What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical Engineering (BME) is the application of engineering principles and design concepts to medicine and biology for healthcare purposes (e.g. diagnostic or therapeutic). This field seeks to close the gap between engineering and medicine, combining the design and problem-solving skills of engineering with medical and biological sciences to advance healthcare treatment, including diagnosis, monitoring, and therapy. Biomedical engineering has only recently emerged as its own study, compared to many other engineering fields. Such an evolution is common as a new field transitions from being an interdisciplinary specialization among already-established fields, to being considered a field in itself. Much of the work in biomedical engineering consists of research and development, spanning a broad array of subfields (see below). Prominent biomedical engineering applications include the development of biocompatible prostheses, various diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices ranging from clinical equipment to micro-implants, common imaging equipment such as MRIs and EEGs, regenerative tissue growth, pharmaceutical drugs, and therapeutic biologicals.
Biomedical engineering is a growing discipline with broad potential job prospects, fast job growth, a high median income, and excellent quality of life. At Ole Miss, we are preparing students through a rigorous and interactive curriculum to meet the growing demand for biomedical engineers worldwide.
Program Summary
This Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering (BME) degree program will prepare engineering students at the University of Mississippi to understand biology and physiology and the capability to apply advanced mathematics, science, and engineering to solve problems at the interface of engineering, biology, and medicine. Moreover, the curriculum will prepare graduates to make measurements on and interpret data from living systems, addressing problems associated with the interaction between living and non-living materials and systems.
The graduates of the program will be able to pursue (i) employment in biomedical or related industries, (ii) graduate studies in biomedical engineering or related discipline, and (iii) professional careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, or patent law.
Our program offers students a choice of three tracks toward fulfilling the degree requirements. Those tracks are: Bioinformatics, Biomedical Systems Engineering, and Biomolecular Engineering. In addition to the core curriculum, which will be common to all emphases, students will gain additional knowledge in the chosen track area. Bioinformatics emphasis educates students to apply big data analytics to genome sequencing, medical imaging and large data management. Biomedical Systems provides students with an understanding of medical instrumentation/devices, biomechanics and signal analysis, and device design. Biomolecular Engineering educates students in the development of new molecular tools using the principles of molecular biology/biophysics and chemical engineering.
Job Prospects
Want to know what to look forward to after earning your degree in Biomedical Engineering? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections:
| Biomedical Engineering Job Outlook | |
|---|---|
| 2018 Median Pay | $88,550 per year == $42.57 per hour |
| Typical Entry-Level Education | Bachelor’s degree |
| Work Experience in a Related Occupation | None |
| On-the-job Training | None |
| Number of Jobs, 2018 | 19,800 |
| Job Outlook, 2018-28 | 4% (As fast as average) |
| Employment Change, 2018-28 | 700 |
| Source:http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/biomedical-engineers.htm | |