Breadth Electives

To complete the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, students must earn at least 15 credit hours of breadth electives. These electives allow you to explore interests beyond your core BME curriculum and can be fulfilled through one of the following four options.

Pursuing a Georgia Tech-approved minor is a popular way to fulfill the breadth elective requirement. Minors consist of at least 15 credit hours, though some may require additional prerequisite courses.

List of Approved Minors

Undergraduate Minor Guidelines & Requirements

Students may also complete a certificate program. Most certificates require a minimum of 12 credit hours, and some include prerequisites. If your certificate is fewer than 15 hours, you can use additional elective courses—including research credits—to meet the full 15-hour requirement.

Explore Certificates

(Note: This list may change; check individual department websites for the most current offerings.)

While Georgia Tech does not offer a formal pre-health minor or certificate, students preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or other health professions can tailor their electives accordingly.

Chemistry Requirements:

• Non–Pre-Health Students:
  • CHEM 1211K – General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1315 – Survey of Organic Chemistry (3 credits)
• Pre-Health Students:
  • CHEM 1211K – General Chemistry I (4 credits)
  • CHEM 1212K – General Chemistry II (4 credits)
  • CHEM 2311 – Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
  • CHEM 2312 – Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
  • CHEM 2380 – Synthesis Lab (2 credits)
  • CHEM 3511 or CHEM 4511 & 4512 – Biochemistry (3–6 credits)

Additional Pre-Med Requirements:
Most U.S. medical schools also require:

• 2 semesters of English
• 2 semesters of Calculus
• 2 semesters of Physics with lab
• 2 semesters of Biology with lab

These biology requirements are typically met through:

• BMED 3100, 3110, 3600, and 3610

Schedule an appointment with a pre-health advisor. Be sure to register for their Canvas page, listserv, and Piazza.

Georgia Tech Pre-Health Advising

The Research Option offers an in-depth research experience and can be used to fulfill the breadth elective requirement.

Requirements:

• At least 9 hours of research (for credit or pay), with 6 hours in the same lab
• Completion of LMC 4701 and LMC 4702 (thesis writing courses)
• Submission of a faculty-approved research thesis

Research can be conducted in any discipline—not just engineering. If your total credit hours from research and thesis courses are fewer than 15, you may use additional elective credits to meet the requirement.

• 🔗 Learn More About the Research Option

Important Note:
Research used for breadth elective credit cannot also count toward depth electives. You must choose one or the other.