Minor Program
The Biomedical Engineering Minor is open to undergraduate students who are interested in an exciting, multidisciplinary field that lies at the interface of medicine, biology and engineering.Ìý Students rostered outside of the College of Engineering and Applied Science may earn the minor as long as the meet the requirements below.
Biomedical engineers use engineering principles to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, providing an overall enhancement to healthcare. At the same time, biomedical engineers employ concepts learned from biology and medicine to generate new engineering designs.
Current research in biomedical engineering focuses on innovative areas such as biomechanics and mechanobiology; medical devices;Ìýimaging and diagnostics; and therapeutics.
Typical Timeline for Student Earning the Minor
| Semester | Task |
|---|---|
| Sophomore Fall | Admission to Biomedical Engineering Minor |
| Sophomore Spring | Biomedical Engineering Gateway Course |
| Junior-Senior years | Technical Elective Courses |
Selected admitted students are invited to participate in the minor.Ìý Otherwise, admission to the minor is byÌý²¹±è±è±ô¾±³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô. Students must have a minimum CU cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to apply. Students can apply at any time and will beÌýnotified of their admission status on a rolling basis.ÌýÌý
A minor in Biomedical Engineering can be earned in conjunction with any CU ÐßÐßÊÓƵ major degree, except for BS degree in Biomedical Engineering.
Grade Requirements
A grade point average (GPA) of 2.000 or better is required in the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for this minor. Each individual course that is counted towards these degree requirements must be passed with a D- or better. Note, however, that a C- or better is required in all prerequisite courses to move on to a subsequent course.
Completing the Biomedical Engineering Minor
The College of Engineering and Applied Science requires confirmation of Biomedical Engineering Minor completion. Please email biomed-minor@colorado.eduÌýfor final approval.
Questions or Degree Audit Updates?
Please emailÌýbiomed-minor@colorado.edu.
Course Requirements
Completion of 18 credit hours (typically 6 courses) is required for the minor, distributed as follows:
- BMEN 2000 Biomedical Engineering Gateway (3 credit hours):
- This course cannot apply towards your major degree requirements
- Starting in Fall 2023, this course will require a prerequisite course of BiologyÌý(CHEN 2810, EBIO 1210, or MCDB 1150) and Ìýa prerequisite of Chemistry (CHEN 1201, CHEN 1211, CHEM 1113 or MCEN 1024).
- This course utilizes Matlab.Ìý Prior experience using Matlab is ideal. Students without Matlab experience may need to spend additional time learning Matlab to complete certain assignments.Ìý Resources will be made available.
- 15 elective credit hours (typically 5 courses)*
Requirements for the minor are met by completing the required gateway course and 15 elective credit hoursÌýidentified below.Ìý Here are additional guidelines regarding the requirements:
- At least 12 credit hours must be upper-division (3000 or higher level)
- 6 credit hoursÌýmust be taken in engineering courses (including Computer Science).ÌýHere to submit enrollment requests for department restricted courses.Ìý
- Up to 9 credit hoursÌýcan be takenÌýoutside of engineering (i.e. IPHY, MCDB, PHIL)
- Relevant Independent Study coursework can be petitioned
- 5000-level courses are allowed where undergraduate students are eligible to enroll
- Prior coursework may be transferred from other institutions with approval.
- At least 9 credit hoursÌýneed to be taken on the CU-ÐßÐßÊÓƵ campus- at least 6 credit hours of whichÌýmust be at the upper-division level.Ìý
Starting in Spring 2024 – newly matriculated students in the minorÌýwill need to select one of the focused technical electives below with the added condition that the course prefix cannot match your major.Ìý Existing students in the minorÌýprogram may choose this option.
- BIEN 3800Ìý– Fundamentals of Biotechnology (prereqsÌýof BIEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1220 and APPM 1350 or MATH 1300 and CHEN 1201 or CHEN 1211 or CHEM 1113 or MCEN 1024)
- BMEN 2010 – Biomaterials (prereqÌýof CHEN 1201 or CHEN 1211 or CHEM 1113)
- BMEN 4117 – Anatomy & Physiology for BME (prereqÌýof BMEN 2000)
- BIEN 2810 – Biology for Engineers (prereq or coreqÌýof CHEN 1201 or CHEN 1211 or CHEM 1113 or MCEN 1024)
- BIEN 4802Ìý– Tissue Engineering (prereqÌýof CHEN 2810 or MCDB 1150 or EBIO 1210 and EBIO 1220 and prereq/coreqÌýof CHEN 4520 or BMEN 4010)Ìý
- ECEN 4933 – Engineering Genetic Circuits
- IPHY 3410 – Human Anatomy (prereqÌýof EBIO 1210 or MCDB 1150 or BIENÌý2810)
- IPHY 3430 – Human Physiology (prereq of IPHY 3410 and prereq/coreqÌýof CHEM 1133/1134)
- MCDB 1150 – Introduction to Cellular & Molecular Biology
- MCDB 2150 – Principles of Genetics (prereq of MCDB 1150ÌýorÌýEBIO 1210Ìýor BIENÌý2810)Ìý
- PHIL 1160Ìý– Introduction to Medical Ethics
- PHIL 3160Ìý– Bioethics
For more information
Email us at:
biomed-minor@colorado.edu
An independent study is a collaboration between a student and a faculty member on a special project that provides the student with a learning experience. An independent study may also fill an academic need of importance to the student that cannot be filled by regular course offerings. Independent studies are opportunities to earn credit for learning outside the normal lecture and laboratory class structure.Ìý Learn more.