Overview
Chemical Engineering focuses on the design of processes capable of producing new materials, energy and clean water in a highly effective manner – processes in which the human body excels. Medicine and Biochemistry have been an integral part of the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University for more than 40 years. Pioneering work done on understanding the interactions between blood and the surfaces of implanted materials (such as stents), was done in our Department and that work has impacted the lives of thousands of patients receiving these implants. About one third of our faculty members work in bio related areas: some on medical applications, such as drug delivery and biomedical device design; others on bioprocessing, investigating how to produce therapeutic agents effectively.
The Department has a long tradition of hiring a large number of undergraduate students to work in faculty members’ labs during the summer. Each year, we hire about 65 students like you to experience the thrill of researching and pushing the boundaries of our respective fields.
Biomedical Engineering – Course Sequencing Information
This program layout applies to students registered in 2021-2022.
Where there are discrepancies in this document, the published Academic Calendar will always take precedence.
For a detailed breakdown of your course requirements, please refer to your Student Summary in Mosaic.
Level II: 37 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 2D04 Chemical Engineering Principles I |
Math 2ZZ3 Engineering Mathematics IV |
ChE 2E04 Numerical Methods and Computing for Chemical Engineers |
ChE 2F04 Chemical Engineering Principles II |
Math 2Z03 Engineering Mathematics III |
ChE 2O04 Fluid Mechanics |
HTHSCI 2E03 Inquiry II: Biochemistry |
IBEHS 2P03 Health Solutions Design Projects II: Introduction to Genetic Engineering |
HTHSCI 2F03 Human Physiology & Anatomy I |
HTHSCI 2FF3 Human Physiology & Anatomy II |
Chem 1AA3 Introductory Chemistry II |
Level III: 39 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 3A04 Heat Transfer |
ChE 3G04 Chemical Process Synthesis and Simulation |
ChE 3D04 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics |
ChE 3K04 Introduction to Reactor Design |
ChE 3M04 Mass Transfer and Stagewise Operations |
|
HTHSCI 2G03 Statistics & Epidemiology 1 |
HTHSCI 3G03 Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature |
IBEHS 3A03 Biomedical Signals and Systems |
IBEHS 3P04 Health Solutions Design Projects III: Analysis and Decision Making |
3 units from:
Chem 2E03 – Introductory Organic Chemistry |
Complementary Studies (3 units) |
Level IV: 36-37 units (as of 2022)
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 3I03 Data Acquisition and Analysis |
ChE 3L03 Intermediate Laboratory Skills |
Chem Bio 2A03 Introduction to Bio-Analytical Chemistry |
ChE 3P04 Process Control |
IBEHS 4B03 Biomechanics |
|
IBEHS 4F04 Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurement |
IBEHS 4C03 Statistical Methods in Biomedical Engineering |
IBEHS 4P04 Health Solutions Design Projects IV: Economics and Project Management |
IBEHS 4D04 Introduction to Medical Imaging |
Approved IBEHS Technical Elective (3-4 units) | |
3 units from:
|
Term 1 |
Term 2 |
ChE 4N04 Engineering Economics and Problem Solving |
Engineer 4A03 Ethics, Equity and Law in Engineering |
ChE 4L03 Advanced Laboratory Skills |
|
IBEHS 4QZ3 Modelling of Biological Systems |
|
IBEHS 5P06 A/B Biomedical Capstone Design Project |
|
9-10 units from:
|
|
Approved IBEHS Technical Elective (3-4 units) | |
Complementary Studies Electives (6 units) |
Biomedical Engineering – Co-op & Experiential Learning
Students enrolled in either the BME or HESE stream at McMaster will have the opportunity to apply for co-op positions.
Co-op placements are flexible and can be taken up at any time.
- Co-op is offered for both degree options
- Students are able to add co-op at any time up to the end of their penultimate year of studies
- A minimum of 12 months of relevant work experience is required to receive your co-op designation
For maximum flexibility, options include:
- 4 month summer work-terms
- 8 to 16 month continuous internships
iBioMed students have landed co-op placements within the following industries:

Healthcare

Education

Finance

Government

Technology
Biomedical Engineering – Related Courses
Code | Title | Instructor | Outline | Info |
---|---|---|---|---|
ENGINEER 2IW3 Undergraduate | Inclusion in the Engineering Workplace |
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Outline | More |