New: Applying to the biomechanics option
You will now have to apply to the biomechanics option during the spring quarter of your junior year. More information will be available on the ME Undergraduate Advising Canvas page as the application period for the 2025-2026 year approaches.
What is Biomechanics?
Biomechanics is the study of the mechanical laws relating to the movement or structure of living organisms. This field represents the broad interplay between mechanics and biological systems, from the nano scale to whole-body systems. Research in biomechanics enhances our understanding of health, function and disease in living systems and can also serve as inspiration for engineering innovations. Biomechanics can inform and improve the design of medical devices, robotics, athletic equipment, and other applications.
Why a Biomechanics options?
The program provides students with:
- an undergraduate degree option that will appear on their transcript
- a community of peers interested in biomechanics
- announcements about research opportunities, internships, and other resources
The Biomechanics curriculum
Students pursuing the biomechanics option must complete 19-credits including:
| Course | Credits | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ME 419 | 1 |
Biomechanics Seminar (Winter only) |
| ME 411 | 3 | Biological frameworks for engineering (Autumn only) |
| 6+ | Biomechanics Electives: Students must complete a minimum of two biomechanics electives. Extra courses also count as supporting electives. | |
| # remaining credits to 19-total | Supporting Electives: Remaining credits must be taken from the supporting electives list, which are selected to support your engineering fundamentals related to biomechanics. | |
| Additional or new electives that are related to biomechanics can be approved by the biomechanics advisor, requiring submission of the course’s syllabus and a paragraph describing how the course supports the student’s education in biomechanics. |
Biomechanics electives (6+ credits)
| Course | Credits | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ME 412 | 3 | Biomechanics of movement (odd years) |
| ME 415 | 3 | Introduction to Cell Mechanics |
| ME 416 | 3 | Mechanobiology |
| ME 445 | 4 | Introduction to biomechanics (Spring only) |
| ME 499 | Graded, up to 3 credits | Independent research in biomechanics lab |
| ME 527 | 4 credits, registration by advising for admitted Biomechanics option students | Musculoskeletal biomechanics (Winter, even years) |
| BIOL 427 | 5 | Comparative biomechanics |
| BIOEN 460 | 3 | Neural engineering |
| BIOEN 461 | 4 | Neural engineering tech studios |
| BIOEN 485 | 4 | Computational bioengineering |
| BIOEN 486 | 3 | Tissue engineering |
Supporting electives
| Course | Credits | Title |
|---|---|---|
| ME 440 | 4 | Advanced mechanics of materials |
| ME 450 | 3 | Introduction to Composite Material and Design |
| ME 460 | 3 | Kinematics and linkage design |
| ME 470 | 3 | Mechanical vibrations |
| ME 473 | 4 | Instrumentation |
| ME 478 | 4 | Finite element analysis |
| ME 480 | 4 | Introduction to computer-aided technology |
| BIOEN 420 | 4 | Medical imaging |