A biomedical engineering degree is a cross between engineering and biological science because it applies the skills and training of an engineer to the medical field. The human body is made up of inter-connected systems that are often likened to machines, and machines fall naturally under the domain of engineering.
Thus it is not surprising to extend engineering knowledge to biological science and to give it formal recognition as a biomedical engineering degree.
Biomedical engineering is ideal for those willing to take on the rigors of medical studies combined with the power of engineering analysis and design. The driving motivation for this endeavor is a desire to serve others through the use of science and technology in improving the quality of life of human beings.
Both medicine and engineering are directed towards that objective.
Biomedical engineering has emerged from the various interdisciplinary specializations that focus on the natural sciences, namely, biology, chemistry and physics. Because of its strong foundation on the natural sciences, biomedical engineering has close links to the more established fields of chemical engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering.
A biomedical engineering degree opens up various career opportunities in this emerging field of study as the medical profession increasingly looks to biotech solutions in addressing the problems of healthcare diagnosis, monitoring and therapy.
Holders of biomedical engineering degrees can look forward to challenging careers in academia, the biotechnology industries, public health, or medical sciences. Biomedical engineering also provides a solid foundation for advanced degrees in related fields such as physical therapy, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, public health, sports physiology, medical school, dental school, and pharmacy school.
An undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering serves as a first step, but a master’s degree is often required as an entry level qualification into the profession.
Currently there are no professional certifications required for the practice of biomedical engineering similar to the traditional engineering fields.
The broad and diverse spectrum of specialized fields calls for deeper study into the discipline of one’s choice. Some of the specialization tracks or sub-disciplines of biomedical engineering include:
• Biomechanics: the science concerned with the internal and external forces acting on the human body and the effects produced by these forces. The focus would be on medical devices and the modeling of biological systems.
• Bioinstrumentation/Bioelectrical Systems: the use of instruments for the recording or transmission of physiological information, such as breathing rate or heart rate. The focus is on medical devices and modeling of biological systems, such as circuit analogies to the nervous system.
• Cell, Tissue and Bio-molecular Engineering: the perspective of viewing the life sciences at a molecular level. The discipline covers a wide range, from artificial tissues to drug delivery and genetic engineering. It combines expertise from biology, mathematics, computer science, and chemical engineering.
• Rehabilitation Engineering: the systematic application of engineering sciences to design and develop technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities. Through rehabilitation engineering such individuals can overcome problems with mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition and enable them to perform functions that ease their integration into the community.
• Medical Devices: this refers to health care products that achieve their intended results through methods other than chemical (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or biological (e.g., vaccines) means. Examples include pacemakers, the heart-lung machine, dialysis machines, artificial organs, implants, artificial limbs, and prosthetics.
• Imaging and Image Processing: developing low-cost image acquisition systems and image processing algorithms as applied in a biomedical context. Examples of imaging methods that are used to “see” inside the human body are X-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computerized tomography (CT).
The curriculum for a biomedical engineering degree includes basic engineering courses, biology and other basic sciences. Since much of the actual professional work in biomedical engineering involves research and development, lab and design projects are expectedly part of the curriculum. This provides students with hands-on, real-world experience.
A thesis in the senior year could also be required for a biomedical engineering degree. Career-related experiences through internship programs, summer jobs or a co-op are even more valuable for the student. Students have been known to work on projects in the areas of cell and tissue engineering, genetics, and vaccines.
The pursuit of a biomedical engineering degree requires certain qualities and skills such as analytical and problem-solving skills, organizational skills, communication skills, curiosity, creativity, innovativeness, persistence, attention to detail, resourcefulness and perseverance.
Armed with a sophisticated level of scientific and technical knowledge and the versatile skills honed by a biomedical engineering degree, one has the potential to develop a new drug therapy for previously incurable diseases or to design the next micro-robot that doctors use to perform intricate surgeries.
Biomedical engineers use their skills and dedication to design, construct, implement, and maintain lifesaving devices that have positive impact on the lives of people.