Biomedical Engineering Minor

A biomedical engineering minor is open to students in all majors. It is designed to provide non-BME students a solid foundation in biomedical engineering and an in-depth training in professional skills in addition to their study in their primary major. This training will empower students to develop new professional skills, leading to more job opportunities.

The minor curriculum consists of three core courses and three electives for a total of 18 credit hours. Students who are interested in this program must register by completing a BME minor registration form and submitting it to the Biomedical Engineering Department office. The BME minor program director will review it and approve the student’s declaration of the minor. Students enrolled in the minor must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. All courses taken to satisfy the BME minor
requirements must be taken as a letter grade.

Core courses (minimum 9 credit hours) 

• BME 201 - Intro to Biomedical Eng

  "This is an introductory course for biomedical engineering undergraduate students. It covers topics such as recombinant DNA technologies, cell and tissue engineering, stem cell and organ regeneration, 3D tissue and organ printing, the design of tissue engineered products, biomaterial and tissue scaffolding, drug delivery, biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, engineering of immunity, and bio and medical imaging, etc. The application of nano-biotechnology in developing clinical products such as tissue engineered products, drug delivery systems, etc. will be emphasized in the course. Prerequisite: PHYS 131, Math 225. Co-requisite BIOL 113. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 203 - Biomed Modeling Numerical Meth

  This is an introductory course for biomedical engineering undergraduates. It covers topics such as error propagation, linear and non-linear models of biological behavior, iterative solutions to systems of equations, finite difference methods, numerical interpolation and integration, dynamical biomedical systems modeling, ordinary and partial differential equations. Prerequisite: Math 226 , BME 201 . Spring semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 213 - Biomolecular Engineering

  This course introduces engineering principles applied to processes involving recombinant protein production. It illustrates the development of tools and technologies of molecular biology and their application in protein engineering. The engineering aspects of quantitative bioprocess analysis is particularly emphasized in this course. Topics include bioprocessing, recombinant DNA technologies, material balances, mass transfer, bioreaction, and bioreactor engineering. Prerequisites: BME 201, CHEM 111, BIOL 113, MATH 324 or 371. 3 credit hours. Spring semester. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 303 - Bio-fluid Mechanics

  This course is a core course for biomedical engineering undergraduates. This course introduces students to basic understanding and analysis of macro and microscopic phenomena of fluid mechanics with special emphasis on applications of fluid mechanics to biomedical systems. Fluid flows in biomedical systems mediate the transport of energy, mass and momentum, which is essential to the function of living systems. Perturbations in these processes often underlie disease development. Course topics expand from from the basic properties of fluids, the physics of fluid flow, to cardiovascular fluid mechanics, pulmonary gas exchange, and renal blood flow and sodium transport. Prerequisites: PHYS 131 , MATH 227, BME 318. 3 credit hours. Spring semester. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 313 - Biomaterials

  This is an introductory biomaterials course for biomedical engineering undergraduate students. The course covers the primary biomaterial types including metals, ceramics, polymers, carbons, and composites as well as their uses in biomedical devices and implants. The application of these materials in tissue engineering, drug delivery, orthopedic implants, ophthalmologic devices, and cardiovascular devices will be particularly discussed. The biological response to implanted materials is emphasized in the course in terms of inflammation, immunity, infection, and toxicity. The regulatory biomedical device approval process is introduced as a natural extension of biocompatibility testing. Prerequisites: BIOL 113, CHEM 231 , BME 213 Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 318 - Biomechanics

  This course introduces students to concepts of engineering mechanics required to understand the structure and movement of biological systems. This course will deal primarily with explaining biomechanics from a continuum mechanics perspective. The course covers topics such as concepts of tensorial stress and strain, constitutive equations, mechanical properties of biosolid materials, viscoelasticity, torsion, and bending. The course also introduces topics specifically relevant to biological materials such as anisotropy, heterogeneity and failure mechanics. In addition to exploring fundamental engineering mechanics, this course will also enable students to apply these engineering principles to relevant real world biomedical problems. Prerequisites: PHYS 131 , MATH 227. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 324 - Biomedical Instruments

  This is an introductory course for biomedical engineering undergraduates. It covers topics such as bioelectric signals, biomedical electronics, biomedical electrodes and sensors, instrumentation in diagnostic cardiology, extracorporeal devices, Instrumentation in blood circulation, and new technologies and advances in medical instrumentation. The course includes weekly labs to demonstrate the principles learned in class. The labs cover biosignal recording (finger pulse, ECG, EEG, and EMG), nerve conduction study, Wheatstone bridge circuit, and Op-Amp and filter circuits. Prerequisites: BME 201, BME 203, BME 213, PHYS 132. Fall semester. 4 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 340 - Bioinformatics & Biostatistics

  This course introduces students to Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. The course covers the basic methods utilized to statistically analyze and present biological data using R programming language. Current tools, databases, and technologies in bioinformatics are discussed in this course. Topics include random variables and probability distributions, hypothesis testing and statistical inference, ANOVA, sequence alignment and database searching, DNA sequencing, and BLAST. Prerequisites: BIOL 113 , BME 203 . Spring Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 351 - Biomedical Engineering Lab

  This is a lab-based, complimentary course for biomedical engineering junior undergraduate students pertaining to principles of biomaterials, biomechanics, biomolecular engineering, and biofluidics. This lab course is designed to cover biomaterials, biomechanics, biomolecular engineering, and biofluidic mechanics in order to formulate and solve problems in biomedical systems including experimental design, performance, and analysis. Course fee applies. Refer to the Schedule of Classes. Prerequisites: BME 213 , BME 324, BME 318 . Co-requisite: BME 303. Spring Semester. 1 credit hour. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 413 - Biomedical Transport Phenomena

  This course combines both fundamental engineering with physics and life sciences principles to provide focused coverage of key momentum and mass transport phenomena relevant to biomedical engineering. This course covers topics including thermodynamics, the physical principles of body fluids and cell membranes, molecular motors, cellular mechanics, solute and oxygen transport, pharmokinetic transport and extracorporeal devices such as blood oxygenators, hemodialysis and enzyme reactors. The course will also explore the design of modern day bioartifical organs. The goal of the lecture course is to emphasize the chemical and physical transport phenomena essential for biological life and the design and development of contemporary biomedical devices relevant to transport. Prerequisites: BME 303, BME 318, BME 330. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 432 - Ethics in Engineering

  Our goal on offering this course is to bring contextual understanding of the fundamental relationships between professional responsibility and damage wrought by natural disasters. We have chosen Hurricane Katrina, as it is still very relevant today yet sufficient time has passed such that careful analysis of the storm and its aftermath is underway. While the course focuses upon the profession of engineering, it is equally as relevant for students entering a vast array of professions. We seek to move students understanding of the tragic occurrence of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina from a purely analytical one to an understanding that can begin to lead to empathy and ultimately compassion. For it is our belief that such compassion can and will lead to more enlightened, courageous future leaders willing to act in the face of imminent threat whatever professions our students decide to pursue. Co-requisite: BME 450. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 433 - Human Physiology

  An introduction to the major organ systems of the body with an emphasis on regulatory processes and interactions with other systems. The course provides students with a basic understanding of the prevalent theories of physiology and pathophysiology and the application of these theories to health concerns relevant to biomedical engineering. Prerequisites: BIOL 113 , CHEM 231 . Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 450 - Biomedical Eng Design I

  This is the first part of the culminating design experience for biomedical engineering undergraduate students. Students are challenged to design, and deliver design solutions to open ended problems of interest to the biomedical engineering community. This first course takes the students from problem definition to a finished preliminary design. Course fee applies. Prerequisite: Senior standing in Biomedical Engineering BME 318, BME 351. Co-requisite: BME 413. Fall Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 451 - Biomedical Eng Design II

  This is the second part of the culminating design experience for biomedical engineering undergraduate students. Students are challenged to design, and deliver design solutions to open ended problems of interest to the biomedical engineering community. This second course takes the students from a finished preliminary design to implementation, evaluation, redesign and a finished project including a formal technical report and oral presentation. Course fee applies. Prerequisite: BME 450 . Spring Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

Elective courses (minimum 9 credit hours)

• BME 420 - Biomed Devices & Diagnostics

  This is an advanced course for biomedical engineering undergraduates and beginning graduate students. The course covers studies of significant medical devices with a discussion of appropriate physiology, system design, biocompatibility issues, and clinical need. Details on technological function and administration of diagnosis and/or therapy are covered along with standard requirements from organizations. Prerequisites: BME 324 and BME 351, Fall semester, Lecture 3 credit hours per week. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 424 - Bioimaging

  This is an introduction to biomedical imaging systems for biomedical engineering senior undergraduate students and graduate students. The course covers biomedical imaging with an emphasis on fundamental principles and applications of each modern imaging modality including X-ray radiography, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine (SPECT and PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BME 324. 3 Credit hours. Spring semester. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 428 - Biophotonics&Image Processing

  Description: It covers advanced topics in biophotonics, including physical optics, tissue optics, and digital image acquisition and formats. Additional topics include modern optical imaging technologies, Raman spectroscopy, super-resolution microscopy, optogenetics, photoacoustic tomography, photodynamic therapy, and live-cell imaging microscopy. The course will also cover fundamentals and methods for digital image processing, featuring applications in biological and medical diagnosis. Students are required to have basic skills in MATLAB programming. In addition, the course will include a discussion of bias and unfairness that unintentionally generated in imaging processing and discuss best practices on how to identify and overcome them. 3 credits. Spring semester. Prerequisites: BME 324 and BME 351 Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 442 - Nanotechnology & Drug Delivery

  The course introduces basics concepts of nanobiotechnologies, including mathematical description of controlled release, and targeted and passive drug delivery. Different types of drug delivery nanotechnologies, including lipid-, polymer-, hydrogel-, and virus-based delivery systems and their application in disease treatments are also covered in this course. Undergraduate Prerequisite: BME213, MATH 324 . Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 443 - Quantitative Instr Bioanalysis

  This is an advanced, elective course for biomedical engineering undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Quantitative instrumental bioanalysis is an overview course including various instrumental bioanalysis principles and methods commonly used in the pharmaceutical industries and biomedical research. The current biotechnologies based on these instrumental analyses are discussed along with the strategy of the quality control in the healthcare industry. The course focuses on the principles and practical application of the analytical instruments used for quantitative analysis in medicine, healthcare, and biomedical research. Prerequisite: BME 324 and 351. Spring Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 453 - Biomed Data Man & Reg Science

  This is a lecture-based course for biomedical engineering senior undergraduate students and graduate students interested in big data management as it relates to healthcare systems. Some of the topics in this course include biomedical data acquisition, data mining methodologies, information processing, healthcare systems, and FDA regulations. Students will use various computational tools to manipulate large data sets as part of homework assignments and projects. Prerequisite: BME 340. Spring semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 463 - Bioprocess Engineering

  This course introduces engineering concepts for biological conversion of raw materials to pharmaceuticals, fuels, and chemicals. Includes enzyme kinetics and technology; bioreactor kinetics; design, analysis, control, and sterilization of bioreactors and fermenters; genetic engineering of organisms to generate commercially-relevant products; and downstream product processing. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 , BME 213. Spring Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 470 - Advanced Bioinformatics

  This course is a continuation of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (BME 340). The course covers advanced topics in modern bioinformatics. Topics include, advanced database searching and sequence alignment, molecular phylogeny and evolution, analysis of next-generation sequence data, microarray, data analysis, protein analysis and proteomics, and personalized medicine and drug design. The course includes computer labs as part of the lectures that cover computational tools used to analyze genomic and proteomic data. Prerequisites: BME 340. Fall Semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 472 - Expermntal Design & Stat Anyls

  This is an advanced course for biomedical engineering senior undergraduates. It covers topics such as experimental design and hypothesis testing, ANOVA, MANOVA, linear and multiple regression, generalized linear modeling, principal component analysis, clustering, sampling methods, and bioinformatics. Prerequisites: BME203 , MATH 323 . 3 credits. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 473 - Adv Biomat & Biocompatibility

  This is an advanced course for biomedical engineering senior undergraduate students. The course covers topics such as material mechanical and surface properties, material degradation mechanisms, and microparticles and nanoparticles. These topics are discussed with a focus on cardiovascular, orthopedic, ophthalmological and dental. Additionally, the biological response to materials is covered in-depth including inflammation, thrombosis, and immunity. Prerequisite: BME 313. Spring semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 483 - Tissue Engineering

  This course introduces Tissue Engineering approaches at genetic and molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ levels. Topics include cell and tissue in vitro expansion, tissue organization, signaling molecules, stem cell and stem cell differentiation, organ regeneration, biomaterial and matrix for tissue engineering, bioreactor design for cell and tissue culture, clinical implementation of tissue engineered products, and tissue-engineered devices. Prerequisites: BME 313, BME 201, BIOL113. Co-requisite: BME 433. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate

• BME 484 - Al in Biomed Engineering

  This is a lecture-based course for biomedical engineering students interested in learning and applying artificial intelligence (AI) approaches to real-world biomedical problems. The course focuses on principles of a number of AI and machine learning tools such as clustering, regression, decision trees, random forests and neural networks and their applications in various areas of biomedical engineering, such as biomedical data analysis, disease diagnosis, clinical risk stratification, disease progression modeling, patient outcome prediction, and phenotype and biomarker discovery. Students will use various computational tools to manipulate large data sets as part of homework assignments and projects. Prerequisites: MATH 227 (Cal II), BME 203 and BME 340 or instructor approval. Fall semester. 3 credit hours. Levels: Undergraduate