Program Overview
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (BME) is a multidisciplinary field that incorporates concepts in engineering and science to solve a vast array of problems in human health and medicine. Due to its public health importance and multidisciplinary nature, there is a high demand for expertise in the rapidly growing field of BME. Further there is broad employability for our students upon graduation, with a vast and diverse range of careers in the medicine, health, and engineering sectors.
Mission
Our overarching goal is to produce a well-equipped, diverse population of biomedical engineers aimed at solving problems involving human health and well-being. Our mission is to serve the technological needs of society, especially within District of Columbia and Washington Metropolitan Region. We strive to create new opportunities for the community, as well as public and private industries, within the District and beyond. We aim to create a nurturing academic environment for our students, extending even beyond the classroom, that supports individual and group success and confidence. We value critical thinking, innovation, ethical and professional responsibility, teamwork, and leadership.
About the Program
UDC is currently the first and only HBCU nationwide to have an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedical Engineering (BME) degree program. At UDC, the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering Program, housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, exposes students to fundamental courses in Mechanical Engineering and specialized courses in Biomedical Engineering. This enables our BME Program graduates the capacity to engineer and to design for living systems; they are equipped to enter the workforce upon graduation, to pursue advanced degree programs in Biomedical Engineering and other related fields and have the capacity to pursue medical school.
Why pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical Engineering (or BME) is projected to be the fastest growing occupation (> 72% increase nationwide) over the next several years. This large growth means that the demand and number of available jobs for Biomedical Engineers are high.
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field which involves the application of engineering principles and design concepts to solve medical-related problems that affect human quality of life. There are limitless examples of Biomedical Engineering "at work": the development orthopedic devices and drug delivery systems, the development of minimal invasive surgery techniques and devices, the advancement of noninvasive imaging technology, the design and implementation of non-invasive and invasive devices to aid in-patient rehabilitation, and others. Through the application of engineering principles and design concepts to solve problems in medicine and biology, Biomedical Engineering provides a convergence of life sciences with engineering.
Biomedical Engineering at UDC
Housed within the UDC Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Biomedical Engineering program was full-board approved in Fall 2014. Further, a new state-of-the-art Biomedical Engineering research and education laboratory (the Center for Biomechanical & Rehabilitation, CBRE) was opened in Fall 2015 .
UDC is located in a "hotbed" for Biomedical Engineering research in that, world-renowned institutions (e.g., the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH), then National Institutes of Health (NIH), Walter Reed Medical Center, and the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)) are all within close proximity to UDC.
Biomedical Engineering Program Director:
Dr. Max Denis, Ph.D.
E-mail: max.denis@udc.edu