Curriculum

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.

2020W Course Planning & Registration Guide

CORE COURSES

The below tables detail courses that all Biomedical Engineering Students take during their degree.

YEAR 2

CodeTitleCredits
BMEG 201Technical Communication for Biomedical Engineers
3
BMEG 210Thermodynamics in Biomedical Engineering
3
BMEG 220Circuits and Electromagnetics with Application to Biomedical Engineering
4
BMEG 230Biomechanics I
4
BMEG 245The Fundamental Units of Life: From Cells To Systems
4
BMEG 250Cellular Physiology and Biophysics
4
BMEG 257Biomedical Engineering Design I
4
CHBE 251Transport Phenomena I
3
CPEN 221 OR CPEN 223 1Principles of Software Construction OR Software Design for Engineers
4
MATH 253Multivariable Calculus
3
MATH 256Differential equations
3
MATH 2642Vector 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

CodeTitleCredits
BIOC 202Introductory Medical Biochemistry
3
BMEG 310Introduction to Bioinformatics
4
BMEG 321Biomedical Instrumentation
3
BMEG 350Human Structure/Function from Cells to Systems
4
BMEG 357Biomedical Engineering Design II
3
BMEG 371Transport Phenomena within Cells and Tissues
3
CHEM 233Organic Chemistry for the Biological Sciences
3
CHEM 235Organic Chemistry Laboratory
1
STAT 251Elementary Statistics
3
Stream-Based Courses
9
Complementary Studies Electives
3
Total
39

YEAR 4

CodeTitleCredits
BMEG 401Economics of Heath Care Solutions
3
BMEG 455Professionalism and Ethics in Biomedical Engineering
3
BMEG 457Biomedical Engineering Design Project
6
STAT 300Intermediate Statistics for Applications
3
Stream-Based Courses
18
Complementary Studies Electives
6
Total
39

Stream Courses

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.

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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

CodeTitleCredits
BIOC 302General Biochemistry
3
CPSC 221Basic Algorithms and Data Structures
4
CPSC 340Machine Learning and Data Mining
3
CPSC 1211Models of Computation
4
OR
MATH 220Mathematical Proof
3
Total
13 or 14

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*

CodeTitleCredits
BMEG 400CModern Biomedical Optical Imaging
3
BMEG 400DClinical Informatics
3
BMEG 400EGenome Informatics
3
BMEG 400MWorkshop
2
BMEG 420Medical Imaging
3
CHBE 381Bioprocess Engineering I
4
CPEN 321Software Engineering
4
CPEN 421Software Project Management
4
CPEN 441Human Computer Interfaces in Engineering Design
4
CPSC 302Numerical Computation for Algebraic Problems
3
CPSC 304Introduction to Relational Databases
3
CPSC 320Intermediate Algorithm Design and Analysis
3
CPSC 322Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
3
CPSC 344Introduction to Human Computer Interaction Methods
3
CPSC 425Computer Vision
3
CPSC 445Algorithms in Bioinformatics
3
ELEC 221Signals and Systems
4
ELEC 331Computer Communications
4
ELEC 462Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems
3
STAT 406Methods for Statistical Learning
3
Total
13 or 14

*A minimum of 7 credits must be taken from BMEG 400D; BMEG 400E; BMEG 400M; BMEG 420; CHBE 381; CPEN 321; CPEN 421; CPEN 441; ELEC 221; ELEC 331; ELEC 462

CHECKLIST

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

CodeTitleCredits
APSC 278Engineering Materials
3
APSC 2791Engineering Materials Laboratory
1
BMEG 330Biomechanics II
3
MECH 260Introduction to Mechanics of Materials
3
Total
10

1 not required for students who started their stream in September 2019. Those students take 18 credits of stream electives.

Stream Electives

Choose 17 credits from electives

CodeTitleCredits
BIOC 302General Biochemistry
3
BMEG 372Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery
3
BMEG 373Microfluidics
3
BMEG 400CModern Biomedical Optical Imaging
3
BMEG 400MWorkshop
2
BMEG 470Cellular Responses to Forces and Biomaterials
3
CPEN 3121Digital Systems and Microcomputers
3
MECH 360Mechanics of Materials
3
MECH 380Fluid Dynamics
3
MECH 410DEngineering Dynamics
3
MECH 4332Biofluids
3
MECH 4363Fundamentals of Injury Biomechanics
3
MECH 4624Finite Element Analysis
3
MECH 463Mechanical Vibrations
3
MECH 469Dynamic System Modeling
3
MTRL 495Biomaterials
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.
3 MECH 436 will accept BMEG 230, BMEG 330, and MECH 260 as pre-requisites for this course. SBME Student Services will contact BMEG students in May/June about registration. Please note students may be required to learn vibrations content through self-study outside of class.

CHECKLIST

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

CodeTitleCredits
BMEG 320Bioengineering Feedback Systems and Controls
3
ELEC 221Signals and Systems
4
Total
7

Stream Electives

Choose 20 credits from electives*

CodeTitleCredits
BIOC 302General Biochemistry
3
BMEG 400CModern Biomedical Optical Imaging
3
BMEG 400MWorkshop
2
BMEG 420Medical Imaging
3
CHBE 381Bioprocess Engineering I
4
CPEN 3121Digital Systems and Microcomputers
3
CPSC 121Models of Computation
4
CPSC 221Basic Algorithms and Data Structures
4
CPSC 330Applied Machine Learning
3
CPSC 340Machine Learning and Data Mining
3
ELEC 321Stochastic Signals and Systems
4
ELEC 331Computer Communications
4
ELEC 421Digital Signal and Image Processing
3
ELEC 422Biosignals and Systems
3
ELEC 442Introduction to Robotics
3
ELEC 462Sensors and Actuators in Microsystems
3
ELEC 463Micro/Nanofabrication and Instrumentation Laboratory
3
ELEC 464Nanotechnology and Nature
3
ELEC 465Microsystems Design
3
ELEC 473Biological Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems
3
MATH 220Mathematical Proof
3
MECH 4642Industrial Robotics
3
Total
20

* A minimum of 13 credits must be taken from BMEG 400C; 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.

CHECKLIST

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

CodeTitleCredits
BIOC 302General Biochemistry
3
BMEG 374 Cellular Bioengineering: Laboratory and Design
3
BMEG 470Cellular Responses to Forces and Biomaterials
3
CHBE 3811Bioprocess Engineering I
3
Total
12

1 CHBE 381 will accept BMEG 245 instead of BIOL 112. Please contact students@bme.ubc.ca for registration.

Stream Electives

Choose 15 credits from electives*

CodeTitleCredits
BMEG 372Biomedical Materials and Drug Delivery
3
BMEG 373Microfludics
3
BMEG 400CModern Biomedical Optical Imaging
3
BMEG 400DClinical Informatics
3
BMEG 400EGenome Informatics
3
BMEG 400MWorkshop
2
BMEG 474Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine
3
CAPS 4211Advanced cellular & molecular physiology
3
CHBE 481Bioprocess Engineering II
3
CHEM 211Introduction to Chemical Analysis
4
MICB 2022Introductory Medical Microbiology and Immunology
3
MICB 302Immunology
3
MICB 306Molecular Virology
3
Total
15

* A minimum of 9 credits must be taken from BMEG 372; BMEG 373; BMEG 400C; BMEG 400D; BMEG 400E; BMEG 400M; BMEG 474; CHBE 481.

1 CAPS 421 will accept all of BMEG 245, BMEG 250, BMEG 350 as pre-requisites for this course. Please contact course instructors for registration.
2 MICB 202 will accept all of BMEG 245 and BMEG 250 as pre-requisites for this course. Please contact students@bme.ubc.ca for registration.

CHECKLIST

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