Program Description

The BS in Biomedical Engineering program connects engineering coursework with Biology, Chemistry, and Health & Human Performance courses to prepare students to design and create biomedical devices.  This major includes the significant design and hands-on aspects of the engineering major, and allows the biomedical engineering student to work alongside mechanical and electrical engineering students in four design courses so that each major complements the others in this integrated experience that prepares students well for a career in engineering.  Our program will emphasize the God-given value of each person, and address designing not just cutting edge, expensive equipment, but also lower-cost equipment that can serve broadly, including marginalized communities.

Students majoring in Biomedical Engineering at SPU will be allowed to also double major in General Engineering without any additional degree requirements.  The BS in General Engineering degree is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. So, students earning the BS Biomedical Engineering who also select a General Engineering major will graduate with both this new degree and also the ABET-accredited General Engineering degree.

Entering and Completing the Major

In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.

Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) as soon as you have determined it and are eligible to join it, especially by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.

• If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified a major in this department as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major, follow these instructions.
• If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major in this department.
• The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
• To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major.
• You must complete the major requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major.

Biomedical Engineering (BS)

136 Credits Minimum, Including 64 Upper Division (UD)

¹

For clarity, either both CSC 1250 and CSC 1260 are required, or just CSC 2230.

²

An approved tech internship or professional experience must be completed before passing EGR 4941.

³

For clarity, the requirement is for either EGR 3250 OR EGR 4450.

Suggested Course Sequence

Four Year Plan Starting with Calculus

¹

Engineering majors should take a UCOL taught by an engineering faculty member, if one is available.

²

Or Fall of junior year.

³

Depends on the tech specialty selected, see the Requirements page and discuss with faculty advisor.

⁴

Quarter varies. Discuss with faculty advisor.

⁵

If not already completed.

⁶

Offered alternate years.

⁷

Must be taken AFTER completing or WHILE pursuing an approved internship or an approved certification. 

Two Year Plan for a Transfer Student with or without a DTA

See below for the pre-requisite courses required to complete the degree in two years. It is fine to transfer to SPU without having completed these courses, but it will likely result in requiring more than two years at SPU.

Note also that without a DTA, it will depend on how many of the General Education Courses (Common Curriculum, Exploratory Curriculum, etc. ) are completed before transferring as to whether or not the degree can be completed in two years.

Check the quarter, day and time in the current schedule as course offerings may change. Pay close attention to the pre-requisites of the courses.

¹

Spread between first and second year.

²

Specific course depends on technical specialty pathway.  See Degree Requirements.

³

EGR 3800 offered alternate years. Take HHP 3570 if EGR 3800 not offered.

⁴

BME 4000 offered alternate years. Take HHP 3580 if BME 4000 not offered.

⁵

Offered alt years.

⁶

The credits for this course can possibly be spread over multiple quarters.

⁷

Must be taken AFTER completing or WHILE pursuing an approved internship or an approved certification. 

⁸

Take whichever course is not yet completed.

⁹

If not already completed. Offered alt years.

Prerequisites for the Two Year Plan

The following courses must be completed before coming to SPU in order to finish at SPU in two years, plus potentially an additional quarter.  It is ok to transfer to SPU before completing all of the courses, but it will likely take longer than two years at SPU.

¹

Some pathways require two quarters of programming in the same language, one course of which includes Data Structures.

²

Students will take EE 2502 Selected Circuits Topics for Transfer Students at SPU to supplement any content need to reach equivalency to SPU's Circuits 1 course.

³

Required only for some pathways within SPU's BME major.