BS in Biomedical Engineering

The biomedical engineering program seeks to prepare qualified students for productive, rewarding careers in the engineering profession, either for entry-level practice in biomedical engineering or for entrance into appropriate graduate programs. During their careers, our alumni

1. will become successful practicing engineers in biomedical engineering fields and will advance professionally by accepting responsibilities and, potentially, pursuing leadership roles;
2. who enter the health professions will utilize their engineering knowledge in this pursuit; and
3. will advance their knowledge of engineering, both formally and informally, by engaging in lifelong learning experiences.

The engineering design experience is distributed over the entire engineering curriculum. This experience begins in the first year with engineering and design and continues through and culminates with a Senior Design Capstone experience. The Senior Capstone work ensures that the students have mastered preparatory engineering and engineering science courses.

Basic concepts of physics, chemistry, and mathematics are the foundations on which all engineering education is built. Basic tools of engineering, such as graphic communications, computer usage, mechanics, and thermofluids complete the introductory phase of the program.

All biomedical engineering program graduates are required to complete courses designed to give the students a grounding in anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, biofluids, bioinstrumentation, and the structure of materials used by biomedical engineers. Along with the engineering courses, students are required to obtain a background in solid mechanics and electrical engineering.

Extensive laboratory experience augments the course work. There are required laboratory classes in the sciences, materials, engineering, and natural phenomena. Written communication of laboratory results is required.

Through participation in the University Interdisciplinary Studies and additional elective courses in the humanities and/or social sciences, students are given the opportunity to broaden their perspectives and to take part in the larger learning community of the University. It is imperative that engineers understand and appreciate the special role that technology plays in our society, as well as the interactions among the various components of our society.

The biomedical engineering program has three basic concentrations: the standard, one designed for those students who wish to enter the health professions, and the electrical engineering concentration. Those students who wish to enter health professions are required to take a full year of organic chemistry prior to their senior year. All students who are interested in the health professions are required to join the pre-health professions program. The Pre-Health Profession Advisory Committee has developed a 3 - 1-credit courses for each of the first three undergraduate years to help students prepare for health profession graduate school applications.

The student learning outcomes of the biomedical engineering program leading to BSBE degree are aligned with the student learning outcomes of ABET EAC (1 through 7), and prepare graduates of the program to attain the program educational objectives.

Student outcomes (1) through (7) are articulated as follows:

(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.

Biomedical Engineering, following the ABET Program Specific Criteria (PSCs), gives our students experience in: 

1. applying principles of engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry, calculus-based physics, mathematics (through differential equations) and statistics; 
2. solving bio/biomedical engineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems; 
3. analyzing, modeling, designing, and realizing bio/biomedical engineering devices, systems, components, or processes; and 
4. making measurements on and interpreting data from living systems.