Academics / Undergraduate Study / Biomedical Engineering (BS)Areas of Concentration
The undergraduate program at Northwestern offers a close relationship between students and faculty. Every effort is made to tailor specific programs to needs and interests. Several broad areas of concentration are described below.
Biological Materials and Molecular Engineering
This track combines biochemistry, materials science, molecular biology, and other research areas to generate devices and interfaces from the nanoscale to the microscale. By integrating fundamental synthesis/fabrication principles with relevant medical needs, students learn to engineer technologies with translational relevance.
Biomechanics and Rehabilitation
In this track, musculoskeletal and fluid (e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary) mechanics are applied to human physiology in the design and manufacture of limb prostheses or artificial organs.
Biomedical Signals and Images
Imaging and signal processing have become integral parts of biomedical engineering. Applications include MRI, CT and PET scans, neural signal analysis, and optics. Students in this track obtain a solid foundation in mathematics, physics, and physiology with an emphasis on applications in image and signal analysis. This track is appropriate for students interested in pursuing careers in MRI, medical physics, biomedical optics, or neural engineering.
Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering
Electronic instruments are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and in the study of normal physiological function. In this track, students learn the fundamentals of electronic and computer instrumentation (hardware and software) with a focus on their applications in biomedicine.
Transport Processes and Tissue Engineering
This track concerns the application of engineering principles to the design, modulation, and/or replacement of cells, tissues, and organs. Students learn concepts of fluid mechanics, mass transfer, and the molecular and cellular biology necessary in the field.