ABET Information

Undergraduate Studies

Biomedical Engineering involves the combination of the physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical sciences with engineering principles to create solutions to a wide range of societal problems associated with medical, environmental, occupational, and product development issues. Bioengineers are the people who design and develop innovative materials, processes, devices, biologics, and informatics to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, to rehabilitate patients, and to generally improve health. Bioengineers also provide environmentally sound solutions to industrial process problems, and use their knowledge of biological systems to create biologically inspired processes and products. More about a career in Biomedical Engineering can be found here, in a brochure prepared by the IEEE-Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers several pathways for undergraduate students to obtain an understanding of Biomedical Engineering.

Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers the major in biomedical engineering, leading to the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree. The department also offers a minor in biomedical engineering designed for non-engineering students. (See the entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs for the requirements for the minor in biomedical engineering.) In a rigorous, cross-disciplinary training and research environment, the major program provides an engineering education along with a strong background in the biological and physical sciences. It is designed to enhance the development of creativity and collaboration through study of a specialization within the field of biomedical engineering. Teamwork, communication skills, and hands-on laboratory and research experience are emphasized. The curriculum provides students with the underlying engineering principles required to understand how biological organisms are formed and how they respond to their environment.

Core courses provide depth within the broad field of biomedical engineering. These are integrated with, and rely upon, course offerings from both the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. In order to achieve the breadth of engineering experience expected of biomedical engineering graduates, additional elective courses from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences are required of all biomedical engineering students

Graduates are prepared for entry into professions in biomedical engineering, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology, as well as careers in academia and government. Potential employers include colleges and universities, hospitals, government, research institutes and laboratories, and private industry.

Currently, four specialization tracks are offered for the major in biomedical engineering: Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Bioelectricity, and Molecular and Cellular Biomedical Engineering. Click here to view a sample major course sequence.

Combined BE-MS Program

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers the major in biomedical engineering, leading to the Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) degree. BME undergraduate students can enroll in the BE/MS degree starting in their senior year and pursue a Bachelor’s Degree along with a MS in Biomedical Engineering. For complete program details, click here,

Minor Program for Arts and Sciences Majors
Bioengineering Track for Life Sciences Majors

The common goal of the Bioengineering Minor and Track Programs at Stony Brook is to expose science majors to the dominant theme in engineering, specifically, problem solving under conditions involving multiple objectives and constraints. Effective problem solving requires both identification of the assumptions underlying the problem definition, and experience with a broad range of possible design solutions. We believe the biological world provides an excellent context in which to teach these concepts. Numerous examples exist in nature which can be used to critically evaluate the role of assumptions in creating "optimal" designs. Indeed, nature has provided us with a broad range of design "solutions" to apparently very similar "problems". Furthermore, as we enter the 21st century, the field of biomimetics, or interest in engineering approaches found in biology, is rapidly emerging as an important new direction in engineering design.

Undergraduate Courses in Biomedical Engineering

Five undergraduate level courses are currently offered through the Biomedical Engineering Program. These courses have been developed for, and are taken primarily by students in the College of Arts and Sciences who are completing the Minor in Biomedical Engineering. In addition, a small number of engineering students currently enroll in the minor program. Students taking the Minor in Biomedical Engineering must complete BME 201, BME 440 and two 300 level BME courses.

Undergraduate Research and Internship Opportunities

ABET Information

Mission Statement - Department of Biomedical Engineering

The educational goal of our biomedical engineering programs is to rigorously educate our undergraduate students in diverse fields of biomedical engineering that build on a strong foundation in engineering, physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology, and then develop a core competency in a specific specialized area of biomedical engineering. Particular focus is given to in-depth education in the engineering and biological concepts underlying physiological processes. The principal means of accomplishing these goals is through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum, which begins with a critical understanding of engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology, building towards state-of-the-art biomedical engineering research and development.

Because a critical component of our educational mission is to provide a permanent foundation from which the student can succeed in a career in biomedical engineering, an integrated, core set of biomedical engineering courses have been implemented. These courses provide our students with the underlying mathematical and engineering principles required to understand how biological organisms develop and respond to their environment. The students will also attain a credible level of sophistication in their understanding of cell, tissue, and organ physiology. Additionally, the student will be able to complement this background with supplementary courses within biomedical engineering, augmented by targeted electives in engineering and biology.

ABET Objectives

The undergraduate program in biomedical engineering has the following five specific educational objectives:

  1. Career Preparation: Our graduates will be prepared to excel in bioengineering, bioscience, or medical disciplines in basic and applied research, design or technology development, representing the fields of academics, government, medicine, law or industry.

  2. Professional Development: Our graduates will emerge as recognized experts in the field of biomedical engineering, and serve in positions of leadership in academics, government, medicine or industry. Further, our alumni will function successfully as principal members of integrative and interdisciplinary teams.

  3. Professional Conduct: Our graduates will hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the public, and conduct themselves in a professional and ethical manner at all times. Further, our alumni will communicate effectively to a variety of target audiences through both written and oral media.

  4. Societal Contribution: Our graduates will respond and adapt to the scientific and engineering needs of society, both nationally and internationally, seek out new opportunities, and contribute to the development of a healthy and globally competitive economy.

  5. Life-Long Learning: Our graduates will continually build on their undergraduate foundation of science, engineering, and societal understanding, and continue to develop their knowledge, skills, and contributions throughout their professional careers and private lives. This will include active participation in professional societies, attending and making presentations at conferences, and participating in outreach activities within their areas of expertise.

ABET Outcomes