Undergraduate Program in Biomedical Engineering

Q. What is biomedical engineering?

Q. What can you tell me about the biomedical engineering majors at Drexel?

Q. What distinguishes Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems undergraduate program from those of other universities?

Q. Are there opportunities to participate in research and design while taking classes?

Q. What can you tell me about academic and professional advising in biomedical engineering?

Q. I am told that biomedical engineering is the best practical pre-med major.  Can you explain why?

Q. Does Drexel offer accelerated and integrated academic programs?

Q. Does Drexel offer an honors program?

Q. What's the Philadelphia region like?

Q. Who can I contact for more information?

Q. What is biomedical engineering?

A. According to the working definition of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), biomedical engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behavior, and health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ system levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease; for patient rehabilitation; and for improving health.

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Q. What can you tell me about the biomedical engineering majors at Drexel?

A. Biomedical engineering majors at Drexel have distinguished academic records. They meet and exceed our high admission standards. Our biomedical engineering undergraduates have won many national and university awards and honors for their research, service, and academic achievements.

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Q. What distinguishes Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems undergraduate program from those of other universities?

A. Our School offers one of the most unique and comprehensive ABET-accredited programs in the country. Our cooperative education (co-op) program offers a healthy mix of classroom and real world experience. Coursework alternates with "real world" employment in industry, healthcare institutions, and medical laboratories, including work with our distinguished faculty in Drexel's world-class laboratories on tissue engineering, bionanotechnology, biosensors and bioimaging, neuroengineering, and bioinformatics. These emerging research directions in biomedical engineering anchor our curriculum and set it apart from other universities.

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Q. Are there opportunities to participate in research and design while taking classes?

A. Students who are interested in research are welcome to join one of the teams working in our laboratories on breakthrough research in tissue engineering, bionanotechnology, biosensors and bioimaging, neuroengineering, and bioinformatics. Our program also provides students with design experience, beginning in their freshmen year and culminating in a capstone senior design project. Many of our students' designs have intellectual property value (such as patents and copyrights) that has become the basis of new companies they have formed, with support from our Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship.

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Q. What can you tell me about academic and professional advising in biomedical engineering?

A. Our faculty is dedicated to the success of our students. All undergraduate biomedical engineering students are assigned to a faculty member for academic and professional advice and guidance throughout their education at Drexel. Our faculty and staff provide critical support for our students' transition to becoming professional biomedical engineers.

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Q. I am told that biomedical engineering is the best practical pre-med major.  Can you explain why?

A. Biomedical engineering is a natural course of study that leads to successful enrollment in medical, dental, or veterinary schools. It equips students with engineering skills that are an excellent preparation for rewarding and productive careers in modern medicine, which is technology driven and research based. Recent statistics indicate that biomedical engineering majors outpace majors in all other disciplines in admission to medical schools. To read more about "Why BIOMED for PreMed," click here.

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Q. Does Drexel offer accelerated and integrated academic programs?

A. Qualified biomedical engineering students may elect to apply to our combined and accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science (BS/MS) program, Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Philosophy (BS/PhD) program, or Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine (BS/MD) program. The latter program is offered in collaboration with Drexel's College of Medicine. To read more about the BS/MD program click here. For BS/MS program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), click here

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Q. Does Drexel offer an honors program?

A. Yes, biomedical engineering majors may also be invited to enroll in our Pennoni Honors College , which offers special curricular, social, and service experiences for more competitive students.

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Q. What's the Philadelphia region like?

A. The Philadelphia region is ideal for studying biomedical engineering, since our region boasts one of the highest concentrations of medical universities and hospitals, biomedical device and systems companies, bio-pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and health systems industries in the United States . Our School takes advantage of this richness by forming academic alliances with regional academic and research institutions and by partnering with a large number of corporations. Our urban setting and our proximity to a vast array of cultural centers in and around Philadelphia are a bonus for those students who wish to grow not only academically, but also intellectually and socially during their college years.

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Q. Who can I contact for more information?

A. For more in-depth answers to your questions, please e-mail Caryn Glaser at glasercb@drexel.edu

To learn more, please visit Drexel University General Admissions web site: www.drexel.edu/ecm

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This FAQ Last Revised 8/4/03.