The Biomedical Engineering Academic Curriculum
The Biomedical Engineering curriculum consists of two course groupings:
- Compulsory core courses that prepare the student for practice in engineering and comprise 70% to 80% of the course load.
- Elective courses that comprise 20% to 30% of the course load.
The term-by-term academic component of the curriculum is as follows:
Term 1A (Fall)
- BME 101 Communications in Biomedical Engineering-Written and Oral
- BME 101L Communications in Biomedical Engineering-Visualization
- BME 121 Digital Computation
- BME 161 Introduction to Biomedical Design
- BME 181 Physics 1: Statics
- SYDE 111 Calculus 1
- SYDE 113 Elementary Engineering Mathematics
Term 1B (Winter)
- BME 102 Seminar
- BME 122 Data Structures and Algorithms
- BME 162 Human Factors in the Design of Biomedical and Health Systems
- BME 186 Chemistry Principles
- SYDE 112 Calculus 2
- SYDE 114 Matrices and Linear Systems
- One Complementary Studies Elective
Term 2A (Fall)
Term 2B (Spring)
- BME 202 Seminar
- BME 213 Statistics and Experimental Design
- BME 252 Linear Systems and Signals
- BME 261 Prototyping, Simulation and Design
- BME 284 Physiological and Biological Systems
- BME 284L Physiology and Anatomy Laboratory
- BME 294 Circuits, Instrumentation, and Measurements
- BME 294L Circuits, Instrumentation, and Measurements Laboratory
- WKRPT 200 Work-term Report
Term 3A (Winter)
- BME 301 Seminar
- BME 355 Physiological Systems Modelling
- BME 361 Biomedical Engineering Design
- BME 381 Biomedical Engineering Ethics
- BME 393 Digital Systems
- BME 393L Digital Systems Laboratory
- WKRPT 300 Work-term Report
- One Technical Elective or One Complementary Studies Elective
Term 3B (Fall)
- BME 302 Seminar
- BME 356 Control Systems
- BME 356L Control Systems Laboratory
- BME 362 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 1
- BME 364 Engineering Biomedical Economics
- BME 384 Biomedical Transport: Biofluids and Mass Transfer
- BME 386 The Physics of Medical Imaging
Term 4A (Fall)
- BME 401 Seminar
- BME 411 Optimization and Numerical Methods
- BME 461 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2
- WKRPT 400 Work-term Report
- One Complementary Studies Elective
- Two Technical Electives
Term 4B (Winter)
- BME 402 Seminar
- BME 462 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3
- One Complementary Studies Elective
- Three Technical Electives
CEAB Requirements
Elective course selections must meet CEAB requirements, including a minimum number of instruction hours in the various CEAB categories. To determine the suitability of elective courses, students should complete the CEAB planner. In addition to meeting CEAB requirements, the student's course selections (as reported in their planner) should be logical and defensible. Two planners must be completed and submitted to the director of biomedical engineering, one planner for approval purposes in the student's 2B or 3A term, and one planner for graduation purposes at the end of the student's 4A term.
Students that have combinations of electives that result in a plan that does not meet CEAB criteria will not be permitted to graduate.
Complementary Studies Electives
In addition to the two courses in the core curriculum (BME 364 and BME 381), at least three complementary studies elective courses must be chosen. Only courses noted in Lists A, C, and D in the Complementary Studies Course Lists for Engineering are approved complementary studies elective courses. Students must take at least one course from List C. Students may arrange the sequencing of the complementary studies elective courses to suit their academic plan (and any course prerequisites).
Technical Electives
Each student in Biomedical Engineering must complete at least six approved technical electives (TEs) to meet graduation requirements. Students may arrange the sequencing of the technical elective courses to suit their plan (and any course prerequisites).
The Department of Systems Design Engineering offers a wide variety of technical elective courses in the third and fourth year. Biomedical Engineering students are encouraged to design their own elective package to develop expertise in their particular interest area. Approved technical elective courses are available from the Department of Systems Design Engineering (BME and SYDE TEs), from other Engineering departments, and from a wide list of technical courses in the faculties of Science and Mathematics. There are a variety of technical electives with biomedical content, but students can also take technical electives on other topics. Only courses from Engineering and Computer Science will contribute towards CEAB hours in the categories of "Engineering Science" and "Engineering Design". Some examples are listed below.
Biomedical Engineering
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project
- BME 540/ME 540 Fundamentals in Neural and Rehabilitation Engineering
- BME 550 Sports Engineering
- BME 551 Biomechanics of Human Movement
- BME 581 Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology
- BME 587 Special Topics in Biomedical Signals
- BME 588 Special Topics in Biomechanics
- BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices
Civil Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- ECE 224 Embedded Microprocessor Systems
- ECE 252 Systems Programming and Concurrency
- ECE 350 Real-Time Operating Systems
- ECE 356 Database Systems
- ECE 358 Computer Networks
- ECE 406 Algorithm Design and Analysis
- ECE 457B Fundamentals of Computational Intelligence
- ECE 459 Programming for Performance
- ECE 484 Digital Control Applications
Management Sciences
- MSCI 343 Human-Computer Interaction
- MSCI 432 Production and Service Operations Management
- MSCI 446 Introduction to Machine Learning
- MSCI 555 Scheduling: Theory and Practice
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics Engineering
- MTE 241 Introduction to Computer Structures and Real-Time Systems
- MTE 325 Microprocessor Systems and Interfacing for Mechatronics Engineering
- MTE 544 Autonomous Mobile Robots
Systems Design Engineering
Specializations
Students may choose to take their technical electives from a more restricted list to receive the Biomaterials and Tissues Specialization, the Medical Artificial Intelligence Specialization, the Medical Devices Specialization, the Neural Engineering Specialization, or the Sports Engineering Specialization.
Note: It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their course selection meets the Biomedical Engineering requirements as well as the CEAB requirements, which include a minimum number of instruction hours in the various CEAB categories.
Biomaterials and Tissues Specialization
The Biomaterials and Tissues Specialization consists of five courses, one required course and four elective courses. A minimum average of 60% in the five specialization courses and a grade of at least 50% in each of the courses is required. Students who satisfy the requirements for Faculty Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students will have the appropriate designation shown on their diploma and transcript.
Required course:
- BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices [Topic title: Biomaterials and Biomedical Design]
Two courses from the following list (biomaterial science and tissue mechanics):
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project (requires approval from the co-ordinator of the Biomaterials and Tissues Specialization)
- BME 588 Special Topics in Biomechanics [Topic title: Introductory Mechanics of Biomedical and Biological Materials]
- BME 588 Special Topics in Biomechanics [Topic title: Computational Biomechanics]
- BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices (requires approval from the co-ordinator of the Biomaterials and Tissues Specialization)
- NE 481 Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology
One course from the following list (material engineering):
- CHE 541 Introduction to Polymer Science and Properties
- ME 526 Fatigue and Fracture Analysis
- ME 533 Non-metallic and Composite Materials
- ME 559 Finite Element Methods
- ME 598 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering [Topic title: Smart Materials and Active Structures]
- SYDE 599 Special Topics in Systems Design Engineering [Topic title: Material Selection for Design]
One course from the following list (biology and physiology):
Medical Artificial Intelligence Specialization
The Medical Artificial Intelligence Specialization consists of five courses, three required courses and two elective courses. Students are also required to do either their capstone design project (BME 461 or GENE 403 or SYDE 461 and BME 462 or GENE 404 or SYDE 462) or an elective research project (BME 499) with a focus on the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The project must be approved by the co-ordinator of the specialization. A minimum average of 60% in the specialization courses and a grade of at least 50% in each of the courses is required. Students who satisfy the requirements for Faculty Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students will have the appropriate designation shown on their diploma and transcript.
Required courses:
- BME 530 The Healthcare System
- SYDE 572 Introduction to Pattern Recognition
- SYDE 599 Special Topics in Systems Design Engineering [Topic title: Deep Learning]
One of the following, a capstone project or research project with a focus on medical artificial intelligence and approved by the specialization co-ordinator:
- BME 461 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2 and BME 462 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project
- GENE 403 Interdisciplinary Design Project 1 and GENE 404 Interdisciplinary Design Project 2
- SYDE 461 Systems Design Capstone Project 1 and SYDE 462 Systems Design Capstone Project 2
List 1: One course that provides a survey of artificial intelligence methods from the following list:
- CS 486 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
- ECE 457B Fundamentals of Computational Intelligence
- SYDE 522 Foundations of Artificial intelligence
List 2: One additional course from the following list:
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project (requires approval from the
co-ordinator of the Medical Artificial Intelligence Specialization)
- CS 485 Statistical and Computational Foundations of Machine Learning
- ECE 457C Reinforcement Learning
- HLTH 230 Introduction to Health Informatics
- MSCI 446 Introduction to Machine Learning
- STV 208 Artificial Intelligence and Society: Impact, Ethics, and Equity
- SYDE 552/BIOL 487 Computational Neuroscience
- SYDE 556 Simulating Neurobiological Systems
Alternatively, students can take zero courses from List 1 and two courses from List 2.
Medical Devices Specialization
The Medical Devices Specialization consists of five technical elective courses. Students are also required to do either their capstone design project (BME 461 or GENE 403 or SYDE 461 and BME 462 or GENE 404 or SYDE 462) or an elective research project (BME 499) with a focus on medical devices. The project must be approved by the specialization co-ordinator. A minimum average of 60% in the five specialization courses and a grade of at least 50% in each of the courses is required. Students who satisfy the requirements for Faculty Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students will have the appropriate designation shown on their diploma and transcript.
One of the following, a capstone project or research project with a focus on biomedical devices and approved by the specialization co-ordinator:
- BME 461 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2 and BME 462 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3
-
BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project
- GENE 403 Interdisciplinary Design Project 1 and GENE 404 Interdisciplinary Design Project 2
- SYDE 461 Systems Design Capstone Project 1 and SYDE 462 Systems Design Capstone Project 2
One course from the following list (biocompatibility or clinical assessment of medical devices):
- BME 540/ME 540 Fundamentals in Neural and Rehabilitation Engineering
- BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices [Topic title: Biomaterials and Biomedical Design]
-
BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices (biocompatibility topic approved by the specialization co-ordinator)
Two courses from the following list (elements of biomedical devices):
- BME 589 Special Topics in Biomedical Devices [Topic title: Biomedical Engineering Electronic Circuits]
-
ME 598 Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering [Topic title: Smart Materials and Active Structures]
-
MTE 545 Introduction to MEMS Fabrication
-
NE 466 Tactile Sensors and Transducers
-
NE 486 Biosensors
-
NE 487 Microfluidic and Nanobiotechnological Systems
Two additional courses from either list above or among the following courses:
- BME 588 Special Topics in Biomechanics [Topic title: Introductory Mechanics of Biomedical and Biological Materials]
-
SYDE 599 Special Topics in Systems Design Engineering [Topic title: Material Selection for Design]
Neural Engineering Specialization
The Neural Engineering Specialization consists of five courses covering a wide range of neuroscience topics and computational applications in neuroscience. Students are also required to do either their capstone design project (BME 461 or GENE 403 or SYDE 461 and BME 462 or GENE 404 or SYDE 462) or an elective research project (BME 499) with a focus on neuroscience applications. The project must be approved by the co-ordinator of the Neural Engineering Specialization. A minimum average of 60% in the five specialization courses and a grade of at least 50% in each of the courses is required. Students who satisfy the requirements for Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students will have the appropriate designation shown on their diploma and transcript.
One course from the following list:
One of the following, capstone project or research project with a focus on neural engineering and approved by the specialization co-ordinator:
- BME 461 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2 and BME 462 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project
- GENE 403 Interdisciplinary Design Project 1 and GENE 404 Interdisciplinary Design Project 2
- SYDE 461 Systems Design Capstone Project 1 and SYDE 462 Systems Design Capstone Project 2
Two courses from List 1: Anatomy and Physiology of the Nervous System:
One additional course from List 2: Computational Methods in Neuroscience:
- AMATH 382/BIOL 382 Computational Modelling of Cellular Systems
- AMATH 451 Introduction to Dynamical Systems
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project (requires approval from the co-ordinator of the Neural Engineering Specialization)
- BME 587 Special Topics in Biomedical Signals (requires approval from the co-ordinator of the Neural Engineering Specialization)
- STAT 441 Statistical Learning - Classification
- STAT 444 Statistical Learning - Advanced Regression
- SYDE 522 Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
- SYDE 552/BIOL 487 Computational Neuroscience
- SYDE 556 Simulating Neurobiological Systems
- SYDE 572 Introduction to Pattern Recognition
One additional course from either List 1 or List 2.
Notes
- Some courses in List 1 (PHIL 256/PSYCH 256) can be counted towards Complementary Studies Requirements.
- Biomedical Engineering students may lack prerequisites for some of these courses and should ensure that they obtain the prerequisite courses prior to taking such courses. However, there are several courses in the list (BIOL 376, PHIL 256/PSYCH 256, SYDE 522, SYDE 552/BIOL 487, SYDE 556, and SYDE 572) where students will have the appropriate prerequisites.
Sports Engineering Specialization
The Sports Engineering Specialization consists of five courses, two specific required courses, plus three additional courses drawn from the provided list. Students are also required to do either their capstone design project (BME 461 or GENE 403 or SYDE 461 and BME 462 or GENE 404 or SYDE 462) or an elective research project (BME 499) with a focus on a new sport equipment or training device. The project must be approved by the co-ordinator of the Sports Engineering Specialization. A minimum average of 60% in the five specialization courses and a grade of at least 50% in each of the courses is required. Students who satisfy the requirements for Options, Specializations and Electives for Engineering Students will have the appropriate designation shown on their diploma and transcript.
Required courses:
One of the following, a capstone project or research project with a focus on sports engineering and approved by the specialization co-ordinator:
- BME 461 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 2 and BME 462 Biomedical Engineering Design Workshop 3
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project
- GENE 403 Interdisciplinary Design Project 1 and GENE 404 Interdisciplinary Design Project 2
- SYDE 461 Systems Design Capstone Project 1 and SYDE 462 Systems Design Capstone Project 2
Any three additional courses from the following list must also be taken:
- BME 499 Elective Biomedical Research Project (requires approval from the co-ordinator of the Sports Engineering Specialization)
- BME 588 Special Topics in Biomechanics
- CIVE 460/ME 574 Engineering Biomechanics
- ECE 417 or SYDE 575 Image Processing
- KIN 340 Musculoskeletal Injuries in Sport and Activity
- ME 362 Fluid Mechanics 2
- ME 533 Non-metallic and Composite Materials
- ME 559 Finite Element Methods
- SYDE 544 Biomedical Measurement and Signal Processing
- SYDE 553 Advanced Dynamics