Biomedical Engineering, BS

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Program Educational Objectives
Student Outcomes
Pre-medical and Pre-health Profession Studies
Curriculum Sequence
Dual Degrees With Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is the discipline in which experimental and analytical engineering principles and techniques are used to understand complex living systems and to develop devices, methods, and algorithms that improve the quality of human health and life. The biomedical engineering degree offers graduates productive careers in a wide variety of health care-related industries and government agencies. Graduates are trained not only to have a core understanding of traditional engineering disciplines, but also to have an in-depth knowledge of the body and the interactions between products developed and living beings. Biomedical engineers play a critical role in the design of artificial organs, prostheses, instrumentation, medical information systems, health management and care delivery systems, medical devices used in various medical procedures, and imaging systems. Technical electives in chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering can significantly broaden the career choices for biomedical engineering graduates and are highly recommended.

Program Educational Objectives

Widener University Biomedical Engineering Program graduates are expected to:

Pursue a career in biomedical engineering or other related area in medicine, health professions, or law.
Further their education or professional development through research, advanced degrees, certifications, etc.
Communicate and work effectively with colleagues and develop personal and professional skills to obtain a leadership position within their chosen area.
Engage in continuous service to their profession and community.

Student Outcomes

Graduates from the Biomedical Engineering Program will have:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

2. An ability to 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

3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

4. An ability to 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

5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives

6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgement to draw conclusions

7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

8. An ability to apply principles of engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry, calculus-based physics, mathematics (through differential equations), and statistics

9. An ability to solve bio/biomedical engineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems

10. An ability to analyze, model, design, and realize bio/biomedical engineering devices, systems, components, or processes

11. An ability to make measurements on and interpreting data from living systems

Pre-medical and Pre-health Profession Studies

Biomedical engineering can prepare students for admission into medical, osteopathic, dental, veterinary, and other health profession schools. The biomedical engineering curriculum includes most of the coursework normally expected by medical and health profession schools. Interested biomedical engineering students are advised to complete two additional biology courses (with laboratories), two organic chemistry courses (with laboratories), and one English course. The biomedical engineering program coordinates with the Widener Health Professions Advisory Committee. With careful planning, students can complete the requirements for the biomedical engineering degree and pre-med/pre-health professions in four years. Students should consult with their academic advisor early in their freshman year.

Curriculum Sequence

First Year

Fall (16.5 Credits)

ENGR 111 - Engineering Techniques 2 Credit(s)
MATH 141 - Calculus I (Q) 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 175 - General Chemistry I 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 177 - General Chemistry I Lab 1 Credit(s)
ASC 101 - Thinking Through 3 Credit(s) ^+,#
ENGL 101 - Reading, Thinking and Writing 3 Credit(s)
Physical Education Elective .5 Credit(s)

Spring (17.5 Credits)

ENGR 114 - Engineering Graphics and Computer-Aided Design 2 Credit(s) *
MATH 142 - Calculus II 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 176 - General Chemistry II 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 178 - General Chemistry Lab II 1 Credit(s)
PHYS 161 - Physics I 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 163 - Physics I Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Social Science Elective 3 Credit(s)^+,#
Physical Education Elective .5 Credit(s)

Sophomore

Fall (15 Credits)

BME 220 - Introduction to Biomedical Engineering 1 Credit(s)
MATH 241 - Multivariable Calculus 4 Credit(s)
ENGR 213 - Statics 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 162 - Physics II 3 Credit(s)
PHYS 164 - Physics II Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
Humanities Elective 3 Credit(s)^{+,#,^}

Spring (17 Credits)

MATH 242 - Elementary Differential Equations 3 Credit(s)
ENGR 214 - Dynamics 3 Credit(s)
ENGR 219 - Electric Circuits 3 Credit(s)
ENGR 223 - Electric Circuits Laboratory 1 Credit(s)
BIOL 121 - Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit(s)
Social Science Elective 3 Credit(s)^+,#

Junior

Fall (18 Credits)

ENGR 325 - Thermodynamics 3 Credit(s)
ENGR 315 - Probability, Statistics, and Random Processes 3 Credit(s)
BME 303 - Biomedical Engineering Laboratory I (W) 2 Credit(s)
BIOL 122 - Anatomy and Physiology II 4 Credit(s)
ENGR 323 - Mechanics of Deformable Bodies 3 Credit(s)
Humanities Elective 3 Credit(s)^{+,#,^}

Spring (17 Credits)

BME 350 - Biotransport 4 Credit(s)
BME 360 - Biomaterials 3 Credit(s)
BME 304 - Biomedical Engineering Laboratory II 1 Credit(s) (W)
BME 340 - Bioinstrumentation 3 Credit(s)
ENGR 328 - Computational Methods in Engineering 3 Credit(s)
BME Technical Elective 3 Credit(s)**

Senior

Fall (15 Credits)

ASC 401 - Transformations Capstone 3 Credit(s) ^+,#
ENGR 401 - Senior Project I 2 Credit(s)
BME 410 - Biomedical Engineering Seminar I 1 Credit(s)
BME 465 - Biomechanics 3 Credit(s)
BME Technical Elective 3 Credit(s)**
Social Science Elective 3 Credit(s)^+,#

Spring (14 Credits)

ENGR 402 - Senior Project II 2 Credit(s)
BME 460 - Regulatory and Manufacturing Practices 3 Credit(s)
BME 420 - Biomedical Engineering Seminar II 1 Credit(s)
BME Technical Elective 3 Credit(s)**
ENGR 312 - Engineering Economics 2 Credit(s)
Humanities Elective 3 Credit(s)^{+,#,^}

Total Credits: 130

*Students may substitute ENGR 112 Computer Programming & Engineering Problem Solving or ENGR 113 Computer-Aided Engineering Design in lieu of ENGR 114 .

** BME 338 - Biomedical Devices ; BME 430 - Thermodynamics of Biological Systems ; BME 432 - Mass Transfer in Biological Systems ; BME 440 - Bioheat and Mass Transfer ; BME 442 - Cell and Tissue Engineering ; BME 445 - Systems in Biomedical Engineering ; BME 446 - Biomedical Fluid Mechanics ; BME 449 - Bioimaging . Other courses are possible with approval of academic advisor and consent of instructor, including graduate courses for qualified students.

**A student who wishes to take a graduate course must have a cumulative GPA and a cumulative Tech GPA of 3.0 or higher, and must get the approval of their academic advisor.

^†At least one of these courses must be writing enriched course (W).

#At least two of these courses must be a diversity course (D).

^At least one of these courses must be a 300-level course.

The program of study that appears here applies to students who were admitted for the summer session of this catalog year and later. Students admitted prior to that term should select the appropriate catalog year of their admission. Choose previous catalogs from the Home, Graduate, or Undergraduate Catalog Page at http://Catalog.widener.edu.

Dual Degrees with Biomedical Engineering

Students interested in a dual degree with Chemical and Materials Engineering, BS , Electrical Engineering, BS , Mechanical Engineering, BS , or Robotics Engineering, BS should contact the chair of the biomedical engineering department or the dean’s office for details about the curriculum. Students wishing to pursue a dual degree must get written permission from both departments.