Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Drexel University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University combines engineering, biology and medicine to prepare students to design technologies that improve human health and quality of life. It is suited to students interested in areas such as medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging and computational biomedical applications, with opportunities to specialize through concentration areas.

Curriculum structure

First Year: Students begin by connecting engineering design with biological and physical sciences 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. These courses introduce students to identifying medical needs, defining design requirements, evaluating solutions and using MATLAB programming to address biomedical engineering problems.

Second Year: Students build stronger engineering and scientific foundations through subjects such as BMES 202: Programming and Modeling for Biomedical Engineers II, BMES 241: Modeling in Biomedical Design I, and BIO 218: Principles of Molecular Biology. Coursework also develops knowledge in areas such as electrical circuits, materials, linear algebra and biomedical modeling, helping students connect biological processes with engineering systems.

Third Year: Students move into advanced biomedical engineering concepts through courses such as BMES 302: Laboratory II – Biomeasurements, BMES 337: Introduction to Physiological Control Systems, and BMES 444: Biofluid Mechanics. Students also begin deeper study within their selected concentration and develop practical design and experimental skills through laboratory and junior-design experiences.

Fourth Year: Students complete the program with the three-course BMES 491, BMES 492 and BMES 493 Senior Design Project sequence. The capstone simulates a professional engineering environment, requiring students to work in groups on open-ended biomedical problems while applying their technical knowledge, design skills, communication abilities and research findings.

Focus areas

Biomaterials, tissue engineering, advanced therapeutics, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, biomedical informatics, neuroengineering

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to identify and solve complex engineering problems using mathematics, science and engineering principles; design solutions for biomedical needs; conduct experiments and interpret data; use modern engineering tools; communicate effectively; work in multidisciplinary teams; and consider ethical, professional and societal responsibilities.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering 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. This provides professional recognition of the program's engineering curriculum and educational standards.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Drexel reports strong career outcomes for Biomedical Engineering graduates: 96% of Biomedical Engineering graduates were working or enrolled in graduate or professional education in the university's one-year-out survey for the graduating class of 2024. Drexel also reports that 96% of students were employed on co-op, while 82% of co-op positions were paid.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Drexel's Biomedical Engineering program places a strong emphasis on learning through real-world engineering work, research and design. Students can participate in Drexel's co-op program, undergraduate research and a substantial senior design sequence, with opportunities to work in industry, healthcare institutions and medical laboratories; students choosing the five-year pathway typically graduate with 18 months of full-time work experience.

Students can gain practical experience through:

MATLAB programming: BMES 201 introduces MATLAB programming for solving basic biomedical engineering problems, while later programming and modeling courses build computational skills.
Biomedical design: BMES 101 and BMES 102 take students through medical-problem definition, requirements, constraints, solution generation and experimental verification.
Senior Design Project: BMES 491, 492 and 493 form a three-course group capstone in which students tackle open-ended biomedical problems and interact with faculty and industry or government institutions.
Co-op placements: Biomedical Engineering students have completed co-ops with organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Sanofi, Terumo Medical Corporation, University of Pennsylvania and GlaxoSmithKline.
Undergraduate research: Students can access research laboratories including the Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab, CONQUER Collaborative, Microencapsulation Lab, BioCirc Lab and Neural Circuit Engineering Lab.
Research facilities: Drexel lists research groups including the Bioinformatics Lab, Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Lab, Biosensors & Biomaterials Laboratory, Cellular Biomechanics Lab, Implant Research Center, NanoBiomechanics Lab, Systems Immunology Lab and Ultrasound and Optics Wound Healing Team.
STAR Scholars Program: First-year biomedical engineering students can participate in faculty-mentored research, scholarship or creative work during the summer following their freshman year.
Co-op career preparation: COOP 101 provides career-management and professional-development preparation, followed by advising and employer interviews as students approach their co-op cycle.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prepares graduates for careers across medical devices, prosthetics, biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, telemedicine and healthcare technology. The program also provides a pathway toward medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law and graduate research, while Drexel's co-op structure allows many students to graduate with substantial professional experience.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomaterials Engineer and Biomedical Research Engineer.

Students can build their professional pathway through:

Career and co-op support: Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center supports students through career preparation, co-op advising, employer interviews and ongoing support during the co-op placement.
Employment outcomes: 96% of Biomedical Engineering graduates in the class of 2024 were working or enrolled in graduate/professional education one year after graduation.
Co-op salary: For 2024–25, Biomedical Engineering co-op positions had a $22.24 median hourly salary, with 82% of positions reported as paid.
Industry connections: Co-op employers include Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Sanofi, Terumo Medical Corporation, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania and GlaxoSmithKline, giving students exposure to pharmaceutical, medical-device, healthcare and research environments.
Professional accreditation: ABET accreditation provides recognized engineering-program standards and supports graduates seeking engineering-oriented professional pathways.
Professional experience: Drexel reports that the majority of Biomedical Engineering students choose the five-year option and graduate with 18 months of full-time co-op experience, with students often receiving employment opportunities from previous co-op connections.
Graduate outcomes: Graduates can enter industry or continue into graduate and professional education, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate study in biomedical engineering and related fields, including advanced work in biomaterials, tissue engineering, biomechanics, biomedical informatics, biomedical imaging and neuroengineering. Drexel also offers accelerated pathways that allow qualified students to combine undergraduate and graduate study, while the B.S. provides preparation for medical, dental, veterinary and law school.