Posted on Jan. 9: New programs for a new age
A move from an information age to a biomedical one spawned the creation of a new program in biomedical engineering at McMaster.
Providing a mix of electrical and biomedical engineering courses will meet current demands, according to a report from the Undergraduate Council to University Senate.
“There is an urgent need for highly qualified professionals to both develop and manage these technological resources,” says the report. “While much of the 20th century saw the consolidation of the Information Age, the 21st century will see the emergence of the Biomedical Age.”
Biomedical engineering (BME) is the application of engineering science and technology to the solution of problems in medicine and biology. Since it spans interdisciplinary boundaries, including physics, mathematics and computer sciences, the educational and research programs producing biomedical engineers and researchers will be in both biomedical and engineering sciences.
Graduates will obtain a four-year bachelor of engineering degree in electrical and biomedical engineering. This will lead to opportunities in biological sciences, engineering and medical sciences, including entry into medical schools.
McMaster is the only Canadian university to offer an accredited undergraduate program in engineering with a BME option that gives the necessary prerequisites for entrance into any medical school in North America.
“Biomedical engineering is a fast growing field and the need for graduates is rapidly increasing as medicine becomes progressively more technology based,” says the report.
Initially, it is expected the program will attract 20 to 30 students, with possible extension to 50. There are currently two appointments in this area Hubert de Bruin, who specializes in instrumentation and neuromuscular signal processing, and Ian Bruce, who specializes in auditory physiology and signal processing.
Senate also approved a new bachelor of engineering program in photonics engineering.
Photonics is a branch of science and engineering that deals with the generation, control and detection of lightwaves. Due to the explosive growth in fibre optic communications, this field has emerged as an important new discipline, according to a proposal by the Department of Engineering Physics.
Photonics also includes nanotechnology, biophotonics, sensors, displays and traditional optical engineering.
“Photonics is a core strength at McMaster,” says the report. “Other universities are moving into this field very aggressively on both the research and the education front. The new program will help to establish us as leaders in photonics education. We consider ourselves to be the foremost university in English Canada in photonics, but there are many challengers.”
Other new programs Senate approved include: an honours B.A. in gerontology; a B.A. in gerontology; and honours B.A. in health studies; a combined honours in cultural studies and critical theory and other subject; a psychiatric-mental health nursing program; and an honours arts and science and French program.
