Bioengineering

Certificate Program

The booming biomedical industry demands skilled professionals whose expertise can cross traditional boundaries of science and engineering. Companies are seeking electrical engineers who understand the medical uses of diagnostic imaging instrumentation, biotechnology professionals with training in tissue engineering to develop tissue implants, and mechanical engineers who are well-versed in biomaterials to design artificial joints.

The certificate in Bioengineering addresses this need through a highly interdisciplinary course of study that allows students to focus on biomedical instrumentation, biomedical optics, biomaterials/biotechnology and tissue engineering or other related areas of study. Courses are taught by faculty in engineering as well as experienced clinical professionals from Tufts' world-renowned health science schools.

Who Should Apply?
The program is open to students with at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, science, or health science.

With this certificate engineers can launch careers in biomedical instrumentation design. Clinical practitioners and technicians can shift careers to biomedical equipment sales. It is also a useful technology complement for executives, medical professionals, and policy makers interested in the application of technology to the medical, business or legal profession.

Students interested in earning a graduate degree can often apply the certificate courses toward a Tufts master's degree in biomedical engineering or biotechnology engineering.

Program of Study
The certificate requires four courses:

One bioengineering introductory course:
- BME 250 Intro. to Biomedical Engineering I (focus on biomedical engineering and instrumentation) or
- BME 162 Molecular Biotechnology (key aspects of molecular biology and engineering aspects of biotechnology)
One physiology course:
- BME 121/122 Engineering in Physiology I & II (modules include: General, Neurology/Nose, Skeletal/ Bone, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Endocrine, Eye, Dental)
One engineering elective in Biomedical Instrumentation, Biomedical Optics, Biomaterials, Biotechnology or Tissue Engineering
One capstone course:
- BME 100 Design of Medical Instrumentation or
- BME 164 Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

This certificate is offered in collaboration with the College of Engineering and the Tufts Tissue Engineering Resource Center.

The new Tufts Tissue Engineering Resource Center integrates strong research programs in biotechnology, biomaterials and tissue engineering, biomedical instrumentation, biomedical optics, and drug discovery into a new, collaborative 'mega-center' offering unique options for graduate-level study.

Tuition:
Certificate students pay a course rate for each required certificate course of $3,430 per course (2012-2013).

For course information, contact:
Certificate Faculty Advisors:

Sergio Fantini, Biomedical Instrumentation (617) 627-2580
David Kaplan, Biomaterials, Biotechnology, Tissue Engineering
(617) 627-2580

For Application Forms for the certificate program.

Course numbers/titles are subject to change. Course descriptions are available at http://ase.tufts.edu/bulletin/