Department of Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is a broad field that encompasses many areas related to improving human health such as implant devices, tissue engineering/regeneration, electrophysiological signaling, and biosensors and imaging technologies for the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. The program integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering with biology and medicine.

The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for professional practice and to provide a foundation for lifelong learning and professional growth. The course of study begins with a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering sciences. Departmental courses during these years build on these foundations to integrate topics into knowledge in biomedical engineering. The upper division years include a block of twenty-six hours (noted as BIOM, Engineering and Technical electives in the typical sequence below) to allow students, with advisor's assistance, the means to tailor study in a focused portion of the discipline and its supporting fields as desired. The elective hours must be upper division courses. Concepts and efforts in engineering design occur throughout the curriculum and culminate in a senior design project.

The educational objectives* of the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program are:

1. graduates will be prepared for employment as biomedical engineers in industries serving or related to health professions;
2. graduates will be prepared to pursue professional studies;
3. graduates will engage in activities that provide continuing self-development in biomedical engineering and related careers.

* adopted 2 February 2006

The diversity encountered in the profession requires the successful biomedical engineer to have technical and non-technical skills, especially for communication and team efforts. Courses in the humanities and social sciences enhance non-technical skills, and explore the engineer's relationship with, and responsibility to, society. Studies in the sciences and other engineering disciplines enable quicker, sure communication and evaluation when total solutions are sought by multidisciplinary efforts. Materials in engineering ethics and professionalism are essential because our graduates and the field expect to enrich life and provide solutions with known benefits and defined risks.

This curriculum equips typical Biomedical Engineering graduates of the University of Memphis with the skills and perspectives required for success in a variety of professional roles. These include the ability to conduct project design work, to manage projects, to interact successfully with the public, and to pursue advanced study, engineering, business, medicine, law, or other fields if so desired.

ADMISSION: Admission to the university will allow a student to be in a pre-biomedical engineering major. Movement into the major requires completion of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of "C" in each of these courses.

MATH 1910, BIOM 1710 or EECE 1202 or MECH 1307, BIOM 1720, PHYS 2110 and ENGL 1010.

Monitoring of a student's progress will be performed by the Herff College of Engineering academic advisor. A student will not be forwarded to the academic department for advising until these courses have been satisfactorily completed.

Biomedical Engineering (B.S.B.E.)

A. University General Education Program (36 hours)

See Graduation from the University for University General Education Program requirements. Note the following requirements are specified for this program: Communication: ENGL 3603 instead of COMM 2381; Mathematics: MATH 1910 (students who have not had MATH 1730 or its equivalent must take it before enrolling MATH 1910). Social/Behavioral Sciences: ECON 2110 must be taken in addition to 3 hours from the other specified choices; Natural Science: PHYS 2110/2111, 2120/2121. History: American history waived for B.S.B.E. students who have completed one unit of American history in high school.

B. College and Degree Requirements (29 hours)

Mathematics (11 hours): MATH 1920, 2110, and 3120.

Natural Science (8 hours): CHEM 1110/1111; BIOL 1110/1111.

Collateral Courses (10 hours): CIVL 2131; MECH 2332; EECE 2201/2203 or EECE 2283/2281.

C. The Major (63 hours)

1. Completion of 37 hours from BIOM 1710, 1720, 2710 (4), 2720, 3710, 4760, 4780; CHEM 1120/1121; BIOL 1120/1121, 3730 (4); MECH 3320.

2. 26 hours of BIOM, Engineering and Technical electives approved by the advisor. At least six hours must be satisfied with BIOM electives. Twelve hours of electives must be chosen from upper division engineering courses. The remaining 7 hours of technical electives may be chosen from upper division courses in BIOL, BIOM, CHEM, EECE, MATH, MECH and PHYS. Courses at this level in other departments can be chosen with permission of the chair or the chair's designee. Some courses to meet these requirements are: BIOM 4720 (4), 4730 (4), 4750 (4), 4702, 4205; CHEM 3301 (1), 3311; EECE 3202, 3211, 3213 (1), 3221, 3240, 4270 (4); MATH 3242, 4391, 4721; BIOL 3130, 4511; MECH 3311, 3322, 3325 (1), 3331, 3335 (1), PHYS 3010, 3011.

Typical 4-Year Biomedical Engineering Sequence

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Total Hours: 128

Total Hours Required for Graduation: 128

*Must satisfy University General Education Program Requirement

GRADUATION: To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, the student must satisfy University and College requirements, obtain a minimum 2.0 grade point average on all work completed, and obtain a minimum grade of "C-" in all engineering, mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry courses used to satisfy degree requirements. Waiver of departmental graduation requirements for exceptional circumstances will be granted only upon approval of both the department chair and the Dean of the College of Engineering (or designee).