Carnegie Mellon University

Biomechanics (BMEC) Track

Overview

The BMEC track addresses the application of solid or fluid mechanics to biological and medical systems. It provides quantitative understanding of the mechanical behavior of molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms. The field has seen a wide range of applications from the optimization of tissue regeneration to the design of surgical and rehabilitation devices. 

Targets

The BMEC track is ideally suited to the combined education of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering or Civil & Environmental Engineering.  Both provide the necessary foundation in the underlying physical principles and their non-Biomedical Engineering applications. This track may also appeal to students of Electrical & Computer Engineering who are interested in biomedical robotics. Education in biomechanics enables students to pursue careers in medical devices or rehabilitation engineering.

Track Requirements

In addition to the Biomedical Engineering core requirements, students must fulfill the following requirements:

  • One (1) Required BMEC Elective
  • Two (2) BMEC Electives (either Required or Additional)

Required Electives (must take at least one of the following)

42-649 Introduction to Biomechanics (12)
42-648 Cardiovascular Mechanics (12)
42-645/24-655 Cellular Biomechanics (9)
42-691 Biomechanics of Human Movement (12) 

Additional Electives

42-641 Rehabilitation Engineering (9)
42-640/24-658 Image-Based Computational Modeling & Analysis (12)
42-444 Medical Devices (9)
42-696 Special Topics: Wearable Health Technologies (12)
16-868 Biomechanics & Motor Control (12)
16-879 Medical Robotics (12)
42-X00 BME Research* or  39-500 CIT Honors Thesis* or 42-6XX Clinical Course (Surgery for Engineers/ Precision Medicine/ICU Medicine) (9-12)

* The 42-x00 research project (42-200/300/400 Sophomore/Junior/Senior Biomedical Engineering Research Project OR 39-500 CIT Honors Research Project) must be on a BME topic that is aligned to the track, supervised or co-supervised by a BME faculty member, and conducted for 9 or more units of credit. 

Some Special Topics and newly offered or intermittently offered courses may be acceptable as track electives. Students should consult with their BME advisors and petition the BME Undergraduate Affairs Committee for permission to include such courses as track electives. The course petition form can be found here.

Revised (10/31/2023)