FAQ for BME Undergraduate Program

Q: Is the undergraduate major in Biomedical Engineering accredited?

A: Yes! The Department of Biomedical engineering is proud to announce that its Baccalaureate Program has been officially accredited by the Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., the recognized accrediting body for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology. The Accreditation is retroactive to 2005.

Q: Can a Technical Elective replace a Departmental Elective?

A: No. The Departmental Electives are designed to teach you about various aspects of Biomedical Engineering specifically. These count towards your major average and may not be replaced by outside courses.

Q: Can a Departmental Elective replace a Technical Elective?

A: Yes. The Technical Electives are designed to broaden your technical/scientific base. Departmental Electives certainly do that, so if you take more than the 4 required Departmental Electives, you may use the additional ones as Technical Electives.

Q: Do I need to take Organic Chemistry?

A: It is not required for the major. It is required for medical school admission, so if you are considering that avenue, you will need to take it. Nonetheless, it is a valuable class that will improve your understanding of biochemistry and of materials properties (including biomaterials and drug delivery systems).

Q: OK, but if I take Organic Chemistry, do I have to take the lab?

A: No, though most people find the lab easier than the class. You receive one technical elective credit for each semester of Organic Chemistry that you take. You can fulfill a third technical elective requirement if you also take the lab.

Q: I am interested in getting involved in research. How do I find openings for research projects?

A: There are many exciting research opportunities within the Department, as well as in affiliated research centers and the medical school. Unfortunately, there is no clearinghouse to match research openings with interested students. The best way is to identify faculty whose research areas interest you, usually from information on their BME or individual web pages, and then inquire with them about research openings, including a little information about yourself. There is a limit to the number of students that one faculty member and his/her graduate students can mentor, so don’t be insulted or too disappointed if the first couple of people whom you contact don’t have a spot.

Q: I just got an internship with XXX, in which I will be working with them full time in the summer and part time during the Fall. Can I receive co-op or other academic credits for this work experience?

A: The only way to get credit for industrial work is through a full-fledged co-op, which entails 6 months of continuous full-time work (e.g., summer and the following fall). During the semester of full-time work, a co-op student may take up to 6 credits of courses beyond co-op, only 3 of which may be in day time. These requirements are spelled out in more detail in the BME Undergraduate Handbook and the Office of Academic Affairs website (http://coewww.rutgers.edu/oaa/coop.php). As a general comment, part-time jobs and summer internships are great experiences that complement your Rutgers education but do not substitute for BME or other courses.