Undergraduate Program
Duke's Biomedical Engineering Department creates an interdisciplinary research and education environment that trains students to have an impact in industry and medicine. Our goal is to prepare graduates to be leaders in integrating engineering and biology for detecting and treating human disease. A unique aspect of our program is how we engage undergraduates in intensive research.
As a student, we will prepare you for professional employment in areas such as medical device industry, engineering consulting, biomechanics, and biotechnology; graduate work in biomedical engineering, or entrance into medical school. Our program is designed to be flexible to match your interests. Students with special interests can choose a dual major option or take an elective course sequence that provides specific knowledge in biomedical imaging and instrumentation, biomechanics, electrobiology, or biomolecular and tissue engineering.
Our students pursue many diverse careers. After graduation, about one-third of our students enter graduate schools in various engineering or basic science disciplines and one-third are accepted by medical or dental schools. (The rate of acceptance is significantly higher than the national average of all different undergraduate programs.) The rest go to law schools, business schools, industries, or consulting firms.
Accreditation
The Duke undergraduate major in biomedical engineering was the first accredited department (September 1972) by the Engineering Council for Profession Development (now the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700) and is consistently ranked as one of the top programs in the nation.
Program Educational Objectives
We expect that graduates of our program will:
- be leaders in biomedical engineering or related areas in industry, academia, and medicine.
- undergo intellectual growth, and be effective in free and open inquiry.
- engage in life-long learning and receive advanced degrees or training for professional advancement.
- utilize experience integrating mathematics, engineering, life science, and design to address complex problems.
- understand the social and ethical implications of their work.
Students Outcomes and Program Criteria
Our students will have the following capabilities upon completion of their degrees:
- an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering
- an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data
- an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
- an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
- an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
- an ability to communicate effectively
- the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
- a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
- a knowledge of contemporary issues
- an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
In addition, as biomedical engineers, our students will have:
- understanding of biology and physiology
- capability to apply advanced mathematics, science, and engineering to solve the problems at the interface of engineering and biology
- capability to apply statistics to solve the problems at the interface of engineering and biology
- ability to make measurements on and interpret data from living systems
- ability to address problems associated with the interaction between living and non-living materials and systems