Oct 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate 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) and all courses used as a specialization 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


Third Year


First Semester: 17 credits


  • University Studies requirement - 6 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Second Semester: 13 credits


  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Fourth Year


First Semester: 14 credits


  • Specialization requirement - 6 credits (see below)
  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Second Semester: 14.5 credits


  • Specialization requirement - 6 credits (see below)
  • University Studies requirement - 3 credits (see Footnote 2 below)

Total credits: 120


Footnotes


[1] CHM 153, PHY 111, and PHY 112 may be used in place of CHM 151, PHY 113, and PHY 114 respectively.

[2] 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 (Total Credits: 121)


The Biomedical Engineering (BME) Concentration is offered to bioengineering students who wish to expand their education on medical applications of bioengineering, including biomedical device development and tissue engineering. Students interested in the concentration can either apply as an incoming student or after they are admitted to the university. In order to graduate with the concentration, students must have a 2.000 BNG major GPA and a 2.700 BME GPA as well as completion of the other required courses in the curriculum. Students who fail to have a 2.700 average GPA in the BME courses will not graduate with the BME concentration though they may still qualify for the BNG major.

The concentration consists of a set of eight BME Foundaton Core courses, one BME Core course, and two BME elective courses chosen from an approved list of either Cell and Tissue Engineering or Medical Devices and Manufacturing. Students in the BME concentration will also complete a related senior design project.

 

Educational Objectives

Graduates with the Biomedical Engineering Concentration will:

  1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge within biomedical engineering and an awareness of potential social, economic, political, and environmental impacts of engineering practices.
  2. Contribute to the benefit of society and responsibilities of a professional biomedical engineer.
  3. Qualify for employment in biomedical engineering and related professions, entry into advanced studies, and leadership roles in their profession.
  4. Understand current and emerging biomedical engineering technologies and their impact on society, and 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 2.700 BME Concentration GPA.

List B: Biomedical Engineering Core - Choose 1 course (3 credits).

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 (6 credits)

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

List C: Cell and Tissue Engineering

List D: Medical Devices 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:

Math Placement


Students not starting in Calculus (MTH 153) will be placed in Pre-Calculus (MTH 150), Pre-Calculus Enhanced (MTH 150E), or Introductory & Intermediate Algebra (MTH 100) in the first semester. This delays the start of Calculus a semester or more, which may then extend the program beyond four years. 

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