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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2018-2019

Biomedical engineering

College of Engineering

 
Program description

Biomedical engineering provides in-depth study in a variety of specialization areas including biomedical imaging systems, orthopaedic biomechanics, tissue and cellular engineering, biomaterials, artificial organs, human-computer interfaces, cardiovascular devices, rehabilitation and human factors engineering. The programs allow students to participate in cutting-edge research in one of the nation’s most advanced engineering facilities. The department has ongoing collaborations with numerous industries, federal laboratories, the VCU science departments, the university’s MCV Campus, the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park and numerous biomedical and clinical programs throughout the VCU Medical Center’s MCV Hospitals.

Career opportunities

Biomedical engineers develop devices and procedures that solve medical and health-related problems by combining their knowledge of biology and medicine with engineering principles and practices. Many do research, along with medical scientists, to develop and evaluate systems and products such as artificial organs, prostheses (artificial devices that replace missing body parts), instrumentation, medical information systems, and health management and care delivery systems. Biomedical engineers also may design devices used in various medical procedures, imaging systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and devices for automating insulin injections or controlling body functions. Most engineers in this specialty need a sound background in another engineering specialty, such as mechanical or electronics engineering, in addition to specialized biomedical training. Some specialties within biomedical engineering are biomaterials, biomechanics, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering, and orthopedic engineering.   

Change of major requirements

VCU GPA of 3.6 or greater, with a minimum of 12 VCU credit hours earned. Completion of MATH 200, MATH 201, BIOL 151, and BIOZ 151, all with grades of "B" or higher. If attempted, CHEM 101, CHEZ 101, MATH 301, MATH 310, and PHYS 207 all must be completed with a grade of "B" or higher. All requirements must be completed in fewer than 56 VCU credit hours.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Business consultant
  • Clinical engineer
  • Human factors engineer
  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Patent examiner
  • Policy analyst
  • Product development engineer
  • Quality engineer
  • Regulatory affairs specialist
  • Research and development engineer
  • Sales engineer
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
Science required
Foreign language requirements
Additional tuition/fees
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Building/room location:
Institute for Engineering and Medicine, 601 West Main Street
Phone:
(804) 828-7958
Email:
biomedicalengr@vcu.edu
https://egr.vcu.edu/departments/biomedical/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Register for EGRB 101 and EGRB 102.
  • Register for the highest level math class you are eligible to take.
  • Attend SI sessions and tutoring as needed.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Meet your peers and make new friends and study buddies at the Welcome Week cookout.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Complete your Handshake profile.
  • Explore engineering faculty webpages to learn about research in the College of Engineering.
  • Learn about research opportunities through V.I.P Teams, UROP and DURI.
  • Join an Engineering student org like BMES.
  • Take ENGR 395 Professional Development and gain key skills for finding internships, co-op’s, or research opportunities.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your advisor to discuss forthcoming enrollment and scheduling.
  • Continue progression in engineering and mathematics coursework.
  • Go to your professors’ “Office Hours” to discuss research interests and strategies for success in your degree program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Participate in RamHacks and/or HealthHacks.
  • Consider tutoring for the College of Engineering in your strongest subjects.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA).
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Volunteer to work at the Engineering Internship & Career Fairs. You can also attend as a job-seeker.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Consider short-term, semester, and year-long study abroad opportunities.
  • Join a culturally-focused organization.
  • Identify ways in which you are culturally uninformed. Begin to learn the historical and current events that have shaped cultures to which you have been underexposed.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Work with Advising and Career Services to incorporate a co-op into your curriculum.
  • Attend employer info sessions and events.
  • Conduct an informational interview or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Obtain a leadership position in a student org.
  • Apply for internships, co-ops, and VIP Teams.
  • Mock Interview with an employer through Engineering Career Services.
  • Volunteer to do research with a professor.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Mock Interview with an employer through Engineering Career Services.
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair.
  • Consider attending a national career fair (SWE, SHPE, NSBE) to gain exposure to more employers.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • See your advisor to discuss degree progression and upcoming coursework, including track selection.
  • Conduct independent undergraduate research.
  • Consider attending presenting a poster at a scientific meeting or conference.
  • Begin consideration of your technical elective and preferred program “track.”
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Create and complete a science related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Further explore the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • Consider joining an in-major mentoring network.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Apply for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship through VCU’s National Scholarship office.
  • Attend culturally diverse events like art, music, and food festivals and exhibitions at VCU and beyond.
  • Practice communication and interpersonal skills that embrace cultural differences, particularly in professional settings.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Participate in an internship, co-op or research experience. Assess your professional experiences to date (research, internships, co-op). Decide if you value continuity with an employer or breadth of experience.
  • Work on developing your professional online presence (LinkedIn, Github).
  • Attend the Senior Capstone Expo in April.
  • Apply for summer research funding through UROP.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Talk to your academic advisor, faculty, and/or career services about whether graduate school or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • Research graduate programs to determine the competitive applicant profile, including GPA, prerequisite coursework, and entrance exam scores.
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Choose courses teaching content and skills most relevant to your preferred post-graduation opportunities.
  • Declare any outstanding minors for which you may already have credit (Math, Chemistry (premed), Physics).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Participate in civic organizations related to your interests; like tutoring and engineering outreach with local schools.
  • Volunteer at an organization devoted to the arts, environment, education, or policy.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Continue to explore cultures beyond your own through scholarly and recreational avenues.
  • Visit the Museum District’s many offerings, such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (formerly the Virginia Historical Society).
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Continue to engage in research to create more content for your resume.
  • Present your research at conference/meeting such as UROP Undergraduate Research Symposium or other discipline- specific conference.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for the next steps beyond graduation.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair in both the Fall and Spring. These are the best opportunities to secure employment post-graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy in the fall.
  • Before graduation, attend the graduation meeting and complete the post-graduation survey.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2018-2019

Biomedical engineering

College of Engineering

Concentration(s):
No concentration
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor each semester to discuss tutoring, course electives, and degree progression.
  • Register for EGRB 101 and EGRB 102.
  • Register for the highest level math class you are eligible to take.
  • Attend SI sessions and tutoring as needed.
  • Meet your peers and make new friends and study buddies at the Welcome Week cookout.
  • Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s museums, parks, festivals, and cultural events!
  • Apply to live in the ASPiRE, Globe, INNOVATE, or LEAD Living & Learning Programs.
  • Get involved with VCU Student Government or one of over 450 clubs and organizations.
  • Complete your Handshake profile.
  • Explore engineering faculty webpages to learn about research in the College of Engineering.
  • Learn about research opportunities through V.I.P Teams, UROP and DURI.
  • Join an Engineering student org like BMES.
  • Take ENGR 395 Professional Development and gain key skills for finding internships, co-op’s, or research opportunities.
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your advisor to discuss forthcoming enrollment and scheduling.
  • Continue progression in engineering and mathematics coursework.
  • Go to your professors’ “Office Hours” to discuss research interests and strategies for success in your degree program.
  • Participate in RamHacks and/or HealthHacks.
  • Consider tutoring for the College of Engineering in your strongest subjects.
  • Take service-learning classes or volunteer to address a social issue (ConnectVA & HandsOnRVA).
  • Explore peer leadership opportunities or apply for I-LEAD Connect, Alternative Spring Break.
  • Volunteer to work at the Engineering Internship & Career Fairs. You can also attend as a job-seeker.
  • Attend Diversity Scholars in Research Week.
  • Consider short-term, semester, and year-long study abroad opportunities.
  • Join a culturally-focused organization.
  • Identify ways in which you are culturally uninformed. Begin to learn the historical and current events that have shaped cultures to which you have been underexposed.
  • Work with Advising and Career Services to incorporate a co-op into your curriculum.
  • Attend employer info sessions and events.
  • Conduct an informational interview or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Obtain a leadership position in a student org.
  • Apply for internships, co-ops, and VIP Teams.
  • Mock Interview with an employer through Engineering Career Services.
  • Volunteer to do research with a professor.
  • Mock Interview with an employer through Engineering Career Services.
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair.
  • Consider attending a national career fair (SWE, SHPE, NSBE) to gain exposure to more employers.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references.
Year 3
  • See your advisor to discuss degree progression and upcoming coursework, including track selection.
  • Conduct independent undergraduate research.
  • Consider attending presenting a poster at a scientific meeting or conference.
  • Begin consideration of your technical elective and preferred program “track.”
  • Create and complete a science related community-engaged research project.
  • Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood associations, city council, or state legislative sessions.
  • Further explore the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
  • Consider joining an in-major mentoring network.
  • Apply for a Fulbright or other post-graduate international fellowship through VCU’s National Scholarship office.
  • Attend culturally diverse events like art, music, and food festivals and exhibitions at VCU and beyond.
  • Practice communication and interpersonal skills that embrace cultural differences, particularly in professional settings.
  • Participate in an internship, co-op or research experience. Assess your professional experiences to date (research, internships, co-op). Decide if you value continuity with an employer or breadth of experience.
  • Work on developing your professional online presence (LinkedIn, Github).
  • Attend the Senior Capstone Expo in April.
  • Apply for summer research funding through UROP.
  • Talk to your academic advisor, faculty, and/or career services about whether graduate school or a job will be the best step for you after graduation.
  • Research graduate programs to determine the competitive applicant profile, including GPA, prerequisite coursework, and entrance exam scores.
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair.
Excel Year 4
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor a semester before your anticipated graduation to ensure all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Choose courses teaching content and skills most relevant to your preferred post-graduation opportunities.
  • Declare any outstanding minors for which you may already have credit (Math, Chemistry (premed), Physics).
  • Consider applying for a year-long service opportunity after graduation through programs like VCU AmeriCorps, Literacy Lab, Peace Corps, Fulbright Student Scholars, Teach for America and City Year.
  • Participate in civic organizations related to your interests; like tutoring and engineering outreach with local schools.
  • Volunteer at an organization devoted to the arts, environment, education, or policy.
  • Continue to explore cultures beyond your own through scholarly and recreational avenues.
  • Visit the Museum District’s many offerings, such as the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and the Virginia Museum of History and Culture (formerly the Virginia Historical Society).
  • Continue to engage in research to create more content for your resume.
  • Present your research at conference/meeting such as UROP Undergraduate Research Symposium or other discipline- specific conference.
  • Gain practical experience related to your career goal through internships, externships and skill building.
  • Complete necessary exams, applications, or self-marketing activities for the next steps beyond graduation.
  • Attend the Engineering Internship & Career Fair in both the Fall and Spring. These are the best opportunities to secure employment post-graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy in the fall.
  • Before graduation, attend the graduation meeting and complete the post-graduation survey.