Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineers design devices and instruments that improve the quality of life for medical patients and aid physicians in medical diagnosis and treatment of disease, such as total implantable hearts, pacemakers and defibrillators, imaging devices, prostheses, replacement parts, portable EKG machines, and heart-lung machines.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering degree begins by introducing students to the scientific foundations that are the basis of all engineering disciplines. Specialized biomedical-focused courses follow, providing depth in many related issues, including biology and physiology, prostheses, bioimaging, medical and monitoring devices, and more. In addition to biomedical engineering courses, students can draw upon technical elective courses in other disciplines to develop the skills appropriate for their career objectives. In the senior year, students participate in an engineering design project, often working directly with industry partners to contribute to a current commercial application. The program is designed to produce graduates who are prepared for careers in the biotech industry, to enter medical school, or to continue in graduate or professional school.

The Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Concentrations

  • Biomechanical Rehabilitation

  • Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

  • Neuroengineering and Biomedical Imaging

Program Objectives and Outcomes

The biomedical engineering program produces graduates who possess a broad foundation in engineering and liberal arts, combined with a depth of disciplinary knowledge at the interface of engineering and biology. This knowledge is mandatory for success in a biomedical engineering career. Biomedical engineering is also an enabling step for a career in medicine, dentistry, business, or law.

The objectives of the biomedical engineering program are to prepare students such that, within several years after graduation:

  • Graduates will identify biomedical engineering challenges and lead solution concepts

  • Graduates will be able to nurture concepts to commercialization by applying their knowledge of fundamental engineering principles, work experience, and state-of-the-art tools and techniques

  • Graduates will be among the leaders of the fields in the development of biomedical devices, implants, tissues, and systems to meet the needs of society

  • Graduates will establish themselves as leaders in their chosen career path by applying their skills in problem solving, teamwork, ethics, management, communication, and their awareness of professional and social issues

To accomplish this, the undergraduate program provides a balanced education in fundamental principles, design methodologies, and practical experiences in biomedical engineering, general engineering, and physical and mathematical sciences topics through which graduates can enter and sustain lifelong professional careers of engineering innovation and creativity.

Graduates of the biomedical engineering program will:

  • Be recognized as innovative technical experts who demonstrate advanced understandings of the state-of-the-art in biomedical engineering, as well as their professional, social, and ethical responsibilities.

  • Emerge as technical leaders through their own individual contributions and their abilities to work with and influence others.

  • Function as effective entrepreneurs who nurture innovative technologies from concept to commercialization.

Student Objectives and Outcomes

By the time of graduation, biomedical engineering students will have:

  1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  8. A fundamental knowledge and an appreciation of the technology and business processes necessary to nurture new technologies from concept to commercialization.

Biomedical Engineering Curriculum

Term I

CAL 103Writing and Communications Colloquium

3

CH 115General Chemistry I

3

CH 117General Chemistry Laboratory I

1

ENGR 111Introduction to Engineering Design & Systems Thinking

4

ENGR 116Intro to Programming & Algorithmic Thinking

3

MA 121Differential Calculus

2

MA 122Integral Calculus

2

Term II

CAL 105CAL Colloquium: Knowledge, Nature, Culture

3

CH 116General Chemistry II

3

CH 118General Chemistry Laboratory II

1

ENGR 122Field Sustainable Systems with Sensors

2

MA 125Vectors and Matrices

2

MA 126Multivariable Calculus I

2

MGT 103Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking

2

PEP 111Mechanics

3

Term III

BME 306Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

3

Or

BIO 181Biology and Biotechnology

3

ENGR 211Statics and Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

4

ENGR 245Circuits and Systems

3

MA 221Differential Equations

4

PEP 112Electricity and Magnetism

3

Term IV

BME 306Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

3

Or

BIO 181Biology and Biotechnology

3

ENGR 212Design of Dynamical Systems

4

ENGR 234Thermodynamics

3

ENGR 241Probability and Statistics with Data Science Applications

4

HUM Humanities

3

BIO 181: No Lab

Term V

BIO 291Cell and Molecular Biology

4

BME 312Biomaterials in Medical Device Design

3

BME 313Biomaterials in Medical Device Design Laboratory

1

Or

G.E. General Elective

3

BME 506Biomechanics

3

MA 225Infinite Series

2

MA 226Multivariable Calculus II

2

HUM Humanities

3

Term VI

BME 343Biotransport

3

BME 344Biotransport Laboratory

1

BME 312Biomaterials in Medical Device Design

3

BME 313Biomaterials in Medical Device Design Laboratory

1

Or

G.E. General Elective

3

BME 322Engineering Design VI

2

BME 460Biomedical Digital Signal Processing Laboratory

2

IDE 399Engineering Economics & Project Management

2

General Elective

3

Term VII

BME 423Engineering Design VII

3

BME 502Physiology for Engineers I

3

BME 512Engineering Physiology Lab I

1

IDE 401Senior Innovation II: Value Proposition

1

TE 400Technical Elective 400 Level

1-3

HUM Humanities

3

Term VIII

BME 424Engineering Design VIII

3

BME 465Principles of Biomedical Imaging

3

BME 503Physiology for Engineers II

3

BME 513Engineering Physiology Lab II

1

IDE 402Senior Innovation III: Venture Planning and Pitch

1

TE 400Technical Elective 400 Level

1-3

HUM Humanities

3

Notes:

(1) Technical Electives can be selected from available 400-599 courses offered by the BME program. Courses listed in the Areas of Concentration are common choices. Additional courses can be selected with the approval of the student’s advisor.

(2) General Electives can be selected from available courses offered by programs in SES, SSE, SOB and HASS (including BME courses). Approval from the student’s advisor and the course instructor may be required.

(3) Humanities: Please see Humanities Requirements for specific requirements.

 

*Students in Prehealth should follow the Prehealth study plan (Please see your advisor).

Biomechanical Rehabilitation Concentration

Required Course

BME 556Advanced Biomechanics

3

And two courses from the following

BME 520Cardiopulmonary Mechanics and Physiology

3

BME 558Introduction to Brain-Machine Interfaces

3

BME 560Movement Control Rehabilitation

3

BME 561Biofeedback Innovations for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

3

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Concentration

Required Course

BME 505Biomaterials

3

And two Courses from the following

BME 515Natural Polymers in Medicine

3

BME 520Cardiopulmonary Mechanics and Physiology

3

BME 570Lab-on-a-Chip Technology in Biomedical Applications

3

ME 580Medical Device Design and Technology

3

Neuroengineering and Biomedical Imaging Concentration

Required Course

BME 504Medical Instrumentation and Imaging

3

And two courses from the following

BME 558Introduction to Brain-Machine Interfaces

3

BME 571Machine Learning in Biomedical Engineering

3

CPE 440Introduction to AI Engineering

3

CPE 462Introduction to Image Processing and Coding

3