Department of Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering: BME
Lower-Division Courses
BME 303. Introduction to Computing.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduction to computing and programming, focusing on arithmetic and logic operations, processor architecture, and programming structures. Programming skills for solving problems using machine and assembly language programming. Emphasis is on biomedical engineering applications of computing. Three lecture hours and two recitation hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only.
BME 303L. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Design.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Biomedical engineering design concepts with hands-on learning applications. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 102L and 203L, 303L may not both be counted. Offered on the letter-grade basis only.
BME 311. Network Analysis in Biomedical Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Basic concepts in circuit analysis and design of systems for biomedical engineering; Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws, and nodal and loop analysis; Theyenin's and Norton's theorem; operational amplifiers; high-order circuit and basic AC circuit analysis using Fourier and Laplace transforms. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 303 or Electrical Engineering 306, and Physics 303K; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for: Mathematics 427J or 427K, and Physics 303L.
BME 313L. Introduction to Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduces principles and techniques of numerical analysis of biomedical engineering problems. Examines numerical methods of integration, differentiation, interpolation, curve fitting, data analysis, sampling and estimation, error analysis, analysis of ordinary differential equations, numerical modeling of biomedical engineering systems, symbolic computation, and scientific visualization. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 303 or Electrical Engineering 306, and Mathematics 427J or 427K.
BME 214L. Computational Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Design.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Development of biomedical engineering design concepts, including hands-on learning applications in the lab. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 314 and 214L may not both be counted. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C- in each: Biomedical Engineering 303 or Electrical Engineering 306, Biomedical Engineering 303L (or 203L), and Physics 303K and 103M; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for: Biomedical Engineering 311, Chemistry 302 or 302H, Mathematics 427J or 427K, and Physics 303L and 103N.
Upper-Division Courses
BME 221. Measurement and Instrumentation Laboratory.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduction to the basics of assembling and using instrumentation for the purposes of recording and displaying electrophysiological signals. Mechanical, chemical, and biological principles for biomedical instrumentation. One lecture hour and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 221 and 245L may not both be counted. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 311, 313L (or 113L), 314 or 214L, 333T, and 335; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for: Biomedical Engineering 343 and 365R.
BME 325L. Cooperative Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Covers the work period of biomedical engineering students in the Cooperative Engineering Program. Forty laboratory hours a week for three semesters. The student must complete Biomedical Engineering 325LX, 325LY, and 325LZ before a grade and degree credit are awarded. Prerequisite: For 325LX, application to become a member of the Cooperative Engineering Program, approval of the dean, and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour; for 325LY, Biomedical Engineering 325LX and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour; for 325LZ, Biomedical Engineering 325LY and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour.
BME 225M. Cooperative Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Covers the work period of biomedical engineering students in the Cooperative Engineering Program. Forty laboratory hours a week for two semesters. The student must complete Biomedical Engineering 225MA and 225MB before a grade and degree credit are awarded. Prerequisite: For 225MA, application to become a member of the Cooperative Engineering Program, approval of the dean, and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour; for 225MB, Biomedical Engineering 225MA and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour.
BME 125N. Cooperative Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Covers the work period of biomedical engineering students in the Cooperative Engineering Program. Forty laboratory hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 325LZ or 225MB, application to become a member of the Cooperative Engineering Program, approval of the dean, and appointment for a full-time cooperative work tour.
BME 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S. Topics in Biomedical Engineering.
This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only.
BME 333T. Engineering Communication.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Advanced communication skills for engineers, with emphasis on biomedical engineering topics. Strategies for written, visual, and interpersonal communication, and for oral presentation. Introduction to library research and to ethical decision making in biomedical engineering. Three lecture hours and one recitation hour a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: English 603A or Rhetoric and Writing 306 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 335. Engineering Probability and Statistics.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Fundamentals of probability, random processes, and statistics with emphasis on biomedical engineering applications. Includes hypothesis testing, regression, and sample size calculations. The equivalent of four lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 303 or Electrical Engineering 306, and Mathematics 408D or 408M; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for Biomedical Engineering 313L (or 113L).
BME 339. Biochemical Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Principles of fermentation and cell culture technologies; introduction to recombinant DNA technology and protein expression; the development of therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics using genetic engineering. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 335, Biomedical Engineering 339, Chemical Engineering 339, 379 (Topic: Introduction to Biochemical Engineering). Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biochemistry 369 (or Chemistry 369), Biology 311C or 315H, and one of the following: Biomedical Engineering 355 or Chemistry 353 or 353M.
BME 342. Biomechanics of Human Movement.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Modeling and simulation of human movement; neuromuscular control; computer applications; introduction to experimental techniques. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 344 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 343. Biomedical Engineering Signal and Systems Analysis.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Signals and systems representation; sampling and quantization; time and frequency domains; Laplace and z-transforms, transfer functions, and frequency response; two-port networks; Bode plots; convolution; stability; Fourier series; Fourier transform; AM/FM modulation; filter design; and applications in biomedical engineering. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 311, 313L (or 113L), and Mathematics 427J or 427K.
BME 344. Biomechanics.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Analysis and modeling of biomechanical systems at the macroscopic scale based on principles of statics, dynamics, and strength of materials. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 344 and 377T (Topic: Biomechanics) may not both be counted. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 303L (or 203L), Mathematics 427J or 427K, and Physics 303K.
BME 345. Graphics and Visualization Laboratory.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduction to techniques for graphical display of biological data. Subjects include transformations, geometric modeling, and two- and three-dimensional display algorithms. Includes computational projects with biomedical applications. Four and one-half laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Electrical Engineering 422C and Mathematics 340L with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 245L. Experimental Principles of Biomedical Engineering Design.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Further exploration of biomedical engineering design principles through open-ended hands-on applications. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 221 and 245L may not both be counted. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biology 206L, Biomedical Engineering 314 or 214L, 333T, and 335; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for Biomedical Engineering 365R.
BME 346. Computational Biomolecular Engineering.
Introduction to computational structural biology and molecular modeling, including the fundamentals of biomolecular structure and molecular thermodynamics. The principles and applications of biomolecular modeling used to explore the critical relationship between structure, function, and thermodynamic driving forces in molecular biology. Two lecture hours and one and one-half laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biochemistry 369 (or Chemistry 369), Biology 311C or 315H, Biomedical Engineering 313L (or 113L), 214L (or 314), and one of the following: Biomedical Engineering 355, Chemistry 353 or 353M.
BME 347. Fundamentals of Biomedical Optics.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Fundamentals of the interaction of light with tissue for the purpose of imaging and treatment of disease. Focuses on quantitative modeling of tissue optical properties, light propagation in the tissue, heat transfer of laser irradiated tissue, and thermal damage models. Includes discussion of applications in laser surgery, pulse oximetry, and disease diagnosis using spectroscopy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 347 and 377T (Topic: Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Optical Imaging) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 251 or 261L, and 353.
BME 348. Modeling of Biomedical Engineering Systems.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Lumped and distributed models of physiological system function from molecular through organismal levels. Linear system steady-state and transient behaviors. Interactions among multiple energy domains, including electrical, chemical, diffusional, mechanical, fluid, and thermal. Introduction to feedback control. Three lecture hours and two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 311, 313L (or 113L), 314 or 214L, 343, and Mathematics 427J or 427K.
BME 349. Biomedical Instrumentation.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Biomedical diagnostic and therapeutic instrumentation devices and application. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 343 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 350. Computational Methods for Biomedical Engineers.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Study of and hands-on experiences with computational methods commonly employed in biomedical engineering research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 350 and 377T (Topic: Computational Methods for Biomedical Engineers) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 313L (or 113L), 314 or 214L, and 335.
BME 251. Biomedical Image, Signal, and Transport Process Laboratory.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Processing and analysis of signals and images recorded from human studies or models. Laboratory projects are drawn from image digitization and reconstruction, mechanical studies conducted by students, and transport models. One lecture hour and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 221 or 245L, and Mathematics 427J or 427K with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 352. Engineering Biomaterials.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Overview of properties of metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and composite biomaterials used in biomedical applications. Material synthesis and processing. Analysis of mechanical and chemical properties, including stress-strain. Material interactions with the body and blood. Soft and hard biomaterials applications. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biochemistry 369 (or Chemistry 369), and Biomedical Engineering 344; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for Biomedical Engineering 365R.
BME 353. Transport Phenomena in Living Systems.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Modeling and analysis of momentum, energy, and mass transport in living systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 314 or 214L, Mathematics 427J or 427K, and Physics 303L and 103N.
BME 354. Molecular Sensors and Nanodevices for Biomedical Engineering Applications.
Introduction to major types of molecular sensor systems, device miniaturization, and detection mechanisms, including molecular capture mechanisms; electrical, optical, and mechanical transducers; micro-array analysis of biomolecules; semiconductor and metal nanosensors; microfluidic systems; and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS, BioMEMS) fabrication and applications for biomedical engineering. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 352 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 355. Molecular Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Biomedical applications of molecular engineering, including manufacturing of chemical, protein, and genetic materials. Three hours of lecture a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biochemistry 369 (or Chemistry 369), Biology 311C or 315H, Chemistry 353 or 353M, and Mathematics 427J or 427K.
BME 357. Biomedical Imaging Modalities.
Introduction to major biomedical imaging modalities, including X-ray radiography, computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine (SPECT and PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound. Emphasis on principles, approaches, and applications of each imaging modality. Basic physics and imaging equations of the imaging system; hardware and software; sources of noise and primary artifacts; safety and patient risk. Three lecture hours and two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 348 or 349, and 251 or 261L.
BME 358. Medical Decision Making.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Understanding of the nature of expertise and related subjects of cognitive psychology and human-made interaction to be able to design more effective systems for supporting medical decision making. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 358 and 377T (Topic: Medical Decision Making) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 313L (or 113L), 314 or 214L, and 335.
BME 359. Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Understanding concepts of biomechanics at the cellular and molecular level. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 344 and 353 with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 261L. Development and Analysis in Biomedical Engineering Design.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Further exploration of biomedical engineering design principles through open-ended hands-on applications. Two lecture hours and three laboratory hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 251 and 261L may not both be counted. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 343 and 245L with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 362. Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics in Biological Systems.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 362 and 377T (Topic: Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics in Biological Systems) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 344 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 365R. Quantitative Engineering Physiology I.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. A quantitative, model-oriented approach to vertebrate systems physiology, including basic cellular physiology, electrophysiology of nerve and muscle, the motor system, the central nervous system, and the cardiovascular system. The equivalent of four lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biochemistry 369 (or Chemistry 369), Biology 311C or 315H, Biomedical Engineering 311, 314 or 214L, Mathematics 427J or 427K, and Physics 303L and 103N; and credit with a grade of at least C- or registration for: Biology 206L and Biomedical Engineering 343.
BME 365S. Quantitative Engineering Physiology II.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Biological control systems: sensory, renal, respiratory, and immune systems. Focuses on a quantitative, model-oriented approach to physiological systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 365R with a grade of at least C-.
BME 370. Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design I.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Structured methodologies for designing systems or to interface with living systems. Creative design, analysis, selection, development, and fabrication of biomedical components and systems. Three lecture hours and two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biomedical Engineering 348 or 349, 251 or 261L, 353, and 365S.
BME 371. Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Development of team projects in biomedical engineering with emphasis on prototype development and quantitative analysis, and written and oral reporting of the outcome. Two lecture hours and four laboratory hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 370 with a grade of at least C-.
BME 374K. Biomedical Instrument Design.
Restricted to biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering majors. Application of electrical engineering principles in the design of electronic instrumentation at the circuit-board level for the measurement of pressure, temperature, flow, and impedance. Also includes the study of light intensity, bioelectric potentials, and stimulation devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators. Focus on design considerations specific to electro-medical environments, safety and efficacy, and public policy issues. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 343 and Electrical Engineering 438 with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 374L. Applications of Biomedical Instrumentation Lab.
Restricted to biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering majors. An in-depth examination of selected subjects in biomedical engineering, including optical and thermal properties of laser interaction with tissue; measurement of perfusion in the microvascular system; diagnostic imaging; interaction of living systems with electromagnetic fields; robotic surgical tools; ophthalmic instrumentation; and noninvasive cardiovascular measurements. Students have the opportunity to design analog and digital measurements and acquire and process meaningful biomedical signals. Three lecture hours and six laboratory hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Electrical Engineering 438, and one of the following: Biomedical Engineering 349, 374K, or Electrical Engineering 374K.
BME 375. Stem Cells in Cell and Tissue Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Analysis of recent cell and tissue engineering applications of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). Focus on case studies of each organ in the human body and how it can be engineered using stem cells. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Biomedical Engineering 375 and 377T (Topic: Stem Cells in Cell and Tissue Engineering) may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 352 and 365S with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 376. Cell Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduction to principles that govern the structure, organization, and processes at cellular and subcellular levels. Special focus on engineering and quantitative aspects of cellular machinery. Employs engineering approaches to study receptors, macromolecular complexes, and cellular signaling; clinical and pharmaceutical approaches to perturb cellular structure and function for disease prevention and drug design. State-of-the-art experimental and computational techniques to study cellular engineering. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: The following coursework with a grade of at least C-: Biology 311C or 315H, and Biomedical Engineering 314 or 214L.
BME 177, 277, 377. Undergraduate Research Project.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Recommended for students considering graduate study. Topic is selected in conjunction with a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering or in another approved University department. A final written report or the equivalent is required. Three, six, or nine laboratory hours a week for one semester.
BME 377M. Medical Internship.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Designed for students considering medical school. Students participate in a variety of medical and clinical activities, including clinical inpatient rounds, outpatient visits, operating room procedures, and medical grand rounds. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester.
BME 377R. Research Internship.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Students perform biomedical research with a faculty member at an approved institution. Requires a substantial final report. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester.
BME 377S. Industrial Internship.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Students conduct research in biomedical companies in Texas and nationwide. Research may include development, management, business administration, and other topics. Requires a substantial final report. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester.
BME 177T, 277T, 377T. Topics in Biomedical Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. For each semester hour of credit earned, the equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and consent of instructor.
BME 678. Undergraduate Thesis in Biomedical Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Research performed during two consecutive semesters under the supervision of a biomedical engineering faculty member or other approved faculty member; topics are selected jointly by the student and faculty member. The student provides a progress report at the end of the first semester and writes a thesis and gives an oral presentation at the end of the second semester. Individual instruction for two semesters. Students pursuing both the Bachelor of Arts, Plan II, and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering may use this course to fulfill the thesis requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, Plan II. Prerequisite: For 678A, admission to the major sequence in biomedical engineering and a University grade point average of at least 3.50; for 678B, a University grade point average of at least 3.50 and Biomedical Engineering 678A.
BME 379. Tissue Engineering.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Introduction to biomedical research in tissue engineering. Includes case studies of tissues and organs of the body, physiology and biology of tissue, pathologies of tissue, current clinical treatments, the role of engineers in development of new technologies to diagnose and treat pathologies, quantitative cellular and molecular techniques, and applications of synthetic and natural biomaterials. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biomedical Engineering 379, Chemical Engineering 339T, 379 (Topic: Cell and Tissue Engineering). Prerequisite: Biomedical Engineering 352 and 365S with a grade of at least C- in each.
BME 679H. Undergraduate Honors Thesis.
Restricted to biomedical engineering majors. Research performed during two consecutive semesters under the supervision of an engineering faculty member; topics are selected jointly by the student and the faculty member with approval by the director of the Engineering Honors Program. The student makes an oral presentation and writes a thesis. Individual instruction for two semesters. Students pursuing both the Bachelor of Arts, Plan II, and a bachelor's degree in engineering may use this course to fulfill the thesis requirement for the Bachelor of Arts, Plan II. Prerequisite: For 679HA, enrollment in the Engineering Honors Program; for 679HB, Biomedical Engineering 679HA and enrollment in the Engineering Honors Program.