UT Dallas will begin offering a bachelor of science degree in biomedical engineering next fall.

Dr. Mark Spong

“We are pleased to respond to the growing demand among both students and employers for undergraduate education in biomedical engineering,” said Dr. Mark W. Spong, dean of the University’s Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and holder of the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair in Electrical Engineering.

“Students see biomedical engineering as both a fascinating area in which to specialize and a way to contribute to people’s overall quality of life,” he added. “And of course the need for biomedical engineers in Texas is directly related to the fact that Texas is home to leading facilities for both clinical care and medical research.”

Adding an undergraduate program in biomedical engineering was among the engineering school’s list of strategic imperatives announced earlier this year.

Dr. Mathukumalli Vidyasagar

UT Dallas began offering graduate degrees in biomedical engineering last spring after joining an existing biomedical engineering collaboration between The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and The University of Texas at Arlington. The graduate program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to biomedical engineering, combining expertise in electrical, mechanical and materials engineering, coupled with the life sciences.

The undergraduate program will be similar, providing students with a foundation in mathematics, chemistry and biology before they advance to courses in physiology, biomechanics, electronics and instrumentation. The undergraduate program, however, is based entirely at UT Dallas.

“Among all engineering disciplines, the need for bioengineers is expected to grow the fastest, according to the American Society for Engineering Education,” said Dr. Mathukumalli Vidyasagar, head of the University’s Bioengineering Department and holder of the Cecil and Ida Green Chair of Systems Biological Sciences. “We believe our graduates will play a major role in applying engineering technology to improve disease diagnostics and treatment, and to enhance health care and people’s overall well-being.”

The University now offers 52 undergraduate degree programs.