Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 UMass Dartmouth Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Bioengineering


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BS Degree

Students must consult with their academic advisor prior to registering for any classes. Transfer students should be aware of possible scheduling problems, due to the sequential nature of the department’s curricula that may cause a delay in meeting graduation requirements. Transfer students are therefore especially encouraged to meet with their academic advisor early in order to satisfy prior-year requirements as soon as possible. In any case, final responsibility for keeping pace with the curriculum and taking the required courses in sequence rests with each student.

Calculation of GPA in the Bioengineering major

Students must have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA for all courses taken at the university in order to graduate. Students must also have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA in the major. For purposes of this computation:

  1. All courses with a BNG prefix (except BNG 162) as well as EGR 497 and EGR 498 count in calculating the GPA;
  2. Courses required for the major but taken outside the major discipline are not counted in the calculation of the major cumulative GPA;
  3. If a course is repeated, only the most recent course grade (whether higher or lower) shall be used to calculate the major cumulative GPA.

Requirements


First Year


Second Year


First Semester: 17 credits


  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Third Year


Second Semester: 13 credits


  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Fourth Year


First Semester: 14 credits


  • Specialization requirement - 6 credits (see below)
  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Second Semester: 14.5 credits


  • Specialization requirement - 6 credits (see below)
  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 1 below)

Total credits: 120


Footnote


[1] See University Studies requirements, three credits each in Clusters 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B, and 4C.

Specialization Courses


Specialization courses are courses that allow bioengineering students to broaden or deepen their engineering knowledge in one or more technical areas. Students should speak with their advisor before selecting specialization courses. Courses outside the department may be used with prior consultation with the advisor and approval by the chairperson.

Biomedical Engineering Concentration


The Biomedical Engineering (BME) Concentration is offered to students who demonstrate good academic performance in their first two years and wish to expand their education on medical applications of bioengineering, including biomedical device development and tissue engineering. Students who secured at least a grade of B- in EGR 241 (Engineering Mechanics I - Statics) and CHM 152 (Principles of Modern Chemistry II) are eligible to apply to the BME Concentration. Qualified students should apply no later than the end of spring semester of their sophomore year. Students pursuing the BME Concentration will choose related senior design projects. Graduates in the BME Concentration are required to have a Bioengineering Major GPA of 2.000 and a GPA of at least 2.500 in all BME courses.

 

Educational Objectives

Graduates with the Biomedical Engineering Concentration will have:

  1. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge within biomedical engineering and an awareness of potential social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of engineeirng practices.
  2. An Appreciation of the contribution of biomedical engineers to the benefit of society and the responsibilities of a professional biomedical engineer.
  3. Necessary qualifications for employment in biomedical engineering and related professions, for entry into advanced studies, and for assuming eventual leadership roles in their profession.
  4. Familiarity with current and emerging biomedical engineering technologies and understand how these technologies impact the society, as well as realize their ethical and social responsibilities.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the Biomedical Engineering Concentration will demonstrate:

(a) An ability to apply multidisciplinary approaches including engineering, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology to manage the unique challenges and balance the competing social, economic, and technical goals of biomedical problems and solutions.

(b) An ability to use technical skills needed to analyze and design biomedical devices or tissue engineering therapies.

(c) An ability to work in multidisciplinary teams to arrive at solutions to biomedical engineeringing problems.

 

BME Requirements


The BME Concentration consists of a set of eight Biomedical Engineering Foundation Core courses (List A), one Biomedical Engineering Core course (List B), and two electives chosen from one of the approved lists in Cell and Tissue Engineering (List C) or Medical Devices and Manufacturing (List D). Students in the BME concentration will also choose a related senior design project. In order to graduate with the BME Concentration, students must have a 2.000 Bioengineering Major GPA and a 2.500 BME Concentration GPA.

List B: Biomedical Engineering Core - Choose 1 course.

Note: Courses in List B that appear in List C or List D do not double count. The course will meet a Specialization requirement.

Themed Lists: Choose 2 courses from either List C or List D

Note: Both courses must be from the same list. The courses will meet a Specialization requirement.

List D: Medical Devises and Manufacturing

Pre-Medical Track


A pre-medical track is available. The prerequisites for these advanced degree programs are varied and students should discuss an interest in a pre-medical track with their advisor as early as possible. Often upper-level (300/400) courses required for admission to health degree programs can be used as a specialization requirement listed above. Substituting an upper-level course requires prior consultation with the advisor and approval by the department chairperson. 

University Studies Requirements for Bioengineering


Degree candidates for the BS degree in Bioengineering must satisfy the University Studies requirements, as described in the Academic Policies section of this Catalog.

  • University Studies requirements in Clusters 1, 2, and 5 are automatically satisfied by the courses shown as required for this major.
  • The University Studies requirements in Clusters 3 and 4 may be fulfilled by selecting courses from the approved lists in each cluster, using the University Studies electives shown in the course requirement tables for each major.

University Studies Departmental Requirements


Students majoring in Bioengineering will meet their departmentally-controlled University Studies requirements as follows:

Alternative Paths Program Requirements


Students not starting in Calculus (MTH 153) will be placed in Pre-Calculus (MTH 150) or Pre-Calculus Enhanced (MTH 150E) in the first semester. This delays the start of Calculus to the spring semester, which may then extend the program beyond four years.

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