BSBM
Information
General inquiries about the BS in Biomedical Engineering program may be directed toward our Biomedical Engineering Program Coordinator Dr. Yuhao Jiang. Please see below for more information.
ABET Information
The BS in Biomedical Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700.
Biomedical Engineering Program Educational Objectives
To provide students with a fundamental education in biomedical engineering and health science, allowing them to solve engineering problems with medical relevance.
To produce graduates with the necessary background to enter and succeed in an advanced degree program in a field such as engineering and medicine.
To prepare graduates to develop professionally and to advance to positions of excellence.
What is Biomedical Engineering? (From Whitaker Foundation)
Biomedical engineering is a discipline that advances knowledge in engineering, biology and medicine, and improves human health through cross-disciplinary activities that integrate the engineering sciences with the biomedical sciences and clinical practice. It includes:
1. The acquisition of new knowledge and understanding of living systems through the innovative application of experimental and analytical techniques based on the engineering sciences.
2. The development of new devices, algorithms, processes and systems that advance biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care delivery.
Why Choose Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical EngineeriThe number of job openings in Biomedical Engineering is increasing rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow by 72 percent-adding nearly 12,000 jobs-between 2008 and 2018. The rapid rise is attributed to the increasing demand for improved medical devices, procedures, and systems, as well as an aging population. As a biomedical engineer, you can work with medical imaging systems, artificial organs, prosthetic devices, sport medicine, sensors, computerized diagnosis systems, implants and biomaterials.
Biomedical Engineering at UCO
Biomedical Engineering Program at University of Central Oklahoma provides rigorous education in engineering and biomedical science that allows graduates with unique abilities to ethically and productively contribute to the regional economy through performance and problem solving in health related industry or success in graduate school or medical school. Samples of the specialization courses are human physiology, principle of biomedical engineering, medical instrumentation, biomedical engineering laboratory, medical imaging, and biomechanics.
The following information pertains to the 2010-2011 academic year.
-
State's first and only undergraduate ABET accredited program in biomedical engineering.
-
BME curriculum contains a mixture of biology, engineering and physics. All faculty members have doctoral degrees from accredited universities and several have extensive experience in industry and/or national laboratory setting.
-
Students are exposed to a variety of software and computer usage and techniques throughout the curriculum. Department has a dedicated Biomedical Engineering Laboratory for lecturing and student lab.
-
Department has partnership with regional hospitals. Students are encouraged to do internship with the help from the department.
-
Undergraduate research is highly promoted. Participating Students can receive tuition and stipend support from various research funds.
-
Department has relatively small class size. All major courses are taught by professors with doctoral degree in biomedical engineering or other engineering disciplines.
Concentrations
The Biomedical Engineering Program has two concentrations available--Biomedical Engineering Instrumentation Concentration, and Biomedical Engineering Premedical Concentration; each is described below, along with course flowcharts and sample four-year schedules. Both Concentrations have a strong core of course-work in Engineering, Physics, and Mathematics. In the last few semesters there is some specialization for each concentration.
Bioinstrumentation concentration
Bioinstrumentation is designed for students that are interested in design of biomedical instrumentation, devices, sensors for medical diagnosis and rehabilitation. Students use the knowledge base and skill set of applied electrical engineering and mechanical engineering to diagnose and solve health related problems.
Pre-Medical concentration
Pre-Medical is designed for students that plan to apply for medical school. The program of study includes educational and scientific training needed to gain admission to graduate or medical school as well as to work as a biomedical engineer.
Getting Ready for Biomedical Engineering
A biomedical engineer should plan first and foremost to be a good engineer. Beyond this, he or she should have a working understanding of life science systems and terminology. Good communications skills are also important, because the biomedical engineer provides a link among professionals with medical, technical, and other backgrounds. The high school preparation for biomedical engineering is the same as for any other engineering discipline, except that some life science course work should also be included. Therefore, students interested in a biomedical engineering career should take as much math and science in high school as their schedule permits. A well-prepared student should be ready to take calculus in their first semester of college, have had courses in high school biology, chemistry and physics, and possess strong written and oral communication skills. Students that have not attained this level of preparation may be advised to enroll in remedial courses
Biomedical Engineering Jobs
Biomedical engineering combines engineering expertise with medical needs for the enhancement of health care. It is a branch of engineering in which knowledge and skills are developed and applied to define and solve problems in biology and medicine. Students choose the biomedical engineering field to be of service to people; for the excitement of working with living systems; and to apply advanced technology to the complex problems of medical care. The biomedical engineer is a health care professional, a group which includes physicians, nurses, and technicians. Biomedical engineers may be called upon to design instruments and devices, to bring together knowledge from many sources to develop new procedures, or to carry out research to acquire knowledge needed to solve new problems. Examples of biomedical engineering jobs:
Designing and constructing cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators, artificial kidneys, blood oxygenators, hearts, blood vessels, joints, arms, and legs.
Designing and building sensors to measure blood chemistry, such as potassium, sodium, 02, CO2, and pH.
Designing instruments and devices for therapeutic uses, such as a laser system for eye surgery or a device for automated delivery of insulin.
Developing strategies for clinical decision making based on expert systems and artificial intelligence, such as a computer-based system for selecting seat cushions for paralyzed patients or for, managing the care of patients with severe burns or for diagnosing diseases.
Designing clinical laboratories and other units within the hospital and health care delivery system that utilize advanced technology. Examples would be a computerized analyzer for blood samples, ambulances for use in rural areas, or a cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Designing, building and investigating medical imaging systems based on X-rays (computer assisted tomography), isotopes (position emission tomography), magnetic fields (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound, or newer modalities.
Constructing and implementing mathematical/ computer models of physiological systems.
Designing and constructing biomaterials and determining the mechanical, transport, and biocompatibility properties of implantable artificial materials.
Implementing new diagnostic procedures, especially those requiring engineering analyses to determine parameters that are not directly accessible to measurements, such as in the lungs or heart.
Investigating the biomechanics of injury and wound healing.
Application Procedure
You can find information for about applying to UCO at the Office of Prospective Student Services / Scholarships. This site also has information and links to scholarships offered to freshman students.
Information about scholarships available through the Department of Engineering and Physics are available on the department's scholarship page.
If you would like further information about the Department of Engineering and Physics programs, or would like to arrange to visit, please contact:
Department of Engineering and Physics
University of Central Oklahoma
100 North University Drive
Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-5209
voice: 405-974-5016
fax: 405-974-3812
Full HTML Version