Analysis of heat transfer, fluid flow, and chemical process control in living organisms requires competence in both engineering and life sciences. Current studies help provide understanding of many physiological processes. This understanding, in turn, leads to improvements in clinical practice, diagnosis, and patient care. Northwestern was among the first schools to recognize the value of a biomedical engineering background, and today the Department of Biomedical Engineering offers, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, one of the largest and broadest programs in the country. The primary path interested students may follow is the biomedical engineering program administered by the Biomedical Engineering Department.
Alternative curricula are the biomedical options in other engineering departments.
The biomedical engineering program provides biomedical training that is quantitative, emphasizes problem solving, and treats phenomena with a systems approach. Required courses in mathematics, engineering, and science establish a strong foundation on which to build a biomedical framework. In addition, each student selects one sequence of courses with which to develop an area of specialization . All areas are suitable for students planning to enter medical school, continue their biomedical engineering education in graduate school, or pursue careers in the biomedical industry or hospitals. Instrumentation Electronic and optical instruments are used widely in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and in the study of normal physiological function.