Jun 17, 2026  
2026-2027 University Catalog 
    
2026-2027 University Catalog

Biomedical Engineering, BSBME

Location(s): West Lafayette, Indianapolis


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About the Program


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

Students in Biomedical Engineering learn to apply tools from engineering and life sciences to design solutions for challenges in human biology, medicine, and healthcare delivery.

Biomedical Engineering students complete coursework in math, physics, chemistry and the life science in combination with engineering principles and design courses to understand the physical and chemical properties of human tissues, computational modeling and analyses, molecular transport, biomechanics, human physiology, and biomedical systems and instrumentation.  Essential experiential and practical training includes small group problem-based learning, study abroad programs, internships with a broad range of medically related companies, research in faculty labs, and engineering design projects to solve real medical needs. 

The home for the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering is a state-of-the-art building specifically designed to enhance both teaching and research. The $25-million, 91,000-square-foot facility accommodates the continued growth of biomedical engineering in the 21st century.

Programs of focus and faculty expertise include imaging, instrumentation, engineered biomaterials and biomechanics, and quantitative cellular and systems engineering.

For more information, please refer to the Purdue BME website.

Biomedical Engineering Major Change (CODO) Requirements   

Degree Requirements


130 Credits Required

Biomedical Engineering Major Requirements (67-71 credits)


A GPA of 2.0 is required in Major Requirements and Other Department Requirements.

BME Senior Design (4 credits)


BME Depth Area Selectives (9 credits)


  • Primary Depth Area I - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Primary Depth Area II - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Secondary Depth Area - Credit Hours: 3.00

See Biomedical Engineering Supplemental Information  

Other Departmental/Program Requirements ( credits)


Other Departmental Requirements (41 credits)


Selective Requirements (24 credits)


  • Ethics/Policy Healthcare Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Life Science Selectives - Credit Hours: 6.00
  • Technical Engineering Selectives - Credit Hours: 15.00

See Biomedical Engineering Supplemental Information  

Engineering General Education Requirements (21 credits)


For a list of courses that satisfy this requirement, see Supplemental Information 
  • General Education I - Credit Hours: 3.00 (UCC:HUM) 
  • General Education II - Credit Hours: 3.00 (UCC:BSS) 
  • General Education III - Credit Hours: 3.00  
  • General Education IV - Credit Hours: 3.00  
  • General Education V - Credit Hours: 3.00  
  • Written Communication (UCC: WC) - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00 
  • Oral Communication (UCC: OC) - Credit Hours: 3.00 

Additional General Education Requirements


  • At least 6 credits must be in non-introductory courses (30000-level or above OR from courses with a required pre-requisite in the same department) 
  • At least 12 credits must be taken from the College of Liberal Arts, the Daniels School of Business, and/or the Honors College provided such courses are not focused primarily on engineering, technology, the natural sciences, or mathematics. 
  • A course is not eligible for use towards the 21 credits of College of Engineering General Education requirement if that course is used to satisfy a different engineering degree requirement. 

Supplemental List


Click here for ​​​​​​​Biomedical Engineering Supplemental Information  

GPA Requirements


  • A GPA of 2.0 is required for all Baccalaureate degrees. 
  • A GPA of 2.0 is required in all Major Requireements and Other Departmental Requirements to graduate with BSBME. 
  • BME Major GPA includes all courses in Required Major Courses and Other Program Requirements.

Pass/No Pass Policy


  • Courses with a Pass/No Pass grade (P/NP) may not be used to satisfy degree requirements. 

Transfer Credit Policy


If you are interested in registering for a course offered by a different institution, please review the information on the Purdue Office of the Registrar Transfer Credit website.

​​​​​​​* If you are an admitted transfer student, please review the above Transfer Credit website and then work with your academic advisor to determine exactly how your previous courses might apply. 

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • AI Working Competency (UCC: AI)
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (UCC: BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (UCC: HUM)
  • Information Literacy (UCC: IL)
  • Oral Communication (UCC: OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (UCC: QR)
  • Science #1 (UCC: SCI)
  • Science #2 (UCC: SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (UCC: STS)
  • Written Communication (UCC: WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy initiative is designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy - Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning - Purdue University.

To obtain the Civics Literacy credential, all Baccalaureate degree seeking students will complete the  Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required quizzes per episode.  After the pathway has been successfully completed, students will take the Civics Literacy knowledge test.  Civics Literacy does not impact a student’s GPA or bear any financial costs. 

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Sample Plan of Study


The sample plan of study outlines how a student may meet degree requirements.  There may be other course options available.  Students plan and register for their courses with the collaboration of their academic advisors. 

Fall 1st Year


13-17 Credits


Spring 1st Year


17-21 Credits


18-21 Credits


17-19 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


18 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


16 Credits


Fall 4th Year


  • BME Senior Design - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00
  • Technical Engineering Selective II - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Technical Engineering Selective III - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education II - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education III - Credit Hours: 3.00

14-16 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • BME Senior Design - Credit Hours: 2.00 (Indianapolis location only)
  • Technical Engineering Selective IV - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Technical Engineering Selective V - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Life Science Selective II - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education IV - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • General Education V - Credit Hours: 3.00

15-17 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, log in to mypurdue.purdue.edu and click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japanese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS-Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major. Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful. These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program.”

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

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