The biomedical engineering senior capstone design course is probably the most important course
taken by undergraduate biomedical engineering students. It provides them with the opportunity
to apply what they have learned in previous years develop their communication teamwork
project management and design skills and learn about the product development process. It
prepares students for professional practice and serves as a preview of what it will be like to
work as a biomedical engineer. The capstone design experience can change the way engineering
students think about technology themselves society and the world around them. It can make
them aware of their potential to make a positive contribution to healthcare throughout the
world and generate excitement for and pride in the engineering profession. Ideas for how to
organize structure and manage a senior capstone design course for biomedical and other
engineering students are presented here. These ideas will be helpful to faculty who are
creating a new design course expanding a current design program or just looking for some
ideas for improving an existing course. The better we can make these courses the more industry
ready our students will be and the better prepared they will be for meaningful successful
careers in biomedical engineering. This book is the second part of a series covering Capstone
Design Courses for biomedical engineers. Part I is available online here and in print (ISBN
9781598292923) and covers the following topics: Purpose Goals and Benefits Designing a
Course to Meet Student Needs Enhancing the Capstone Design Courses Meeting the Changing Needs
of Future Engineers. Table of Contents: The Myth of the Industry-Ready Engineer Recent Trends
and the Current State of Capstone Design Preparing Students for Capstone Design Helping
Students Recognize the Value of Capstone Design Courses Developing Teamwork Skills
Incorporating Design Controls Learning to Identify Problems Unmet Needs and New Product
Opportunities Design Verification and Validation Liability Issues with Assistive Technology
Projects Standards in Capstone Design Courses and the Engineering Curriculum Design
Transfer and Design for Manufacturability Learning from other Engineering Disciplines:
Capstone Design Conferences Maintaining a Relevant Up-to-Date Capstone Design Course
Active Learning in Capstone Design Courses Showcasing Student Projects: National Student
Design Competitions Managing Student Expectations of the Real World Career Management and
Professional Development Conclusion
