Syllabus

I think everyone will agree that the stuff that runs through your veins is pretty important, so is the organ that does the pumping.   Welcome to the world of Hemodynamics!  We are going to embark on a semester long study of the cardiovascular system which comprises the heart, blood vessels and related organs including the kidneys.      As biomedical engineers, we are the people who must understand these systems in order to design devices that solve chronic and acute problems with the cardiovascular system, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and stroke, and save lives of those afflicted.  These devices include stents, heart valves, filters, pacemakers, catheters, distal protection devices, ventricular assist devices, implanted subcutaneous devices such as anastomoses and vascular grafts as well as external blood interfacing devices including dialyzers and heart lung machines.

In order to prepare for success in this field, you will important skills that will enable you to describe the functional anatomy and physiology, as well as describe fluid behavior in the circulatory system in a physical and mathematical context. You will understand the control systems of the circulatory system, regulation and their roles in regulating vascular pressure which if not properly controlled, is the dominant precursor or the development of diseases in the cardiovascular system.  Mastery of the skills learned in this course will prepare the student for advanced studies in biomedical engineering and cardiovascular mechanics as well as employment in cardiovascular device manufacturing and related areas.  Those who pursue medicine as a career will find the information useful in understanding physiology from a physical, mathematical and engineering standpoint, so as to engage in the development of superior diagnostic and intervention tools and devices for physicians and other healthcare practitioners. 

Please review the FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable netiquette for online courses.

As a member of the FIU community you are expected to be knowledgeable about the behavioral expectations set forth in the FIU Student Code of Conduct.

One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" webpage to find out more information on this subject.

Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.

The Disability Resource Center collaborates with students, faculty, staff, and community members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable. The DRC provides FIU students with disabilities the necessary support to successfully complete their education and participate in activities available to all students. If you have a diagnosed disability and plan to utilize academic accommodations, please contact the Center at 305-348-3532 or visit them at the Graham Center GC 190.

Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.

Please visit the LMS Accessibility webpage for more information:

• Canvas

For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook.

Academic Misconduct includes: Cheating – The unauthorized use of books, notes, aids, electronic sources; or assistance from another person with respect to examinations, course assignments, field service reports, class recitations; or the unauthorized possession of examination papers or course materials, whether originally authorized or not. Plagiarism – The use and appropriation of another’s work without any indication of the source and the representation of such work as the student’s own. Any student who fails to give credit for ideas, expressions or materials taken from another source, including internet sources, is responsible for plagiarism.

Learn more about the academic integrity policies and procedures as well as student resources that can help you prepare for a successful semester.

If you are looking for help for yourself or a fellow classmate, Panthers Care encourages you to express any concerns you may come across as it relates to any personal behavior concerns or worries you have, for the classmate’s well-being or yours; you are encouraged to share your concerns with FIU’s Panthers Care website.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers free and confidential help for anxiety, depression, stress, and other concerns that life brings. Professional counselors are available for same-day appointments. Don’t wait to call 305-348-2277 to set up a time to talk or visit the online self-help portal.

This is an online course, which means most (if not all) of the course work will be conducted online. Expectations for performance in an online course are the same for a traditional course. In fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills which can make these courses more demanding for some students.

Course Communication

Keep in mind that your discussion forum postings will likely be seen by other members of the course. Care should be taken when determining what to post.

In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz" from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements.

Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services.

Assignments

Adobe Connect Pro Meeting