Elijah
How much calculus do you need for biomedical engineering
#biomedical-engineering #engineering #math#calculus#medicine #stem
4 answers
Hammdy Beydoun, PMP
Hammdy’s Answer
Going off of Ohio State's biomedical engineering suggested curriculum, it appears you need a minimum of 16 hours of calculus based math classes (3-4) semesters. This requirement will depend on which school you are enrolled in, my advice is to double check with your target school.
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G. Mark Stewart
G. Mark’s Answer
Using the curriculum at Berkeley as an example, biomedical engineering requires a minimum of four courses or approximately 16 units. The first two are introductions to differential and integral calculus. The third class covers parametric equations, vectors, 3 dimensional euclidean spaces, etc. The last of the four minimum requirement courses covers basic lineaer algebra, matrix arithmetic, fourier series and so on. Now bear in mind that engineering itself is heavily dependent on math, so this is no exception, and this series will be applicable in whatever engineering branch you decide on. But also keep in mind that this series is the bare minimum needed for your undergraduate work. And the better news is that if you really are jazzed up on engineering in general, you'll enjoy these classes as well. And more, in engineering, you'll be learning stuff you'll be putting to actual use. I personally must have switched majors three times with no problem using my previous coursework at all.
James Constantine Frangos
James Constantine’s Answer
How much calculus do you need for biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that combines principles of engineering, biology, and medicine to develop solutions for healthcare. Calculus plays a crucial role in biomedical engineering as it provides the foundation for understanding and analyzing various biological systems and processes. Here is a breakdown of the different levels of calculus needed for biomedical engineering:
1. Calculus I (Differential Calculus):
Differential calculus is essential for understanding rates of change, which are prevalent in biological systems.
Topics covered in Calculus I include limits, derivatives, and applications of derivatives.
In biomedical engineering, this knowledge is used to analyze functions that represent physiological processes and model biological phenomena.
2. Calculus II (Integral Calculus):
Integral calculus is important for calculating areas under curves and solving problems related to accumulation.
Topics covered in Calculus II include integrals, techniques of integration, applications of integrals, and infinite series.
In biomedical engineering, integral calculus is applied in areas such as pharmacokinetics to study drug concentrations over time.
3. Multivariable Calculus:
Multivariable calculus extends the concepts of differential and integral calculus to functions of multiple variables.
Topics covered include partial derivatives, multiple integrals, vector calculus, and applications in three-dimensional space.
In biomedical engineering, multivariable calculus is used to analyze complex physiological systems with multiple interacting variables.
4. Differential Equations:
Differential equations are fundamental in modeling dynamic systems in biomedical engineering.
Topics include first-order differential equations, higher-order differential equations, systems of differential equations, and applications in growth and decay models.
Differential equations are utilized to describe changes over time in biological systems like population dynamics or drug interactions.
In conclusion, a strong foundation in calculus is essential for success in biomedical engineering due to its application in modeling biological processes, analyzing data from experiments, and designing medical devices.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
National Institutes of Health (NIH): The NIH provides valuable research articles and publications on the intersection of mathematics and biomedical engineering.
American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE): AIMBE offers insights into the educational requirements for biomedical engineers, including the role of mathematics.
Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES): BMES resources provide information on the application of mathematical concepts in various subfields of biomedical engineering.
God Bless,
JC.
Amelia Eginton
Amelia’s Answer
Great question Elijah! When I majored in Biomedical Engineering I had to take 3 semesters of calculus, as well as linear algebra and differential equations. I did not use a lot of the material that I learned in calculus in my other engineering classes but it was still required as part of my curriculum. If I was you, I would look at your school's website and try to find the curriculum for biomedical engineering. They often list the required courses so that should give you a better idea of what exactly you will have to take and which semesters you will take them. In addition, this helps you plan ahead so that you do not overload a semester.
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