After a biomedical engineering student has completed lower level coursework, the student chooses one of the following seven technical track areas to continue their studies. This is typically done in spring semester of the sophomore year. The requirements for the minimum 15 hours* of technical electives in the Biomedical Engineering curriculum are below. Electives must be selected and approved in advance, consistent with these requirements.
- Biomechanics
- Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering
- Computational Bioengineering
- Imaging & Photonics
- Medical Devices
- Regenerative Medicine
- Sensing & Monitoring
Biomechanics
SCOPE: Biomechanics applies mechanical sciences to biomaterials and biological systems at the nano-, micro-, and macro-scales. In this track, students will study the static and dynamic properties of cells, soft and hard tissues, extracellular matrix, and biomaterials. Application areas include medical device design and implantable prosthetics for treating conditions related to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and urological disease and aging; occupational, ergonomic, and rehabilitative aides; and instruments for quantitative physiology.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering
SCOPE: Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering affects cellular behavior using molecular-level interactions to understand, detect, mitigate, and improve human health. In this track, students will study critical cellular, molecular, and genetic processes, cell-biomaterial interactions, small and large biomolecules, nano- to micro-scale devices, bioreactors, and how to design and control the mechanical, chemical, and electrical processes of cells. Applications include synthetic biology systems, biomanufacturing, diagnostic medicine (lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, mechanosensors, etc.), preventative medicine (molecular biosensors and imaging probes, etc.), and therapeutic medicine (drug design and delivery, nanomedicine, immunoengineering, etc.).
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Computational Bioengineering
SCOPE: Computational Bioengineering generally describes the science of computational approaches to biological and medical problems, including molecular modeling, computational biomechanics, computational bioimaging, and healthcare informatics. In this track, students will apply engineering, mathematics, computer and data science, statistics, sciences, and medicine to improve human health using computational approaches to model, analyze, and understand complex biological data across atomic to whole body length scales and femtoseconds to lifetime temporal scales. Application areas include disease and injury modeling and simulation, decoding multi-omics information, pharmaceutical design, development of personalized medical information systems, and bioinformatics.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Imaging & Photonics
SCOPE: Imaging & Photonics applies the interaction of light, sound, electrons, x-rays, and other signals to cells, tissues, and organs on the nano- to macro-scale through microscopy and clinical imaging modalities. In this track, students will study the underlying physics and mathematical theory of imaging; the physical science and application of signal generation, detection, and manipulation; image acquisition; image processing to hardware design; and clinical and biological applications. Application areas include optical, electron, scanning probe, infrared, intravital, and particle image velocimetry microscopy, as well as x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computer and positron emission tomography, and myelogram clinical imaging.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Medical Devices
SCOPE: Medical Devices applies engineering to medicine to design, validate, and manufacture instruments, apparatus, implants, machines, tools, in vitro reagents, or similar articles that are to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat, or cure disease or other conditions, and achieves their purpose by physical, structural, or mechanical action within or on the body. In this track, students will study the medical design process, prototyping and fabrication, quality engineering, regulatory and reimbursement environments, risk identification and management, market-clinician-patient interactions, preclinical and clinical trials, and computer-aided design and simulation tools. Application areas include surgical and medical instruments, surgical implants and supplies, electro-mechanical and electro-therapeutic devices, in vitro diagnostic clinical kits, dental, auditory, and ic devices, and irradiation and imaging devices.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Regenerative Medicine
SCOPE: Regenerative Medicine applies cells, biomaterials, and biochemical and biomechanical factors to create functional substitutes to replace tissues or organs lost due to age, disease, injury, or congenital defects, and functional mimics for the study of biological systems. In this track, students will study the manipulation of molecular, cell, and tissue microenvironments; development and characterization of "smart" and biomimetic biomaterials that promote structure and function; bioreactors and bioprinting; testing, manufacturing, and translation of cell- and biomaterial-based products; and applications of artificial organs, drug delivery, and implanted devices. Application areas include musculoskeletal, urologic, neural, and vascular tissues and organs, as well as wound healing and hemostasis.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
Sensing & Monitoring
SCOPE: Sensing & Monitoring applies new materials, instrumentation, communication, and analysis approaches to detect and track physical and chemical indicators of health and biology. In this track, students will study the design, fabrication, use, and evaluation of diagnostic systems; device interaction with cells, tissues, and organs; design and application of analog and digital signal analysis; and fundamentals of embedded system architecture and programming. Applications include wearable and implantable sensors, point-of-care desktop of handheld devices, bioreactor and biomanufacturing sensing, and surgical suite sensing.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
General Requirements
- All BMEN students must select a specific technical elective track from those listed below and attend a Curriculum & Track Mentor meeting with their assigned mentor.
- Each track typically has three categories of track courses including Required, Track, and Other. Students will select track electives as prescribed for their track.
- Proposed deviations from the approved track courses must be approved by their track mentor and then by the Director of Undergraduate Programs.
- Track mentors (faculty with expertise in a specific track) are available to discuss the contents of a track, provide direction toward career paths, and must sign to indicate that a professional interview has occurred with the student.
- If prerequisites for a Track course are not met before taking the course, approval from the instructor offering the specific Track course is required.
- Students may use up to 3 hours of the BMEN 491 which can be used in the Other Category with prior approval from the academic advisor and track coordinator.
*A minimum of 15 Technical Elective hours are required for the BS degree in Biomedical Engineering.