After biomedical engineering (BMEN) students complete their lower-level coursework (typically in the spring semester of their sophomore year), they choose one of the several technical track areas below to continue their studies.
The general requirements for the selection and approval of technical elective tracks in the Biomedical Engineering curriculum are listed at the bottom of this page.
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SCOPE: The Biomechanics track 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.
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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.
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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, personalized medical information systems development, and bioinformatics.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
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SCOPE: Imaging, sensing, and digital health 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 underlying physics and mathematical theory of signal generation, detection, and manipulation; design, fabrication, use, and evaluation of diagnostic systems; device interaction with cells, tissues, and organs; application of analog and digital signal analysis; and fundamentals of embedded system architecture and programming. Applications include various microscopy and clinical imaging modalities, wearable and implantable sensors, point-of-care desktops of handheld devices, bioreactor and biomanufacturing sensing, and surgical suite sensing.
Track forms can be found in Canvas under BMEN Undergraduate Community.
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SCOPE: The Medical Devices track 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.
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SCOPE: The Regenerative Medicine track 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.
General Requirements
- All BMEN students must select a specific technical elective track from those listed and attend a Curriculum and Track Mentor Meeting with their assigned track mentor.
- 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.
- Typically, each track has three categories of courses: Required, Track, and Other. Students will select track electives as prescribed for their track.
- Students must seek approval from their track mentor and the Director of Undergraduate Programs for any proposed deviations from the approved track courses.
- If students do not meet the prerequisites for a track course before taking it, they are required to get approval from the instructor offering the specific track course.
- Students may use up to 3 hours of BMEN 491, which can be used in the Other category if they receive prior approval from their academic advisor and track coordinator.