Biomedical Engineering, BSE

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE)
Major: Biomedical Engineering

Program Overview

The Case Western Reserve undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program with a major in Biomedical Engineering was established in 1972 and has been accredited since its inception.   

Some BSE graduates are employed in industry and medical centers. Others continue graduate or professional studies in biomedical engineering and other fields. Students with strong quantitative skills and an interest in medicine may consider the undergraduate biomedical engineering program as an exciting alternative to conventional premedical programs. In addition to the University general education requirements, the undergraduate program has three major components: (1) Engineering Core, (2) BME Core, and (3) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

  • BME Specialty Tracks. The Engineering Core provides a fundamental background in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering. The BME Core provides fundamentals in biology and integrates engineering with biomedical science to solve medical problems. Hands-on experience in BME is developed through undergraduate laboratory and project courses. In addition, by choosing a BME Track, the student can study a specific area of interest in depth. Appropriate choice of elective courses can lead to a minor in a related engineering discipline without taking extra classes beyond those needed for the BME major. This integrated program is designed to ensure that BME graduates are competent engineers with credentials that are well recognized by potential employers. 

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree program with a major in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Program Educational Objectives

At the undergraduate level, we direct our efforts toward two educational objectives that describe the performance of alumni 3-6 years after graduation.

  1. Our graduates will successfully enter and complete post-baccalaureate advanced degree programs, including those in biomedical engineering.
  2. Our graduates will obtain jobs in the biomedical arena and advance to positions of greater responsibility.

Learning Outcomes

As preparation for achieving the above educational objectives, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Biomedical Engineering is designed so that students attain:  

  • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  • An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Co-op and Internship Programs

Opportunities are available for students to alternate studies with work in industry or government as a co-op student, which involves paid full-time employment over seven months (one semester and one summer). Students may work in one or two co-ops, beginning in the third year of study. Co-ops provide students the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience in their field by completing a significant engineering project while receiving professional mentoring. During a co-op placement, students do not pay tuition but maintain their full-time student status while earning a salary. Alternatively or additionally, students may obtain employment as summer interns.

Undergraduate Policies

For undergraduate policies and procedures, please review the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Accelerated Master's Programs

Undergraduate students may participate in accelerated programs toward graduate or professional degrees. For more information and details of the policies and procedures related to accelerated studies, please visit the Undergraduate Academics section of the General Bulletin.

Additional information for BME students:

  1. An eligible BME faculty member (primary or secondary) must agree to serve as the MS research advisor and a primary BME faculty member (who might be the same person as the research advisor) must agree to be the academic advisor. Obtaining this agreement is the responsibility of the applying student.  The BS/MS application must include letters of recommendation from both the research and academic advisor that states that they agree to serve in these roles and that they support the BS/MS application.

  2. The BME department does not guarantee financial support during the MS portion of this program. However, the GEC requires students and potential research advisors to discuss and agree to some financial arrangement.  The letter of recommendation from the proposed research advisor must, therefore, indicate that the issue of financial support has been discussed and that some arrangement has been agreed upon.  The details of this arrangement do not need to be included in the letter.

  3. Complete a standard application to the School of Graduate Studies via the online application system.  

  4. Complete the BS/MS Planned Program of Study (PPOS) form. Make sure to check the “BS/MS” box and to indicate which courses are to be double-counted (by checking the “double count” box next to the relevant courses on the POS).

  5. Obtain an approval signature from the Office of Undergraduate Studies on the proposed POS prior to submitting the package (below) to the department.

  6. Prepare the application package that includes the following:

    • A current transcript
    • The proposed MS Program of Study. Make sure that the Program of Study specifies both the academic and research advisors and includes both of their signatures. This form also needs to indicate the courses that are intended to be “double counted”.
      • Only graduate-level courses (400-or higher) can be double counted.  This typically means that students should register for 400-level courses to satisfy undergraduate technical electives.
      • It is possible to “double count” 3 credit hours of EBME 398.  To do this, 3 credit hours of EBME 651 (Thesis-Focused Track) or EBME 695 (Project-Focused Track) should replace EBME 398 in the fall or spring of the senior year.  You should register for EBME 651 or EBME 695 (but NOT EBME 398).  However, you must attend the meetings of EBME 398 and also fulfill all of the course requirements for EBME 398.
      • A maximum of 9 credit hours can be double counted.  Typically, these are two 3 credit hours courses (400-level or high) and 3 credit hours of EBME 651 or EBME 695 (in place of EBME 398).
    • Three reference reports (in sealed envelopes), including letters from your proposed academic and research advisor(s).

  7. Submit the proposed POS, transcript, and letters of recommendation to the BME Graduate Coordinator.

No admission decision will be made until the POS is approved by the GEC.  After a positive recommendation by the GEC, a letter of conditional admission will be sent.  The condition for admission is the submission of GRE scores within two months of completing the BS requirements.  The student cannot graduate from the BS/MS program without official GRE scores.  This is a BME requirement and not a CSE requirement.  Note that it is strongly recommended that students plan to take the GRE exam in the Fall semester of their senior year to be eligible for pre-doctoral fellowships from the National Science Foundation or other sources.