Program Overview
Introduction to the Biomedical Engineering Program
The Biomedical Engineering program at Drexel University is an innovative, multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree that prepares students to conceive, design, and develop devices and systems that improve human health and quality of life. This program is the convergence of life sciences with engineering, making a difference in everyone's life through various applications, from child car seats and football helmets to drug-delivery systems, minimally invasive surgery, and noninvasive imaging technology.
About the Program
Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The undergraduate curriculum is designed to strike a balance between academic breadth in biomedical engineering and specialization in an area of concentration. Each concentration has its own degree requirements for graduation and its own plan of study.
Concentrations
The program offers several concentrations, including:
- Biomaterials
- Tissue Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Informatics
- Biomedical Imaging
- Neuroengineering
Degree Requirements
The degree program requires a minimum of 188.5 credits. The curriculum includes a range of courses in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering, as well as general studies electives. Students must also complete a senior design project and may participate in cooperative education (co-op) programs.
Course Requirements
The program includes a variety of courses, such as:
- Biomedical Statistics
- Calculus
- Biology (including cells and genetics, human physiology, and principles of molecular biology)
- Chemistry (including general chemistry and organic chemistry)
- Physics
- Biomedical Engineering (including introduction to BMES design, modeling in biomedical design, and experimental design in biomedical research)
- Biocomputation (including programming and modeling for biomedical engineers)
- Biomaterials
- Biomechanics
- Biosignals
Concentration Course Requirements
Each concentration has specific course requirements. For example:
- Biomaterials Concentration: CHEM 241, BMES 460, BMES 461
- Biomechanics Concentration: BMES 441, BMES 442, MEM 201
- Biomedical Imaging Concentration: BMES 421, BMES 422, PHYS 201
- Biomedical Informatics Concentration: BIO 219, BMES 483, BMES 484
- Neuroengineering Concentration: BIO 462, BMES 477, BMES 478
- Tissue Engineering Concentration: BIO 219, BMES 471, BMES 472
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline.
Sample Plan of Study
The program offers two sample plans of study: a 4-year plan with one co-op and a 5-year plan with three co-ops. Both plans include a range of courses in biomedical engineering, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as general studies electives.
Co-op/Career Opportunities
The Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering provides access to a broad spectrum of career opportunities in the medical device and equipment industry, prosthetics and assist devices industry, biomaterials and implants industry, and the telemedicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural sectors.
Program Level Outcomes
The program has several outcomes, including:
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations
- Function effectively on a team
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed
Faculty
The program has a diverse faculty with expertise in various areas of biomedical engineering, including tissue engineering, cell engineering, orthopedics, bone remodeling, wound healing, mechanotransduction, signal transduction, adhesion, migration, neuroergonomics, functional neuroimaging, biomedical signal processing, and biomedical optics.
Faculty Research Areas
The faculty's research areas include:
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
- Biomechanics and mechanobiology
- Biomaterials and nanotechnology
- Neuroengineering and neural interfaces
- Biomedical imaging and optics
- Biomedical signal processing and informatics
Conclusion
The Biomedical Engineering program at Drexel University is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program that prepares students for careers in the medical device industry, research and development, and professional education in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and law. With its strong faculty, diverse research areas, and rigorous curriculum, the program provides students with a solid foundation in biomedical engineering and prepares them for success in their future careers.