Jun 16, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Bulletin 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions


 

Bioengineering

  
  • BEGR 401 - Applied Engineering Analysis


    Credits: 3

    This course is a graduate level course whose focus is to present, illustrate and apply the calculus of single, multivariable and vector-valued functions to a variety of mechanical and electrical engineering and physics topics at an advanced level. Topics include ordinary differential equations, series solutions of ordinary differential equations and special functions, inner product spaces, vector analysis, operator algebra, matrix methods and eigenvalue problems, Fourier series and integrals, complex variables, Sturm-Liouville theory, transform methods and partial differential equations.

    Lab: 2 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: ME 401 
  
  • BEGR 408 - Biomems


    Credits: 3

    This course is about the basic foundations for the understanding of electrical, mechanical and chemical transducers in biomedical applications through learning fabrication, design and analysis. The course will have lectures to cover the theory and practical applications of imaging. Some of the lectures and assignments will be in our materials fabrication laboratories.

    Lab: 3 hours per week
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  • BEGR 409 - Introduction to Bioengineering


    Credits: 3

    This course first covers some essential information of bioengineering and includes the required research ethics curriculum for the program. The course also samples the wide variety of bioengineering options for students who plan to enter one of the degree tracks. The beginning lectures briefly describe the scientific basis for bioengineering both from biological and engineering standpoints. Bioengineering faculty will then describe the bioengineering options in the particular engineering tracks and courses as well as the research conducted by faculty in the department. (Required for all students in Bioengineering)

    Terms Offered: Fall
    Lecture: 3 hours per week
  
  • BEGR 411 - Integrated Product Development


    Credits: 3

    Organizational issues and decision-making for capital investments in new technologies. The product development and commercialization process is traced from research and development and marketing activities through the implementation phase involving the manufacturing function. Term project is a commercialization plan for a new manufacturing technology. (Required for all students in Bioengineering)

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: ME 411 
  
  • BEGR 415 - 3-D Modeling in Human Anatomy and Physiology


    Credits: 3

    This is a one-semester course that will provide a foundation in Human Anatomy and Physiology for Graduate Engineering students in preparation for the design and evaluation of biomedical devices. Topics to be covered include: anatomical terminology; cell, tissue and organ structure; as well functional anatomy of muscles, joints, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems. Laboratory exercises will include 3D modeling of these systems and physiological recording of muscle contraction, action potentials, EEG, ECG, heat rate, pulse, and respiratory movements.

    Lecture: 2 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
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  • BEGR 421 - Biofluidics and Microfluidics


    Credits: 3

    Students learn how to mathematically and quantitatively describe fluid flow throughout organ systems and biomedical devices. Other topics covered include how flow correlates with diseases.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
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  • BEGR 424 - Molecular Biology


    Credits: 3

    An introduction to molecular biology and how it is studied. Topics covered include genome structure, transcription, translation, chromatin structure and its role in gene expression, and techniques for studying gene expression and for genetic engineering. The goal is to learn enough molecular biology to figure out how to identify target genes or combinations of genes and how they might be engineered to produce desired products or to engineer organisms with desired capabilities.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: BIO 324
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  • BEGR 426 - Immunology and Immunochemistry


    Credits: 3

    Immunology and Immunochemistry provides an introduction to mammalian host defense. The molecular mechanisms that account for the antigen-antibody interaction are explored, as are ways in which this interaction influences the evolution of lymphocyte populations. Mechanisms of acquired immunity, including interactions among lymphocyte subpopulations, are discussed. Lymphocyte differentiation is addressed as a developmental problem, and defense against infection is approached as an integrated response.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: BIO 326
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  • BEGR 427 - Medical Microbiology


    Credits: 3

    Medical Microbiology provides a professional-level introduction to microbiology that is focused on application of microbiology to the study of infectious disease. Principles of molecular cell biology and biochemistry are applied to an understanding of factors influencing interactions between microbial pathogens and their hosts. Adaptations that have evolved in vertebrate hosts to limit infection are considered along with parasite adaptations that have evolved to overcome such defenses. Infection control strategies - epidemiological and chemical - are also introduced.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: BIO-327
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  • BEGR 429 - Virology


    Credits: 3

    Virology provides an introduction to the biology of viruses and virus-like agents. A consideration of viruses in terms of their molecular architecture and genome organization is followed by a survey of strategies employed for reproductive success of viruses, focused on the traditional ‘stages’ of attachment, entry, transcription, translation, genome replication, assembly and release. The course provides an overview of the major groups in the Baltimore classification, and introduces topics in host interaction and control.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: BIO-329
  
  • BEGR 430 - Introduction to Bioinformatics


    Credits: 3

    An introduction to the ways computers are used to make sense of biological information, especially the data generated by the human genome project. Topics covered include databases and data mining, pair-wise and multiple sequence alignment, molecular phylogeny, finding genes in raw DNA sequences, predicting protein and RNA secondary and tertiary structures, generating and analyzing microarray data, DNA finger-printing, rational drug design, metabolic simulation and artificial intelligence.

    Terms Offered: Fall
    Cross-Listed: BIO-330
  
  • BEGR 451 - Mechatronics/Bioinstrumentation


    Credits: 3

    Mechatronics is a multidiscipline technical area defined as the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering with electronic and intelligent computer control in the design and manufacture of industrial products and processes. This course covers topics such as actuators and drive systems, sensors, programmable controllers, microcontroller programming and interfacing, and automation systems integration.

    Lecture: 2 hours per week
    Lab: 1 hour per week
    Cross-Listed: ME 451 
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  • BEGR 452 - Nanotechnology


    Credits: 3

    This course explores the fundamentals of nanotechnology and its applications for colloidal suspension, Electrophoretic deposition and nano-sensing by understanding materials properties, micro-machining, sensor and actuator principles. 2 hours three hours of lab per week.

    Lecture: 2 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: ME 452 
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  • BEGR 465 - Biochemistry


    Credits: 3

    An introduction to metabolism and how it is studied together with an introduction to the physical and chemical properties of macromolecules and their precursors. The goal is to learn enough biochemistry and metabolism to figure out how to identify target pathways and how they might be engineered to produce desired products or to engineer organisms with desired capabilities.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Cross-Listed: CHM-365
  
  • BEGR 474 - Imaging in Biomedicine


    Credits: 3

    Biological and medicinal imaging techniques. This course will cover different aspects of imaging important to biomedicine including optical, scanning probe, ultrasound, X-ray and nuclear radiation techniques. The course will have lectures to cover the theory and practical applications of imaging. Some of the lectures and assignments will be in our imaging laboratories both at Wilkes and/or at our partner institutions.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Click here for course fee. 
  
  • BEGR 477 - Cellular Biophysics


    Credits: 3

    Cells are complex micron-sized machines that may best be understood by reverse systems engineering, which means that the understanding originated from detailed analysis of cellular functions and how they were optimized. This course focuses on a quantitative understanding of cellular processes. It is designed for students who feel comfortable with and are interested in analytical and quantitative approaches to cell biology and cell physiology.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
  
  • BEGR 488 - Biomedical Devices and Design


    Credits: 3

    This course discusses the design development and evaluation of medical devices. The goal is to develop the thinking and research tools that will enable students to understand medical devices as products as commercially available technological solutions to medical needs. This total understanding is based upon the coordinate separated understandings of: 1) underlying medical science and clinical practice; 2) underlying technologies and the potential choices between available technologies; 3) engineering design; and 4) technological and business direction of companies.

    Lecture: 2 hours per week
    Lab: 1 hour per week
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  • BEGR 498 - Topics in Bioengineering


    Credits: 3

    Instruction will be given towards the mechanical structure of humans and vertebrates, including the concerted motion of bone, muscles and joints as well as the stress and strain of human movements and motion. One example practical outcome of the course is towards the design of prosthetics.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
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  • BEGR 501 - Practicum in Synthetic Biology I


    Credits: 3

    This course will provide a hands-on introduction to bioengineering. Students will use molecular techniques to genetically engineer an organism, and then evaluate how the modified organism performs using techniques for studying gene expression, biochemistry and cell physiology. They will also learn statistical procedures for evaluating the significance of their findings.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
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  • BEGR 502 - Practicum in Synthetic Biology II


    Credits: 3

    This course will introduce students to modern concepts and techniques in bioengineering through a genuine research experience in bioengineering. Rather than following a set series of lectures, we will pick a bioengineering project and see where it leads us. We will use the information given in lectures and reading assignments to design a project, and then evaluate progress and solve problems.

    Lecture: 3 hours per week
    Lab: 3 hours per week
    Click here for course fee. 
  
  • BEGR 599 - Thesis/Project


    Credits: 3-6

    Students have the option of selecting up to six credit-hours of thesis or three credit-hours of project under guidance of a thesis/project advisor. The thesis will have a committee of three members; at least two members (including the advisor) must be Wilkes faculty members. The thesis/project should be presented in an open forum.

    Requirements: 3 to 6 credits of research, proposal writing, presentation, and thesis per week.