Biomedical Option Program Summary
The Biomedical Engineering Option, in Electrical Engineering, allows students interested in the application of technology to medicine and the life sciences to have a course and project concentration in these areas. The option provides core courses in Electrical Engineering as well as a broad range of specific courses traditionally covered in Biomedical Engineering: anatomy, physiology, biomedical instrumentation, biosignals and systems, medical imaging, regulatory standards, design processes, and the emerging areas of micro and nanotechnology.
Students will be admitted to the option at the end of first year by permission of the option coordinator, based on a demonstrated interest in biomedical engineering, and the grade point average obtained in the first year of engineering. Students accepted into the option will take a modified version of the standard Electrical Engineering program.
Students who satisfactorily complete the following program will be given recognition as receiving the Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering (Biomedical Engineering Option).
Why Biomedical Engineering?
There is a growing demand for engineers with biomedical training. Demand comes from industry, such as medical devices and biotechnology, as well as academic research through advanced degrees. The driving force behind this growth includes an aging population, advances in biomedical technology, and increased complexity of medical care. For more detailed information about the nature of biomedical engineering, growth trends and areas of specialization, consult the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society or the Biomedical Engineering Society.
UBC Applied Science is at the forefront of this growth by hiring new faculty in the area of biomedical engineering, expanding research facilities, and creating graduate opportunities. Find out more about UBC’s School of Biomedical Engineering here.
Application Information
Students interested in the Biomedical Engineering Option should apply by May 1st at the end of their first year. Both Co-op and non-Co-op students are welcome to apply.
Click here to apply
Biomedical Option Program Guide
Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the correct courses are being completed to meet degree completion requirements. For any questions or assistance in selecting courses or planning your degree, please reach out to your ECE student services advisors through u-advising@ece.ubc.ca.
To assist you with your course planning in Workday, we have created program checklists for you to follow, as well as a typical program guide in the tabs below. For logging into Workday, and accessing tutorials on how to use the new Workday system, students can visit: https://workday.students.ubc.ca/
- Biomedical Option students can use the following checklist to track their progress in the program: BME Program Checklist
- For up to date program checklists, elective updates, and frequently asked questions by other students, please visit our Piazza ECE Advising platform (join using access code ‘ask-us-at-ece’)
2024W Second Year BMEG Students: To assist with registering for your 2nd year courses in Workday Student, please refer to the following visual guides for the course schedule options you have for completing your term 1 and 2 courses: 2nd Year BMEG Schedules (2024W)
| First Term | Second Term |
| CPEN 211 (5) | ELEC 202 (4) |
| CPSC 259 (4) | ELEC 211 (2) |
| ELEC 201 (4) | ELEC 221 (4) |
| ELEC 271 (1) | ELEC 281 (3) |
| MATH 253 (3) | ELEC 292 (6) |
| MATH 256 (3) | MATH 264 (1) |
Total Credits = 40
Make sure to follow your Program Checklist to track your requirements and electives
| First Term | Second Term |
| ELEC 301 (4) | ELEC 311 (4) |
| ELEC 341 (4) | ELEC 371 (3) |
| BMEG 410 (3) | ELEC 391 (6) |
| BMEG 456 (3) |
| Breadth Electives (8) – To be chosen from the list of department-approved breadth electives* |
| One of STAT 251, MATH 302, MATH 318, STAT 302 (3)* |
| Complementary Study Electives (3)* |
Total Credits = 41
Make sure to follow your Program Checklist to track your requirements and electives
*courses can be taken in either term
| First Term | Second Term |
| ELEC 473 (3) | ELEC 422 (3) |
| ELEC 471 (3) |
| APSC 450 (2)* |
| ELEC 494 (10) |
| ELEC 481 (3)* |
| Electives (9) – To be chosen from the list of department-approved Biomedical Engineering electives* |
| Complementary Study Elective (3)* |
Total Credits = 36
Make sure to follow your Program Checklist to track your requirements and electives
*courses can be taken in either term
For official course descriptions for each of the courses listed above, please visit our ECE Course Listing
Biomedical Engineering Elective Lists
Students in the Biomedical Option can refer to the lists below of department-approved electives when planning their coursework:
- Probability/Statistics
- Breadth Electives
- Advanced Electives
- Complementary Studies Electives
- Free Electives
| Check your BME Program Checklist for probability/statistics electives |
Biomedical Option students should complete 8 Breadth Elective Credits. Check your BME Program Checklist for breadth electives
Biomedical Option students should complete 6 Advanced Elective Credits. Check your BME Program Checklist for advanced electives
Please note that 200-level courses may be taken as part of the advanced electives requirement only if they are used to satisfy the pre-requisites for another advanced elective. As standalone courses, they cannot be used to satisfy the advanced electives requirement.
Complementary Studies Electives Checklist
Students in the Biomedical Option should complete 6 credits of Complementary Studies – Humanities and Social Studies, and 3 credits of Complementary Studies – Impact of Technology on Society. Typically, students complete 3 credits from the Humanities and Social Studies credits in their first year before selecting 2nd Year ELEC.
Please note that a maximum of 3 credits in a language course can be used towards the humanities and social sciences requirement
| For all information on what courses are eligible for your “Humanities and Social Studies” and “Impact of Technology on Society” credits, please see the EAS Course Planning Page |
Free electives are intended to allow students to explore a breadth of coursework that can extend beyond engineering or science coursework. Other courses cannot be applied to more than one ECE requirement, but free elective coursework can be applied towards ECE requirements and towards requirements of Minors (e.g., Mathematics Minor, Commerce Minor).
Biomedical Option students can complete 3 credits of Free Electives