Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Bioengineering
Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)
Faculty
Professors: Steven D. Levene, Mathukumalli Vidyasagar
Associate Professor: Shalini Prasad
Assistant Professors: Leonidas Bleris, Lan Ma, Hyun-Joo Nam, Hyuntae Yoo
Affiliated Faculty: Dinesh Bhatia (Electrical Engineering), Xin-Lin Gao (Mechanical Engineering), Jinming Gao (UT Southwestern), Michael Kilgard (Brain and Behavioral Science), Raimund Ober (Electrical Engineering), Issa Panahi (Electrical Engineering), Balakrishnan Prabhakaran (Computer Science), Robert Rennaker (Brain and Behavioral Science), A. Dean Sherry (Chemistry), Zhenyu Xuan (Molecular and Cell Biology, Michael Q. Zhang (Molecular and Cell Biology)
Mission of the Department of Bioengineering
The mission of the Bioengineering Department is to provide a state-of-the-art, highly interdisciplinary, teaching and research environment for undergraduate and graduate students. Whether at undergraduate or post-graduate levels, our students will be able to reach across traditional disciplinary boundaries, and work effectively with experts in engineering, life sciences, and medicine. At the Bachelors level, our graduates will be ready to meet the rapidly growing demand for bioengineers, and tackle challenges in emerging areas, including but not limited to personalized medicine, biomedical devices, and targeted drug delivery. At the Masters and PhD levels, our graduates will undertake original cutting-edge research at the forefront of scientific and technological developments in bioengineering.
High School Preparation
Engineering education requires a strong high school preparation. Pre-engineering students should have high school preparation of at least one-half year in trigonometry and at least one year each in elementary algebra, intermediate and advanced algebra, plane geometry, chemistry, and physics, thus developing their competencies to the highest possible levels and preparing to move immediately into demanding college courses in calculus, calculus-based physics, and chemistry for science majors. It is also essential that pre-engineering students have the competence to read rapidly and with comprehension, and to write clearly and correctly.
Lower-Division Study
All lower-division students in Biomedical Engineering concentrate on mathematics, science and introductory engineering courses, building competence in these cornerstone areas for future application in upper-division engineering courses. The following requirements apply both to students seeking to transfer to UT Dallas from other institutions as well as to those currently enrolled at UT Dallas, whether in another school or in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Academic Progress in Biomedical Engineering
In order to make satisfactory academic progress as a Biomedical Engineering major, a student must meet all University requirements for academic progress, and must earn a grade of C- or better in each of the major core courses. No "Major Requirement" course may be taken until the student has obtained a grade of C- or better in each of the prerequisites. If a higher grade requirement is stated for a specific class, the higher requirement applies.
Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Degree Requirements (126 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours
Communication (6 hours)
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
Science (9 hours)
II. Major Requirements: 82 hours5
Major Preparatory Courses (26 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
- CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I4, 5
- CHEM 1311 General Chemistry I4, 5
- CHEM 1312 General Chemistry II
- CHEM 1112 General Chemistry II Laboratory
- CS 1325 Introduction to Programming
- BIOL 2311 Introduction to Modern Biology I
- BIOL 2111 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop I
- BIOL 2312 Introduction to Modern Biology II
- BIOL 2112 Introduction to Modern Biology Workshop II
- BIOL 2281 Introductory Biology Laboratory
- MATH 2417 Calculus I3
- MATH 2419 Calculus II3
- MATH 2420 Differential Equations with Applications
- PHYS 2125 Physics Laboratory I
- PHYS 2126 Physics Laboratory II
- PHYS 2325 Mechanics
- PHYS 2326 Electromagnetism and Waves
Major Core Courses (53 hours beyond Core Curriculum)
- ECS 1200 Introduction to Engineering and Computer Science6
- BMEN 1208 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering6
- ENGR 2300 Linear Algebra for Engineers
- BMEN 2310 Static Equilibrium and Rigid Body Dynamics
- ECS 3361 Social Issues and Ethics in Computer Science and Engineering7
- ECS 3390 Professional and Technical Communication2
- ENGR 3300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics
- BMEN 3301 Introduction to Biomechanics
- BMEN 3101 Biomechanics Laboratory
- EE 3302 Signals and Systems
- EE 3102 Signals and Systems Laboratory
- BMEN 3310 Fluid Mechanics and Transport Processes in Biomedical Engineering
- BMEN 3110 Biomedical Transport Processes Laboratory
- BMEN 3320 Electrical and Electronic Circuits in Biomedical Engineering
- BMEN 3120 Biomedical Circuits and Instrumentation Laboratory
- BMEN 3315 Thermodynamics and Physical Chemistry in Biomedical Engineering
- BMEN 3330 Engineering Physiology of the Human Body
- BMEN 3130 Engineering Physiology Laboratory
- ENGR 3341 Probability Theory and Statistics
- BMEN 3350 Biomedical Component and System Design
- BMEN 3150 Biomedical Engineering Laboratory
- BMEN 4310 Feedback Systems in Biomedical Engineering
- or EE 4310 Systems and Controls
- BMEN 4110 Biomedical Feedback Systems Laboratory
- BMEN 4388 Senior Design Project I
- BMEN 4389 Senior Design Project II
Prescribed Electives (3 hours)
Students pursuing the general program take 3 semester hours from the list below:
III. Elective Requirements: 2 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites. Six hours may be satisfied with BIOL 2311, BIOL 2312 counted under Major Preparatory courses.
Free Electives (2 hours)
Both lower-and upper division courses may count as free electives, but students must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.
Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees
In response to the need for advanced education in Biomedical engineering, a Fast Track program is available to exceptionally well-qualified UT Dallas undergraduate students who meet the requirements for admission to the graduate school. The Fast Track program is designed to accelerate a student's education so that both a B.S. and an M.S. degree can be earned in five years of full-time study. This is accomplished by (1) taking courses (typically electives) during one or more summer semesters, and (2) beginning graduate course work during the senior year. Details of the requirements for admission to this program are available from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Honors Program
The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers upper-division Honors for outstanding students in the B.S. Biomedical Engineering degree program. This program offers special sections of designated classes and other activities designed to enhance the educational experience of exceptional students. Admission to the Honors programs requires a 3.500 or better GPA in at least 30 hours of coursework. Graduation with Honors requires a 3.500 or better GPA and completion of at least 6 honors classes. These honors classes must include either Senior Honors (BMEN 4399) or Undergraduate Research in Biomedical Engineering (BMEN 4V98) and a Senior Honors Thesis must be completed within one of those two classes. While the topics may be related, the Senior Thesis does not replace the need for the student to complete a regular Senior Design Project. The other 5 honors classes can come from a mixture of Graduate level (up to a count of 4) classes and special honor sections of regular undergraduate BMEN classes (up to a count of 2).
Departmental Honors with Distinction may be awarded to students whose Senior Honors Thesis is judged by a faculty committee to be of exemplary quality. Only students graduating with Departmental Honors are eligible. Thesis/projects must be submitted by the deadline that applies to M.S. Theses in the graduating semester to allow for proper evaluation. Students interested in Honors with Distinction are encouraged to start working on their thesis/project a year prior to graduation.
Minors
The Department of Bioengineering does not offer minors at this time.
- Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
- Hours fulfill the communication elective of the Core Curriculum.
- Six hours of Calculus are counted under Mathematics Core, and two hours of Calculus are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
- One hour of General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory is counted under Science core, and three hours are counted as Major Preparatory Courses.
- Students must pass each of the EE, CS, Math and Science courses listed in this degree plan and each of their prerequisites, with a grade of C- or better.
- Transfer students with sufficient background may petition to substitute upper level hours in the major for this class.
- Hours contribute to the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of the Core Curriculum.