Biomedical Engineering Courses | 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog | SIU

Diagnostic ultrasound is an ultrasound-based medical imaging technique used to visualize muscles, tissue, and many internal organs, to capture their size, structure and any pathological lesions. This course is an introduction to the principles and applications of biomedical ultrasound. This course will focus on fundamentals of acoustic theory, principles of ultrasonic detection and imaging, design and use of currently available tools for performance evaluation of diagnostic devices, and biological effects of ultrasound. Prerequisite: MATH 305 and ECE 355 with a grade of C or consent of instructor. Restricted to enrollment in BME programs. Project-based fee: $30 to help defray cost of software licenses and equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ME 481) This course provides an introduction to a vision system and instrumentation with engineering applications including optical microscopy. A vision system is an essential tool in most of the application, and optical microscopy is a powerful scientific tool to study microscale worlds. Topics covered in basic geometrical optics, Optoelectronic devices, basic electronics for illumination system, optical microscopy, actuators in the microscope, fundamentals of fluorescence microscopy, and advanced imaging techniques. Prerequisites: ENGR 296 or ME 222 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ME 485) Mechanics of living cells at the micron/nanoscale level. Molecular forces, bond dynamics, force-induced protein conformational changes. Structural basis of living cells, contractile forces, mechanics of biomembranes, nucleus, cytoskeletal filaments- actin, microtubule, intermediate filaments. Active and passive rheology, microrheological properties of cytoskeleton. Active cellular processes such as cell adhesion, cell spreading, control of cell shape, and cell migration. Discussion on experimental techniques including single-molecule approaches to understanding key cellular processes. Discussion of theoretical models that predict cellular processes and limitations. Introduction to mechanobiology. Restricted to 4th Year or graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 3

Theoretical introduction to the basic principles of statistical modeling and estimation focusing on biomedical engineering applications such as genetics and genetic-related disorders. Prerequisite: PHSL 410A or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Overview of the ordinary physiology of cells and tissues and the abnormal physiology associated with cancer and/or other major diseases. Role of surgeries in the practice of modern medicine with a special focus on cancer treatment and/or other important procedures. Environment of and people inside the operating room. Therapeutic and diagnostic tools and techniques available in the operating room. Open and minimally invasive surgeries. Introduction to image-guided surgeries. Imaging systems and contrast agents for image-guided surgeries. Introduction to robotic surgeries. Preclinical research, clinical research, and FDA-approved process. Prerequisite: ECE 355 (or equivalent). Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 506) Fundamental theories of light, including the wave theory of light and the particle theory of light; Fundamental interactions between light and matter, including reflection, refraction, absorption, scattering, fluorescence, and polarization; Biology of cells and tissues; Tissue optical properties; Tissue-targeted contrast agents; Coherence and interference; Light transport in turbid media; Diagnostic applications of light, including microscopy, spectroscopy, fluorescence imaging, fluorescence-lifetime imaging, optical coherence tomography, diffuse optical tomography, and/or biosensors; Therapeutic applications of light, including photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and/or laser ablation. Prerequisites: ECE 355, MATH 251, and PHYS 205B, or equivalent, with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Students who are taking or have taken BME 431 or ECE 451 are ineligible to enroll. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 507) Fundamentals of semiconductor physics, including the use of doping and biasing to control electronic potentials in devices; Fundamentals of integrated circuits, including the design and fabrication of diodes, transistors, and interconnects; Fundamental interactions between light and matter, including reflection, refraction, and absorption; Structure and operating modes of photodiodes; Architectures and operating principles for charge coupled device (CCD) image sensors and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors; Performance metrics for image sensors, including the noise floor, the full-well capacity, the quantum efficiency, and fixed pattern noise; Construction of color image sensors; Signal processing for image sensors, including color interpolation and color correction. Prerequisite: ECE 355 and PHYS 205B, or equivalent, with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Students who are taking or have taken BME 453 or ECE 453 are ineligible to enroll. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

This graduate-level course covers fundamental biomedical techniques, tools, equipment and the recording of biological signals. Key topics include wet-lab procedures, cell culture methods, microscopy, electrocardiography, electromyography, pulmonary function testing, blood pressure measurement, bioelectrodes, bioelectric circuit design, bio-amplifiers, filters, and ion channel current recording. Lab fee: $50 to help defray cost of software licenses and equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

Same as ECE 559A) The course is designed to introduce students with fundamentals of MEMS and its applications. The emphasis will be on physical principle in sensors and corresponding fabrication techniques, with supplemental discussion of the state-of-art applications in industry and research. Students will learn to analyze and design systems by solving regular homework problems and active participation during lectures and in-class examples. Topics: Introduction of MEMS (Chapter 1), fundamentals of microfabrication and nanofabrication, fundamentals of physics in sensors, a case study of electrostatic sensing, microfluidics and biomedical applications, projects. Prerequisites: MATH 251, PHYS 205A, PHYS 205B each with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Students who have completed BME 419 or ECE 459 will not receive credit for this course. Project-based fee: $50 to help defray cost of equipment and commodities.

Credit Hours: 3

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to neuroengineering principles and electrophysiology techniques. Topics include foundational neuroengineering concepts, electrophysiology (Ephy) setup, circuitry, and laboratory applications, as well as neuromodulation and neurostimulation strategies. Advanced modules explore deep brain, spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion stimulation, including high-frequency spinal cord stimulation. Students will complete term projects, including designing an Ephy circuit and proposing a neurostimulation protocol, integrating course concepts. Students who have completed BME 417 will not receive credit for this course. Prerequisites: None. Project-based fee: $20 to help defray cost of equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 538) This course introduces the BME graduate students to the field of medical instrumentation. Medical instrumentation is the application of advanced engineering technology to problems in biology and medicine. The course focuses on fundamentals of instrumentation systems, sensors, amplifiers, and signal precondition. In addition, the course also includes design and applications of medical instrumentation, biopotential measurement, biomedical signal processing, and other related topics. Students who have completed BME 438 or ECE 438 will not receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: MATH 305 and ECE 355 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Restricted to enrollment in BME programs. Project-based fee: $45 to help defray cost of software licenses and equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

The course is designed to introduce students to principles of microfabrication techniques and the contributions of microfabrication in medical devices. This course emphasizes the understanding of microfabrication techniques and hands-on experience, where students will observe interesting physical phenomena in devices they fabricate. Moreover, students will use these devices for practical biomedical tests from which they will understand and appreciate the benefits of microfabricated architectures in medical devices. Topics: Introduction of micro/nanofabrication, scaling analysis in physics, Micro-Total-Analysis Systems (?TAS), ?TAS for medical diagnostics & treatment, development of medical devices enabled by microfabrication. Prerequisite: BME 419 or equivalent with a C or better, or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $50 to defray cost of equipment and materials for the project(s).

Credit Hours: 3

Principles and practice of neuromodulation. Topics include: introduction to electrophysiology; cellular and neuronal patch-clamp techniques; spinal cord stimulation; deep brain stimulation; neuromodulation for pain. Restricted to Graduate standing. Lab fee: $45 to help defray cost of equipment, supplies, and software licenses.

Credit Hours: 3

Algorithmic, statistical, and data mining concepts in biomedical engineering and bioinformatics. Programming in R: Vectors, Matrices, Lists, Data Frames, Factors, Tables. Classification techniques. ROC curves. Biomarker gene selection. DNA and protein sequence analysis, sequence alignment. Restricted to graduate standing and consent of instructor. Students who have completed BME 435 or ECE 435 will not receive credit for this course.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 543A) The sources of electrical signals in biological systems. Methods and types of sensors for sensing bioelectrical signals, including amperometric, potentiometric, piezo-electric, impedance, and FET based biosensors. Interface between biosensors and electronics for sensor signal condition and data acquisition. Precision electronics for biosensor signal acquisition, including potentiostat, current, charge, capacitance and impedance sensing circuit, lock-in amplifier. Prerequisite: ECE 345 or equivalent with a grade of C or better. Students who have completed ECE 442 or BME 418 will not receive credit for this course. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

Fundamental principles of optics and photonics, biology, and medicine; imaging, spectroscopy, and optical biosensors. This course is designed for graduate students as well as 4th Year undergraduate students in related disciplines who are interested in the interdisciplinary field of biophotonics. This course provides the fundamentals of light and its interaction with matter, optical imaging, lasers, and tissue optical properties. This course also provides the diagnostic applications of biophotonics, which includes biomedical imaging, microscopy techniques, and optical biosensors. Prerequisites: ECE 375, PHYS 320 or 328, with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $30 to help defray cost of equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 533) Fundamentals of speech production system, signal analysis of speech, speech coding, linear prediction analysis, speech synthesizing, and speech recognition algorithms. Prerequisite: MATH 250, ECE 355 with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Design and evaluation of sensors with application in biomedical engineering. Instrumentation and Techniques for measurements related to biomedical applications. Prerequisite: PHSL 410A, CHEM 444, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Methods for evaluating different approaches in signal processing systems for biomedical applications; provides familiarity with the variety of exciting software and hardware systems. Prerequisite: PHSL 410A, CHEM 444, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 534) The nature of biomedical signals. Electricity in living tissue. Biomedical signal processing and modeling. Modeling and simulation of biomedical systems. Prerequisite: MATH 250, ECE 355, with grades of C or better, or consent of instructor. Project-based fee: $20 to help defray cost of software licenses.

Credit Hours: 3

Design, analysis, and evaluation of microprocessor-based systems for biomedical implementation. Prerequisite: ECE 424 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Biomechanics through a rigorous mathematical standpoint while emphasizing the biological aspect. Engineering analysis of the human body. Stress, strain, and deformable body mechanics. Mechanical properties of biological tissues. Students who have completed BME 336 will not receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: PHYS 205A and MATH 251 (or equivalent) with a grade of C or better or consent of instructor. Project fee to defray cost of software license: $45.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ME 540) Fundamentals of tissue engineering will be discussed. Developing biomaterials for artificial scaffolds and cell populations within the scaffolds will be discussed. Stem cells for cell-based therapy will be highlighted. Design of various organ-on-chips will be covered. Other topics include recent advances in 3D bioprinting for organ engineering/regenerative medicine. Advances in in-vitro tumor models will be discussed. Ethical considerations will be emphasized.

Credit Hours: 3

This course addresses the bulk and surface properties of biomaterials used for medical applications. Artificial Organs and Tissues and Tissue Engineering are included. Analytical techniques pertinent to biomaterial evaluation, and testing. Prerequisite: ME 410 or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

An introductory course to the analysis of human movement through the use of mathematical methods from an engineering viewpoint. Human dynamics, linear kinematics and kinetics, angular kinematics and kinetics, and impulse and momentum. Students who have taken BME 341 cannot receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: BME 336 or equivalent with a grade of C or better. Project fee to defray cost of software license: $45.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 544) Geometrical optics, including refraction and reflection; Physical optics, including interference, diffraction, and polarization; Optical aberrations, including causes and effects; Fourier optics, with applications to imaging; Light sources, including LEDs and lasers; Photodetectors, including photodiodes and image sensors; Lens systems; Microscopes. Students who are taking or have taken BME 448 or ECE 448 are ineligible to enroll. Prerequisites: ECE 355, MATH 251, and PHYS 205B, or equivalent, with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor. Lab fee: $125 to help defray the cost of equipment, supplies, and software packages. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

This course covers fundamental and advanced topics in computer vision. Computer vision applications, image formation, image processing and filtering, deep learning, computer recognition and matching, 3D computer vision, motion and video. Students who have taken ECE 444 or BME 444 will not receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: ECE 355 with a minimum grade of C- or consent of instructor. Restricted to enrollment in ECE program. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

This course offers an introduction to cell and tissue engineering, focusing on the integration of cell biology, molecular biology, and material science in the development of innovative tissue-engineered therapies. Topics include molecular biology, transport phenomena, stem cell engineering, tissue engineering, artificial organs, and the design of drug delivery systems and devices. Students who have completed BME 441 will not receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: BME 338 or BME 508 with a grade of C or better. Lab fee: $50 to help defray cost of software licenses and equipment.

Credit Hours: 3

Pixel- and system-level design of charge coupled device (CCD) and complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors; Image processing pipelines for CCD and/or CMOS image sensors; Sources of nonlinearity and non-uniformity in image sensors, including photodiodes and amplifiers; Sources of noise in image sensors, including photon shot noise, dark shot noise, reset (kTC) noise, flicker (1/f) noise, and quantization noise; Materials used in image sensors, including silicon and indium gallium arsenide; Sources of resolution loss in image sensors, including crosstalk; Methods for evaluating image sensors; Technologies and techniques for moving beyond intensity-based imaging, including spectral imaging, polarization imaging, volumetric imaging, temporal imaging, and/or light-field imaging. Prerequisite: BME 453 or ECE 453 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 567) Diagnostic x-ray imaging. Tomographic imaging. Ultrasound imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Optical imaging. Signal and noise characteristics. Image quality evaluation. Three-dimensional image reconstruction algorithms. Students who have taken ECE 467 or BME 467 cannot receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: MATH 305 and ECE 355 with a grade of C- or better, or consent of instructor. Project-based fee: $30 to help defray cost of equipment. Credit Hours: 3.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ECE 572) Anatomy and physiology of the cerebral cortex, Feed-forward Networks, Linear Associator, Multilayer Perceptrons, Feedback Networks, Hopfield Networks, ART. Applications to pattern recognition, robotics, image processing, and speech processing. Optical and electronic implementations. Students who have taken BME 470 or ECE 470 cannot receive credit for this course. Prerequisite: MATH 305 with a C or better or consent of instructor. Restricted to enrollment in ECE program.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as ME 577) The course objective is to introduce bioprocessing concepts to ME and BME students. This will introduce the idea of designing a system to achieve a biological reaction objective. It will have content in pharmaceutical production, production of enzymes and other biproducts, research involving cell culture reactors, pharmacokinetics and other bioprocessing. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Individual advanced projects and problems selected by student or instructor. Restricted to graduate standing. Restricted to enrollment in BME program. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

This course covers advanced scientific and engineering topics behind a rapidly evolving, multi-disciplinary biotechnology. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

Lectures on advanced topics of special interest to students in various areas of bioelectronics. This course is designed to offer and test new experimental courses in biomedical engineering. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

Lectures on advanced topics of special interest to students in various areas of control applications in biomedical engineering. This course is designed to offer and test new experimental courses in biomedical engineering. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 1-3

(Same as ECE 596) Principles of biomechanics, biomaterials, electrophysiology, modeling, instrumentation, biosignal processing, medical imaging, and biomedical optics. Professional moral and ethical issues in biomedical research and development. Prerequisite: MATH 250 with a C or better or consent of instructor.

Credit Hours: 3

Students are eligible to register for thesis when they have approval of the instructor who will act as thesis advisor. Prerequisite: Consent of thesis advisor.

Credit Hours: 1-6

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of their thesis or capstone design course. The student must have completed all other course requirements to be eligible to register in this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only. Prerequisites: Completion of course work except BME 592 or 599.

Credit Hours: 1