Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double-Major

Nina Sherwood and Emma Zhang at microscope

Become prepared for careers that require the integration of engineering, biology and environmental science.

This dual major joins Duke’s biomedical engineering major with the civil engineering major and its Environmental Engineering & Water Resources study track.

Jennifer Villa

A double major allowed me to explore two areas I was passionate about. Plus, I was more competitive as a job applicant because I could make connections and go deep in both areas.

Jennifer Villa Director of Product Management

Double Major Details

  • Completing the general and CE/BME Double Major requirements offer a variety of elective choices.

    The minimum requirements to be met in the selection of electives are provided below. When planning electives be cognizant of both pre-requisites and when the course is typically offered.

    Within the units there are limits of one (1) unit of physical education activity, one (1) unit of music activity and no (0) house courses. However, it is possible to exceed these limits with optional electives.

  • Important Notes About the Tables Below
    • This plan outlines a student’s typical path to graduation
    • Courses in bold are typically offered once a year, in the semester in which they are shown
    • Courses in the tables are required unless noted otherwise
    • The tables also identify pre-requisites and co-requisites
    • Shifting courses to different a semester should be done with caution and planning. Work closely with your advisor

    First Year

    Fall Spring
    Calculus I
    MATH 111L (#1)
    Calculus II
    MATH 112L (#2)
    Chemistry I
    CHEM 101DL
    Biology
    BIOLOGY 201L
    Computational Methods
    EGR 105L
    Mechanics
    PHYSICS 151L (#4)
    Writing
    WRITING 120
    elective (see below) (#7)

    Second Year

    Fall Spring
    Linear Algebra
    MATH 218-2
    Multivariable Calculus
    MATH 219
    Electricity and Magnetism
    PHYSICS 152L (#4)
    Fund. of Elect. & Comp. Engr
    ECE 110L
    Solid Mechanics
    EGR 201L
    Dynamics
    EGR 244L
    Quantitative Physiology
    BME 244L
    Materials
    ME 221L
    Chemistry II
    CHEM 210DL
    elective (see below)

    Third Year

    Fall Spring
    Differential Equations
    MATH 353
    elective (see below)
    Fluid Mechanics
    CEE 301L
    Biological Processes
    CEE 462L
    Chemical Processes
    CEE 461L
    Uncert., Design & Optimization
    CEE 251L
    Signals & Systems
    BME 271 or ECE 280L
    Fund. Biomech/Biomatls: BME 302L or
    Transport Phenom. in Bio. Sys BME 307
    Cellular & Molecular Systems
    BME 260L
    Biomedical Electronics II
    BME 354L

    Fourth Year

    Fall Spring
    Water Resources
    CEE 463L
    Integrated Environmental Design
    CEE 469
    Engineering Economic, Risk, and Decision-Making & Economics
    CEE 351
    elective (see below)
    elective (see below) elective (see below)
    elective (see below) elective (see below)
    elective (see below)
    Important Notes
    • #1 AP credit for MATH 21(31) may be used to satisfy this requirement.
    • #2 AP credit for MATH 22(32) may be used to satisfy this requirement. If AP credit for 21(31) but not 22(32) then take MATH 122L(41L) in Freshman Fall.
    • #4 As part of the PHYSICS 151L(61L) & 152L(62L) requirement at least one of 152L(62L), 153L(63L), or 264(143) must be taken at Duke regardless of AP credit. If AP credit for 141L(61) and 142L(62) then take 153L(63L) or 264(143), OR you may waive AP credit for 142L(62) and take 152L(62L) but you may NOT waive AP credit for 141L(61) and take 151L(61L) while also maintaining AP credit for 142L(62). In other words, if you waive AP credit for 141L(61) then you must take both 151L(61L) and 152L(62L) at Duke.
    • #7 It is advised that any electives taken in the first year advance the completion of the Liberal Arts (LA) requirements.
  • 5 Liberal Arts Electives (LA)

    All majors in Pratt are required to complete a minimum of 5 full-credit (1.0 unit) courses from a set of categories that includes:

    • Creating & Engaging with Art (CE),
    • Humanistic Inquiry (HI),
    • Interpreting Institutions, Justice & Power (IJ),
    • Social & Behavioral Analysis (SB), and
    • Language (LG).

    More specifically:

    1. Students must take five courses that each carry at least one code of CE, HI, IJ, SB, or LG and that do not otherwise count towards the requirements of their Pratt major(s).
    2. Students must complete courses that cumulatively cover at least four of the five codes (CE, HI, IJ, SB, LG).
    3. A Century Course that has two different codes may cover both of those codes, but still only counts as one of the five required courses.
    4. All courses taken to fulfill the Liberal Arts requirement (courses or codes) must be satisfied by taking courses post-matriculation.
    5. Any course taken to satisfy the Liberal Arts requirement must be taken on a graded basis, unless the course is only offered on a selective Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading basis. For courses only offered on an S/U grading basis, up to two such S/U-only courses may contribute (course and/or code) to the Liberal Arts requirement

    2 Civil Engineering Electives (CE)

    Take one of the following:

    • CEE 561 Environmental Aquatic Chemistry
    • CEE 562 Biological Processes in Environmental Engineering
    • CEE 563 Chemical Fate of Organic Compounds
    • CEE 564 Physical and Chemical Treatment Processes in Environmental Engineering
    • CEE 571 Control of Hazardous and Toxic Waste
    • CEE 575 Air Pollution Control Engineering
    • CEE 581 Pollutant Transport Systems
    • CEE 661L Environmental Molecular Biotechnology
    • CEE 671 Physiochemical Unit Operations in Water Treatment
    • CEE 672 Solid Waste Engineering
    • CEE 685 Water Supply Engineering Design

    1 Biomedical Engineering Area Elective (BME Area)

    • If BME 302L is taken, the elective must come from the Biomaterial/Biomechanics Area
    • If BME 307 is taken, the elective must come from the Molecular, Cellular & Tissue Engineering Area

    1 Life Science Elective

    Must be from the Duke BME-approved list.

  • Course Prerequisite(s)
    EGR 244L EGR 201L, MATH 212
    CEE 301L EGR 244L (pre- or co-req), MATH 353 (pre- or co-req)
    CEE 462L
    CEE 463L CEE 301L
    CEE 251L EGR 201L
    CEE 469 CEE 461L, CEE 463L, and CEE 462L
    BME 260L MATH 212, BIOLOGY 201Lor equivalent
    BME 354L (BME 253L or ECE 230L) and (BME 271 or ECE 280L)
    BME 271 (BME 253 or ECE 230L) and MATH 216

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