July 9, 2001

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Degree Established at NC State University

On May 1, 2001, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina system approved the establishment of a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering at North Carolina State University.  The degree program will be housed in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering and will be jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering at NC State.  The implementation date for the program will be August 1, 2001.

The new degree program will be established over the next five years.  During that time the program administrators will work toward achieving accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET) for the degree.  Other goals include hiring additional faculty and staff with expertise in biomedical engineering and renovating laboratory space in Weaver Labs.

Since 1994 the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at NC State University has offered a BS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with four concentration areas — agricultural engineering, biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering and environmental engineering.  The biomedical engineering concentration is the most popular with students.

Biomedical engineers design a variety of medical instruments, develop strategies for clinical decision making based on expert systems and artificial intelligence, develop mathematical and computer models of physiological systems, design biomaterials, investigate the biomechanics of injury and wound healing and develop implantable drug delivery systems.

Biomedical engineering is projected to have considerable growth in employment in the next decade.  As of April 1998, North Carolina ranked eighth nationally in bioscience business as assessed by state and national trade measures, according to "A Strategy for Enhancing the Competitiveness of NC Bioscience Industry" prepared by the NC Biosciences Organization.  The number of biomedical engineering-related companies in North Carolina, and specifically in Research Triangle Park, provides a positive outlook for graduates.

For more information about the biomedical engineering degree contact Dr. Susan Blanchard, associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, 919/515-6726 or susan_blanchard@ncsu.edu.

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