This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2023-2024 VCU Bulletin. This edition includes all programs
and courses approved by the publication deadline; however we may receive notification of additional program
approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available
in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Henry J. Donahue, Ph.D.
Professor and chair
The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral level.
Biomedical engineering provides in-depth study in a variety of specialization areas including biomedical imaging systems, orthopaedic biomechanics, tissue and cellular engineering, biomaterials, artificial organs, human-computer interfaces, cardiovascular devices, rehabilitation and human factors engineering. The programs allow students to participate in cutting-edge research in one of the nation’s most advanced engineering facilities. The department has ongoing collaborations with numerous industries, federal laboratories, the VCU science departments, the university’s MCV Campus, the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, the Virginia BioTechnology Research Park and numerous biomedical and clinical programs throughout the VCU Medical Center’s MCV Hospitals.
Biomedical engineering
EGRB 101. Biomedical Engineering Practicum. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture hours. 2 credits. Enrollment is restricted to students in the biomedical engineering department and requires permission of course coordinator. This course involves the introduction of clinical procedures and biomedical devices and technology to biomedical engineering freshmen. Students will tour medical facilities, clinics and hospitals and will participate in medical seminars, workshops and medical rounds. Students will rotate among various programs and facilities including orthopaedics, cardiology, neurology, surgery, otolaryngology, emergency medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, oncology, physical medicine, ophthalmology, pediatrics and internal medicine.
EGRB 102. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 151, MATH 200, MATH 201 or a satisfactory score on the math placement exam. Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary STEM field that combines biology and engineering, applying engineering principles and materials to medicine and health care. This course provides students with an introduction to biomedical engineering, beginning with a framework of core engineering principles, expanding to specializations within the field of biomedical engineering and connecting the concepts to real-world examples in medicine and health care.
EGRB 104. Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Laboratory. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 3 laboratory hours. 1 credit. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering majors. This laboratory course introduces students to practical laboratory skills required for biomedical engineering. Following successful completion of this course, students will be able to construct and design simple mechanical-electric prototypes; solder electrical components to a breadboard; construct a bridge measurement circuit in order to measure a physiological signal; use a digital multimeter to analyze a circuit. This course is also a writing-intensive course and will provide students with the skills necessary to analyze and write up the results of their experiments. Non-technical skills that will be introduced in this course include how to set up and maintain a laboratory notebook; record and analyze data in Excel, including how to use Excel formulas, create pivot tables and generate graphs; how to plan and execute an experiment; how to read and write a laboratory report in IMRD format; how to write a design concept paper; oral presentation.
EGRB 105. Successes and Failures in Biomedical Technologies. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. This course will look at successes and failures in biomedical engineering and technologies through case studies, as well as consider the ethical implementations and framework for developing evidence-based reasoning. Origins and recent advances in biomedical engineering and technologies will be explored, including applications of biomechanics, bio- and nanotechnologies, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering and biomaterials.
EGRB 111. Introduction to Biological Systems in Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: MATH 151, MATH 200, MATH 201 or a satisfactory score on the math placement exam; and CHEM 100 with a minimum grade of B, CHEM 101, CHEM 102 or a satisfactory score on the chemistry placement exam. The cell is the principle unit of the human body. In this course, students will explore how the cell works from an engineering perspective. Students will learn the essential functions of cells, the components of cells and terminology related to cell biology. The course will also introduce key concepts in engineering, and students will learn how to apply these concepts to mammalian cells.
EGRB 203. Statics and Mechanics of Materials. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: MATH 201 and PHYS 207, both with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering majors. The theory and application of engineering mechanics applied to the design and analysis of rigid and deformable structures. The study of forces and their effects, including equilibrium of two- and three-dimensional bodies, stress, strain and constitutive relations, bending, torsion, shearing, deflection, and failure of materials.
EGRB 209. Applied Physiology for Biomedical Engineers. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 200 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: EGRB 111. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering students. This course introduces the concepts of mathematical models and describes physiological systems using applied mathematics and engineering principles. Physiological systems will include a comprehensive study of muscle, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine, beginning with applied biophysical concepts in cell anatomy and physiology leading into the various physiological systems. This course also incorporates a laboratory that uses the knowledge-based tools gained through lecture and implements them in practice using exercises in biochemical and physiological calculations, osmosis, electrical network simulation of diffusion, EEG, blood pressure, ECG and spirometry.
EGRB 215. Computational Methods in Biomedical Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: MATH 201 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: MATH 301, MATH 310 or permission of instructor. Enrollment is restricted to students with sophomore standing in biomedical engineering. The goal of this course is to enhance students' software skills for subsequent biomedical engineering courses and laboratories, as well their careers. The course covers the basic fundamentals of programming in MATLAB, as well as data analysis of biomedical data. An important component of this course is developing problem-solving skills.
EGRB 301. Biomedical Engineering Design Practicum. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 101, EGRB 102, EGRB 203, EGRB 209, EGRB 215, EGRE 206 (or equivalent), each with a minimum grade of C. Restricted to students with junior standing in the biomedical engineering program. Explores the professional and ethical responsibilities of a biomedical engineer. Emphasis will be placed on design issues associated with biomedical engineering, teamwork, regulatory issues and human and animal subjects.
EGRB 303. Biotransport Processes. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 209, MATH 301 and MATH 310, each with a minimum grade of C. Course involves the study of fundamental principles of fluid mechanics and mass transport as well as application of these principles to physiological systems. Fluid mechanics principles covered will include conservation of mass and momentum, laminar and turbulent flow, Navier-Stokes equations, dimensional analysis, Bernoulli’s equation, and boundary layer theory. Mass transport principles will include diffusion, convection, transport in porous media and transmembrane transport. Concepts will be applied to studying diffusion in biological tissues, electrolyte transport, vascular transport, blood flow mechanics and cardiovascular flow. The course will also cover organ-specific transport processes, including oxygen transport in the lungs and blood and mass transport in the kidney.
EGRB 307. Biomedical Instrumentation. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 102, EGRB 209, EGRB 215 and EGRE 206, each with a minimum grade of C. A study of the physical principles, design and clinical uses of biomedical instrumentation. Analysis and design of low frequency electronic circuits, which are most frequently used in biomedical instruments, will be conducted. Analysis of biosensors, biopotential electrodes, the measurements of biopotential signals including electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram and electromyogram, blood pressure, blood flow, and respiratory system will be conducted. Laboratory work on basic biomedical electronics and instrumentation will be performed.
EGRB 308. Biomedical Signal Processing. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 102, EGRB 209, EGRB 215 and EGRB 307; EGRE 206; MATH 301 and MATH 310, all with a minimum grade of C. Explores the basic theory and application of digital signal processing techniques related to the acquisition and processing of biomedical and physiological signals including signal modeling, AD/DA, Fourier transform, Z transform, digital filter design, continuous and discrete systems.
EGRB 310. Biomechanics. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 203, EGRB 209 and EGRB 215; MATH 200 and MATH 201, all with a minimum grade of C. Corequisites: MATH 301 and MATH 310. A study of the forces, stresses and strains in the human body during normal function. Emphasis is placed on the mechanics of various components of the body including hard (bone) and soft (skin, vessels, cartilage, ligaments, tendons) tissues from a structure-function perspective. Stress and strain relationships for these biomaterials will be analyzed based upon the fundamentals of engineering mechanics. In addition, the distinctive features of biological materials will be studied with respect to their differences from nonliving materials and elaborated upon in laboratory exercises using material evaluation protocols.
EGRB 315. Device Design Methods. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 203, EGRB 215, EGRB 307, MATH 301 and MATH 310, all with a minimum grade of C. The main goal of the course is to introduce a variety of design and prototyping methods for biomedical devices. The focus will be on: (1) using first approximations and Solidworks for mechanical design and (2) using Arduino microcontrollers for controlling sensors and actuators.
EGRB 401. Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Studio. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 9 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 301, EGRB 303 or EGRB 308; EGRB 307, EGRB 310, EGRB 315 and EGRB 427, all with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: STAT 441. Enrollment is restricted to students with senior standing in the Department of Biomedical Engineering or by permission of instructor. A minimum of nine laboratory hours per week is dedicated to the design, development and execution of the senior design (capstone) project for biomedical engineering under the direction of a faculty research adviser in biomedical engineering or an acceptable substitute as determined by the course coordinator. Tasks include team meetings (for team projects), brainstorming, sponsor advising, designing, fabrications, assembling, reviewing, studying, researching, testing and validating projects. Monthly progress reports are due to the research adviser and course coordinator. At the end of the first semester, each team will orally present to the BME faculty project background information and discuss potential technical approaches and deliverables.
EGRB 402. Biomedical Engineering Senior Design Studio. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 9 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: Completion of EGRB 401 with a minimum grade of C. A minimum of nine laboratory hours per week is dedicated to the design, development and execution of the senior design (capstone) project for biomedical engineering under the direction of a faculty research adviser in biomedical engineering or an acceptable substitute as determined by the course coordinator. Tasks include team meetings (for team projects), brainstorming, sponsor advising, designing, fabrications, assembling, reviewing, studying, researching, testing and validating projects. Monthly progress reports are due to the research adviser and course coordinator. Final project reports must be submitted before the end of the semester. All design teams must participate in the College of Engineering public poster session. At the end of the semester and conclusion of the two-semester design process, teams must present their final designs and deliverables before the BME faculty.
EGRB 403. Tissue Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 209 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. Enrollment is restricted to students with junior standing in engineering. Study of the design, development and clinical application of tissue engineered components for use in the human body. Analysis of biology, chemistry, material science, engineering, immunology and transplantation as pertains to various tissue engineered components including blood vessels, bone, cartilage, pancreas, liver and skin.
EGRB 405. Finite Element Analysis in Solid Mechanics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 310 and MATH 301, each with a minimum grade of C. Finite element analysis as presented in this course is a numerical procedure for solving continuum mechanics problems that cannot be described by closed-form mathematical solutions. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the theoretical basis for the method, using a commercial software program, and understanding the volume of information that can be generated. Applications to both one- and two-dimensional problems in solid mechanics and biomechanics will be explored.
EGRB 406. Artificial Organs. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 209, EGRB 303, EGRB 307 and EGRB 310, each with a minimum grade of C, or permission of instructor. This course explores the design, operating principles and practices regarding artificial organs and their use in the human body. Analysis of dialysis systems for kidney replacement, artificial hearts and heart assist devices, cardiac pacemakers, sensory organ assist and replacement devices, and artificial liver and pancreas devices. Design aspects, legal ramifications, regulatory issues and clinical implantation issues will be addressed.
EGRB 407. Physical Principles of Medical Imaging. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 208 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to students with junior standing in the College of Engineering. A study of the physical principles and basic clinical uses of medical imaging. Analysis of radiation and interaction of radiation, generation and control of X-rays, X-ray diagnostic methods, X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonic imaging will be conducted. Basic principle of radionuclide imaging also will be introduced.
EGRB 408. Advanced Biomedical Signal Processing. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 308. This course will briefly review the basic theory of discrete-time signal processing techniques in biomedical data processing. Advanced signal processing techniques including adaptive signal processing, wavelets, spectral estimation and multirate signal processing will be employed. Specific examples utilizing electrocardiogram (ECG) and other biological signals are provided. Topics covered are alternance phenomenon in biological systems, late potential in ECG, intrapotential in ECG and coherence analysis.
EGRB 409. Microcomputer Applications in Biomedical Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 307. Covers microcomputer applications (hardware and software) as applied to biomedical science and biomedical engineering. Basic hardware components of a microcomputer are discussed with particular reference to configurations needed for analyzing biomedical events. Software applications including data encoding, data storage, graphical interfaces and real-time processing are explored for analysis of physiological and biomedical signals. Students will develop algorithms using LabView and MatLab to solve problems in biomedical engineering in the laboratories.
EGRB 410. Cellular Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 209 with a minimum grade of C. This course will be a detailed study of the structure and function of the cell from an engineering perspective. Fundamental molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry topics (cellular structure, signal transduction, cell adhesions, cytoskeleton) will be introduced. Engineering principles (kinetics, transport, mechanics, thermodynamics, electrochemical gradient) will be applied to these topics. Emphasis is placed on methods to disrupt, enhance or mimic in vivo cellular function in biomedical applications.
EGRB 411. Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 310 and EGRB 410 with minimum grades of C or permission of instructor. Focusing on cellular-extracellular matrix interactions, students will gain a quantitative understanding of the way cells detect, modify and respond to the physical properties within the cell environment. Coverage includes the mechanics of single-molecule polymers, polymer networks, two-dimensional membranes, whole-cell mechanics and mechanobiology. Mechanobiology topics include cancer and development, pulmonary system, cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. Students will gain understanding of techniques in cellular manipulation and quantification of cellular forces.
EGRB 412. Regenerative Engineering and Medicine. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 209 or equivalent with minimum grade of C. Students will apply fundamental concepts of cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, medicine and pathology, as well as material science and engineering principles to design novel strategies for cell and drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Emphasis will be placed on designs and methods to solve current complex biomedical problems.
EGRB 413. Computational and Experimental Models of Cellular Signal Transduction. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 215 and EGRB 410 with minimum grades of C. Students will study the process by which an extracellular protein binding event is transduced and interpreted as an incoming signal into a cell. Students will learn the biology of cellular signal transduction and will also learn how to apply computational models and experimental techniques to predict and investigate these pathways. Students will follow the course of a protein within a signal transduction cascade, from binding to a receptor, activating intracellular pathways, inducing new transcription and translation and targeting of the protein to its final location. Students will develop MATLAB-based mathematical models to predict signal transduction dynamics, and then will study experimental techniques that are used to both disrupt and measure signal transduction.
EGRB 415. Cellular and Molecular Engineering Techniques. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 1 lecture and 6 lab hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 209 with a minimum grade of C. Cell and tissue culture techniques are becoming increasingly important in academic laboratories and companies involved in regenerative medicine. This laboratory-based course is designed to introduce basic, hands-on cell culture concepts and techniques needed for academia and industry. Students will be expected to learn molecular engineering techniques by designing and purifying plasmids for mammalian cell transfection. Students will apply mathematics to predict outcomes for culture conditions. Lectures will reinforce basic concepts in cell culture and bioengineering, while the laboratory will be used to practice concepts learned in lecture.
EGRB 420. Assistive Technology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRE 206, EGRB 209, EGRB 215, EGRB 307, EGRB 308 and EGRB 310, all with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering students or with permission of instructor. This course explores the principles and practice regarding the development of assistive technology for individuals with disabilities. The course will address the human user considerations that need to be taken into account in developing technology for individuals with different disabilities or multiple disabilities. It will also provide a general overview of current technology and software algorithms used. The four main areas of assistive technology that will be considered are for the deaf and hard of hearing, individuals who are blind and visually impaired, individuals with cognitive impairments, and individuals with motor impairments.
EGRB 421. Human Factors Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 209 and EGRB 310, both with a minimum grade of C. This course explores the principles and practices regarding ergonomics and human factors engineering and the interaction of biomedical engineering with human function. Analysis of the functions of the human body regarding motion, sensory mechanisms, cognition and interaction with the environment will be included. Interactions of the human body with technology, workplaces, equipment and computers will be examined. Design of workplaces for optimal human performance will be discussed. Analysis of the design and arrangement of controls and displays will be covered.
EGRB 422. Human Performance Measurement Engineering. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 209, EGRB 307, EGRB 308 and EGRB 421, each with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering majors or with permission of instructor. Course explores the principles and practices of human performance measurement including direct and indirect measurement techniques and analysis. Course addresses the subjective, psychophysical and physiological methods related to the measurement, analysis and quantification of human performance.
EGRB 423. Rehabilitation Engineering and Prostheses. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: EGRB 203 and EGRB 209, both with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to biomedical engineering majors or with permission of instructor. This course explores the principles and practices regarding the development of rehabilitation therapy devices and prostheses. The course will further address the human user and factors that must be considered when developing devices and engineering solutions for individuals with different therapy and prosthetic needs. The course will also provide a general overview of current technologies and the engineering principles behind these designs.
EGRB 427. Biomaterials. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: EGRB 209 with a minimum grade of C. Enrollment is restricted to students with junior standing in biomedical engineering or with permission of the instructor. Principles of materials science as it relates to the use of materials in the body. Characterization of biomaterials. Study of the properties of biomedical materials used as implants, prostheses, orthosis and as medical devices in contact with the human body. Analysis of physical, chemical, thermal and physiological response factors associated with materials and implant devices used in the human body.
EGRB 491. Special Topics. 1-4 Hours.
Semester course; 1-4 lecture hours. 1-4 credits. May be repeated with different topics. Advanced study of a selected topic in biomedical engineering. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester and prerequisites, corequisites or restrictions.
Engineering
ENGR 100. Engineering Student Success. 0 Hours.
Semester course; seminar hours. 0 credits. Enrollment is restricted to new first-year students in the School of Engineering; required for students admitted conditionally. Students will meet for a 90-minute class once per week for five weeks. The course is dedicated to helping students understand the expectations and responsibilities of being a college student. Presentations will center on planning the semester, academic professionalism, study skills and test-taking strategies, financial literacy, health and wellness, time management, and the Honor Code. Seminars will be supplemented throughout the semester with online assignments to reinforce the discussions. Graded as pass/fail.
ENGR 101. Introduction to Engineering. 4 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture and 3 laboratory hours. 4 credits. Prerequisites: admission to the School of Engineering or permission of instructor. Introduces basic circuits including resistors, diodes, transistors, digital gates and motors. Simple electromechanical systems are considered including motors, gears and wheels. The laboratory introduces fundamental circuit testing and measurement, and proper laboratory notebook writing; students are required to analyze, build and test a digitally controlled robot.
ENGR 111. Innovation Shop Training I. 0.5 Hours.
Semester course; 1 laboratory hour. 0.5 credits. Enrollment restricted to students in the School of Engineering. The course provides training on innovation shop safety, includes a tour of the shop, measuring and layout tools and techniques, use of general manual and powered hand tools. Students will be instructed on the use of a bench-top drill press, deburring and finishing tools, 3D printing, laser engraving and thermoforming equipment. Students need to achieve a minimum score of 76% in the class to attain Level I (Blue) certification. Only certified students have permission to use tools and equipment covered in this training. Graded as Pass/Fail.
ENGR 121. Engineering Fundamentals. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Open only to non-engineering majors in Certificate in Product Innovation program. Introduces engineering fundamentals to students from non-engineering disciplines. Particular focus is the engineering problem-solving process as applied to open-ended problems. Students will be introduced to the different types of engineering, examine engineering issues and apply the engineering problem-solving process.
ENGR 211. Innovation Shop Training II. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 2 laboratory hours. 1 credit. Prerequisite: ENGR 111. Enrollment restricted to students in the School of Engineering. The course provides training on machine/innovation shop safety, blueprint reading, measuring and layout tools and techniques, and use of general and powered hand tools. Students will be instructed on sawing, sanding, drilling and tapping operations, 3D printing and laser engraving/cutting equipment. Hands-on graded assignment is the part of the course.
ENGR 291. Special Topics in Engineering. 1-5 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-5 credits. Prerequisite: to be determined by the instructor. Specialized topics in engineering designed to provide a topic not covered by an existing course or program. General engineering or multidisciplinary. May be repeated with different content. Graded as pass/fail or normal letter grading at the option of the instructor. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester and prerequisites.
ENGR 296. Part-time Internship Experience. 0 Hours.
Semester course; 0 credit. Students may attempt this course a total of six times.
Enrollment restricted to School of Engineering majors. The student works part time in an approved internship and must work a minimum of 90 hours, but less than 300 hours during the semester. The student works to meet learning objectives while gaining practical experience relevant to their major. The student completes assignments to document, assess and reflect on their learning experience. The supervisor and student both complete evaluations of the learning experience. Graded pass/fail.
ENGR 303. Junior Seminar. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. This course provides students an opportunity to explore business and leadership topics. Topics include the fundamentals of product design and new product development, manufacturing and quality systems, finances and financial reports, ethics in the workplace, intellectual property, teamwork, leadership and communications. Students will be assigned selected readings, written compositions and oral presentations. This course prepares the student to participate in the Engineering Laboratory/Manufacturing Internship.
ENGR 311. Innovation Shop Training III. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 2 laboratory hours. 1 credit. Prerequisite: ENGR 211. Enrollment is restricted to students with Level II (Red) certification. The Level III (Green) course provides basic training on set-up and operation of manual milling machines and the lathe. The course covers cutting tool, speed and feed calculation. Students must develop a technological process and machine metal parts per assigned drawings on vertical mill and lathe. They will also use other techniques and equipment that were covered in previous levels. Students need to achieve a minimum score of 76 % in the class to attain Level III (Green) certification. Only certified students have permission to use tools and equipment covered in this training.
ENGR 395. Professional Development. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 lecture and 1 workshop hour. 1 credit. Enrollment is restricted to majors in the School of Engineering. Professional development course to help prepare students to find a job and succeed in a professional environment, and specifically to work as an intern or in a cooperative education position. Topics covered include career paths; job searches; resume and cover letter writing; preparing for the interview; personal assessment of interests, values and strengths; networking; professional and ethical behavior on the job; overview of legal issues related to hiring, such as nondisclosure agreements and noncompete clauses; overview of personal finance management at the first job; workplace safety; and expectations and requirements for internships and cooperative education positions.
ENGR 396. Internship Experience. 0 Hours.
Semester course; 0 credit. Students may attempt this course a total of three times.
Enrollment restricted to School of Engineering majors. The student works in an approved internship and must work a minimum of 300 hours during the semester. The student works to meet learning objectives while gaining practical experience relevant to their major. The student completes assignments to document, assess and reflect on their learning experience. The supervisor and student both complete evaluations of the learning experience. Graded pass/fail.
ENGR 398. Cooperative Education Experience. 0 Hours.
Semester course; 0 credits. Students may attempt this course a total of four times. Prerequisite: ENGR 395. Restricted to School of Engineering majors in good academic standing. The student works full-time in an approved cooperative education position. The student works to meet specific learning objectives while gaining practical experience relevant to their major. The student completes assignments to document, assess and reflect on their learning experience. The supervisor/mentor and student both complete midterm and final evaluations of the learning experience. Graded pass/fail.
ENGR 399. Cooperative Education Experience II. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 credits. Prerequisite: ENGR 398. Restricted to School of Engineering majors in good academic standing. A student that has completed at least one work term in a full-time approved cooperative education position completes an additional full-time work term. The student works to meet specific learning objectives while gaining practical experience relevant to their major. The student completes assignments to document, assess and reflect on their learning experience. The supervisor/mentor and student both complete midterm and final evaluations of the learning experience.
ENGR 402. Senior Design Studio (Seminar). 1 Hour.
Continuous courses; 1 lecture hour. 1-1 credit. Prerequisites: senior standing and participation in a senior design (capstone) project; completion of ENGR 402 to enroll in ENGR 403. This weekly seminar presents and discusses topics relevant to senior-level engineering students in support of the capstone project and upcoming graduation. A single course coordinator manages and administers the course and schedules the various faculty lectures and guest speakers. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: proposal writing, project planning and management, scheduling resources and budgeting for technical projects, patents and intellectual property, quality systems (six sigma, ISO standards, statistical process control), entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and professional registration.
ENGR 403. Senior Design Studio (Seminar). 1 Hour.
Continuous courses; 1 lecture hour. 1-1 credit. Prerequisites: senior standing and participation in a senior design (capstone) project; completion of ENGR 402 to enroll in ENGR 403. This weekly seminar presents and discusses topics relevant to senior-level engineering students in support of the capstone project and upcoming graduation. A single course coordinator manages and administers the course and schedules the various faculty lectures and guest speakers. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: proposal writing, project planning and management, scheduling resources and budgeting for technical projects, patents and intellectual property, quality systems (six sigma, ISO standards, statistical process control), entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation and professional registration.
ENGR 410. Review of Internship. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 credit. Prerequisites: chemical, electrical and computer, or mechanical engineering major and experience to satisfy the engineering internship requirements. Students complete oral presentations and written reports summarizing the internship experience.
ENGR 411. Fundamentals of Engineering Exam Preparation. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 lecture hour. 1 credit. Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing, or permission of instructor. This course prepares students for taking the fundamentals of Engineering Exam. Passing the FE Exam is the first step to getting a Professional Engineering license. This course is not intended to teach the various subject matters, but to review the subject areas and help students prepare as well as possible for the examination.
ENGR 490. Engineering Seminar. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different content. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. A series of specialized topics in engineering that are of general interest but not covered by an existing course or program. Lectures will be presented in seminar format by speakers from business, industry, government and academia. Subjects will be multidisciplinary in nature. Graded as pass/fail or normal letter grading at the option of the instructor.
ENGR 491. Special Topics in Engineering. 1-5 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-5 credits. Prerequisite: determined by the instructor. Specialized topics in engineering designed to provide a topic not covered by an existing course or program. General engineering or multidisciplinary. May be repeated with different content. Graded as pass/fail or normal letter grading at the option of the instructor. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester and prerequisites.
ENGR 492. Independent Study in Engineering. 1-5 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-5 credits. May be repeated with different content. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor. Students must submit a written proposal to be approved by the supervising instructor prior to registration. Investigation of specialized engineering problems that are multidisciplinary or of general interest through literature search, mathematical analysis, computer simulation and/or laboratory experimentation. Written and oral progress reports as well as a final report and presentation are required. Graded as pass/fail or normal letter grading at the option of the instructor.
ENGR 496. Internship Review. 0 Hours.
Semester course; 0 credits. Prerequisite: ENGR 296 or ENGR 396. Restricted to School of Engineering majors. This course is to be taken following the completion of a minimum of 300 hours of approved internship experience relevant to the student’s major and documents that a student has fulfilled all internship requirements, including a final evaluation by the employer, a final self-evaluation, a final report describing the experience and a final oral presentation about the experience. Graded pass/fail.
ENGR 497. Vertically Integrated Projects. 1,2 Hour.
Semester course; 3 or 6 laboratory hours. 1 or 2 credits. May be repeated for a maximum total of 8 credits Prerequisites: permission of the project faculty adviser. This course provides undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in multiyear, multidisciplinary projects under the guidance of faculty and graduate students in their areas of expertise. As they address research and development issues, students learn and practice many different professional skills, make substantial technical contributions to the project, and experience many different roles on a large, multidisciplinary design/discovery team. Students must earn a minimum of 4 credits in ENGR 497 with a minimum grade of C in order for these credits to be eligible to count toward a technical or departmental elective. More restrictive requirements may be imposed by individual departments.
ENGR 498. Review of Cooperative Education Experience. 0 Hours.
Semester course; 0 credits. Prerequisite: ENGR 398. Restricted to School of Engineering majors. This course is completed following the final work term of a cooperative education experience and is required to obtain transcript notation to document that a student has fulfilled all the requirements of the school’s cooperative education program. The requirements include a final evaluation by the employer, a final self-evaluation, a final report describing the experience and a final oral presentation about the experience.