Computer Science + Bioengineering, BS

The B.S. in Computer Science + Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign gives students practical experience where computing, biology, medicine, and engineering come together. Students develop hands-on skills through software development, biological data analysis, biomedical instrumentation, imaging, machine learning, and project-based design. The program also gives students access to the university’s strong Bioengineering research environment, including Everitt Laboratory, where students can connect their classroom knowledge with real biomedical applications.

Students build this practical experience through a combination of laboratory work, computational projects, advanced electives, and collaborative design:

• Software development: CS 222 Software Design Lab gives students practical experience developing software and applying programming concepts to real computational problems.

• Biological data analysis: BIOE 310 Computational Tools for Biological Data introduces students to computational approaches for analysing biological data, supporting preparation for bioinformatics and biomedical data applications.

• CS+BIOE Senior Design: BIOE 404 CS+BIOE Senior Design brings together computer science and bioengineering knowledge through a substantial project focused on biomedical challenges.

• Quantitative physiology: BIOE 303 Quantitative Physiology Lab provides hands-on experience with physiological systems and quantitative analysis.

• Biomedical instrumentation: BIOE 414 Biomedical Instrumentation and BIOE 415 Biomedical Instrumentation Lab allow students to explore technologies used to measure and analyse biological and physiological information.

• Biomedical imaging: Students can take courses such as BIOE 483 Biomedical Computed Imaging Systems and BIOE 484 Statistical Analysis of Biomedical Images, developing computational skills for biomedical imaging applications.

• Machine learning and AI: BIOE 485 Computational Mathematics for Machine Learning and Imaging and BIOE 486 Applied Deep Learning for Biomedical Imaging allow students to explore advanced computational techniques used in medical imaging and biomedical applications.

• High-performance computing: BIOE 488 Applied High-Performance Computing for Imaging Science introduces advanced computational approaches relevant to large-scale imaging and scientific applications.

• Synthetic biology and cellular engineering: Students can explore courses including BIOE 430 Intro Synthetic Biology, BIOE 461 Cellular Biomechanics, BIOE 476 Tissue Engineering, and BIOE 487 Stem Cell Bioengineering.

• Machine learning in healthcare: BIOE 489 Regulations, Ethics and Logistics in Biomedical Applications of Machine Learning helps students understand the regulatory, ethical, and practical considerations involved in applying machine learning to biomedical settings.

• Team-based learning: The interdisciplinary nature of the program encourages students to work collaboratively and combine computer science and bioengineering approaches when tackling biomedical problems.

• Internships: Internships are recognised by the university as an opportunity for students to enrich their four-year academic plan, although an internship is not a mandatory requirement of the degree.

• Research opportunities: Illinois Bioengineering provides a research environment covering areas such as computational and systems biology, imaging and sensing, biomechanics, cell and tissue engineering, and therapeutics, giving students opportunities to explore areas closely connected to the degree.

• Modern computational tools: Students develop experience with areas such as artificial intelligence, computational modelling, biomedical data analysis, and mobile applications, particularly in the context of healthcare, biotechnology, medicine, and pharmaceuticals.

• Academic advising: Students have access to Bioengineering undergraduate academic advising, including virtual and in-person support, to help them plan their studies and make informed academic and career decisions.

• Everitt Laboratory: The department’s home at Everitt Laboratory provides an important environment for Bioengineering education, research, and student development.

• Industry and healthcare applications: Coursework and projects connect computing with practical applications in healthcare information technology, bioinformatics, medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research.

The B.S. in Computer Science + Bioengineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign prepares students for careers where computing, engineering, biology, medicine, and healthcare come together. Graduates can move into technology-focused roles in areas such as bioinformatics, biomedical data, medical imaging, biotechnology, and healthcare, while the degree also provides a strong foundation for further academic and professional study.

Typical career paths include Bioinformatics Specialist, Computational Bioengineer, Biomedical Data Scientist, and Healthcare Technology Engineer. The combination of computer science, biological data analysis, modelling, biomedical imaging, machine learning, and bioengineering gives graduates a versatile skill set for a growing range of opportunities:

• Engineering Career Services: Students can receive individual career advising, resume and cover-letter support, interview preparation, networking guidance, and graduate-school advice. Students can also use Handshake to search for internships and full-time employment opportunities.

• Employer networking: Grainger Engineering organises major engineering career fairs that bring students together with a wide range of employers. Students can also benefit from on-campus interview opportunities and employer networking activities.

• Internship opportunities: Internships can be included as an enrichment opportunity within a student's four-year academic plan, allowing students to gain professional experience before completing their degree.

• Bioengineering employment outcomes: Illinois reports that 99% of Bioengineering graduates secured employment or continued their education, with 51% employed and 48% attending graduate school in the reported outcomes. These figures are for Bioengineering rather than specifically for the CS + Bioengineering program, so they should be viewed as department-level context.

• Salary benchmark: The university reports an average starting salary of $74,927 and an average signing bonus of $9,000 for Bioengineering graduates. These figures are published for Bioengineering and are not a separate salary statistic for the CS + Bioengineering degree.

• Industry connections: Illinois identifies employers and organisations associated with Bioengineering graduate destinations, including Abbott, AbbVie, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Genentech, Eli Lilly, Epic Systems, IQVIA, Merck, Veeva Systems, and the National Institutes of Health.

• Career-relevant preparation: The program develops skills that can be applied to biomedical imaging, diagnostics, bioinformatics, medical technology, biotechnology, and healthcare, helping students combine their computer science knowledge with real biomedical applications.

• Interdisciplinary skills: Students learn to solve complex problems, design solutions with consideration for health and societal needs, conduct experiments, analyse data, communicate technical ideas, work in teams, and continue developing their knowledge throughout their careers.

• Research environment: Illinois Bioengineering reported $18.7 million in total research expenditures for 2024–25, supporting a strong research environment in areas connected to computational biology, biomedical imaging, diagnostics, and bioinformatics.

• Accreditation: The official information does not state that the CS + Bioengineering B.S. itself is ABET-accredited, so ABET accreditation should not be presented as a specific benefit of this degree. The program instead provides an interdisciplinary education through the Bioengineering and Computer Science departments.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into graduate-level study in computer science, bioengineering, computational biology, bioinformatics, biomedical imaging, machine learning, diagnostics, therapeutics, and health technology. The degree can also provide preparation for professional programs in health sciences, law, and business, allowing graduates to build on either the computing or biomedical side of their undergraduate education.