Academic Degree and Certification Programs

The School supports academic programs in three areas: biomedical engineering, biomedical science, and health systems. While these areas are different in their applications and clientele, there are certain common themes which run through all three programs. These themes are based upon our best estimates about future developments in science, engineering, and health care. While it is always somewhat risky to predict the future, certain trends appear to be inevitable:

• While the 20th century was the Age of Electronics and Computers, the 21st will be the Age of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology. The integration of engineered and living systems will become a critical part of human performance, well-being, and health care in the next century;
  

• The management and flow of information will become even more critical in the 21st century than it is today;
  

• The pace of change in social systems, business, research, and education will continue to be rapid. This favors individuals able to think quickly and independently and who can adapt swiftly to new situations and opportunities. Thus, the individual with multidisciplinary training will have the edge over the long term.
  

Those three main themes:

• The integration of technology with living systems
• The management of biomedical information
• Multidisciplinary education and training form the core of all our programs
  

Health Systems

In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Information Systems and Technology, and the School of Environmental Science, Engineering, and Policy, the School is developing academic programs in Health Systems. These programs were designed to respond to a growing need among health care professionals for training in business administration, communication skills, computer systems, informatics, instrumentation, and quantitative analysis. The first of these programs, an undergraduate upper curriculum, Health Systems and Technology , will begin in Winter 1998. The general goal of this program is to provide an educational 'upgrade' path for individuals with training and/or experience in allied health care fields. It is specifically geared towards providing a path to a bachelor's of science degree for those with associate degrees in the allied health professions. The areas covered reflect the needs of the market and include: computer systems; informatics; business skills in fiscal management, marketing, and personnel issues; training in professional communications, including technical presentations and proposal preparation; biomedical instrumentation; quantitative analysis, environmental health and safety issues; and psychology especially relevant to those in health care. The program is designed for individuals engaged in full-time employment and is managed jointly by School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems and the College of Evening and Professional Studies. It is assumed that individuals will be entering the program with the equivalent of an Associates Degree in allied health or related specialty.

The modular design of the Health Systems and Technology major reflects the need for flexibility in providing educational opportunities. Although created as a program leading to a bachelor's degree, some potential students may only want or need educational enhancement in certain select areas. As a result, we are offering two levels of certification in addition the Bachelor's Degree. The first, or primary, level of certification is obtained by completing six of the flagship courses. These courses are:

• Computers in Health Systems I and II
• Biomedical Informatics I and II
• Health Care Administration
• Biomedical Ethics and Law

The second level of certification involves completing all the coursework in a given module. The six certification modules presently available include:

• Administration (Fiscal and Personnel Management);
• Computer and Information Systems (Computer Systems and Informatics);
• Health and Safety;
• Instrumentation and Analysis;
• Presentations and Communication;
• Psychology and Ethics.

The advantage of this approach is that it provides the student with three options for their educational advancement, each level of which provides the necessary education and credits for the next level. The flagship courses serve as prerequisites for the modules, and certain modules, in turn, can be added together to fulfill the requirements for the Bachelor's of Science. Thus, no matter to what extend a student participates in this program, he or she gains two advantages: the knowledge and skills provided by the actual coursework and fulfillment of the requirements for the next level of the educational process. Students need not stop their education with the B.S. - they may continue working towards such graduate degrees as the Master's in Business Administration (M.B.A.) or Master's in Biomedical Science. Since educational needs in healthcare management and information systems are anticipated to rise sharply, a stand alone degree program at the undergraduate level is under consideration. A counterpart graduate certification program in Healthcare Management and Information Systems is also slated to begin soon.

Cooperative Education and Career Opportunities

Metropolitan Philadelphia boasts one of the highest concentrations of medical and technical universities, health care institutions, medical device and systems, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. The region is a living laboratory for biomedical engineer and science studies and offers unique opportunities. Principal employment and education opportunities enjoyed by our students are in:

• Medical devices and systems industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Biotechnology and Agricultural industries
• Telemedicine
• Health care institutions and hospitals
• Insurance
• Medical, dental and veterinary education and careers
• Law, especially patent law
• Federal, state and local governmental agencies
• Graduate education and careers in research and development
• Biomedical technology and information management
• Biomedical technology innovation and transfer
• Small business development

Research Environment

The School faculty is world-renowned with specialties in engineering, sciences, clinical and health systems applications. Focus areas in research and education include ultrasound in biomedicine, medical imaging, biomedical signal processing, cardiovascular system, biomechanics, biomaterials, biosensors, tissue and cellular engineering, neuroengineering, biostatistics, computational biomedicine, medical devices. Research laboratories include Biomaterials Laboratory, Biomechanics Research Laboratory, Biomedical Signal Processing, Calhoun Comparative Medicine Laboratory, Cardiovascular Laboratory, Small Animal Chronobiology Laboratory, Imaging and Computer Vision Center, Computer Vision Center for Vertebrate Brain Mapping, Materials Research Laboratory, Scaling Signals and Systems Laboratory, Sensor/Bioelectrode Laboratory, Ultrasound Laboratories.

For more information contact School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems at (215)895-2215 or biomed@drexel.edu.