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Session 2547

Why a Bachelor's Degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology and Why Now?

Wm. Hugh Blanton East Tennessee State University

ABSTRACT

There is presently a shortage of qualified Biomedical Engineering Technology (BMET) job

applicants. This trend will be exacerbated by the approaching retirement of many of the baby-

boomer BMET professionals. As a result of these shortages, hospital-related employers often

hire people with a strong electronics background but a limited or absent specialization in BMET.

Many of these employees are graduates of two-year Associate Degree Electronic Engineering

Technology (EET) or closely associated BMET programs. Some applicants have a military

electronics background. Only a handful of applicants come from the very few Bachelors Degree

programs such as the program at East Tennessee State University. Why would someone enter

the Bachelors program in BMET when he or she could enter the BMET profession in half the

time and for significantly less costs? The answer is expanded professional and financial

opportunities during his or her professional career.

The Biomedical Engineering Occupation Spectrum

The success and future of academic programs in engineering technology are often related to the

employability of its graduates.1 The U. S. Department of Labor expects biomedical engineering

jobs to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010.2 Changes in population

influence the demand for goods and services, and U. S. population is expected to grow by 24 Proceedings of the 2005 American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society of Engineering Education

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Blanton, W. (2005, June), Why A Bachelors Degree In Biomedical Engineering Technology And Why Now? Inter, Innov, Asses, Other Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15388