A biomedical engineer uses traditional engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, providing an overall enhancement of health care. Students choose biomedical engineering to serve people, to work with living systems and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of medical care. The biomedical engineer is called upon to design instruments, devices and software, to bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new procedures and to conduct the research needed to solve clinical problems.
Bioengineering integrates sciences and engineering for the study of biology, medicine, behavior or health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge for the molecular to the organ systems levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants and devices. Biomedical engineers create informatics approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat disease, applying systematic, quantitative and integrative thinking and solutions to problems important to biology, medical research and population studies.
BME typically is among the three most popular engineering majors and very often is the largest. The job market in biomedical engineering is the fastest growing of all engineering disciplines. It has become clear that the nation needs a variety of engineers with knowledge of biomedicine, including a cadre of exceptional people whose education thoroughly immerses them in engineering and biomedicine. The intellectual foundation of this limited-access undergraduate program is captured in this vision: Biomedicine comprises the science core while engineering provides the framework for inquiry. The curriculum incorporates exceptional rigor in both.
Educational Objectives
The program educational objectives of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida are that:
- Graduates will excel in top graduate programs of professional schools and will have successful careers in a multi-disciplinary, global industry.
- Graduates will be active leaders in their profession, creating innovative, ethical and socially beneficial solutions to human health problems.
Department Vision Statement
The faculty, students, and alumni of the J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering will lead in the discovery and development of innovative biomedical solutions to improve healthcare in the State of Florida and worldwide. To achieve this vision, the department will leverage the unique co-localization of talent and resources in engineering, biology, medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, and technology commercialization at the University of Florida, thereby maximizing opportunities for interdisciplinary student education and clinical translation of technologies to improve human health.
Department Mission
The J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Florida is dedicated to developing innovative and clinically translatable biomedical technologies, educating future generations of biomedical engineers, and cultivating leaders, by nurturing the integration of engineering, science, and healthcare in a collaborative and dynamic educational and research environment.
Admission Requirements
The biomedical engineering undergraduate major is a limited enrollment program. Students who enter the University of Florida as freshmen identify pre-BME as their major of choice and begin enrolling in the required critical tracking courses to prepare for upper division.
During the fall semester of sophomore year (semester 3), pre-BME majors apply for admission to the upper division major, which begins in the spring semester of sophomore year (semester 4).
Current UF students must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for admission to the upper division program.
- Minimum 3.0 grade point average in critical tracking courses (best attempt)*
- No more than two attempts allowed for each critical tracking course (withdrawals included)
- Minimum grade of C in each critical tracking course
- Completion of the first three semesters of the Model Plan of Study by Fall semester of application
- BME Departmental online application
*Only the best attempt in each critical tracking course is considered for admission to the upper division program.
All application requirements and details are available on the department website.
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Department Requirements
Minimum grades of C are required for BME 3508, BME 3053C, CHM 3217, COP 2271, COP 2271L, EEL 3003, and ENC 3246. The minimum C grade is part of the prerequisite requirement for several 3000/4000-level BME courses. The prerequisite course and subsequent course cannot be taken in the same term, even if the prerequisite is being repeated.
All BME Electives must be selected from an approved list. Students may petition to take courses not included in the approved list toward this requirement. The BME Electives allow students to explore topic areas within their interests and are designed to build upon biomedical engineering foundation courses and laboratories.
A biomedical engineering student whose cumulative, upper-division or department grade point average falls below a 2.0 or whose critical tracking grades do not meet department requirements will be placed on academic probation and be required to complete a probation contract with a BME academic advisor. Students normally are allowed a maximum of two terms (consecutive or non-consecutive) on academic probation. Students who do not satisfy the conditions of the first term of probation may be dismissed from the department.
All graduating seniors must complete an exit interview with their advisor before graduating.