Biomedical Engineering, BME

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Western New England University

Program Overview

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at Western New England University (WNE) combines engineering, biology and physiology to prepare students to solve real-world problems at the intersection of medicine and technology. It is well suited to students interested in medical devices, biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, healthcare technology or further study in medicine, engineering, management or law.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build their engineering foundation through subjects such as Calculus I, Mechanics, and Computer Programming for Engineers, while WNE’s First Year Engineering Program introduces design, coding, data acquisition and prototyping. Student teams apply these skills to a product-design challenge and present their prototypes at the university’s engineering showcase.

Year 2:

Students begin specialized biomedical engineering study with courses such as Foundations of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Systems, and Biomaterials, supported by biology, chemistry, electrical engineering, mathematics and laboratory work. This stage connects engineering principles with biological systems and the materials used in biomedical applications.

Year 3:

Students develop deeper expertise through Engineering Physiology I and II, Bioinstrumentation, and Biomechanics I, alongside Biomedical Engineering Laboratory courses. They also select sequence electives that allow them to begin specializing in areas such as bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, cell and tissue engineering, biomedical micro and nanodevices, manufacturing, or prosthetics and orthotics.

Year 4:

Students bring their engineering and biomedical knowledge together through Biomedical Engineering Senior Laboratory, Senior Design Projects I and II, Biomechanics II, and Biotransport Processes, while completing advanced sequence and technical electives. The two-semester Senior Design Project involves solving real problems with clinical or industrial partners and applying FDA design controls to the development process.

Focus Areas:

Bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical micro and nanodevices, cell and tissue engineering, manufacturing, premedical science, prosthetics and orthotics, engineering physiology, medical devices, biotransport and healthcare technology.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems, design solutions that address health and safety requirements, communicate effectively, work collaboratively in teams, conduct experiments and analyze data, apply ethical and professional judgment, and acquire new knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Reputation (Employability):

WNE reports that its Biomedical Engineering graduates work in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, research organizations and government agencies, with alumni employed by organizations including Medtronic/Covidien, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AngioDynamics, BIND Therapeutics and FloDesign Sonics. The university also reports that biomedical engineering employment is projected to grow 8% from 2025–2035, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and lists an average pay figure of $116,890 for the occupation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at Western New England University gives students substantial hands-on experience through laboratory courses, engineering design, research, internships, and clinical/industrial projects. Students work in specialized biomedical facilities in Sleith Hall, including a Physiology/Wet Lab, Instrumentation Lab, and Hospital Suite, where they can study cells and human physiology, collect experimental data, and practice using clinical equipment and simulation technology.

The program also emphasizes team-based engineering from the first year. Students design, code, and prototype a robot in the First Year Program before progressing to biomedical projects and a two-semester Senior Design experience involving real clinical and industry problems.

Key experiential opportunities include:

Senior Design Projects: Students work with clinical or industrial partners such as Medtronic and the Bone & Joint Institute of Hartford, developing functional medical-device prototypes while learning industry-standard design controls, FDA regulatory workflows, and verification/validation methods.
Team projects: First-year students work in teams to design, code, and prototype a robot for the Bot Battle, followed by a smart-technology product developed for the Emerging Engineers Expo.
Biomedical laboratories: The Physiology/Wet Lab supports cell and human-physiology studies, fluorescence microscopy, particle analysis, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and mechanical testing of biological specimens such as cartilage and tendon.
Instrumentation Lab: Students have access to 12 computer stations equipped with oscilloscopes and AD Instruments data-acquisition systems for biomedical instrumentation and experimental work.
Hospital Suite: A simulated hospital environment includes medical diagnostic equipment, exercise physiology stations, and an interactive simulation mannequin, allowing students to practise technical skills in a clinical setting.
Internships: BME students are encouraged to complete internships, with previous placements including Medtronic/Covidien, Cardinal Health, Sanofi-Genzyme, Stryker Orthobiologics, Boston Scientific, DEKA Research and Development, CIRTEC Medical Systems, and Regeneron-related organizations among the university's documented industry connections.
Research: Students can participate in faculty research involving tissue engineering, cancer-drug research platforms, sustainable healthcare technologies, assistive devices, and blood-glucose breathalyzer technology.
Global Health & Technology: Students can participate in a 10-day Guatemala experience, conducting healthcare assessments in both rural and urban settings.
Research and professional presentations: Students have presented design projects and research at events including the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference, Northeast Bioengineering Conference, and American Society for Engineering Education Northeast Conference.
Specialized facilities: The BME department is housed in Sleith Hall, which underwent a $12.8 million renovation and expansion and contains the department's biomedical engineering laboratories.
No specific commercial software is identified by the university's current BME pages as a required program-specific tool; the official pages instead specifically document engineering prototyping, instrumentation, data acquisition, laboratory equipment, and FDA-oriented design workflows.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at Western New England University prepares graduates for roles across medical-device and pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, research organizations, and government agencies. Students can also use the degree as a pathway into advanced study in biomedical engineering, medicine, dentistry, public health, prosthetics and orthotics, engineering management, or law.

Typical career roles: Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Clinical Research Engineer, Biomedical Research Associate.

Key career advantages include:

Career support: WNE’s Delbridge Career Center provides career coaching, employer connections, labor-market information, practice interviews, career fairs, Handshake job/internship listings, employer information sessions, industry panels, and on-campus interviews.
Employment outcomes: 96% of WNE’s Class of 2025 were employed or attending graduate/professional school within six months of graduation. WNE also reports an average starting salary of $71,500 for its Engineering graduates; this figure is university-level engineering data, not BME-specific.
Biomedical engineering salary: WNE cites $116,890 average pay for biomedical engineers based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2025 data. The university also cites 8% projected employment growth from 2025–2035 for the occupation. These are occupation-level figures, not guaranteed graduate salaries.
University–industry connections: BME alumni have worked at Medtronic/Covidien, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, AngioDynamics, BIND Therapeutics, and FloDesign Sonics. Internship placements have included Cardinal Health, Sanofi-Genzyme, Stryker Orthobiologics, DEKA Research and Development, CIRTEC Medical Systems, and Coherent.
Professional preparation: Senior Design projects involve clinical or industrial partners and use FDA design controls, giving students experience with the regulatory processes used in the medical-device industry. Some student projects have resulted in patents.
Long-term accreditation value: The BSE in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This provides an established quality framework for the engineering curriculum and supports preparation for professional engineering practice.
Graduation outcomes: WNE reports BME graduates entering medical-device and pharmaceutical industries, hospitals, research organizations, and government agencies, while others continue to graduate or professional schools. Recent graduates have been accepted at institutions including Cornell, Duke, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and WPI.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into M.S. or Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Engineering, as well as professional programs in medicine, dentistry, prosthetics and orthotics, and public health. WNE also offers accelerated pathways, including a five-year B.S./M.S. in Engineering Management, five-year B.S./MBA, and six-year Engineering/Law program, allowing eligible students to combine their undergraduate degree with advanced study.