Bioengineering at Other Schools

Below are excerpts from, and links to interesting bioengineering programs/courses.

Biomedical Engineering Minor

Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon is designed to train engineering students to apply the techniques of mathematics and science to the solution of problems in medicine and biology. Emphasis is placed on describing biological organisms as engineering systems and on applying engineering technology to clinical and laboratory situations. Students graduate with an accredited engineering degree in a traditional engineering major with a Minor in biomedical engineering.

How does the Biomedical Engineering Minor work?

The student enrolled in the program works to complete a Minor in biomedical engineering based on a solid background in a selected field of engineering. Degree candidates take every course that a conventional degree requires in an engineering major. The free and technical elective segments of the curricula are used by the student to take courses needed for Biomedical Engineering. The student completes all requirements for a traditional major and graduates with an accredited Bachelors Degree in the major of his/her choice. Additionally, since the student completes courses required for the Minor, the degree is designated, for example, "BS in Chemical Engineering -- Minor in Biomedical Engineering." An undergraduate registered in the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Science & Engineering qualifies for the Minor in Biomedical Engineering.

Of course, a student may also elect to complete only some of the Biomedical Engineering courses but not meet all of the Biomedical Engineering Program's requirements to complete the Minor. This will provide the student with some background in biomedical engineering, but no formal recognition of the individual's bioengineering background will be included on the degree.

What can a student do after completing the Bachelor's Degree?

Remember, first you are an accredited engineer in your major. Upon completion of the Biomedical Engineering Minor, the student may elect to continue graduate studies in Bioengineering at either the Masters or Ph.D. levels. Biomedical Engineering involves biotechnology and is an expanding profession. Those in the field are involved with developing and improving medical instruments and devices, automating medical procedures using computers, characterizing the operation of physiological systems and designing artificial organs and altering microbes and mammalian cells so that useful drugs and chemicals can be produced. The graduate may secure employment in areas of bioinstrumentation, biocompatibility, optics, pharmacology, or the environment.

UNDERGRADUATE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAM

The curriculum specified below is substantially that which will be required of future classes. Certain adjustments have been made to accommodate students who enrolled before the new curriculum was prescribed. Some courses will be changed to reflect the special knowledge of incoming faculty.

The undergraduate curriculum is designed to provide broad knowledge of physical science and how to organize and apply it to the solution of biological and medical problems. The first two years provides a strong basis in the physical and chemical sciences and mathematics. This basis is used to provide a unique physical approach to the study of biological systems. The last two years of the undergraduate program provides ample exposure to modern biology and includes engineering and engineering science courses that extend the work of the first two years. The program offers a strong core that guarantees a breadth of knowledge sufficient to make its graduates broadly functional. The program also offers three tracks, see above, that assures each graduate a depth of knowledge in a major area of biomedical engineering sufficient to allow him or her to make professional contributions upon graduation. Graduates of the program are prepared for employment in the large industrial sector devoted to health care which includes pharmaceuticals, medical devices, artificial organs, prosthetics and sensory aids, diagnostics, medical instrumentation and medical imaging. Graduates also accept employment in regulatory organizations (FDA, OSHA, and others) and in medical centers and research institutes. They are fully prepared for graduate study in biomedical engineering, as well as in several related areas of engineering and biological science. All tracks of the program meet entrance requirements for medical schools and for training in the several allied health professions.

The Duke undergraduate major in biomedical engineering was the first accredited department (September 1972) by the Engineering Council for Profession Development (now the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology) and is consistently ranked as one of the top programs in the nation. The program offers a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Biomedical Engineering. Other colleges and universities have programs in biomedical engineering as special options within traditional engineering departments such as electrical, chemical and mechanical engineering. We feel that our organization is particularly well suited to the strengths of Duke University, where we have exceptionally strong departments in the life sciences, a world-renowned medical school and a group of very capable engineering faculty with strong commitments to problems in the life sciences.

A student who declares an intention to major in biomedical engineering receives an academic advisor from the biomedical engineering department. It is not necessary to declare a major until the sophomore year, and a change of major in the first or second year is easily accomplished. For students with talent and desire, it is possible to double major in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or any number of majors in Trinity College by using unrestricted electives to take specific courses in these areas.

There are several opportunities in the junior or senior years for students to undertake independent research projects for academic credit. Students may pursue independent research work with a biomedical engineering faculty member willing to serve as a sponsor for the project. The NSF Engineering Research Center's Undergraduate Fellowship Program also offers opportunities for selected students. Selection criteria for these fellows include research interest, academic record, intellectual ability, and maturity. Examples of biomedical engineering research in our laboratories include biomechanics and prosthesis, cardiac electrophysiology, mechanics and metabolism, ultrasound, medical imaging, biofluids, cell-surface engineering, biosensors and medical informatics.

About one third of the graduating biomedical engineering seniors go on to graduate school in engineering; another third go on to medical school. Although there is no assured route to medical school today, in our experience, medical school admissions committees seek biomedical engineering majors with good undergraduate grades and high scores of the Medical College Aptitude Test. We have excellent reports from medical schools on the quality of our students.

The biomedical engineering curriculum leads to a good fundamental engineering degree which trains people in quantitative thinking and is a good background for life in modern society. We have students who pursue many diverse careers outside engineering. The program is flexible and can satisfy the requirements for entrance into graduate work in engineering, medicine, law or business. Students who pursue these areas have usually taken advantage of the flexibility of curriculum and have used some of their social science/humanities electives or unrestricted electives to develop their interests in these other fields.

The Bioengineering certificate is an extremely valuable program for (premed) students, in the College of Engineering, who would like to gain admission to Medical School, or would like to pursue a career in bioengineering.

Four courses, totaling 12-16 hours, are required to be successfully completed by the student. Two core courses and two courses at the 3000-4000 level taken from the approved list in one of the participahing schools are required. These additional courses will be selected in consultation with the Bioengineering advisor in the respective schools.

Core Courses (required for each student):

Some interesting courses from a very rigorous ugrad major in Biomedical Engineering:

Here is the biology course required of all engineers. It is actually a single course with slightly different versions each term.

7.012, 7.013, 7.104 Introduction to Biology All three subjects cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. In addition, each version of the subject has its own distinctive material described below. The core material focuses on function at a molecular level: the structure and regulation of genes, and the structure and synthesis of proteins; how these molecules are integrated into cells and how cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organisms.

The Bioengineering Program at Penn State offers an Undergraduate Minor in Bioengineering. The minor is open to students in any undergraduate program, but is particularly suitable for engineering students seeking careers in health-related professions.

The undergraduate minor in bioengineering allows a student to develop his or her interest in medical engineering applications, while pursuing a traditional undergraduate engineering degree, such as electrical, mechanical, chemical or industrial engineering, or engineering science.

Requirements for completion of the minor include course material on engineering analysis of biological systems and the design of medical devices, as well as 3-credits of human physiology. The requirement for at least 3 credits of mechanics or thermodynamics and 3 credits of electronics is usually met by engineering majors with required or optional courses in the major program. An independent research project or an honors thesis on a bioengineering topic, or completion of one additional senior or graduate-level bioengineering course is also required.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities in medical instrument design and development, manufacture and sales, and in medical center research and operational support are available to students with almost any undergraduate engineering degree and an interest in medical applications. Pursuit of a bioengineering minor may be of interest to engineering students considering careers as physicians. Most importantly, the bioengineering minor is intended to provide students with a view of research areas in bioengineering, and with a solid background for graduate-level work in this area.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

BIOE 401 Introduction to Bioengineering

EE 305 Introduction to Electronic Measuring Systems

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants wishing to enroll in the bioengineering minor should have completed background courses in mathematics (MATH 250 or 251) and physics (PHYS 202), present an acceptable schedule for completion of requirements, and evidence of excellent grades.

A course of study for each student is tailored to build upon their undergraduate strengths in traditional engineering disciplines and their area of research specialization. Courses are selected from the life sciences, engineering, and bioengineering. Required courses include BIOE 401, 402 and 403 plus two 500 level courses in bioengineering, six credits in the life sciences (usually including upper division or graduate level physiology) and six credits in technically oriented courses outside bioengineering. For students entering the program without a backgound in engineering or the physical sciences, such as biology or other life science disciplines, up to 24 credits of additional undergraduate engineering courses may be required. A thesis is required for the M.S. degree and the student must register for at least six credits of directed thesis research. Each student is required to register at least once, as a participant in the Bioengineering Colloquium (BIOE 590) and give a presentation on their research. Requirements for the M.S. degree may be completed within one to two years, depending on the individual.

The College of Engineering supports an INTERDEPARTMENTAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS and here are the listings:

They have an Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies program (like our College program) where students can pursue studies in Bioengineering, genetic engineering, pharmaceutical engineering, etc.

The primary responsibility of the Division of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies (IDE) is to provide a coordinated and controlled educational opportunity for select students whose interests and talents fall at an interface either between engineering disciplines, or between engineering and other disciplines. The division does not have a prescribed curriculum, so it can accommodate highly flexible interdisciplinary programs. These programs are broad, innovative, and challenging and enable graduates to seek better solutions to a variety of complex socio-economic-technical-humanitarian problems.

Two degrees are offered: Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Virtually the same range of majors is offered for both degrees. The B.S.E. degree is clearly an engineering degree and is the objective most students pursue. The B.S. degree is an engineering-related degree with slightly less technical content.

Major Areas of Study

Every engineering student at Purdue University follows a common freshman year. Those who decide to enter IDE usually do so toward the end of the second or third semester. There are no specific required courses or course sequences after the freshman year. Students choose areas of the most interest to them and plan their academic programs accordingly; in most instances, the range of available courses enables a student to proceed toward any technically based educational objective.

Engineers have more than technical responsibility. Engineers must understand and appreciate the human values that ultimately shape the future of all mankind. The engineer needs a broad education--technical in part, but not exclusively. The Division of Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies offers many opportunities for a broad and liberal but also technical for students who want to participate in planning their own personalized programs.

A few examples of typical areas are given below, but many other possibilities and combinations are available.

They just received a big grant from the Whitaker Foundation and will be starting a Bioengineering major in the future.

"Future bioengineers will need to build on recent advances in molecular and cell biology in order to translate scientific aspects of biotechnology into new cost effective products and processes. To be successful in this effort, however, bioengineers will need interdisciplinary skills that reach from the biological sciences to modern materials science, systems modeling, computer science, and bioprocess design."

Can we manufacture dental implants that won't weaken? What noninvasive techniques can be used to diagnose cancer or detect life-threatening conditions in the operating room?

As a biomedical engineer, you'll solve medical problems through engineering know-how. You will join the people who created the CAT scan, the artificial kidney (dialyzers), the artificial lung, and the MRI, creating technology for patient monitoring, diagnosis, and therapy.

At Rensselaer you'll have hands-on experience with biomedical equipment and computing. Your coursework will include specialization in engineering solutions to medical problems with in-depth project design experience.

Rensselaer graduates do medical research. They occupy positions in various aspects of health care, biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology industries. They are in product development, rehabilitation design, government, and academia.

All biomedical students take courses in human physiology. In your junior year, you can choose a biomedical concentration in one of three areas: electrical, mechanical, or materials. You'll gain hands-on experience with biomedical equipment and computing, with in-depth project design experience. The curriculum offers specialization in engineering solutions of medical problems.

Students may also choose a premedical concentration.

In your junior year you can choose a biomedical concentration in one of three areas:

They have an undergraduate major:

Because bioengineers work at the expanding interfaces of the basic sciences [physics and chemistry], and rely on mathematics, biology, and computer applications, a core sequence in these subjects is required. Some knowledge of materials science and electrical engineering is also mandatory. The undergraduate program starts, continues and ends with a focus on the student bioengineer. This focus begins with the Gateway Course on Computer Applications in the fall of the Freshman year. The Sophomore Seminar introduces each student to the research problems engaging each faculty member, and so the opportunities for participation in a collaborative research effort. In the Junior Year, the required courses in Engineering Analysis of Living Systems demonstrate how engineering problem-solving techniques are applied to biological systems. The Program culminates in the capstone Design Project presented as a Senior Thesis, which may carry Honors credit.

All students take the same courses during the Freshman and Sophomore Years. In the Junior and Senior Years, they may choose to focus either on Bioinstrumentation: the design, development and testing of instruments used to measure biologlcal signals such as heart rate or kidney function, or on Skeletomuscular Biomechanics: normal locomotor function and the issues involved in the design and development of artificial joints and other devices. Either Option can be combined with the completion of Medical School entry requirements.

Broader perspectives are not neglected. Students must take courses in the social sciences and humanities to underpin their appreciation of the impact of the advance of technology on society. Graduates of the Bioengineering Program are expected to communicate effectively: orally, in writing or through the electronic media. The Program is designed to foster the development of these indispensible interpersonal and professional skills and so prepare its graduates for a wide variety of careers. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET).

Bioengineering is one of the youngest engineering disciplines in which the principles and tools of engineering, science, and technology are applied to problems in biology and medicine. By its very nature, bioengineering is broad and requires a foundation in engineering as well as in physiology and the basic medical sciences.

At UCSD, the Bioengineering Group was formed in 1966 within the Department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences (AMES) as a joint program between the School of Medicine and the Division of Engineering. Through this group, UCSD became the nation's first major University to offer B.S., B.A., M.S., Ph.D., M.D./M.S., and M.D./Ph.D. degrees in Engineering Sciences with Specialization in Bioengineering. Over the last three decades, UCSD has established a worldwide reputation of excellence in Bioengineering.

A broad range of research interests are represented among the research projects of the faculty members. These include: 1) biomechanics and biophysics of cells, small blood vessels, tissues, organs, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, 2) mammalian physiology and pathophysiology, 3) biotechnology including biosensors, drug delivery systems, imaging and video instrumentation, and tissue engineering, and 4) computation and modeling.

Educational Aims & Programs

The undergraduate curricula in Bioengineering provides broad training in the fundamentals of bioengineering. The curricula provide a firm foundation for a wide variety of careers in the biomedical professions. Bioengineering graduates go on to graduate studies in bioengineering, to medical schools, and to careers in industry, hospitals, and research laboratories. Technical electives within the curricula allow students to explore areas of special interest.

Undergraduate Degree Options

The Bioengineering Department offers curricula leading to the B.S. in Bioengineering, the B.S. in Premedical Bioengineering, and the B.S. in Premedical Bioengineering. The B.S. program offers a great deal of flexibility for premedical students, while the Bioengineering B.S. program is an engineering program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The ABET-accredited program includes not only science and engineering, but also engineering ethics, a topic that is especially relevant to the professional practice of bioengineering.

Technical Electives: Bioengineering

AMES 102    Mechanical Behavior of Materials
AMES 103C    Heat Transfer
AMES 119A     Thermodynamic Systems
AMES 119B    Energy: Non-Nuclear Energy Technologies
AMES 119C     Energy: Nuclear Energy Technologies
AMES 130A    Solid Mechanics I
AMES 130B    Solid Mechanics II
AMES 133    Finite Element Methods
AMES 156AB     Mechanical Engineering Design
AMES 157    Computer Graphics for Engineers and Scientists
AMES 171A    Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

BE 199 *    Independent Study for Undergraduates (see section 3.A., below)

BIBC 100    Structural Biochemistry
BIBC 102    Metabolic Biochemistry
BICD 100    Genetics

CHEM 140A    Organic Chemistry

ECE 134        Electronic Materials Science of Integrated Circuits
ECE 140A    Quantum Electronics
ECE 173        Theory and Applications of Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic

Technical Electives: Premedical Bioengineering

AMES 102 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
AMES 105 Introduction to Mathematical Physics
AMES 110 Thermodynamics
AMES 111 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
AMES 119A Thermodynamic Systems
AMES 119B Energy: Non-Nuclear Energy Technologies
AMES 119C Energy: Nuclear Energy Technologies
AMES 121A Mechanics I: Statics
AMES 121B Mechanics II: Dynamics
AMES 130A Solid Mechanics I
AMES 130B Solid Mechanics II
AMES 133 Finite Element Methods
AMES 156AB Mechanical Engineering Design
AMES 157 Computer Graphics for Engineers and Scientists
AMES 171A Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

BE 122A Biosystems and Control
BE 122B Biomedical Electronics
BE 186C Bioengineering Design
BE 199 * Independent Study for Undergraduates (see section 3.A., below)

BIBC 102 Metabolic Biochemistry
BIBC 120 Nutrition
BICD 110 Cell Biology
BICD 130 Developmental Biology
BICD 134 Human Reproduction and Development
BICD 140 Immunology
BICD 150 Endocrinology
BIMM 100 Molecular Biology
BIMM 110 Molecular Basis of Disease
BIMM 120 Bacteriology
BIMM 124 Microbial Genetics
BIPN 106 Comparative Physiology
BIPN 142 Systems Neurobiology
BIPN 144 Developmental Biology

BIBC 103 Biochemical Techniques
BICD 101 Eucaryotic Genetics Laboratory
BICD 111 Cell Biology Laboratory
BICD 123 Plant Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology Laboratory
BICD 131 Embryology Laboratory
BIMM 101 Recombinant DNA Techniques
BIMM 103 Modern Techniques in Molecular Biology
BIMM 121 Laboratory in Microbiology
BIMM 140 Computer Analysis of Genome Information
BIPN 145 Neurobiology Laboratory

CHEM 131 Physical Chemistry
CHEM 140C Organic Chemistry
CHEM 149A Environmental Chemistry
CHEM 173 Atmospheric Chemistry

ECE 134 Electronic Materials Science of Integrated Circuits
ECE 140A Quantum Electronics
ECE 173 Theory and Applications of Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic

Preparation for Graduate Studies in Bioengineering

Many undergraduates choose to go on to graduate programs that lead to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. The undergraduate course sequences in biomechanics, bioelectronics, biosystems, biomaterials, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics provide the necessary background for more advanced graduate courses and research in Bioengineering. Many former UCSD Bioengineering undergraduates are engaged in research and teaching at the college and university level.

Preparation for a Medical Education

The Premedical Bioengineering program prepares students for medical school. There are many departments at UCSD (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) that can provide undergraduates with the necessary preparation for medical school. The Premedical Bioengineering curriculum provides future physicians with a quantitative background in biomechanics, bioelectronics, and biotransport. Such a background is increasingly important because of the heavy utilization of biomedical technology in modern medical practice. The two-year upper division curriculum includes courses in the sciences that satisfy the requirements of most medical schools. In addition, there are technical electives in the program that allow students to pursue additional interests or satisfy the specific prerequisites of an individual medical school program.

Comment: No major but a minor.

Bioengineering is a broad, interdisciplinary field that brings together engineering, biology, and medicine to create new techniques, devices, and understanding of living systems to improve the quality of human life. Its practice ranges from the fundamental study of the behavior of biological materials at the molecular level to the design of medical devices to assist the disabled.

Any of the existing engineering curricula can provide a good foundation for work in bioengineering. However, the engineering undergraduate needs additional education in the biologically oriented sciences to obtain a strong background for bioengineering. With such a background, the student should be able to progress rapidly on the graduate level in any branch of bioengineering. In industry, the graduate will be competent to handle engineering tasks related to biology.

Students may fulfill the requirements for a minor in bioengineering within the College of Engineering (COE) by completing one of the course sequences in the following areas of specialization: Biomedical Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering, Bioprocess Engineering, Cell and Tissue Engineering, and Rehabilitation Engineering. Depending on the area of specialization, 19 to 23 hours are required. To obtain recognition for the bioengineering minor, students must register in the Office of the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, 207 Engineering Hall.

Here are some of the possible minors:

Biomedical Engineering Specialization

BIOEN 120	Introduction to Bioengineering
BIOEN 314	Biomedical Instrumentation
CHEM 231	Elementary Organic Chemistry
PHYSL 301	Cell and Membrane Physiology
PHYSL 302	Systems and Integrative Physiology
PHYSL 303	Cell and Membrane Physiology Lab
PHYSL 304	Systems and Integrative Physiology Lab
Technical Elective

BIOEN 120	Introduction to Bioengineering
BIOEN 254	The Physical Basis of Life
BIOCH 350	Introduction to Biochemistry
CHEM 231	Elementary Organic Chemistry
PHYSL 301	Cell and Membrane Physiology
PHYSL 303	Cell and Membrane Physiology Lab
Technical Elective

AG E 305	Food and Process Engineering Design
BIOEN 120	Introduction to Bioengineering
BIOEN 314	Biomedical Instrumentation
MCBIO 200	Microbiology
MCBIO 201	Experimental Microbiolgoy
MCBIO 311	Food and Industrial Microbiology
MCBIO 312	Techniques of Applied Microb
Technical Elective

BIOEN 120	Introduction to Bioengineering
BIOEN 254	The Physical Basis of Life
CHEM 231	Elementary Organic Chemistry
BIOCH 350	Introduction to Biochemistry
CSB 213	Cell and Tissues
CSB 215	Cell and Tissues Lab
CSB 300	Cell Biology I
PHYSL 301	Cell and Membrane Physiology
Technical Elective

Students who enjoy math, physics and chemistry, but who also have a keen interest in biology and medicine, should consider a career in biomedical engineering.

What is Biomedical Engineering? It's a synthetic heart valve that saves a grandmother's life. It's an MRI scanner that reduces parents' worries about their infant's head injury. It's an automatic biosensor for rapid gene sequencing. Biomedical engineering is the newest engineering discipline, integrating the basic principles of biology with the tools of engineering.

With the rapid advances in biomedical research, and the severe economic pressures to reduce the cost of health care, biomedical engineering will play an important role in the medical environment of the 21st century. Over the last decade, biomedical engineering has evolved into a separate discipline bringing the quantitative concepts of design and optimization to problems in biomedicine.

The Fifth Year Program

The 5 year simultaneous undergraduate/graduate program in biomedical engineering combines the depth of a traditional undergraduate engineering discipline with the breadth of a graduate program in one of the fastest growing fields in engineering. Undergraduate programs in electrical engineering, computer engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, industrial and operations engineering, material science engineering, and nuclear engineering provide the needed depth. A diverse and dynamic curriculum in biomedical engineering builds on this base. At the end of the program, a student has a B.S.E. in a traditional engineering discipline and an M.S.E. in Biomedical Engineering.

Biomed E 295	Biomedical Engineering Seminar
Biomed E 401	The Human Body: Its structure and Function I
Biomed E 410	Biomedical Materials Considerations
Biomed E 417	Electrical Biophysics
Biomed E 420	Introduction to Biomechanics
Biomed E 432	Fundamentals of Ultrasonics with Medical Applications
Biomed E 434	Microbiology for Engineers
Biomed E 456	Biomechanics
Biomed E 458	Biomedical Instrumentation and Design
Biomed E 464	Inverse Problems
Biomed E 476	Thermal-Fluid Science in Bioengineering
Biomed E 480	Computational Projects for Engineering Aspects of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine
Biomed E 481	Engineering Aspects of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine

Comments. They have an undergraduate major in Bioengineering and here is a sample schedule.

Intro Biomechanics	Biomaterials
Bioengineering Lab I	Bioengineering Lab II
Chemical Basis of BioEng I	Chemical Basis of BioEng II
Calculus	Calculus
Liberal Studies	Liberal Studies

Bioengineering Systems	Biotransport
Bioengineering Lab III	Bioengineering Lab IV
Chemical Basis of BioEng III	Math Elective
Free Elective	Science/Engineering Elective
Liberal Studies	Liberal Studies

Bioengineering Design	Bioengineering Design
Engineering Elective	Engineering Elective
Free Elective	Free Elective
Sci or Eng Elective	Sci or Eng Elective
Liberal Elective	Sci or EngElective

Bioengineering Undergraduate Program

The Undergraduate Bioengineering Program is an interdisciplinary, pre-med course of study designed to prepare students for graduate MD/PhD careers inmedicine/bioengineering. It is administered by the Department of Bioengineering via the College of Engineering's Interdisciplinary Engineering Studies Program. Students may apply for admission to the program after completing their first 65 credits of pre-engineering coursework, which includes courses in math, physics, chemistry and technical writing. Applications are considered in January and August each year. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.5, although the actual GPA of entering students has been significantly higher. Because of program constraints, no more than 5 students may be admitted each year; those accepted into the program are usually highly motivated individu als with an outstanding record of academic performance. In recent years, about 7% of those applying to the program have been recommended for admission.

The UW Department of Bioengineering ranks among the best bioengineering programs in the nation, and one of the greatest strengths of our educational effort is the quality of the students we attract. The Undergraduate Bioengineering Program is made up o f a small number of carefully selected individuals. Although the program has never been advertised, the number of inquiries has grown steadily. Assuming that high-quality candidates continue to apply, and considering the present budget constraints, th e pr ogram will maintain its present size, with a maximum of 15 students enrolled.

Coursework and Research Experience

Students in the Undergraduate Bioengineering Program take courses offered by the Department of Bioengineering and other departments in the School of Medicine and the College of Engineering. In addition, the program provides students with hands-on experience in bioengineering and clinical research through rotations and preceptorships. All students are expected to take two quarters of laboratory rotations, during which they carry out research projects under the supervision of a faculty member in one of the basic science departments within the School of Medicine. Students also take two preceptorships with faculty in clinical departments. In preceptorships, students do laboratory research and see patients. Each rotation and preceptorship lasts one qua rter and is graded; students usually take their rotations and preceptorships during the summer quarter.

What Do Program Graduates Do?

Graduates of the program typically go on to medical school or combined MD/PhD programs. Recent graduates have been offered admission to medical schools at Yale University, the University of Michigan, and Stanford University, and to MD/PhD progr ams at Johns Hopkins, Harvard-MIT, and the University of Washington.

The Master's Program

Two master's degree programs are offered. The Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) degree is meant for students who enter with undergraduate degrees in engineering. It provides advanced engineering training, as well as training in the essentials of life sciences. It prepares students for careers in academic, industrial, or hospital environments. The Master of Science (MS) degree, on the other hand, is designed for entering students whose background is chiefly biological or chemical. The course of study provides training in the essentials of engineering, as well as in more advanced topics in the biological and medical sciences. It is designed for those interested in careers in research and development in either basic medical sciences or clinical investigation. Both degree programs include a thesis requirement, and typically take two to three years to complete.

Columbia	Dartmouth	Georgia Tech	Johns Hopkins
MIT	Penn State	Princeton	Purdue
Rice	RPI	Syracuse	UCSD
U. Illinois	U. Michigan	U. Penn	U. Washington
Duke	CMU

Intro to Bioengineering	Intro Physiology & Anatomy
Chemistry	Physics
Calculus	Calculus
Liberal Studies	Liberal Studies