Undergraduate Course on Biomedical Imaging at a Liberal Arts College

This paper presents an intermediate-level undergraduate course on the physical principles of biomedical optics and imaging. Through in-class labs, Mathematica simulations, field trips, and group presentations, students learn about fundamental imaging concepts in optical microscopes. After developing an understanding of the role of the Fourier transform in image formation, the course shifts to non-optical imaging, including x-ray computed tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. The significance of this course is its hands-on nature, and this paper offers examples of laboratory exercises and simulations to promote active learning in the classroom.