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Program Description
The medical community has grown to depend on medical devices and systems to diagnose, treat and monitor patients in health care. These medical devices have become very complex systems, as they are becoming microprocessor controlled, PC based, and networked to share information. Biomedical Equipment Technicians (BETs) are specialized individuals who are educated and trained on the methods of: physiological measurement; equipment application and operation; safety, performance and preventive maintenance testing; calibration; problem solving; and troubleshooting. In addition, BETs may be involved in equipment and technology management programs, selection and installation of medical equipment, manufacturer and FDA recalls of medical devices, quality improvement programs, and training programs for hospital personnel in the safe and proper use of medical equipment. The classroom and laboratory portions of this major focus on electronically and PC based medical devices for patient monitoring and life-support equipment. The student is exposed to a much broader spectrum of medical equipment through a 400-hour (ten-week) practical internship in an approved health care facility.
Students completing the 2BET degree need only complete several additional courses to obtain the Associate in Engineering Technology degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Graduates of the program may qualify for admission to the baccalaureate degree major in Electrical Engineering Technology offered at Penn State Harrisburg, Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology offered at Penn State Erie, and Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology offered at Penn State Altoona, Berks, New Kensington and York.
What is Biomedical Engineering Technology?
Technicians in the biomedical engineering technology field are highly skilled, trained professionals who are responsible for functional and safety inspections, preventive maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, equipment repair, and the training of hospital personnel in the safe and proper use of medical equipment.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You are interested in the healthcare industry.
- You are passionate about technology and electronics.
- You enjoy working both in a team and individually.
- You know you want to work in a setting in which you operate, install, test, maintain and inspect mechanical and electronic equipment.
Entrance to Major
Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to change to this Associate degree after admission to the University.
Degree Requirements
For the Associate in Engineering Technology degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology, a minimum of 71 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 21 |
| Requirements for the Major | 62-65 |
12 of the 21 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GN courses; 3 credits of GQ courses; 6 credits of GWS courses.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| BE_T 101 | Introduction to Medical Equipment Maintenance | 1 |
| CMPET 117 | Digital Electronics | 3 |
| CMPET 120 | Digital Electronics Laboratory | 1 |
| EET 105 | Electrical Systems | 3 |
| IST 220 | Networking and Telecommunications | 3 |
| PHYS 150 | Technical Physics I  | 3 |
| RADSC 230 | Radiographic Physics | 3 |
| SRA 111 | Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| BE_T 201 | Medical Equipment & Systems I | 5 |
| BE_T 203 | Biomedical Equipment Laboratory (Internship) (must be the last course taken for the degree) 1 | 4 |
| BE_T 204W | Medical Equipment and Systems II | 5 |
| BE_T 205 | Medical Electronics | 4 |
| BE_T 206 | Medical Computers and Networks | 4 |
| CAS 100 | Effective Speech | 3 |
| ENGL 15 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| CHEM 110 | Chemical Principles I | 3 |
| or CHEM 130 | Introduction to General, Organic, and Biochemistry | |
| Select Sequence A or Sequence B: | 6-8 | |
| Sequence A: | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Lecture | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Laboratory | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology I - Laboratory | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Lecture | ||
| Human Anatomy and Physiology II - Laboratory | ||
| Sequence B: | ||
| Human Body: Form and Function | ||
Select 3 credits of technical list: | ||
| Troubleshooting Medical Equipment | ||
| Independent Studies | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Mammalian Anatomy | ||
| Embedded Processors and DSP | ||
| Introduction to Programming | ||
| Cornerstone Engineering Design | ||
| Fundamentals of Electrical Machines Using Writing Skills | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Advanced Computer Aided Drafting | ||
| Mechanics for Technology: Statics | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| MATH 22 & MATH 26 | College Algebra With Analytic Geometry and Applications II and Plane Trigonometry and Applications of Trigonometry 2 | 5-6 |
| or MATH 40 | ||
- 1
BE_T 203 must be the last course taken for the degree.
- 2
A grade of C or better is required for either MATH 22 or MATH 26.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all associate degree students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 3 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 3 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Note: Up to six credits of Inter-Domain courses may be used for any Knowledge Domain requirement, but when a course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement, the credits from the course can be counted only once.
Exploration
- Any General Education course (including GHW and Inter-Domain): 3 credits
University Degree Requirements
Cultures Requirement
3 credits of United States (US) or International (IL) cultures coursework are required and may satisfy other requirements
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 60 degree credits must be earned for a associates degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 60 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Educational Objectives
The Biomedical Engineering Technology program is designed to provide a curriculum that prepares students to pursue a career in the evolving healthcare technology management (HTM) field and to develop in their profession. Due to their experience in our program, within few years of graduation, our graduates will have:
- Demonstrated proficiency in installing, performing acceptance testing and preventive maintenance (PMs) inspections, troubleshooting, repairing, and performing network integration on a wide variety of medical devices using standards, regulations, and quality improvement plans.
- Shown the ability to adapt to evolving technologies and effectively apply engineering technology knowledge and tools in the healthcare technology management (HTM) field.
- Engaged in continuous learning through CBET (Certified Biomedical Equipment Technician) certification and/or other professional training programs and independent study.
- Worked both independently and collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams, communicating effectively with clinical staff, related healthcare professionals, and administrative staff.
Student Outcomes
Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. The Biomedical Engineering Technology program is designed to enable students to:
- Apply knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering and technology to solve well-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
- Design solutions for well-defined technical problems and assist with engineering design of systems, components, or processes appropriate to the discipline.
- Apply written, oral, and graphical communication in both technical and non-technical environments; and an ability to identify and use appropriate technical literature.
- Conduct standard tests, measurements, and experiments and to analyze and interpret the results.
- Function effectively as member of technical team.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
New Kensington
Joie Marhefka
Assistant Teaching Professor and Program Coordinator
3550 Seventh Street Road
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6712
jnm23@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Biomedical Engineering Technology, A.ENGT. at New Kensington Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| BE_T 101 | 1 | CMPET 117 | 3 | ||
| EET 105 | 3 | CMPET 120 | 1 | ||
| SRA 111 | 3 | IST 220 | 3 | ||
| MATH 26 (GQ)* | 3 | MATH 22 (GQ)* | 3 | ||
| ENGL 15* | 3 | CHEM 110 or 130 (GN) | 3 | ||
| General Education Course | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| BE_T 201* | 5 | BE_T 206* | 4 | BE_T 203* | 4 |
| BE_T 205* | 4 | BE_T 204W* | 5 | ||
| BISC 4 (GN)† | 3 | Technical Elective (See Adviser for list) | 3 | ||
| PHYS 150 (GN) | 3 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C* | 3 | ||
| RADSC 230 | 3 | General Education Course | 3 | ||
| 18 | 18 | 4 | |||
| Total Credits 72 | |||||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
Career Paths
Students with a degree in biomedical engineering technology are well positioned for careers at hospitals, clinics, medical practice offices, surgical centers, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.
Penn State students with an A.S. in Biomedical Engineering Technology have been successful in pursuing various careers within the Healthcare Technology Management field.
Careers
- Biomedical Engineering Technician/Clinical Engineer in a Hospital
- Field Service Technician
- Repair Technician for a Medical Device Company
Accreditation
The A.S. in Biomedical Engineering Technology at Penn State New Kensington is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Healthcare Engineering Technology and Similarly Named Programs.
Professional Licensure/Certification
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
The BET program fully prepares students for employment as a biomedical engineering technician as well as for CBET certification. A PE license is not required for employment.
Contact
University Park
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING DESIGN AND INNOVATION
213 Hammond Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-2952
jnm23@psu.edu
New Kensington
3550 Seventh Street Rd.
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-334-6712
jnm23@psu.edu
https://newkensington.psu.edu/academics/2-year-biomedical-engineering-technology