Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Educational Objectives

• BIENOb1 (Careers): Graduates of the program will find employment as biomedical engineers or be admitted for continued study in engineering, science, business, medicine, or other professional programs.

• BIENOb2 (Skills): Graduates will apply the skills obtained from the program to biomedical or other multidisciplinary fields.

• BIENOb3 (Professionalism): Graduates of the program will communicate effectively, undertake professional responsibilities, and function effectively as members and leaders of multi-disciplinary teams.

• BIENOb4 (Life-Long Learning): Graduates of the program will continue to develop their knowledge and skills throughout their careers.

Educational Outcomes

• BIENOc1: An in-depth understanding of engineering principles and biological/medical concepts in a core area of engineering.

• BIENOc2: A broad understanding of engineering, and scientific principles, and the ability to apply these principles to design and analysis.

• BIENOc3: A broad understanding of social, cultural, and ethical principles and professional responsibilities.

• BIENOc4: An ability to identify, define and solve complex problems that cut across disciplines.

• BIENOc5: An ability to apply math, science, and engineering to problems at the interface between engineering and biology.

• BIENOc6: An ability to communicate effectively using appropriate technology and efficiently use information resources.

• BIENOc7: An ability to work collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams and understand team dynamics.

• BIENOc8: The ability to generate questions and hypotheses, design experiments that will provide meaningful answers, and collect and interpret measurements from both living and non-living systems

• BIENOc9: The ability to adapt to sociological and technological change.

• BIENOc10: The ability to use modern engineering tools in experiments, analysis and design, and to assess the appropriateness of these tools.

• BIENOc11: An understanding of contemporary Biomedical Engineering applications of technology and their uses in health care.

Curriculum

The program is designed along broad lines to permit a student to obtain a fundamental education in biomedical engineering and a specialty in one of the following traditional engineering areas: chemical engineering, computers/Information, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or pre-medicine. A separate specialty is also available for pre-medical students. As detailed below, the B.S. curriculum consists of 134 semester credit hours.  The curriculum culminates with a senior design project, spread over the winter and spring quarters of the senior year. The design course provides instruction in structured engineering design and enables the students to choose and solve problems using their previous education. [University Catalog]

Whitaker Foundation Industrial Internships

In 1997, Louisiana Tech University received a three-year grant from the Whitaker Foundation to establish a biomedical engineering summer internship program. During the first three years of the program, eleven companies and 21 different students have participated in the summer program (for a total of 26 intern-ships), reflecting a wide geographic and professional diversity. The program has greatly increased visibility and respect for our students and will continue for many more years after Whitaker Foundation sponsorship ends. Additional clinical internships are available in local hospitals.

Students in Biomedical Engineering

The Biomedical Engineering Program attracts students of the highest quality. Information on students entering the undergraduate program in the last 3 years indicate the Biomedical Engineering students had the highest ACT score. The average ACT for Fall 2001 for new BIEN students was 25.9, compared to the COES average of 24.8 and the University average of 22.3.

Due primarily to the success of some of our early graduates, placement of graduates in medical school, graduate school, or employment in industry has been excellent. Each year, over 55% of these graduates pursue employment in industry, 35% pursue graduate study, and 10% enter medical school. 

Graduates during the last two years seeking admission to graduate school were admitted to prestigious institutions including Rice University, Boston University, University of Michigan, Purdue University, Johns Hopkins University, Case Western Reserve University (receiving one of the two highest fellowships in Biomedical Engineering at CWRU), University of Virginia, Tulane University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

The Program has had a student on the USA Today Academic All-American Team for 6 out of 9 consecutive years (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, and 2000). Six BIEN students have participated in the highly selective Baylor College of Medicine SMART (Summer Medical and Research Training) Program in the last eight years.

All requirements listed in the General Information section of the University Bulletin apply. In addition, a student majoring in a program in the College of Engineering must have at least a 2.0 grade point average in courses bearing the specific rubric of the major program (e.g., computer science, civil engineering, etc.) when computed on all attempts for which a final grade was received (excluding 'W plus' grades). In order to graduate from a baccalaureate program in the College of Engineering, a student must complete 27 of the last 36 hours in the curriculum while enrolled in the College of Engineering.

Student Societies

• Biomedical Engineering Student Society (BMES): As the professional organization for Biomedical Engineering students, the Louisiana Tech Chapter of Biomedical Engineering Society plays an important role in preparing our undergraduate students for their career objectives beyond the bachelor degree. The organization sponsors speakers, field trips, and social events, and participates in activities at the college and university levels. Speakers have included practicing biomedical engineers and physicians, faculty and professional staff from the Program, undergraduate students, and graduate students. 

• Alpha Eta Mu Beta (AEMB): The national honor society in Biomedical Engineering, Alpha Eta Mu Beta, was founded by Dr. Daniel D. Reneau (our current President) under the sponsorship of the former Alliance for Engineering in Medicine and Biology (AEMB). The first chapter of Alpha Eta Mu Beta was established at Louisiana Tech University in 1979. Dr. Napper (Co-PI on this proposal) was a student at Louisiana Tech University at that time and helped organize the first chapter. The purpose of this organization is to recognize and encourage excellence in Biomedical Engineering students. The chapter promotes academic excellence and high moral standards. Much like BMES, it provides opportunities for the development of communication and leadership skills and promotes high standards in academic and professional activities.

Employers of Tech Graduates

• Medical Instrumentation Companies (e.g. Siemens, Medtronics, Mallinckrodt)

• Orthopedic Device Companies (e.g. Richards Medical, Sofamor Danek, DePuy)

• Hospital Products Companies (e.g. Baxter Healthcare, Abbott Laboratories, Burron Medical

• Pharmaceutical Companies (e.g. Boots Pharmaceutical)

• Aerospace Life Science Companies/Divisions (e.g. Wyle/Krug Life Sciences, Bionetics, General Electric, McDonnell Douglas)

• Governmental Research and Regulatory Agencies (e.g. NASA, FDA, U.S. Army Biomedical R & D Lab)

• Private Research Organizations (e.g. Southwest Research Institute)

• Hospitals (e.g. Veteran's Administration and other private hospitals, General Electric Medical Systems contract services)