Accelerated Degree Programs: Biomedical Engineering BS and Biomedical Engineering MS

5 Years On Campus Accelerated-bachelors Program

Drexel University

Program Overview

The Biomedical Engineering BS/MS Accelerated Degree at Drexel University allows academically qualified students to earn both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering in five years, combining engineering, biological sciences, healthcare technology and practical professional experience. It is particularly suited to students who want to progress quickly into advanced biomedical engineering careers while developing expertise in areas such as biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, biomedical informatics, neuroengineering or tissue engineering.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: Students begin with the foundations of biomedical engineering and learn how engineers approach healthcare problems through courses such as BMES 101 – Introduction to BMES Design I: Defining Medical Problems, BMES 102 – Introduction to BMES Design II: Evaluating Design Solutions, and BMES 201 – Programming and Modeling for Biomedical Engineers I. The early curriculum develops problem-definition, solution evaluation and programming skills while establishing the mathematics, science and engineering base needed for later biomedical applications.

Year 2: Students build stronger analytical and computational abilities through subjects such as BMES 202 – Programming and Modeling for Biomedical Engineers II, BMES 241 – Modeling in Biomedical Design I, and BMES 315 – Experimental Design in Biomedical Research. Coursework increasingly connects engineering methods with biological systems, experimentation and biomedical research.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into more advanced biomedical engineering concepts, including BMES 337 – Introduction to Physiological Control Systems, BMES 375 – Computational Bioengineering, and BMES 345 – Mechanics of Biological Systems. Students also progress through BMES 381 – Junior Design I and BMES 382 – Junior Design II, while completing their selected undergraduate concentration and gaining opportunities for cooperative education.

Year 4: Students bring together their technical knowledge through advanced concentration study, laboratory work and the three-part BMES 491, BMES 492 and BMES 493 – Senior Design Project I, II and III sequence. The senior design experience involves developing solutions to open-ended biomedical problems and working in a professional-style team environment with interaction involving faculty and industry or government institutions.

Year 5: Students transition into the graduate component of the accelerated degree and complete the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering, allowing them to develop more advanced expertise through graduate-level coursework and, where applicable, research. Graduate study can be shaped toward areas such as biomedical technology development, biomaterials and tissue engineering, or bioinformatics, with thesis and non-thesis pathways available according to the MS requirements.

Focus areas: Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics, Neuroengineering, Biomedical Imaging, Biomedical Informatics, Computational Bioengineering, Biomedical Technology Development

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to identify biomedical and healthcare needs, define engineering requirements, design and evaluate solutions, apply programming and computational methods, analyze biological systems, conduct experiments, communicate technical findings and work effectively on multidisciplinary biomedical engineering projects.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The undergraduate Biomedical Engineering BS component is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and similarly named engineering programs. The accelerated pathway combines this accredited undergraduate engineering education with an advanced MS qualification.

Reputation (employability rankings): Drexel reports strong employment and progression outcomes for Biomedical Engineering graduates: 96% of graduates from the 2024 class were working or enrolled in graduate or professional education one year after graduation. Among those working full-time, 92% were satisfied with their position and 96% were satisfied with their level of responsibility.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Drexel places strong emphasis on learning through real biomedical engineering work, combining laboratory-based study, design projects, undergraduate research and cooperative education. Students can gain practical experience through Drexel's co-op system, where Biomedical Engineering students can graduate with substantial full-time employment experience, while research opportunities connect undergraduates with faculty and biomedical research institutions.

Students also work on increasingly complex design challenges throughout the degree, culminating in a three-course senior design project that mirrors a professional engineering environment. The accelerated BS/MS structure then gives students the opportunity to continue into advanced biomedical engineering study and research:

MATLAB programming: BMES 201 and BMES 202 introduce programming and modeling for biomedical engineering, including MATLAB-based problem solving.
Biomedical design projects: BMES 101 and BMES 102 take students through defining medical problems, evaluating existing solutions, developing solution pathways and conducting experimental verification.
Senior Design Project: BMES 491, BMES 492 and BMES 493 form a three-course capstone in which student teams develop solutions to open-ended biomedical engineering problems and communicate their results.
Drexel Co-op: Biomedical Engineering students can gain 6–18 months of full-time employment experience, depending on their program structure; the majority of BME students choose the five-year pathway and graduate with 18 months of experience.
Industry placements: Officially listed co-op employers include Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Teleflex Medical, Terumo Medical Corporation, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Exponent and WuXi AppTec.
International co-op: Drexel lists Biomedical Engineering co-op placements in Australia, Canada, Chile, Germany, Singapore and Switzerland.
STAR Scholars research: First-year students can apply for the competitive STAR Scholars Program and undertake full-time, faculty-mentored research during the summer after their freshman year.
Biomedical research facilities: Undergraduate research opportunities can connect students with facilities and research groups including the Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab, CONQUER Collaborative, Microencapsulation Lab, BioCirc Lab and Neural Circuit Engineering Lab.
Clinical and institutional collaboration: STAR research opportunities have included collaboration with organizations such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Shriner's Hospital for Children, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Drexel College of Medicine, Drexel Plasma Institute and the Implant Research Center.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Biomedical Engineering BS/MS Accelerated Degree leave Drexel with both undergraduate and graduate qualifications in biomedical engineering, together with substantial opportunities for practical industry experience. The combination is designed for students seeking advanced roles in medical devices, biomaterials, biotechnology, biomedical research, healthcare technology and computational or engineering-based healthcare innovation.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomaterials Engineer and Biomedical Research Engineer. Depending on their specialization and experience, graduates can also progress into biomedical imaging, biomechanics, tissue engineering, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical and healthcare technology roles.

Career progression is supported through Drexel's co-op and career-development infrastructure:

Career preparation: Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center provides co-op preparation through COOP 101, advisor meetings, job-search guidance, employer interviews and continued support while students are on co-op.
Employment outcomes: 96% of Biomedical Engineering graduates from the 2024 class were working or enrolled in graduate or professional education one year after graduation.
Co-op employment: Drexel reports 96% of Biomedical Engineering students were employed on co-op, with 82% of those positions paid in its published fast facts.
Co-op compensation: For Biomedical Engineering co-ops in 2024–25, Drexel reports a $22.24 median hourly rate, with the 25th percentile at $20.00 and the 75th percentile at $27.00.
Industry connections: Biomedical Engineering co-op employers listed by Drexel include Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, Terumo Medical Corporation, Teleflex Medical, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, Exponent and WuXi AppTec.
Professional accreditation: The BS component is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing recognized engineering-program accreditation for the undergraduate qualification.
Graduate-level advantage: Completing the accelerated pathway gives students both the BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering, allowing them to enter the workforce with an advanced degree and specialized biomedical engineering preparation.
Research and innovation: Students can continue toward research-oriented careers through faculty-mentored research, thesis work and Drexel's biomedical engineering research areas, including biomaterials, tissue engineering, bioinformatics, computational bioengineering, neuroengineering, biosensing and bioimaging.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the accelerated BS/MS, students can continue into advanced research or professional education depending on their career goals. The MS can provide preparation for further doctoral-level study and research, while Drexel also supports pathways into areas such as biomedical engineering research and development, biomedical technology innovation, healthcare technology management, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and other professional education.