Biomaterials and
Tissue Engineering (BMTE) Track

The BMTE track addresses fundamental issues at the interface of materials science, biology and engineering.  The course work includes the design and development of materials for biological applications, the engineering of new tissues from isolated cells including stem cells, and techniques for measuring the outcome of biomaterials and biological interactions.  Students will understand how materials, cells, tissues, and organ systems interact and how such interactions affect the organization and functional states of cells and tissues.  The knowledge will also direct rational, practical therapeutic solutions.

The BMTE track is ideal for those interested in combining the training of BME with Materials Science & Engineering, or with Chemical Engineering.  Professional opportunities are found in the biotechnology, medical device and biopharmaceutical industries or further studies in graduate or medical school.  Exciting opportunities are expected for engineers trained in the development and production of biological materials, medical devices, and combination drug-cell-material devices.

In addition to the general BME requirements, students in the CMBT Track must take the following:

BMTE Gateway Course (required)
03-232 Biochemistry – Spring (MSE majors may substitute 03-231)

BMTE Capstone Course (required)
42-419 Biomaterial/Host Interactions – Fall

BMTE Electives (choose 2)
03-240 Cell Biology - Spring
09-217 Organic Chemistry I - Fall
09-218 Organic Chemistry II - Spring
42-311/27-311 Polymeric Biomaterials - Spring
42-312/27-312 Metallic and Ceramic Biomaterials - Intermittent
42-413 Biomaterial Interfaces - Intermittent
42-445/24-415 Microfluidics - Intermittent
42-509 Stem Cell Engineering - Spring, every other year
42-511 Introduction to Biomaterials - Spring, intermittent
42-620 Engineering Molecular Cell Biology - Fall
42-624 Biological Transport - Spring, intermittent
42-660 Surgery for Engineers** - Fall/Spring
42-X00 BME Research

** The 42-x00 research project (42-200/300/400 Sophomore/Junior/Senior Biomedical Engineering Research Project OR 39-500 CIT Honors Thesis) must be on a BME topic supervised or co-supervised by a BME faculty member and conducted for 9 or more units of credit.  Students may count EITHER 42-x00 BME Research OR 39-500 CIT Honors Research (with BME supervision) OR 42-660 Surgery for Engineers as a track elective.  Students MAY NOT count both research and Surgery for Engineers as track electives.

BMTE gateway course 03-232 Biochemistry and track elective 09-217 Organic Chemistry I satisfy Chemcial Engineering course requirements.

Sample Schedules

• BME & MSE double major, class of 2009-2012 (PDF)
• BME & CHE double major, class of 2009-2012 (PDF)

Course Planning Worksheet (doc, pdf)

(Update 10/03/09)