Course Overview

Ever wondered how cutting-edge technology can merge with the human body to transform lives? Dive into the exhilarating world of biomedical engineering this summer and discover the magic that happens at the intersection of biology, medicine, and engineering!

In this immersive STEM course tailored for high school enthusiasts, you’ll:

  • Journey Through the Human Machine: Grasp the foundations of biomedical engineering with interactive lectures and hands-on workshops. Dive deep into the marvels of the human body and the incredible engineering solutions tailored to enhance and heal it.
  • Step Into a Virtual Hospital: Experience clinical simulations that transport you to the heart of real-world medical scenarios. From the precision of orthopedics to the innovations in radiology and beyond, gain invaluable insights into diverse hospital departments without leaving the classroom!
  • Empower the Future of Healthcare: Explore the booming world of mobile healthcare and telemedicine. Uncover how apps, wearables, augmented reality, and more are revolutionizing patient care. Witness firsthand how technology is bridging distances and making healthcare more accessible than ever.
  • Innovate and Create: Get hands-on with the latest in medical equipment, delve into digital diagnostics, and understand the role of microcontrollers in medical marvels. Dive into app development, computer-aided design, and even craft your prototypes with a personal microprocessor kit!

Join us on this adventure, where the mysteries of the human body meet the innovations of tomorrow. Shape the future of healthcare, one innovation at a time!

All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful course completion, students will:

  • Comprehensive Understanding: Develop a holistic knowledge of the diverse disciplines within biomedical engineering, elucidating potential career trajectories.
  • Fundamental Mastery: Acquire proficiency in the mathematical, physical, biological, and chemical principles integral to biomedical engineering.
  • Identify Clinical Imperatives: Recognize the pressing challenges in modern healthcare and the pivotal role of biomedical engineering in formulating solutions.
  • Technological Acumen: Ascertain the transformative capabilities of contemporary medical technologies in diagnostics, treatment, and patient care.
  • Clinical Integration: Derive insights from practical clinical scenarios across varied medical departments, emphasizing the integration and importance of biomedical solutions.
  • Digital Health Proficiency: Comprehend the advancements and implications of emerging trends in mobile healthcare, telemedicine, and the broader digital health landscape.
  • Prototyping and Design Expertise: Cultivate skills in medical equipment prototyping, digital application development, and computer-aided design, underscoring the potential for innovative contributions to the biomedical field.Top of Form

Course Information

Course Prefix and Number: SCN 072

Format: Online

Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore, junior, or senior status – or a 2024 high school graduate.

Applicants should have completed at least one introductory course in either biology, physics, chemistry, or a related STEM field. Basic familiarity with computer operations and the internet, given the online nature of the course.

Credit: Noncredit

Grading: Pass/Fail

Cost: $1,995

Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees.  Discounts and scholarships are also available.


Program Information

Summer College – Online: Explore college life before stepping foot on campus! High school students can enroll in a college-level course, pursue their academic interests, and meet likeminded students in daily virtual events and activities.


“I enjoyed creating the final project and also learning more about the fundamentals of biomedical engineering. The professor and TAs were extremely helpful to our class with our projects. It was great being able to meet others who are interested in the same field as me.”

— Summer College – Online Biomedical Engineering Student, 2020

Course Dates and Details

ProgramCourse DatesClass Time (Eastern Time)Credit/NoncreditStatus
Summer College – Online 3-Week Online Session I: Monday, July 8 – Thursday, July 25, 2024MTWTh;
5 – 7 p.m.
NoncreditOpen

Course Requirements

Required Supplies

  • A modern laptop or desktop computer
  • A stable internet connection
  • A working webcam and microphone
  • Open-source software will primarily be used

Student Expectations

Students must:

  • Attend to all academic requirements
  • Be on time for all class sessions
  • Be attentive and engaged.
  • Complete all academic requirements

Typical Day

Tentative Schedule

Throughout the course, the structure might vary slightly based on the topic or the need to accommodate guest speakers, extended activities, or deeper dives into particularly complex subjects. However, the blend of lecture, discussion, hands-on activities, lab activities, circuit building, programming, computer modeling & simulation, and reflection ensures students stay engaged and get the most out of their 2-hour daily sessions.

Faculty Bios

Douglas Yung – Associate Teaching Professor, Bioengineering, College of Engineering & Computer Science

Douglas Yung is an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University and serves as the Director for the Bioengineering undergraduate program. He completed his B.S. in electrical engineering and mathematics at UCLA in 2003 and later pursued a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Caltech in 2008. Following this, he spent time at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California as a NASA Postdoctoral Fellow, working on sensor development, microfluidics, and bacterial spore viability. In 2009, he joined the Department of Electronic Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor.

Prof. Yung is not just a distinguished academic but a visionary biomedical engineer. He is known for fostering expansive collaborations that bridge the gaps between academia, industry, hospitals, and communities on a grand scale. His intrigue lies at the intersection of microbes and engineering tools, particularly on a micro- and nano-scale. He is actively pioneering techniques to evaluate the resilience of superbugs and derive energy from extremophiles, merging electrochemical and optical techniques with MEMS devices. Over the past 12 years, he has championed more than 20 STEM outreach programs, impacting over 500 K-12 students. His contributions to education have been lauded with awards, including the College Educator of the Year by the Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY). A staunch advocate for hybrid teaching, Prof. Yung promotes a holistic learning environment rich in hands-on projects, experiential activities, and peer collaboration, a marked shift from conventional pedagogies.