School of Science and Engineering: Biomedical Engineering
2008-2009 Academic Year
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Biomedical Engineering is the application of engineering techniques and
principles to problems and processes of biology or medicine. Such a broad class
of study needs to be narrowed in order to achieve adequate depth, and the
emphasis chosen by our faculty is--first and foremost--to provide students with
the opportunity to acquire a rigorous engineering education. This basis then serves
as a springboard to concentrated study of biomechanics, biomaterials,
bioelectronics, bioelectricity, biotransport and cell and tissue engineering during
the remaining undergraduate years.
Tulane's Department of Biomedical Engineering was founded in 1977, and
therefore is a relatively mature department in a new field--a field in which the
potential for making meaningful contributions is unlimited. Our backgrounds are
diverse and our undergraduate and graduate teaching programs are extensive. All
faculty members are actively engaged in research sponsored by federal, state or
private organizations, and we believe that this enhances our teaching abilities by
keeping each of us in the forefront of knowledge in our sub-specialties.
CREATIVITY, RESEARCH, DESIGN: CHARACTERISTICS OF
TULANE'S UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Hallmarks of our undergraduate curriculum are the research and design
experiences that are coordinated through the two semester sequences in `Research
and Professional Practice' and `Team Design' so that every biomedical
engineering student participates in an individual research project as well as a
team-design project.
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF TULANE'S UNDERGRADUATE
· First year course in Statics, designed to help students decide if engineering
is the right career for them, help develop creativity, help students work
together in teams, and explore the design process.
· Second year course in Product and Experimental Design, to introduce
prototyping, computer aided design, and the design of experiments and
data analysis.
· Breadth in the fundamentals: math, science, engineering sciences (statics,
mechanics of materials, materials science and engineering, circuits),
professional practice.
· Third year courses in human anatomy (with an active-learning gross
anatomy dissection laboratory) and in Quantitative Physiology, taught by
experts in the field, faculty in Tulane's School of Medicine
· Third-year "domain" depth courses in current areas of biomedical
engineering research.