UW-Platteville is looking into adding biomedical engineering as an option as a minor for students. A committee will go over the options and benefits of adding biomedical engineering as a minor.

The minor must be approved by the departments and college. The process of creating a minor takes a year or two to finalize.

David Kunz, chair of the mechanical engineering department, has been introducing students to biomedical engineering in the classroom.

“Biomedical engineering is a big thing,” Kunz said. “You witness some of the work of biomedical engineering every time you go to the doctor. It’s about understanding how the body and heart works.”

Items such as X-rays, medical equipment and artificial arms come from the works of biomedical engineers. Biomedical engineering also plays a part in sports by improving football helmets to limit concussions and coming up with ways to prevent anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

The thought of making biomedical engineering as a minor has generated some interest with students.

“I think biomedical engineering would be a great minor to offer at Platteville,” senior mechanical engineering major, Adam Goethel, said. “I am currently in the biomedical engineering course simply because it spurred my interest. Had that minor been available earlier, however, I could have very well ended up on a different career path.”

“I think that having a biomedical minor would be a great addition to the mechanical engineering department,” senior mechanical engineering major, Jason Asmus, said. “We need to have more minors available to mechanical engineering students to further their insight in specialized fields, and I feel that this is a good step in the right direction.”

The school’s budget cuts and funding issues are not stopping the planning of a new minor.

“The idea to add this as a minor is to serve the students,” Kunz said. “The budget is a real issue, but it shouldn’t effect planning.”