Biomedical Engineering

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U courses in: English, Advanced Functions (MHF4U), Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U), Physics (SPH4U) and Chemistry (SCH4U).

Notes:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
   
2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
   
3. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

The Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science (FEAS) through the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers the BEng in Biomedical Engineering four-year degree program. The Bachelor of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering program is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB). Our Biomedical Engineering program aims to take advantage of the strategic location of Ryerson University in proximity to Toronto's Discovery District and seven world-class hospitals.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in collaboration with the Departments of Aerospace Engineering, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, and Mathematics at Ryerson University will deliver the curriculum.

According to the working definition of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), biomedical engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behaviour, and health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ system levels, and develops innovative biologics, materials, processes, implants, devices and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease; for patient rehabilitation; and for improving health.

The Biomedical Engineering program has been developed to benefit from, enhance and expand the multidisciplinary collaboration among the various engineering and science programs at Ryerson; to attract more students of higher quality to the university and retain them, as well as enhance the reputation of engineering education at Ryerson. It will offer students excellent opportunities to build strong backgrounds in biomedical engineering and benefit from the collaborative interdisciplinary relationships between engineering and life sciences, being key strategic areas of strength at FEAS, Ryerson. The Faculty has expertise in almost all of the areas of biomedical engineering. At this point the expertise is primarily devoted to the research activities of the faculty members.

This program is run within the framework of engineering programs at Ryerson. As with all degree programs associated with engineering, students are initially admitted into the common first year for engineering. During the second year students will study fundamental courses in electronic circuits, biomaterials, cell biology, physiology, engineering algorithms, digital systems, statics and mechanics of materials. In third year the students will focus in microprocessor systems, fluid mechanics, biomedical transducers, bioinformatics, biomechanics, biostatistics, signals and systems, control systems, and biomedical instrumentation. In the fourth year, the students will study a range of state-of-the-art topics in biomedical engineering, and will also be involved in a capstone design project.  

There is a growing need for engineers trained in the biomedical sciences. Biomedical engineers are employed in industry, in hospitals, in research facilities of educational and medical institutions, in teaching, and in government regulatory agencies. They often serve a coordinating or interfacing function, using their background in both the engineering and medical fields. In industry, they may create designs where an in-depth understanding of living systems and of technology is essential. They may be involved in performance testing of new or proposed products. Government positions often involve product testing and safety, as well as establishing safety standards for devices. In the hospital, the biomedical engineer may provide advice on the selection and use of medical equipment, as well as supervising its performance testing and maintenance. They may also build customized devices for special health care or research needs. In research institutions, biomedical engineers supervise laboratories and equipment, and participate in or direct research activities in collaboration with other researchers with such backgrounds as medicine, physiology, and nursing. The number of biomedical engineering jobs will climb almost twice as fast as the overall engineering discipline average for a 26.1 percent gain by 2012, according to the U.S. government's new long-range forecast. 

First Year Transition Program: The objective of the first year transition program is to provide students, who may need more time to adapt to the demanding university curriculum, with an immediate opportunity to upgrade their Academic Standing. In the second semester, Phase I of the transition program offers all first semester core courses: CHY 102, MTH 140, MTH 141, and PCS 211 in parallel with the second semester regular program courses. Students who have failed and/or are missing any one of these courses at the end of the first semester are required to upgrade their Academic Standing through enrolling in the transition program. During the condensed Spring semester (May-July) Phase II of the transition program offers all second semester core courses: AER 222, BME 100, CHE 200, CHY 211, CPS 125, CVL 207, ELE 202, MEC 222, MTH 240, MTL 200, and PCS 125. These courses represent a repeat of the second semester regular program courses that were not taken by students enrolled in Phase I of the transition program. These courses will be offered subject to adequate enrolment.

At the completion of the transition program, successful transition program students will be promoted to the second year of the Biomedical Engineering program, without losing an academic year.  

Highly innovative and proactive retention strategies play an important role in helping students build the skills for success in a demanding engineering curriculum. Through the First-Year and Common Engineering Office, the Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science has incorporated the Early Intervention Program into the first-year engineering experience. At the semester's mid-point, students who are failing courses in their core curriculum are identified and encouraged to attend an interview with a member of our academic support team (First-Year and Common Engineering Program Director/Academic Advisor and/or the Student Counsellor). Together, they discuss options to help reduce the chances of academic failure. 

All new engineering students are automatically enrolled in CEN 199: Writing Skills.

CEN 199 is graded on a Pass/Fail basis, and is used to track the results of the Writing Skills Test (WST) and/or Ryerson Test of English Proficiency (RTEP).

All students admitted into engineering, except those who wrote the RTEP and achieved a grade of ‘B' or higher, are required to write the mandatory Writing Skills Test (WST) during Orientation Week. Students who pass the WST (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) or the RTEP (by achieving a grade of ‘B' or higher) will receive a PASS in CEN 199 and therefore may enrol in the lower level liberal studies course of their choice (subject to availability).

Students who do not pass the WST, or achieved a ‘C' level remedial pass on the RTEP, will receive an INP (In Progress Grade) in CEN 199 and will be required to enrol in one of LNG 111, LNG 112, LNG 113, or LNG 121 as their first-year lower level liberal studies course.  These courses, which count towards lower level liberal studies requirements, are writing-intensive humanities and social science courses designed to give students the opportunity to strengthen their foundations in communication. These students will then have three additional opportunities to write and pass the WST:

• In May, following Semester 2.
  
• During Orientation Week prior to Semester 3.
  
• In May, following Semester 4.

A PASS in CEN 199: Writing Skills is required to enrol in all third-year engineering courses. Students with a grade of INP in CEN 199 will not be allowed to enrol in any third-year engineering course.

Detailed information is available from the First-Year and Common Engineering Office. Room ENG 377 Telephone: 416-979-5000 ext. 4261.

In order to submit an application to participate in the industrial internship (IIP), a student must:

• Be full-time undergraduate student enrolled in Electrical, Computer or Biomedical Engineering
  
• Have a CLEAR academic standing with a CGPA of 2.67 (B-) or higher after completing all 2nd year courses

Students must complete all required 3rd year courses in order to participate in IIP. Students who are in 4th Year (who have completed the 3rd year of the program) are not eligible to participate in IIP.

If hired by one of the corporations who intend to provide such internship placements, IIP students will spend a period of 8 to 16 consecutive months, from May to September of the following year, as engineering interns at the corresponding corporations. After completing the IIP, students return to Ryerson and complete their 4th year of study. Enrolment in the IIP extends the program length from four to five years.

After securing an internship position the IIP students will be enrolled in the course WKT 99A/B Industrial Internship Program during the academic year in which they work as interns. This course is graded on a pass/fail basis. Completion of the Industrial Program (IIP) will be identified on the student's transcript as WKT 99A/B: Industrial Internship Program, with the appropriate grade received.

This option provides students with a solid foundation in innovation and entrepreneurship theory as well as the immersive experience of advancing and shaping an idea into a business. The lecture courses cover principles of engineering economics, entrepreneurship and innovation management, and technology based new venture creation. The practicum will guide students through the process of identifying a new business concept, developing their technology, and preparing their business for market readiness. For eligibility, registration and course information see Optional Specialization in Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OS EIE). 

Students can enrich their studies and hone their management skills with the Optional Specialization in Management Sciences. Courses within the optional specialization cover four major areas in management sciences: Strategic Engineering Management, Operations Management/Operations Research, Finance, and Organizational Behaviour. For eligibility, registration, and course information see Optional Specialization in Management Sciences (OS MS).  

Applicants approved into an Engineering program cannot expect to receive any transfer credits in Engineering discipline or Engineering related discipline courses if their applicable post-secondary education was not completed at a program accredited by the CEAB. Refer to www.ccpe.ca/e/index.cfm (external link, opens in new window)  for a listing of CEAB accredited institutions.

Core and professional engineering course transfer credits will ONLY be granted at the time of admission. An Offer of Admission will notify the applicant of transfer credit decision(s) subject to acceptance of their Offer.

liberal studies discipline courses taken at CEAB accredited or non-accredited schools will be considered for either lower- or upper-level liberal studies transfer credit. College courses, in general, are not eligible for transfer credit except in the case of lower-level liberal studies courses.

Students must take two lower level liberal studies courses and two upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies section of the calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts/Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Ryerson (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors section of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section (opens in new window)  of the Curriculum Advising website for complete details. 

Common to Aerospace, Biomedical, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering Programs.

* BME 100 and CEN 199 are graded on a pass/fail basis.

NOTE: All required courses in 1st and 2nd semester are requisites to all required courses in 3rd semester.

NOTE: Students who have a CLEAR Academic Standing may opt to enrol in the Industrial Internship Program (IIP). Eligible students should select WKT 99A/B on the course intention form.

* BME 700 has a GPA weight of 0.50. BME 800 has a GPA Weight of 1.50.
NOTE: BME 700 and BME 800 must be taken within the same academic year.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see  (PDF file) Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Frank Y. Chu
President
FJC Associates

Paul M. Cohen, PEng
Vice-President, Power and South America
Celestica

Miro Forest, PEng
Forest Telecom Consultants

David George
Senior Consultant
Immad Broadcast Services
Azcar Technologies Inc.

C. Dennis Hall, PEng
Management Consultant

David Kennedy, PEng
Director of Account Development - Canada
Nortel

Benjamin Mak
Barrister & Solicitor
Rideout & Maybee LLP

Morris Milner, PEng
President and CEO
The Health Technology Exchange

Mohan Nadarajah, MBA, PEng
Enterprise Development Manager
Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship & Innovation
McMaster University

Litifa Noor
Terminal Certification Specialist
Technology Strategy, Telus

Please see the department website (opens in new window)  for updates to the Advisory Council.