3 | All of ENGL 112, BMEG 101, BMEG 1021 | |
| BMEG 210 | Thermodynamics in Biomedical Engineering | 2 | CHEM 123 is recommended | |
| BMEG 220 | Circuits and Electromagnetics with Application to Biomedical Engineering | 4 | All of PHYS 157, PHYS 158, MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 253, MATH 256 | MATH 264 |
| BMEG 230 | Biomechanics I | 4 | All of BMEG 1011, PHYS 170 | |
| BMEG 245 | The Fundamental Units of Life: From Cells To Systems | 4 | CHEM 12 BIOL 12 Recommended | |
| BMEG 250 | Cellular Physiology and Biophysics | 4 | BMEG 245 | |
| BMEG 257 | Biomedical Engineering Design I | 4 | All of BMEG 101, BMEG 1021 | |
| CHBE 251 | Transport Phenomena I | 3 | PHYS 170 | MATH 256 |
| CPEN 221 | Principles of Software Construction | 4 | APSC 160 | |
| MATH 253 or 2262 | Multivariable Calculus | 3 | MATH 101 | |
| MATH 256 | Differential equations | 3 | MATH 101 and one of MATH 152 | MATH 226 or MATH 253 |
| MATH 2643 | Vector Calculus for Electrical Engineering | 1 | One of MATH 226, MATH 253 | BMEG 220 |
1 For 2018W Year 2 students ONLY, APSC 101 and PHYS 159 will be accepted instead of BMEG 101 and 102
2 MATH 226 is only permitted with program permission. Most students will take MATH 253
3 Delivered with BMEG 220
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs | Co-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 38 | |||
| BIOC 202 | Introductory Medical Biochemistry | 3 | CHEM 233 | |
| BMEG 310 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 | All of BMEG 245, APSC 160. | |
| BMEG 350 | Human Structure/Function from Cells to Systems | 4 | All of BMEG 245, BMEG 250. | |
| BMEG 357 | Biomedical Engineering Design II | 3 | BMEG 257 | |
| CHBE 351 | Transport Phenomena II | 3 | All of CHBE 251, MATH 253. | |
| CHEM 233 | Organic Chemistry for the Biological Sciences | 3 | CHEM 123 | |
| CHEM 235 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | CHEM 123 | CHEM 233 |
| ELEC 371 | Biomedical Engineering Instrumentation | 3 | MATH 256 and MATH 253 and either (a) EECE 253 or (b) all of ELEC 202, EECE 259 or (c) all of CPEN 211, EECE 261 or (d) all of ELEC 211, EECE 282 or (e) ELEC 292. | |
| STAT 251 | Elementary Statistics | 3 | MATH 101 | |
| Stream-based Technical Electives | 9 | |||
| Complementary Studies Electives | 3 |
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 36 | ||
| BMEG 430 | Economics of Heath Care Solutions | 3 | |
| BMEG 450 | Biomedical Engineering Design Project | 6 | BMEG 350 |
| BMEG 456 | Clinical and Industrial Biomedical engineering | 4 | |
| STAT 300 | Intermediate Statistics for Applications | 3 | STAT 251 |
| Stream-based Technical Electives | 18 | ||
| Complementary Studies Electives | 3 |
Stream Courses
Students will be admitted to a stream at the end of second year by permission of the program director, based on academic achievement and demonstrated interested. Enrolment in each stream may be limited. Please note that some streams may be more restricted than others.
More information on each of the streams can be found here.
Biomedical Informatics
The Bioinformatics stream explores the use of patient health care information to understand disease and pathophysiology, and to improve outcomes.
Choose 14 (if taking MATH 220) or 13 (if taking CPSC 121) credits from electives
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs | Co-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 13 or 14 | |||
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 | BIOC 202 and CHEM 233 | |
| CPSC 221 | Basic Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 | One of CPSC 210, EECE 210, CPEN 221 and one of CPSC 121, MATH 220 | |
| CPSC 340 | Machine Learning and Data Mining | 3 | All of MATH 152, MATH 253, Stat 251 and one of CPSC 221 or CPSC 210 | |
| MATH 220 | Mathematical Proof | 3 | Either (a) a score of 64% or higher in one of MATH 101 or (b) MATH 253 | |
| OR | ||||
| CPSC 121 | Models of Computation | 4 | Math 12 | One of CPSC 107 (CPSC 107 has a pre-req of 103), CPSC 110 |
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 14 | ||
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 | |
| APSC 541 | Technology Entrepreneurship for Engineers | 3 | |
| BMEG 390 | Medical Imaging | 3 | All of BMEG 220, BMEG 250, ELEC 371 |
| CHBE 381 | Bioprocess Engineering I | 4 | BIOL 112, MATH 101 |
| CPEN 321 | Software Engineering | 4 | CPEN 221 |
| CPEN 421 | Software Project Management | 4 | CPEN 321 |
| CPEN 441 | Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design | 4 | CPSC 260 or 221 and one CPEN 221, CPSC 210 or CPEN 333 |
| CPSC 302 | Numerical Computation for Algebraic Problems | 3 | One of CPSC 103, CPSC 110, CPSC 260, EOSC 211, PHYS 210 and one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, MATH 121 and one of MATH 152, MATH 221, MATH 223. |
| CPSC 304 | Introduction to Relational Databases | 3 | Either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320 and one of CPSC 210, EECE 210, EECE 309. |
| CPSC 320 | Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis | 3 | Either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320. In addition to above pre-requisites, at least 3 credits from COMM 291, BIOL 300, MATH or STAT at 200 level or above. |
| CPSC 322 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 | Either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320 and one of CPSC 210, EECE 210, EECE 309. |
| CPSC 344 | Introduction to Human Computer Interaction Methods | 3 | One of CPSC 210, EECE 210, EECE 309, CPEN 221. |
| CPSC 404 | Advanced Relational Databases | 3 | CPSC 304 and one of CPSC 213, CPSC 261. |
| CPSC 410 | Advanced Software Engineering | 3 | Either (a) CPSC 310 or (b) one of EECE 310, CPEN 321 and one of EECE 315, CPEN 331. |
| CPSC 422 | Intelligent Systems | 3 | CPSC 322 |
| CPSC 425 | Computer Vision | 3 | All of MATH 200, MATH 221 and either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320. |
| CPSC 444 | Advanced Methods for Human Computer Interaction | 3 | All of CPSC 310, CPSC 344 and one of STAT 200, STAT 241. |
| CPSC 445 | Algorithms in Bioinformatics | 3 | CPSC 320 and six credits of BIOL beyond BIOL 111. |
| ELEC 221 | Signals and Systems | 4 | One of MATH 256, MATH 255. |
| ELEC 331 | Computer Communications | 4 | One of ELEC 221, CPSC 261, EECE 359, EECE 315, CPEN 331. |
| ELEC 462 | Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems | 3 | 3rd year standing |
| STAT 406 | Methods for Statistical Learning | 3 | One of STAT 306, CPSC 340. |
Biomaterials & Biomechanics
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 18 credits from electives
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 18 | ||
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 | |
| APSC 541 | Technology Entrepreneurship for Engineers | 3 | |
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 | BIOC 202, CHEM 233, and either CHEM 205 or PHAR 220 |
| CPEN 312 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 | One of ELEC 201, EECE 252, ELEC 204, ELEC 203, MECH 221 |
| MECH 435 | Orthopaedic Biomechanics | 3 | All of APSC 278, MECH 260 |
| MECH 436 | Fundamentals of Injury Biomechanics | 3 | All of MECH 360, MECH 463 |
| MECH 462 | Finite Element Analysis | 3 | All of MECH 360, MECH 375. |
| MECH 469 | Dynamic System Modeling | 3 | |
| MTRL 495 | Biomaterials | 3 | APSC 278 |
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.
Choose 20 credits from electives
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7 | ||
| BMEG 320 | Bioengineering Feedback Systems and Controls | 3 | All of PHYS 157, MATH 253, MATH 256, BMEG 220. |
| ELEC 221 | Signals and Systems | 4 | One of MATH 256, MATH 255 |
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs | Co-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 20 | |||
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 | ||
| BIOC 302 | General Biochemistry | 3 | All of BIOC 202 and CHEM 233 | |
| BMEG 390 | Medical Imaging | 3 | All of BMEG 220, BMEG 250, ELEC 371 | |
| CHBE 381 | Bioprocess Engineering I | 4 | BIOL 112 and one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, CHBE 241, CHBE 251. (Third or fourth year standing.) | |
| CPEN 312 | Digital Systems and Microcomputers | 3 | One of ELEC 201, ELEC 204, ELEC 203, MECH 221. | |
| CPSC 121 | Models of Computation | 4 | Principles of Mathematics 12 or Pre-calculus 12 | One of CPSC 107, CPSC 110 |
| CPSC 221 | Basic Algorithms and Data Structures | 4 | MATH 152, MATH 253, STAT 251; and either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320 and one of CPSC 210, EECE 210, EECE 309 | |
| CPSC 340 | Machine Learning and Data Mining | 3 | MATH 152, MATH 253, STAT 251; and either (a) CPSC 221 or (b) all of CPSC 260, EECE 320 and one of CPSC 210, EECE 210, EECE 309. | |
| ELEC 321 | Stochastic Signals and Systems | 4 | One of ELEC 221, STAT 305 | |
| ELEC 331 | Computer Communications | 4 | One of ELEC 221, CPSC 261, CPEN 331. | |
| ELEC 421 | Digital Signal and Image Processing | 3 | ELEC 221 | |
| ELEC 422 | Biosignals and Systems | 3 | All of ELEC 371, ELEC 341, ELEC 221 and one of CPSC 260, CPSC 259 and one of STAT 251, MATH 318, MATH 302, STAT 302. | |
| ELEC 442 | Introduction to Robotics | 3 | PHYS 170 | |
| ELEC 462 | Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems | 3 | 3rd year standing | |
| ELEC 463 | Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory | 3 | 3rd year standing | |
| ELEC 464 | Nanotechnology and Nature | 3 | 3rd year standing | |
| ELEC 465 | Microsystems Design | 3 | 3rd year standing | |
| ELEC 473 | Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems | 3 | 3rd year standing | |
| MATH 220 | Mathematical Proof | 3 | Either (a) a score of 64% or higher in one of MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105, SCIE 001 or (b) one of MATH 121, MATH 200, MATH 217, MATH 226, MATH 253, MATH 263. |
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.
Choose 17 credits from electives
| Code | Title | Credits | Pre-Reqs | Co-Reqs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 17 | |||
| APSC 486 | New Venture Design | 6 | ||
| APSC 541 | Technology Entrepreneurship for Engineers | 3 | ||
| BIOC 402 | Protein Structure & Functions | 3 | One of BIOC 302, BIOC 303, BIOT 380. A minimum standing of 65% is recommended in these courses. | |
| BIOC 403 | Enyzmology | 3 | BIOC 402 and minimum of 65% | |
| BMEG 371 | Transport Phenomena within Cells and Tissues | 3 | All of MATH 100, MATH 101, MATH 253, MATH 256 | |
| BMEG 372 | Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery | 3 | All of BMEG 245, BMEG 250, CHEM 123 | |
| BMEG 373 | Microfludics | 3 | CHBE 251 | |
| BMEG 474 | Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine | 3 | All of BMEG 245, BMEG 250, BMEG 350 | |
| CAPS 421 | Advanced cellular & molecular physiology | 3 | Either (a) all of ANAT 390, PHYL 301 or (b) all of CAPS 301, CAPS 390 and third-year standing | |
| CHBE 481 | Bioprocess Engineering II | 3 | CHBE 381 | |
| CHEM 221 | Introduction to Chemical Analysis | 4 | CHEM 123 | |
| MICB 302 | Immunology | 3 | MICB 202 | |
| MICB 306 | Molecular Virology | 3 | MICB 202 | |
| PATH 4201 | Pathology for Biomedical Engineers | 3 | ||
| PHAR 440 | Pain Research and Therapy | 3 | All of PHAR 442, PHAR 452, PHAR 472 |
1 Pending Creation