Biomedical Engineering (BME)

220 Engineering Laboratory Building • Box 19138

817-272-2249

Undergraduate degree emphasis areas have been developed for students in aerospace engineering, civil engineering, computer science and engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, and mechanical engineering to develop fundamental knowledge in the field of biomedical engineering. With the permission of the department's undergraduate advisor, a student may enroll in courses listed below and obtain an emphasis in biomedical engineering. Ordinarily, the student will take these courses as technical electives, free electives and science electives. The purpose of the program is to expose students to an emerging branch of engineering. The program is restricted to students having an overall grade point average of at least 2.75. Students should contact the graduate advisor of the Biomedical Engineering Program for additional information.

Elective courses for students who wish to obtain an emphasis in biomedical engineering:

BME 4325: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering.

Recommended lists of courses for non-engineering majors are available from the program graduate advisor.

Combined Degree Plan: Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

This five-year curriculum prepares students for careers in the fast growing biotechnology and biomedical engineering industries. The curriculum also prepares students for medical school and advanced study. Students are required to take courses from engineering, life sciences and liberal arts, culminating in a five-year Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering, including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. The curriculum is offered jointly by the College of Engineering and the College of Science.

Description

Biomedical engineers use quantitative methods and innovation to analyze and to solve problems in biology and medicine. Students choose the biomedical engineering field to be of service to people, to partake in the excitement of working with living systems, and to apply advanced technology to complex problems of medical care.

Through this Program, students learn the essentials of life science, engineering theory, and the analytical and practical tools that enable them to be successful in the biotechnology and biomedical
engineering industries. The Program includes coursework in the basic sciences, core engineering, biomedical engineering, and advanced biotechnology disciplines. Both didactic classroom lectures and hand-on laboratory experience are emphasized. Additionally, students are required to take general educational courses in literature, fine arts, history, political science, and social science.

Career Opportunities

The Program prepares students as biomedical engineers for careers in industry, in hospitals, in research facilities of educational and medical institutions, and in government regulatory agencies. It also provides a solid foundation for those wishing to continue for advanced degrees. For those planning to pursue a medical degree, this cross-disciplinary curriculum offers a solid foundation in engineering, which is an advantage in preparing for a medical career.

Requirements

English

1301, 1302

Mathematics

1426, 2325, 2326, 3318

Natural Science other than Biology

PHYS 1443, PHYS 1444, CHEM 1284, CHEM 1301, CHEM 1302, CHEM 2181, CHEM 2182, CHEM 2321, CHEM 2322, CHEM 4311

Biology

1441, 1442, 3444, 3301, 33XX, 3312, 3315, 4346, 5361,

Core Engineering

CE 2312, CSE 1320, EE 2320, MAE 2181, MAE 2314, MAE 3183, MAE 3310, MAE 3314, MAE 3317, MAE 3319, MAE 4345

Biomedical Engineering

4325, 5193, 5335, 5344, 5361, 5364, 5365, 5366, 5382, 5390

Anatomy/Physiology

BME 5307D, BME 5309D

Other General Educational Courses

Literature

Six hours of English or foreign language literature

Fine Arts

Three hours from art, dance, music, architecture, or theatre arts

Political Science

2311, 2312

History

1311, 1312

Social/Cultural Studies

Three hours from social or cultural anthropology, archaeology, social/political/cultural geography, economics, sociology, classical studies, psychology, or linguistics

Total (for degrees)

163 semester hours, plus four semester hours of exercise and sport activities (EXSA) or ROTC or marching band as required.

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

First Semester: MATH 1426; BIOL 1441; CHEM 1301; POLS 2311; ENGL 1301—Total Credit 17 hours.

Second Semester: MATH 2325; BIOL 1442; CHEM 1302; CHEM 1284; POLS 2312; ENGL 1302—Total Credit 18 hours.

Sophomore Year

First Semester: MATH 2326; PHYS 1443; CHEM 2321; CHEM 2181; HIST 1311; 3 hours of fine art —Total 17 hours.

Second Semester: MATH 3318; PHYS 1444; CHEM 2322; CHEM 2182; HIST 1312; 3 hours of social/cultural studies—Total 17 hours.

Junior Year

First Semester: CE 2312; MAE 3310 or CHEM 3321; CSE 1320; BIOL 3301, 3 hours of literature—Total Credit 15 hours.

Second Semester: MAE 2314; BME 4325; MAE 2181; BIOL 3444; BIOL 3315; 3 hours of literature—Total Credit 17 hours.

Summer Session: BME 5307D; BME 5309D—Total Credit 6 hours.

Senior Year

First Semester: MAE 3183; MAE 3314; EE 2320; BME 5361; BIOL 3312; CHEM 4311—Total 16 hours.

Second Semester: MAE 3319; MAE 3317 or EE 3317; MAE 4345 or EE 4315; BME 5382; BIOL 4346—Total 15 hours.

Summer Session: BME 5344; BME 5364—Total Credit 6 hours.

Fifth Year

First Semester: BME 5335; BME 5366; BIOL 5361 or BIOL 5362, BIOL 33XX —Total 12 hours.

Second Semester: BME 5365; BME 5390; BME 5193—Total 7 hours.

Required Hours in EXSA or ROTC or Marching Band

Courses in EXSA or ROTC or marching band can be taken in different semesters. A suggested sequence is one hour in the first semester of the sophomore year, one hour each in the first and second semesters of the junior year, and one hour in the first semester of the senior year.

Biomedical Engineering Faculty

Director

Professors

Assistant Professors

Biomedical Engineering (BME)

4325. INTRODUCTION TO BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (3-0) 3 hours credit. The various topics covered in this course are in multiple formats ranging from lectures by faculty or guest speakers to presentations by participating students. It is required for all students.

5307D. HUMAN ANATOMY LECTURE (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course offers the lecture portion of a comprehensive study of the structure and function of human body systems and their mechanisms. Emphasis is placed on the major characteristics of each body system and on its function and relationship to other body systems.

5309D. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course offers a comprehensive study of the basic physiological principles dealing with body systems and their interrelationships.

5361. BIOMATERIALS AND BLOOD COMPATIBILITY (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course is an introduction to polymer structure and fabrication methods. Blood and tissue interactions with materials and methods to improve biocompatibility of materials are discussed.

5390. RESEARCH PROJECT IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course requires student to conduct a research project and write a project report under the supervision of a faculty member.

5193. M.S. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (1-0) 1 hours credit. This course includes instruction, directed study, and examination of course work leading to the non-thesis M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering.

5335. BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS, MECHANICS, AND PROCESSES (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course offers a study of typical, functional behavior of various biological materials, flow properties of blood, bioviscoelastic fluids and solids, and mass transfer in biological systems.

5344. BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION 1A (3-0) 3 hours credit. The fundamental principles of bioinstrumentation are presented in this course, including operational amplifiers and instrumentation amplifiers; measurement of biopotential signals; measurement of temperature, blood pressure and flow; electrical safety.

5364. TISSUE ENGINEERING LECTURE (3-0) 3 hours credit. Fundamentals of cell/extracellular matrix interactions in terms of cell spreading, migration, proliferation and function. Soft and hard tissue wound healing. Nerve regeneration. Polymer scaffolding materials and fabrication methods. Cell-polymer interactions, in vitro and in vivo. Tissue culture, hybrid organ synthesis and organ replacement.

5365. TISSUE ENGINEERING LAB (3-0) 3 hours credit. Polymer extrusion, polymer drug loading, and polymer degradation with drug release. Each student will be given the opportunity to perform these experiments, including the culture of cells, testing for cell growth, proliferation and function under various substrate and media conditions.

5366. PROCESS CONTROL IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (3-0) 3 hours credit. Principles and methods of measurement, data acquisition and analysis. Application of control theory in biological systems and in biotechnology processes; control of pressure, flow, temperature, and pH.

5382. LABORATORY PRINCIPLES (3-0) 3 hours credit. This course is an introduction to fundamental biomedical-engineering laboratory procedures, including human and animal studies. Data collection, analysis, and interpretation are emphasized.

Please consult the Biology Department entry for descriptions of other courses required for this curriculum.

Design Graphics Section (DG)

Design Graphics courses are administered through a section of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

1350. GRAPHICS FOR ENGINEERS (2-3) 3 hours credit. Freehand, instrumental, and computer graphics, including CAD systems and graphical representation of data using microcomputer software. Emphasis on the use of computer software in the graphical process to originate ideas and to solve engineering problems and generate graphical representations to solutions. Prerequisite or co-requisite: MATH 1426. $10 course fee. $5 lab fee.

Engineering Mechanics (EM)

A group of fundamental service courses, several of which are common to all engineering curricula, is taught in the subject area of engineering mechanics. Listings of these courses are included under aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering course descriptions.

Engineering (ENGR)

The following courses are administered through the Office of the Dean of Engineering.

2100, 3100, 4100. SUPERVISED ENGINEERING WORK EXPERIENCE 1 hour credit. For cooperative education students in engineering. These courses are taken during the semester or summer in conjunction with supervised work experience in industry. Students are paid a salary during this time in industry. Those who are successful and complete the program normally receive credit toward their degree as a consequence of the industrial experience and may be eligible for a scholarship from the COOP company. Each student will prepare a technical report based upon the student's work experience. The COOP coordinator will establish the requirements for the report. Prerequisite: Acceptance into and continuance in the Engineering Cooperative Education Program. May be repeated.

Materials Science (MATS)

A group of fundamental service courses in materials science is offered in the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the undergraduate level.