Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Biomedical Engineering? Bioengineering? Biotechnology?
- What high school classes should I be taking?
- Can I Major in BME?
- Can I Minor in BME?
- Are there more "Bio" Options in the Engineering School?
- Does BME have a 5-year Bachelor's-to-Master's Program?
- Is BME a good preparation for Medical School?
- How do I apply to UVA?
- Can I visit the BME Department?
- Where is the BME Building?
- What can I do after graduation?
- Will I have to go to graduate school?
- Can I pursue a professional degree - Medicine, Law, Dentistry,
or Business?
- How do I get a BME advisor?
- May I do research in a BME lab?
- How do I find out about BME Summer Internships?
- What if my question isn't answered here?
What is Biomedical Engineering? Bioengineering? Biotechnology?
Biomedical engineering is the application of engineering tools and techniques
to analyze and solve problems in living systems with the end goal of improving
health care delivery or advancing basic life science research. The term Bioengineering
can be identical to biomedical engineering, or it may be used in a broad sense
to indicate the application of engineering tools to understand general biological
concepts. Biotechnology is a group of technologies/techniques that use living
cells and their molecules to make products or solve problems, often using high-throughput
or scale-up techniques based on Chemical
Engineering.
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What high school classes should I be taking?
UVA's Office of Admissions offers excellent advice on choosing
courses. Science and mathematics courses such as Calculus, Chemistry, Physics,
and Biology (AP or college-prep level preferred) are central to BME education.
You also need to take high level English, History, and Foreign Language courses
to challenge and develop your analytical, writing, and communication skills.
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Can I Major in BME?
Yes, UVA offers a Bachelors
of Science in Biomedical Engineering. UVA also offers an undergraduate minor,
five-year combined BS-to-MS degree, and prestigious masters
and doctoral programs.
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Can I Minor in BME?
Yes, BME offers an 18-credit minor that may be combined with any Engineering or College major.
Click here for BME Minor requirements.
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Are there more "Bio" Options in the Engineering School?
Yes. There is a Biotechnology
and Biochemical Engineering Concentration you can pursue as a Chemical Engineering
major (or well-prepared BME Major) that emphasizes the use of biotechnology in industrial applications, pharmaceutical
processing, health care, and environment and agriculture. You can also opt for
the flexible Engineering
Science degree and follow one of the several courses of study outlined for
bio-minded students. The "BME Option"
allows students to take some BME courses and prepare for medical school with
more flexibility than the BME major. The "Materials
Science Option" is another good premed option and, among other things, prepares
you to learn about developing materials for medical device design and drug delivery.
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Does BME have a 5-year Bachelors-to-Masters Program?
Yes. This is a program for students with outstanding academic records who want
to begin research for their M.S. degree during their undergraduate years. If
you are contemplating the Advanced BS-to-MS program, talk to your potential
thesis advisor(s) well before the application date of Feb 1st of your 3rd year.
Normally, the advisor funds the student's fifth year, unless the student notes
that he/she will be self-supporting. For an application, contact Tammy Ramsey
in the Graduate Programs office, twr2c@virginia.edu.
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Is BME a good preparation for Medical School?
Yes. Biomedical engineering is an excellent preparation for medical school. You can earn
a B.S. in BME, prepare for the MCAT, and meet medical school admissions requirements,
without additional (summer) coursework. See page 7 of the BME
Student Guide.
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How do I apply to UVA?
All aspects of undergraduate admissions are handled through the UVA
Office of Admission.
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Can I visit the BME Department?
BME welcomes visits from prospective students and their families. If you would
like to meet with a BME faculty member, please contact Kitter Bishop, kbishop@virginia.edu
or (434) 982-6016, when you know what day you will be on campus. We tend to
schedule 20-minute appointments in the afternoon, after the 1:00-2:00 pm student-led
tour of the Engineering School, but we can accommodate various schedules.
You may also want to attend a 200-level BME course during your visit. Please
call/email Kitter to find out what days and times are available.
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Where is the BME Building?
The Department of Biomedical Engineering occupies one and a half floors of
the Biomedical Engineering and Medical Research Building (MR5), located in the
heart of the UVA School of Medicine and a 10-minute walk from the Engineering
School. Most undergraduate biomedical engineering courses are taught in MR5.
How to walk from the Rotunda to MR5: Head to the opposite (east) end
of the Lawn. There is a main sidewalk about 25 yards in front of Cabell Hall.
Take a left on this sidewalk, go down a flight of stairs, and take a right onto
"Hospital Drive" (essentially a cut-through/parking area). Landmarks are Rouss
and Randall Halls. At the big brick gates, take a left onto Jefferson Park Avenue.
Pass the Elson Student Health Center on your right. Then right on Lane Road.
The BME Building is unmarked, but it is the 3-story building in front of you.
The BME Office is on the second floor next to the elevators.
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What can I do after graduation?
A biomedical engineering education prepares you for a range of career prospects.
Entry-level biomedical engineering positions include:
Staff engineer for a company in the medical device, biomedical imaging,
or pharmaceutical industry. Software engineer; clinical engineer. Technical sales engineer, marketing trainee, or management trainee in a bioengineering company. Consultant in a healthcare company or investment group. Researcher/engineer in a research lab of a hospital, university, government
agency, or military. You might perform research around a certain disease /
organ system, help bring a new product to market, or assist in the development
of a new technology or research device. The single largest employer of U.Va. BME B.S.-level graduates is the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office.
Also see, "Careers
in Biomedical Engineering."
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Will I have to go to graduate school?
Not necessarily. You can have a rich and rewarding career in biomedical engineering
without a graduate degree. However, as a broad generalization, students with
an advanced degree have the best chance for career advancement in the biomedical
engineering industry in the long term. A Bachelor's of Science degree in biomedical
engineering prepares you for graduate studies in biomedical engineering, biophysics,
molecular biology, physiology, and biotechnology.
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Can I pursue a professional degree - Medicine, Law, Dentistry,
or Business?
Yes. The inherently integrative, collaborative, entrepreneurial nature of biomedical
engineering makes it an excellent stepping stone toward a professional degree.
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How do I get a BME advisor?
Contact Kitter Bishop, BME Undergraduate Coordinator, at kbishop@virginia.edu
or (434) 982-6016. Before meeting with your advisor, download the BME
Student Guide.
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May I do research in a BME lab?
Working in a research laboratory is an incredibly valuable experience. During the summer and academic year, many students work as paid,
volunteer, or "for-credit" research assistants. And you're not limited just
to BME's labs - our students are involved in research in the Medical Center and various Engineering
laboratories. To help you get started exploring research possibilities,
we have prepared a Research Tips sheet and
BME Labs list.
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How do I find out about BME Summer Internships?
We try to find local and national industry internships
that match student skills and interests. Bobbe Nixon is BME's Director of Internships
and Corporate Outreach; she can be reached at bobbe@virginia.edu
or (434) 243-6285.
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What if my question isn't answered here?
Contact Kitter Bishop, BME Undergraduate Coordinator at kbishop@virginia.edu
or (434) 982-6016.
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