The combined department, modeled after a similar venture between Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, would allow students to receive joint biomedical engineering degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Administrators said they hope to issue the formal proposal of the program by fall 2003.
Officials say researchers in the program would benefit from a free exchange of resources and materials between the campuses.
UNC-CH Provost Robert Shelton said the University's accomplishments in the biomedical arena will complement N.C. State's strong engineering department.
While N.C. State now offers a bachelor's of science degree specifically in biomedical engineering, UNC-CH only offers a biomedical engineering track to undergraduate students in applied science. But UNC-CH offers a biomedical program at the graduate level.
By taking classes at both universities, students could benefit from the best each university has to offer, Shelton said.
The potential joint venture marks yet another collaboration between UNC-CH and other area universities. Last year, Duke University and UNC-CH initiated the Robertson Scholars Program, which allows selected students to obtain a joint undergraduate degree from both universities.
"This idea is similar to the Robertson Scholars in the sense that it would allow students to take advantage of the wonderful proximity of these campuses," Shelton said.
He said a joint biomedical engineering program would be a large service to the state, especially to the numerous firms found in Research Triangle Park.