Program Overview

Biomedical Engineering Major

Biomedical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field at the intersection of traditional engineering disciplines and medicine. Our program prepares students to assess, design and test solutions to medical problems.

Program Overview

The Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell is designed to provide students with a rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty, and innovative research opportunities. The program prepares students to design and create medical devices and equipment.

Curriculum

The curriculum begins with courses in basic science and mathematics to gain a firm understanding of the fundamentals and develop analytical techniques. Students then learn core biomedical engineering topics such as bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, and quantitative physiology before choosing to specialize in one of two tracks: Cellular and Tissue Engineering or Medical Device Design.

Course Structure

The program is structured as follows:

• Freshman Year: Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Application Programming, Chemistry I, Chemistry I Lab, College Writing I, and Calculus I.
• Sophomore Year: Biomedical Engineering Seminar, Chemistry II, Chemistry II Lab, College Writing II, Calculus II, Physics I, and Physics I Lab.
• Junior Year: Thermodynamics, Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Lab, Calculus III, Physics II, Physics II Lab, Biology for Engineers, and Bioinstrumentation.
• Senior Year: Transport Phenomena for Biomedical Engineering, Quantitative Physiology, Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Biomedical Capstone I and II.

Degree Requirements

The program requires a minimum of 125 credits, with at least 49 credits in the major. Students must also complete a senior capstone project and may participate in the Professional Co-op Program.

Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The program educational objectives are that alumni will:

• Actively engage in and make contributions to post-graduate opportunities
• Demonstrate depth, breadth, and creativity in biomedical engineering
• Utilize their multidisciplinary background to foster communication across professional and disciplinary boundaries
• Demonstrate professional and social responsibilities on health-related issues

Student outcomes include:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations
5. An ability to function effectively on a team
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

Research Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to work alongside renowned faculty on groundbreaking research projects. First-year students may be considered for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Collaborations Award.

Co-op Program

The Professional Co-op Program integrates full-time work experience with relevant coursework, allowing students to explore potential career paths and apply their learning in the real world.

Career Paths

UMass Lowell's biomedical engineering program offers a wide variety of career paths, including product development engineer, product manager, R&D test technician, biomedical engineering technologist, and post-market clinical assistant. Alumni have worked at companies such as Advantage Resourcing, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Cynosure.