Biomedical Devices Concentration
Biomedical Devices focus on the development of new biomedical technology for life science research and advanced health care. This concentration provides training in fundamental aspects of cell biology and physiology in addition to traditional areas of mechanical and electrical engineering as applied to biotechnology and medical devices.
Biomedical Imaging Concentration
Biomedical Imaging focuses on developing technology and applications for life science research and advanced medical imaging systems. This thrust area includes the fundamentals of biomedical imaging instrumentation and systems analysis. We learn to analyze imaging systems with quantitative assessments of resolution, contrast, and noise.
Cell & Tissue Engineering Concentration
The creation of engineered replacements for damaged tissues is of critical importance to the future of medicine. The ability to design biocompatible materials and to understand cellular and physiological mechanics makes possible the construction of engineered scaffolds for cells.
Synthetic & Computational Biology Concentration
Synthetic and computational biologists aim to design and build novel biological functions and systems by applying engineering design principles and computational tools to biology. They seek to produce materials more cheaply and sustainably, and to design and construct better-performing genetic systems quickly, reliably, and safely.
Pre-Med Information
Pre-medical students can pursue any of the concentrations, though Cell & Tissue Engineering, Biomedical Imaging, and Biomedical Devices are the most popular choices with our pre-meds.
Different medical schools have different requirements, so it’s best to make a list now of those requirements for the medical schools that you’re interested in applying to. The AAMC maintains a database of the requirements at various medical schools in the US and in Canada.
There are general requirements shared by most medical schools, and the courses typically taken at Berkeley to meet them can be found at the Career Center website. Many of these courses can be applied directly to your bioengineering degree, and we suggest taking those that do not (e.g., Bio 1A/1AL) as your elective units. Note that this list of pre-reqs may not meet the recommended requirements for all medical schools, but they are designed to meet all or most requirements for most medical schools.