Degree Programs

To prepare the biomedical engineers of the future, the University of South Carolina offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in biomedical engineering. Requirements for these comprehensive programs include:

Bachelor’s degree: 130 semester hours, including 18 semester hours in general education, 58 semester hours in science, 33 semester hours in biomedical engineering (BMEN), and 21 semester hours in technical and biomedical engineering electives. For more information, click here.

Master’s degree: 30 semester hours, including 12 semester hours in core biomedical engineering (BMEN), six semester hours in BMEN electives, three semester hours in BMEN or other approved electives, three semester hours in medical seminars, and six semester hours in thesis preparation. For more information, click here.

Doctoral degree: 60 semester hours, including 12 semester hours in core biomedical engineering (BMEN), nine semester hours in BMEN electives, six semester hours in BMEN or other approved electives, three semester hours in medical seminar, 18 semester hours in research, and 12 semester hours in dissertation preparation. For more information, click here.

For more information

To learn more about undergraduate biomedical engineering study at the University of South Carolina, click to e-mail Dr. Abdel Bayoumi.

For more information on the graduate programs, click to e-mail Dr. Homayoun Valafar.

About Biomedical Engineering

We can thank biomedical engineers for artificial hearts, insulin pumps, kidney dialysis, MRI systems, mechanical respirators, laser-based eye surgery, and hearing aids.

Biomedical engineers of the future will continue to improve upon these discoveries. They also will move into new areas, such as vaccine development and tissue engineering. They will develop biosensors to detect chemical warfare agents, manufacture artificial joints and other body parts, help enhance mobility for people who are neurologically impaired, develop sophisticated instrumentation to gauge blood chemistry, help hospitals select medical equipment, design new products for manufacturers of electronic medical instruments, create implantable biomaterials to improve wound healing, and even advance energy sustainability and the environment.

In addition to making a valuable contribution to improved health, biomedical engineers enjoy high salaries with great job possibilities. A recent U.S. Department of Labor report stated that the number of biomedical engineering jobs will increase by more than 31 percent by 2010 - that’s more than double the rate for all other jobs.

Within the evolving field of biomedical engineering, science and technology needs are almost endless. USC students can choose fields of specialized study and research from a number of areas.

Areas of Study

At USC, the study of biomechanics involves the use of mechanical testing equipment, noninvasive strain imaging, custom-designed bioreactors, computational modeling, and microscopy to characterize the mechanical properties of hard and soft materials, whether tissue from the body or engineered materials.

At USC, the study of mechanobiology involves the use of tissue engineering, bioreactors, molecular biology, and mechanical systems to better understand the role of the biochemical and biomechanical environment on cell function and tissue development and to engineer functional tissue replacements.

At USC, the study of biochemical phenomena includes behavior of amyloid proteins, biochemical mass transfer, processing of biomaterials, and cellular signaling. Biomolecular engineering promotes the study of issues such as the pathogenesis of diseases, the identification of potential drug targets, the design of biosensors, and the controlled delivery of drugs.

At USC, the study of bioinformatics and computational biology enables researchers to model and ascertain the molecular basis for diseases and disorders, to take a new molecular perspective on biomedical engineering disciplines, and to study the interaction between technology and biology in areas such as rehabilitation and custom devices for the disabled.

At USC, the study of medical devices involves biosensors and instrumentation for a myriad of uses from DNA sensing to nanofabrication to advanced signal processing.

At USC, the study of biomedical imaging includes imaging of animal models, biological samples, or patients to assess disease or injury, to determine potential efficacy of therapies, and to better understand the pathophysiology of disease progression.

At USC, the study of biosystems analysis involves the use of biomedical approaches to improve surgical procedures, to identify mechanisms of cardiac and cortical function, and to map biosystems and their responses to stimuli.

At USC, our collaborators in medicine, biology, biochemistry, and other areas work on cancer biology, medical imaging of the brain, DNA analysis, nano-biomaterials, pharmacology, mechanical and electrochemical sensors, and exercise physiology