Biomedical Engineering BSBE

Major: Biomedical Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BSBE)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 188.5
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.0501
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2031

About the Program

Biomedical Engineering is an innovative multidisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree program. It prepares students to conceive, design, and develop devices and systems that improve human health and quality of life. Biomedical engineering is the convergence of life sciences with engineering. From child car seats and football helmets to drug-delivery systems, minimally invasive surgery, and noninvasive imaging technology, the work of the biomedical engineer makes a difference in everyone’s life.

This program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET: www.abet.org

Concentrations

The undergraduate Biomedical Engineering 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:

• Biomaterials
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomechanics and Human Performance Engineering
• Biomedical Informatics
• Biomedical Imaging
• Neuroengineering

The degree program provides innovative experiences in hands-on experimentation and engineering design, as well as opportunities for personal growth and development of leadership and communication skills.

Working with a faculty advisor, students can select their core and elective courses from the curricula offered by the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the College of Computing & Informatics.

Additional Information

More information about the School’s undergraduate program can be found at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Sciences and Health Systems' Academic Program webpage.

Students are also encouraged to contact the School's director for student services:

Caryn Glaser
Director of Student Services
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
glasercb@drexel.edu
215.895.2237

Career and professional counseling is provided independently by the student's professional academic advisors and faculty advisors. Information regarding undergraduate professional academic advisors is available on the School's Undergraduate Advising webpage.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates from the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program at Drexel University will...

PEO 1 - Effectively Leverage Their Education in Biomedical Engineering

• Recognize and/or create opportunities, adjust to new conditions, and take advantage of opportunities across multiple boundaries - disciplinary, geographic, social and cultural.
• Demonstrate success through professional/community/personal recognition and/or advancement.

PEO 2 - Continue to Enhance Their Knowledge and/or Skills

• Continue to learn and enhance their skills through professional development and/or research activities. Graduates should use this new knowledge and/or additional skills to enhance current activities or move in a new direction. Graduates may also pursue further education in the form of graduate and professional degrees.

PEO 3 - Contribute Responsibly and Ethically to Research, Innovation, Design, Technological and/or Policy Development

• Make significant, meaningful, and ethical contributions in their chosen fields, through publications, presentations, product or process development, patents, new policies or policy revisions, patient care or other evidence of contributing to the responsible advancement of knowledge, particularly in fields integrating engineering and the life sciences.

PEO 4 - Contribute to Their Communities

• Engage with diverse communities to responsibly and collaboratively advance goals.

PEO 5 - Practice Professionalism through Ethical Reasoning and Responsible Behavior

• Work in the global environment respecting cultural and social differences, managing risk and accepting responsibility, and adhering to the professional codes of conduct and ethics appropriate to their field of study and/or practice.

Student Learning Outcomes

By participating in the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate curriculum at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems and graduating with the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, students will be able to:

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• Acquire and apply new knowledge, as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
• Apply knowledge and skills gained from a program of study to the achievement of goals in a work, clinical, or other professional setting

Degree Requirements

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MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses available based on that score.

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Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.

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Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

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General studies electives include all liberal arts electives plus additional subjects, such as business, which do not fall under the subject areas of science, math or engineering. See the Biomedical Engineering General Studies List for a detailed list of approved courses. An abbreviated list is shown here: DANC, MUSC, TVPR, VSST, GER, FREN, GST, PHIL, PPE, PSCI, BLAW, HRMT, INTB, MGMT, OPM, ORGB; CULA, ENTP, CRTV, EDLT, EHRD.

‡

CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.

^

STEM electives include courses offered by the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems, as well as select science, technology, and math courses from other academic units. An abbreviated list of 200-level and higher courses is shown here: ENVS, PHYS, INFO (including INFO 101, INFO 110), CS (including CS 171, CS 172, CS 175), HSCI (excluding HSCI 205). Please see the Biomedical Engineering STEM Elective List for a detailed list of approved courses.

Concentration Course Requirements

Students must select one concentration and complete the listed required courses. The student also needs to take additional STEM electives, as described above. The credit total of the concentration required courses and the STEM electives must be at least 21.0 credits.

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CHEM 241 is a pre-requisite for BMES 460

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PHYS 201 is a pre-requisite for BMES 421.

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BIO 462 is a pre-requisite for BMES 477.

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BIO 219 [WI] is a pre-requisite for BMES 471.

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. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, 1 co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

5 year, 3 co-op

*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Metropolitan Philadelphia has one of the highest concentrations of medical institutions and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the nation. The Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering gives students access to a broad spectrum of career opportunities in medical device and equipment industry, prosthetics and assist devices industry, biomaterials and implants industry, and the telemedicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agricultural sectors.

Biomedical Engineering graduates are also ideally prepared for professional education in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and law. Those who choose to pursue graduate education can aim for careers in research and development, biomedical technology innovation, and transfer, as well as healthcare technology management.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Program Level Outcomes

• Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics;
• Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors;
• Communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts;
• Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives;
• Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions;
• Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies;
• Apply knowledge and skills gained from a program of study to the achievement of goals in a work, clinical, or other professional setting. 

Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems Faculty

Emeritus Faculty