Santa Clara University

BIOENGINEERING

Director: Yuling Yan

Bioengineering is the fastest-growing segment of engineering today and holds the promise of improving the lives of all people in very direct and diverse ways. Bioengineering focuses on the application of electrical, chemical, mechanical, and other engineering principles to understand, modify, or control biological systems, and educates students to solve problems at the interface of engineering and the life sciences.

The major in bioengineering is designed to prepare students for careers in the medical-device and biotechnology industries, for graduate study in bioengineering, or entry into medical school.

The bioengineering (or biomedical engineering) minor is primarily designed for those students who are interested in the field but are majoring in other disciplines. Particularly, science majors, students completing prerequisites for medical school as part of their undergraduate degree, or engineering majors.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR

In addition to fulfilling the University Core Curriculum requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree, students majoring in bioengineering must complete a minimum of 191 units and the following requirements:

English

• ENGL 181, 182

Bioethics

• One course selected from PHIL 7, ENGR 19, or BIOL 171

Biology-Chemistry-Physics Core

• BIOL 21, 24, 25
• BIOL 124 (medical device track)
• BIOL 174 or 175 (biomolecular/pre-med track)
• CHEM 11, 12, 13, 31, 32
• PHYS 31, 32, 33

Mathematics Core

• MATH 11, 12, 13, 14
• AMTH 106, AMTH 108

Engineering Core

• ENGR 1
• ELEN 21 (or COEN 21), ELEN 50
• COEN 44 or 45
• MECH 15
• BIOE 10, two courses from BIOE 153, 154 and 155, BIOE 161, BIOE 162

Senior Design Project (6 units in an interdisciplinary design project)

• BIOE 194, 195, 196

In addition, students must take a minimum of 15 units of technical electives to meet the requirements of one of the two specialization tracks:

Medical Devices and Instrumentation Track

• Three or four courses from AMTH 118; BIOE 100, 107, 156, 199; BIOL 104, 122, 174, 175, 176; COEN 123; ELEN 115, 116, 130, 152, 156, 160; MECH 121, 122, 123, 151, 154

Bio-molecular/Pre-med Track

• Three or four courses from BIOE 100, 156, 199; BIOL 104, 122, 124, 175 (or 174), 176, 177, 178; CHEM 33, 111, 141, 142, 151, 152

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MINOR

An interdisciplinary minor in biomedical engineering is available. Please see Chapter 6 – Interdisciplinary Minors.

LOWER-DIVISION COURSES: BIOENGINEERING

10. Introduction to Bioengineering
An introduction to the central topics of bioengineering, including the application of engineering methods and science to problems in biology and medicine, and the integration of engineering and biology. Current issues and opportunities in the field will be discussed. Course may include lectures, class discussions, guest lectures, field trips, short lab exercises, and team projects. Open to all engineering and science majors. (4 units)

UPPER-DIVISION COURSES: BIOENGINEERING

100. Bioengineering Research Seminar
A series of one-hour seminars will be presented by guest professors and researchers on their particular research topics in bioengineering or related fields. Students are required to attend 4–5 seminars and submit a one-page report summarizing the presentation for each seminar. May be repeated for credits. (Grading: P/NP) (1 unit)

107. Medical Device Product Development
The purpose of this course is to provide background information and knowledge to start or enhance a career in medical device product development. Discusses medical device examples, product development processes, regulation, industry information, and intellectual property. Also listed as EMGT 307. Prerequisite: BIOE 10. (2 units)

153. Biomaterials Science
An introduction into materials used for medical devices. Focus areas include: materials science, biology, biochemistry, practical aspects of biomaterials, industry literature and applications. Prerequisite: CHEM 13. (4 units)

154. Introduction to Biomechanics
Overview of basic human anatomy, physiology, and anthropometry. Applications of mechanical engineering to the analysis of human motion, function, and injury. Review of issues related to designing devices for use in, or around, the human body including safety, biocompatibility, ethics, and FDA regulations. Also listed as MECH 254. Prerequisites: BIOE 10, PHYS 33. (4 units)

155. Biological Transport Phenomena
The transport of mass, momentum, and energy are critical to the function of living systems and the design of medical devices. This course develops and applies scaling laws and the methods of continuum mechanics to biological transport phenomena over a range of length and time scales. Prerequisite: BIOE 10, PHYS 33, AMTH 106. (4 units)

156. Introduction to Biomaterials
Introduction to each class of biomaterial. Exploration of research, commercial, and regulatory literature. Written and oral reports by students on a selected application requiring one or more biomaterials. Also listed as MECH 256. Offered every other year. (2 units)

161. Bioinstrumentation
Transducers and biosensors from traditional to nanotechnology; bioelectronics and measurement system design; interface between biological system and instrumentation; data analysis; clinical safety. Laboratory component will include traditional clinical measurements and design and test of a measurement system with appropriate transducers. No human or animal subjects will be used. Also listed as ELEN 161. Prerequisites: BIOE 10, BIOL 21, PHYS 33, ELEN 50. (4 units)

161L. Laboratory for BIOE 161
Co-requisite: BIOE 161. (1 unit)

162. BioSignals and Processing
Origin and characteristics of bioelectric, bio-optical, and bioacoustic signals generated from biological systems. Behavior and response of biological systems to stimulation. Acquisition and interpretation of signals. Signal processing methods include FFT spectral analysis and time-frequency analysis. Laboratory component will include modeling of signal generation and analysis of signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), and vocal sound pressure waveforms. Also listed as ELEN 162. Prerequisites: BIOE 10, PHYS 33, ELEN 50. (4 units)

162L. Laboratory for BIOE 162
Co-requisite: BIOE 162. (1 unit)

194. Design Project I
Specification of an engineering project, selected with the mutual agreement of the student and the project advisor. Complete initial design with sufficient detail to estimate the effectiveness of the project. Initial draft of the project report. (2 units)

195. Design Project II
Continued design and construction of the project, system, or device. Second draft of project report. Prerequisite: BIOE 194. (2 units)

196. Design Project III
Continued design and construction of the project, system, or device. Final report. Prerequisite: BIOE 195. (2 units)

198. Internship
Directed internship in local bioengineering and biotech companies or research in off-campus programs under the guidance of research scientists or faculty advisors. Required to submit a professional research report. Open to upper-division students. (Variable units)

199. Supervised Independent Research
By arrangement. Faculty advisor required. (1-4 units)