Undergraduate Program

 

Overview

Through the Biomedical Engineering program at UD, undergraduate students earn a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering designed to be completed in four years.

 

Graduates of the undergraduate program in biomedical engineering will be equipped with a solid foundation in mathematics, the sciences, and the technical skills needed to analyze and design biomedical systems. Students will have the opportunity to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems based on fundamental biomedical concepts, to design and conduct laboratory experiments, and to critically analyze and interpret data. We will integrate problem-based experiences with an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility as students undertake design problems in biomedical engineering. Each student will possess strong written, oral, and graphical communication skills, and will be able to function on multi-disciplinary teams. Following graduation, these Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering recipients will have the necessary qualifications for employment in biomedical engineering and related professions, and for entry into advanced studies, including medical school, engineering graduate school, and other professional programs.



4 Year Curriculum

 

The curriculum begins with lower division courses in math, physics, chemistry and biology. The upper division courses cover basic engineering topics in electronics, mechanics, biochemistry, physiology, materials science, and ethics. The program also contains three technical electives whereby students can choose from a list of approved courses.

 

For students enrolled starting in or after Fall 2015:
Freshman – Fall Freshman – Spring
Course Description Credits Course Description Credits
MATH 241 Analytic Geom & Calculus A 4 MATH 242 Analytic Geometry & Calculus B 4
CHEM 103 General Chemistry I 4 CHEM 104 General Chemistry II 4
BISC 207 Introductory Biology I 4 CISC 106 Computer Science for Engineers 3
BMEG 101 Introduction to Engineering 2 ENGL 110 Critical Reading & Writing 3
 Breadth 1  3
14 17
Sophomore – Fall Sophomore – Spring
MATH 243 Analytic Geom & Calculus C 4 MATH 305 Applied Mathematics for ChemE & BMEG 3
CHEM 321 Organic Chemistry I 3 BMEG 302 Quantitative Systems Physiology 3
CHEM 325 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 PHYS 208 Fundamentals of Physics II 4
BMEG 301 Quantitative Cellular Physiology 3 ELEG 305 Signals & Systems 3
PHYS 207 Fundamentals of Physics I 4 Breadth 2 3
BMEG 211 Cell & Tissue Laboratory I 2
17 16
Junior – Fall Junior – Spring
MSEG 302 Materials Science for Engineers 3 BMEG 311 Bioengineering Mechanics II 3
BMEG 310 Bioengineering Mechanics I 4 BMEG 420 Biological Transport Phenomena 4
BMEG 330 Biomedical Instrumentation 4 BMEG 341 Biomedical Experimental Design & Analysis 3
BMEG 340 Biomedical Modeling & Simulation 3 BMEG 360 Biomedical Engineering Junior Design 2
Technical Elective 1 3 Technical Elective 2 3
17 15
Senior – Fall Senior – Spring
BMEG 450 Biomedical Engineering Design 6 PHIL 444 Medical Ethics 3
Technical Elective 3 3 Technical Elective 4 3
Breadth 3 3 Technical Elective 5 3
Breadth 4 3 Technical Elective 6 3
Breadth 5 3
15 15

 

Sample Curriculum for students enrolled starting in or after Fall 2015

 

Sample Curriculum for students enrolled starting before Fall 2015

 

The degree requires 126 credit hours of study. The basic university requirements include: ENGL 110; BMEG 101; discovery learning experience in the form of a capstone senior design course (BMEG 450); and a multi-cultural course. In addition, the 21 additional College of Engineering breadth requirements must be satisfied. Moreover, six technical electives must be completed see the technical electives section below for details.

 

For students interested in studying a specific area in more depth, minors are available in Biochemical Engineering, Bioelectrical Engineering, Biomechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Nanoscale Materials.

 

Required Courses & Descriptions

 

The required courses of this curriculum will give the student a solid foundation in life sciences, applied mathematics and the engineering fields related to biomedical engineering. It will also expose him/her to various areas of biomedical engineering. Short descriptions of these courses are included below, and prerequisites and further descriptions can be found in the UD Course Catalog.

 

  • BISC 207 – Introductory Biology I: Molecular basis of life. Structure and function of cells, including signal transduction pathways. Energy transformations. Classical Mendelian genetics and the flow of information from DNA to RNA to proteins. Laboratory focuses on the testing of hypotheses, data analysis and scientific writing.
  • BMEG 101 – Introduction to Engineering: Introduction to profession, including disciplines of chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, and mechanical engineering. Prepares students for success through integration of: technical problem solving and engineering design, ethical decision-making, teamwork, and communicating to diverse audiences.
  • BMEG 211 – Cell & Tissue Laboratory I: The Cellular Laboratory will teach students the fundamentals of cell culture for use in Biomedical Engineering investigations. Students will acquire skills in aseptic cell culture techniques, standard test methods, quantitative analysis, notebook keeping, report writing and oral presentation.
  • BMEG 301 – Quantitative Cellular Physiology: Mammalian cellular physiology from a quantitative viewpoint. Anatomy and pathology, where appropriate. Principles of i) cellular and molecular biology, ii) communication, integration, and homeostasis, and iii) nervous, musculoskeletal, and endocrine systems. Topics include molecular and cellular physiology, neurophysiology, musculoskeletal physiology, sensory physiology, somatic and autonomic nervous system physiology, and endocrine physiology; all covered in a quantitative and integrative manner.
  • BMEG 302 – Quantitative Systems Physiology: This course uses quantitative approaches to understand the human body during normal function and disease. We examine tissues and organs systems in an integrated manner using principles from engineering kinetics and transport processes. Topics include anatomy, organ system physiology (including the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and gastrointestinal systems) and pathophysiology.
  • BMEG 310 – Bioengineering Mechanics I: Introduction to statics, dynamics and mechanics of solids with application to biomedical problems.
  • BMEG 311 – Bioengineering Mechanics II: Introduction to statics, dynamics and mechanics of solids with application to biomedical problems. Topics include viscoelasticity, particle and 3D kinematics and kinetics, impulse, momentum and energy. Continued from BMEG310.
  • BMEG 330 – Biomedical Instrumentation: Introduction to the basics of assembling and using instrumentation for the purposes of recording electrophysiological signals. Mechanical, chemical, electrical and biological principles for biomedical measurements. Instrumentation for measuring bioelectrical signals, temperature, blood pressure, and body chemistry are covered.
  • BMEG 340 – Biomedical Modeling and Simulation: Developing mathematical models of biomedical processes and experiments.  Topics include unit analysis, exponential growth and decay, half-life, exponential vs. age-structured death models, sigmoidal growth models, sigmoidal effect models including Michaelis-Menten and Hill Curves, Mass-Action reaction rates, and experimental measurement noise models including binomial, Poissonian, normal, and log-normal random variables.  Simulations of all the above will be done using MATLAB.
  • BMEG 341 – Biomedical Experiment Design and Analysis: Fundamental principles of biomedical experiment design and analysis. Topics include proper design of experiments, including randomized and factorial design; analytical methods to differentiate systematic effects from chance, including hypothesis testing, ANOVA, and regression; and biomedical research ethics.
  • BMEG 360 – Biomedical Engineering Junior Design: Biomedical engineering problems from industrial and clinical applications are addressed and solved in small groups using problem-based learning methodologies. Team-oriented design projects in biomedical engineering will incorporate engineering standards and realistic design constraints. Course will introduce relevant regulatory, intellectual property, and business management topics.
  • BMEG 420 – Biological Transport Phenomena: Fundamental and biomedical applications of fluid mechanics. Introduction to diffusive and convective mass and heat transfer with biomedical applications.
  • BMEG 450 – Biomedical Engineering Design: Open-ended team-based design projects in the medical devices or research arena. Systems approach requiring design strategy and concepts, including reliability, safety, ethics, economic analysis, marketing, FDA regulations, and patents. Open to BMEG seniors only.
  • CHEM 103 – General Chemistry I: Matter, the changes that matter undergoes, and the laws governing these changes, with greater emphasis on atomic and molecular structure, chemical bonding, and energy relationships. Properties of gases, liquids, solids and solutions. Includes 42 hours of laboratory work. COREQ: MATH114 or higher.
  • CHEM 104 – General Chemistry II: Continuation and application of CHEM103 with additional emphasis on chemical spontaneity, equilibrium, rates of reactions, electrochemistry and organic chemistry. Includes 42 hours of laboratory work.
  • CHEM 321 – Organic Chemistry I: First half of two-semester survey of structure, synthesis, and reactions of organic compounds. Includes 42 hours of laboratory work
  • CHEM 325 – Organic Chemistry Lab I: Laboratory work that introduces the basic laboratory techniques of organic chemistry.
  • CISC 106 – General Computer Science for Engineers: Principles of computer science illustrated and applied through programming in a general-purpose language. Programming projects illustrate computational problems, styles, and issues that arise in engineering. COREQ: MATH115, MATH117, or any higher-level math course or math placement level.
  • ELEG 305 – Signals & Systems: Introduction to signals, systems and communications. Covers discrete and continuous time systems, sampling, and conversion between analog and digital signals. Example systems studied may include voice coding, telephony, television and digital audio.
  • MATH 241 – Analytical Geometry & Calculus A: Functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and definite integrals. Exponential and log functions; simple differential equations modeling exponential growth and decay (linear and separable ODEs).
  • MATH 242 – Analytical Geometry & Calculus B: Functions, limits, continuity, derivatives and definite integrals. Exponential and log functions; simple differential equations modeling exponential growth and decay (linear and separable ODEs).
  • MATH 243 – Analytical Geometry & Calculus C: Vectors, operations on vectors, velocity and acceleration, partial derivatives, directional derivatives, optimization of functions of two or more variables, integration over two and three dimensional regions, line integrals, Green’s Theorem. Includes use of the computer package, Maple, to perform symbolic, numerical and graphical analysis.
  • MATH 305 – Applied Mathematics for Chemical Engineering: A special applied mathematics course designed for chemical engineering majors. Emphasis is given on the interaction between mathematical theory and its engineering applications.
  • MSEG 302 – Materials Science for Engineers: Crystal binding and structure; energetics and structure of lattice defects; elasticity, plasticity, and fracture; phase equilibria and transformations; relations of structure and treatment to properties; structures of inorganic and organic polymers; and electronic and magnetic properties.
  • PHIL 444 – Medical Ethics: Seminar focuses on such topics as experimentation with human subjects, genetic engineering and the moral problems of health care.
  • PHYS 207 – Fundamentals of Physics I: First course in a sequence with PHYS208 that provides an introduction to physics for those in physical sciences and engineering. Emphasis on Newton’s laws of motion and conservation principles. These are applied to motion in a gravitational field, and to rotation of a rigid body. Integrates conceptual understanding with extensive problem solving and laboratory experience. COREQ: MATH241.
  • PHYS 208 – Fundamentals of Physics II: Second course in a sequence with PHYS207 that provides an introduction to physics for those in the physical sciences and engineering. Emphasis on electro- and magnetostatics in terms of forces, fields and potentials, with some elements of circuit theory. Furthermore, magnetic induction and Maxwell’s equations in integral form are introduced. Integrates conceptual understanding with extensive problem solving and laboratory experience.

 

 

Technical Electives

 

Technical electives in the Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering curriculum offer the students the opportunity to pursue particular areas of interest. Since biomedical engineers work in a broad range of technical areas, the approved list of technical electives and the course descriptions can be found in the UD Course Catalog.

 

Additional upper-level and graduate-level courses may also be approved by the academic advisor. An independent study project approved by the academic advisor (3 credits) can also count as a technical elective.



Independent Study

 

If you would like to pursue an independent study project, you must complete the following steps. Before semester begins 1) enroll in BMEG 366/466; 2) complete and have approved by your project advisor a Special Problem Form (Download form to fill out electronically) and obtain the necessary signatures; and 3) scan signed form and email to Michele Schwander, Undergraduate Academic Advisor. When the semester ends, 1) submit to your project advisor a 2-page report (see outline) outlining your work for the semester or a conference abstract; and 2) scan and email a copy to Michele Schwander, Undergraduate Academic Advisor.


Academic Advisement

 

The Academic Enrichment Center offers individual and group tutors for popular classes in addition to study skills workshops and other student support efforts to enhance the University experience. The College of Engineering requires that all undergraduates meet with their academic advisor at least once per semester (see advising guidelines).



Senior Design

 

BMEG 450 (Biomedical Engineering Design) is the Capstone Course in the undergraduate curriculum in Biomedical Engineering. It is a one-semester, six credit course where teams of senior-level students work with industry sponsors, clinical liaisons and faculty advisors to develop real-world engineering solutions.



University Honors Program

 

For students seeking more rigorous coursework, comprehensive advising, private music study, smaller classes and the experience of living among some of the top students on campus, the University Honors Program offers many options.



Medical and Dental Careers

 

For students interested in applying to medical school or dental school, or in gaining an MD/PhD after they graduate, information can be found at the site for Medical and Dental Careers. More information on pursuing careers in the health professions can be found at the Center for Premedical & Health Profession Studies. If you are interested in these careers, there are many relevant student organizations that you can join.