Biomedical Engineering Department Website

Cal Poly Catalog

Biomedical Engineering

About Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary field in which engineering principles and tools are applied to solve biomedical problems. By its very nature, it is broad and requires a depth of understanding in engineering as well as in physiology and other biological sciences. Biomedical Engineering plays an increasingly important role in medicine and in projects that range from basic research in physiology to advances in biotechnology and the improvement of health care delivery. As a student, you can find more information below that pertains directly to your major.

Faculty Advisors

Specific curriculum and technical elective inquiries may be directed to your assigned Faculty Advisor.

Declaring / Switching Your Concentration

It is important to declare your concentration to ensure your Degree Progress Report and Academic Progress Level is up to date for registration.  

In order to declare your concentration, please:

In order to switch your concentration, please:

Please Note: A change of concentration will appear on your transcript. 

Course Substitutions

As curriculum changes between different catalog years, you may question what courses automatically transfer between catalogs. The following changes below apply to BMED majors only and a petition will not be required.

All BMED Students:

Your catalog You may use: To substitute for:
2019-20 through 2022-26 BMED 450 (4) Approved Technical Electives in General Curriculum. This applies to students who take 8 total units of BMED 450.
2019-20 through 2022-26

CHEM 216 (5),

CHEM 217 (3) & CHEM 220 (1), 

CHEM 218 (3) & CHEM 223 (1)

 Approved Support Electives in General Curriculum
2021-22 through 2022-26 ENGL 149 (4) or any GE Area A3 course ENGL 147 (4)
2017-19 through 2020-21 ENGL 147 (4) or any GE Area A3 course ENGL 149 (4)
2015-17 through 2017-19 CE 208 (5) CE 204 (3) + CE 207 (2)
2015-17 through 2021-22 ME 329 (4) BMED 330 (4) in Mechanical Design Concentration
2015-17 through 2021-22 BMED 535 (4) Approved Technical Elective for General Curriculum
2015-17 through 2020-21 BMED 422 Approved Technical Elective for General Curriculum
2015-17 through 2020-21 ME 403 Approved Technical Elective for General Curriculum -or- Mechanical Design Concentration
2015-17 through 2017-19 BMED 434 (3 units) Approved Technical Elective for General Curriculum
2015-17 through 2017-19 CHEM 446 (3 units) Approved Support Elective for General Curriculum
2011-13 through 2017-19

ENGR 459 + ENGR 460 + ENGR 461 + BMED 400 (8 units) - OR -

ENGR 463 + ENGR 464 + ENGR 465 + BMED 400 (8 units)

 BMED 455 + BMED 456

2015-17 through 2017-19

(pursuing Bioinstrumentation Concentration)

 BMED 434

Approved Technical Elective -

This could reduce the minimum units in the concentration to 29 units

2015-17 through 2017-19

(pursuing Bioinstrumentation Concentration)

 CHEM 446 

Approved Support Elective - 

This could reduce the minimum units in the concentration to 29 units
2015-17 ENGR 110 BMED 101 + BMED 102
2015-17 ZOO 331 + ZOO 332 BIO 231 + BIO 232

Students Who Have Changed Their Major Into BMED:

Your catalog you may use: to substitute for:
2013-15 through 2022-26
  • AERO 121
  • CE 111
  • CSC/CPE 123
  • CPE 100
  • EE 111
  • ENVE 111
  • ENGR 110
  • IME 101
  • MATE 110
  • ME 128
  • ME 229
  • ME 263
 BMED 101
2013-15 through 2022-26 CSC 234 (3) or CPE 101 (4) or CSC 232 (3) CSC 231 (2)

BMED Transfer Students:

Your catalog you may use: to substitute for:
2019-20 through 2022-26 Transfer coursework that articulated to GE B2 BIO 161 (4)
2021-22 through 2022-26 Transfer coursework that articulates to GE A3 (4) ENGL 147 (4)
2013-15 through 2022-26 CSC 234 (3) or CPE 101 (4) or CSC 232 (3) or equivalents CSC 231 (2)
2005-07 through 2022-26

3.5 excess units from a CHEM 124 equivalent course +

0.5 excess unit from a PHYS 131 or 141 or 132 or 133 equivalent course

 CHEM 125

Flowcharts

Department flowcharts provide an example of an academic plan. The flowcharts serve as a guide for planning purposes.  

Curriculum Sheets

Curriculum sheets provide an outline of all the requirements needed to complete a degree.

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