Carnegie Mellon University

Biomedical Signal & Image Processing (BSIP) Track

Overview

The BSPI track addresses biomedical phenomena based on the information embedded in sensor-detected signals, including digital images and nerve electrical pulses. Students in this track will gain an understanding of the technologies involved in acquiring signals and images, the mathematical principles underlying the processing and analysis of signals, and the applications of signal/image processing methods in basic research and medicine.

Targets

This track aligns most naturally with a combined education of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering, which lays a solid foundation in signal processing principles. This track prepares students for careers in medical imaging or smart prosthetics. It also interfaces with many clinical practices including radiology, neurology/neurosurgery, and pathology.

Track Requirements

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

  • One (1) Required BSIP Elective
  • Two BSIP Elective (either Required or Additional)

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

42-650 Introduction to Biomedical Imaging (9)
42-668 "Fun"-damentals of MRI and Neuroimaging Analysis (9)
42-631 Neural Data Analysis (9)
42-632 Neural Signal Processing (12) 

Additional Electives

42-437 Biomedical Optical Imaging (9)
42-640/24-658 Image-Based Computational Modeling & Analysis (12)
42-656 Introduction to Machine Learning for Biomedical Engineers (9)
42-660 Bioinstrumentation and Measurement (12)
42-675 Fundamentals of Computational Biomedical Engineering (12)
16-725/18-791 (Bio)Medical Image Analysis (12)
18-491 Fundamentals of Signal Processing1 (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)