Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 UMaine Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 UMaine Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biomedical Engineering


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OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 130

Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0.

Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: None.

Other GPA requirements to graduate: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in BEN courses

Other Requirements: Entrance into the Biomedical Engineering program requires that students have a PC-compatible laptop computer capable of running Microsoft Office®, Mathcad©, Labview©, and Solidworks©.

Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: BEN 478 and BEN 479

Contact Information: Hemant Pendse, Chair, 115 Jenness Hall, 501-2290 pendse@maine.edu


The mission of the Biomedical Engineering program reflects the mission of Maine’s Land Grant University, specifically to provide teaching, research and public service in the discipline of Bioengineering. The goal of the Bachelor of Science program is to prepare students for employment or graduate education in fields associated with clinical, therapeutic, and diagnostic applications of Biomedical Engineering. Students are given high quality undergraduate engineering instruction directed toward the instrumentation and techniques employed to analyze biological systems and processes, the challenges and methodologies associated with manipulating biological systems, and the current and future applications of Biomedical Engineering. The program educational objectives are that in the time frame of three to five years after graduation our students will:

  • Hold positions that utilize their engineering training and have advanced in their job responsibilities, or be pursuing postgraduate education.
  • Be working as engineering professionals, act ethically by adhering to standards and being committed to the health and safety of employees and the general population.
  • Be pursuing innovative solutions to current societal challenges and continue to improve themselves through a variety of learning opportunities.
  • Contribute to their employer and society by working effectively in the global economy, contribute to professional, civic, or governmental organizations, be leading or working collaboratively in teams, and be communicating with diverse groups.

Upon completion of the program, our students will have:

  • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
  • An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
  • An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability.
  • An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
  • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
  • An understanding of professional ethical responsibility.
  • An ability to communicate effectively.
  • The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context.
  • A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
  • A knowledge of contemporary issues.
  • An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Program Description
The field of Biomedical Engineering encompasses a broad range of topics, all of which focus on the interface between biology and engineering. Bioengineers use engineering skills to design devices or develop methods that interface with biological systems to benefit society. For example, Bioengineers might be involved in the design of artificial organs, development of new methods to detect or treat cancer, production of devices to measure biological agents, or formulation of materials for the controlled release of drugs. Bioengineers work at the forefront of research and industry and frequently address clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of engineering. Students entering UMaine’s Biomedical Engineering B.S. program typically have a strong interest in science and problem solving. The curriculum provides thorough training in the fundamentals of engineering, mathematics and science, combined with additional elective coursework in engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Employing this knowledge base, students develop the skills to engineer solutions to real world problems. Additional information about the program is available on our website.

Biomedical Engineering majors interested in production of biofuels, biopharmaceuticals and biopolymers may take advantage of a Bioprocess Engineering Concentration. Additionally, UMaine’s College of Engineering offers a Biomedical Engineering Minor, a five-year BS-MBA degree with the Maine Business School, as well as a minor in Engineering Leadership and Management.

Degrees are awarded upon satisfactory completion of 130 credits with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.0 in Biomedical Engineering courses. 

The program in Bioengineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Degree name change from “B.S. in Bioengineering” to “B.S. in Biomedical Engineering” will be reviewed in the upcoming ABET visit.

Summer Internships, Undergraduate Research Experiences, and the Cooperative Work Experience Program Option in Biomedical Engineering

UMaine faculty members help students obtain summer internships in leading research and diagnostics development laboratories throughout New England. Internships with these companies and research institutions typically take place in the junior and senior years of the program.

Students are encouraged to undertake undergraduate research experiences in the laboratories of the department faculty. UMaine Biomedical Engineering professors are all highly active and accomplished researchers. Research projects have included the development of nanoprobes for detection and imaging of cancer; creation of model cellular membranes for the study of membrane-protein interactions, molecular biosensors for detecting pathogens and toxins, and improving tissue-implant compatibility. Undergraduates are encouraged to participate in projects such as these to gain hands-on experience in the field, either for course credit, or as paid employees.

Students with satisfactory academic standing at the end of their fourth semester may elect to participate in the “Co-Op” program. This fifteen month program involves two fourteen-week sessions of paid, supervised professional experience as a junior engineer. The Co-Op sessions are typically scheduled during alternating semesters of the third year with a semester of coursework between the sessions. Students are able to participate in the Co-Op experience and still graduate in four years by scheduling coursework during a summer term. Participating students must register for one credit for each term of CoOP or Internship. 

Employment Opportunities
The B.S. degree is suitable for entry-level engineering careers and as preparation for graduate-level study in engineering or scientific disciplines. The degree also serves as an excellent foundation for admission to medical degree programs. For students who wish to pursue advanced postgraduate studies in this area, UMaine also offers a Master of Science degree in Biological Engineering, in addition to a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences http://gsbs.umaine.edu/.

Computers
Students entering the Biomedical Engineering program are required to have a PC-compatible laptop computer capable of running Microsoft Office®, Mathcad®, Labview©, and Solidworks©. Visit the departmental website for recommended configuration details.

Scholarships
Many Biomedical Engineering undergraduates enjoy some degree of scholarship support. The following scholarships are offered on a competitive basis:

Howard D. Bartlett ‘44 and Phyllis White Bartlett ‘45 Scholarship
Charles A. Brautlecht Scholarship
Eileen M. Byrnes Scholarship
Louis Calder Foundation Scholarship
Richard E. Durst Scholarship
S.T. Han Memorial Scholarship
Thomas G. Mangan and John W. Mangan Scholarship
Omar F. and Lenora L. Tarr Memorial Scholarship

Required Courses in Suggested Sequence for the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering


The recommended sequence of the four-year curriculum is outlined below. Under special circumstances course sequencing may be adapted to a student’s scheduling needs in consultation with their academic advisor.

 

NOTE:

Incoming students who have credit for MAT 126/127, CHY 121/122/123/124 and PHY 121, will be given the option to waive BEN 111 and 112. It is recommended that Biomedical Engineering students continue to take BEN 112. Students will need to make up the credits for these courses as well as fulfill the General Education Ethics requirement through another course.

Third Year - First Semester


Third Year - Second Semester


Fourth Year - First Semester


Fourth Year - Second Semester


Special Requirements


A minimum of 45 credits in engineering topics is required for graduation. Courses that meet this criteria are indicated with an (*). For transfer students, judicious use of Technical Electives should be employed to meet the minimum number of engineering topic credits.

(1)The Human Values & Social Context Electives (18 credits) must be selected to meet the University of Maine General Education requirements. These should be selected from a list of approved courses to satisfy each of the five sub-categories: western cultural tradition, social context and institutions, cultural diversity and international perspectives, population and the environment, and artistic and creative expression. Some courses cover more than one sub-category. It is recommended that students consider completing their elective requirements during extra sessions such as summer, winter or May terms. Doing so provides scheduling flexibility for the addition of minors or COOP activities.

(2)The Technical Electives (12 credits) should be upper level (300 level or higher) engineering, mathematics or science courses. A list of approved courses is available at the Department Office or at http://www.umche.maine.edu/chb.
 

Ethics

The course sequence BEN 111, BEN 477, BEN 479 and BEN 493 satisfies the University of Maine General Education requirements for ethics.  Transfer students who do not complete the sequence of courses should make sure that they satisfy the ethics requirement through their choice of Human Values and Social Context electives.

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