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Biomedical Engineering Sciences Major

The biomedical engineering sciences major is offered to students interested in either medical school or graduate studies in biomedical engineering. Faculty from Thayer School and Dartmouth Medical School jointly advise the research projects.

For information, contact Professor Brian Pogue.

Course of Study

Prerequisites

Majors are expected to have a basic understanding of calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science. First-year students interested in the major should take the placement test in mathematics.

Mathematics (3 courses)

MATH 3 Introduction to Calculus
MATH 8 Calculus of Functions of One and Several Variables
MATH 13 Calculus of Vector-Valued Functions

Biology (1 courses)

BIOL 11 The Science of Life

Chemistry (1-2 courses)

CHEM 5–6 General Chemistry OR CHEM 10 Honors First-Year General Chemistry

Physics (2 courses)

PHYS 13 Introductory Physics I
PHYS 14 Introductory Physics II

Computer Science (1 course)

ENGS 20 Introduction to Scientific Computing OR COSC 5 Introduction to Computer Science

For students in the Class of 2009, the Integrated Mathematics and Physical Science (IMPS) option (no longer offered) may be substituted for the prerequisite mathematics and physics courses.

Unless otherwise prohibited, prerequisites may be taken under the Non-Recording Option.

Required Courses

Common core courses (2 courses)

ENGS 21 Introduction to Engineering
ENGS 22 Systems

Common and distributive core courses (choose 1 course)

ENGS 23 Distributed Systems and Fields
ENGS 24 Science of Materials
ENGS 25 Introduction to Thermodynamics
ENGS 26 Control Theory
ENGS 27 Discrete and Probabilistic Systems

Gateway course (choose 1 course)

Electrical

ENGS 31 Digital Electronics
ENGS 32 Electronics: Introduction to Linear and Digital Circuits

Mechanical

ENGS 33 Solid Mechanics
ENGS 34 Fluid Dynamics

Chemical/Biochemical

ENGS 35 Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
ENGS 36 Chemical Engineering

Engineering course (choose 1 course)

ENGS 56 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering OR 1 additional course from ENGS 23–36

Biology courses (choose 2 courses)

BIOL 12 Cell Structure and Function
BIOL 13 Gene Expression and Inheritance
BIOL 14 Physiology

Chemistry courses (2 courses)

CHEM 51–52 Organic Chemistry OR CHEM 57–58 Organic Chemistry

Elective (choose 1 course)

Engineering sciences course numbered above ENGS 23
BIOL 40 (formerly BIOL 77) Biochemistry
CHEM 41 Biological Chemistry

Culminating Experience

Engineering Sciences majors complete a culminating experience, which is part of a course (either an elective or an additional course). Normally taken during the senior year, the course is chosen from the following options:

Thesis

ENGS 86 Independent Project
ENGS 88 Honors Thesis

Advanced course

ENGS 160 Biotechnology and Biochemical Engineering
ENGS 161 Metabolic Engineering
ENGS 162 Methods in Biotechnology
ENGS 165 Biomaterials
ENGS 167 Medical Imaging

Academic Standing

Satisfactory completion of the major requires a grade point average of 2.0 in the courses suitable for satisfying the major.