Undergraduate Program

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester is to create and disseminate knowledge in engineering related to biomedical sciences and health care, and to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills they will need to be leaders in their chosen field. (Updated June, 2007)

Educational Outcomes

  1. Students should be able to draw upon basic knowledge in science and mathematics to address engineering problems in a biomedical context.
    1. Demonstrate a working knowledge of the basic principles of chemistry, physics, and calculus through differential equations, linear algebra, and biology, and demonstrate intermediate knowledge in a focused area within the biological sciences.
    2. Demonstrate ability to apply basic science concepts as foundations to biomedical engineering analysis or design.
  2. Students should be able to apply principles of engineering analysis to solve problems in medicine and biology. Students should be able to:
    1. Demonstrate ability to solve general engineering analysis problems and problems related to medicine and biology.
    2. Demonstrate ability to use computational tools (e.g., spreadsheets, structured programming languages, analysis, and data acquisition software, and simulation software) and to write logical algorithms.
  3. Students should have knowledge of fundamental methods of engineering design and be able to apply design principles to solve problems in medicine and biology.
    1. Demonstrate ability to design a process, component, or system to meet a specific biomedical need.
    2. Demonstrate ability to solve open-ended problems.
  4. Students should be able to apply the scientific method as a means to obtain a mechanistic understanding of biomedical processes.
    1. Demonstrate ability to make measurements and record results.
    2. Demonstrate ability to analyze results of measurements for significance.
    3. Demonstrate awareness of common sources of error in experimental measurements.
    4. Demonstrate ability to generate a hypothesis, and to design and/or use experimental procedures to test hypotheses.
  5. Students should display good team working skills and be able to make coherent public presentations of their work.
    1. Demonstrate ability and willingness to use teamwork in problem solving.
    2. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in oral and poster presentations.
    3. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in written reports of an engineering or scientific analysis or experiment.
    4. Demonstrate ability to use research tools such as electronic databases of scientific articles.
  6. Students should understand and practice professionalism and have well-defined career plans.
    1. Articulate a workable plan of action to achieve a career as a practicing engineer or to achieve admission to graduate or professional school.
    2. Demonstrate an appreciation of social responsibilities, ethics, and professionalism.
  7. Students should demonstrate an awareness of the process, value, and potential of research in biomedical engineering.
    1. Make effective use of the research literature in projects and reports.
    2. Participation in research activities.