Bachelor of Science in Biological engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Purdue University West Lafayette

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering at Purdue University brings together biology, chemistry, mathematics, and engineering to help students develop practical solutions in areas such as healthcare, food, pharmaceuticals, energy, and sustainability. It is a great fit for students who enjoy both science and engineering and want to use engineering principles to understand and improve biological systems.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with a strong foundation in engineering, mathematics, and science through Purdue’s first-year engineering curriculum. They study subjects such as Calculus, General Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Communication, while gaining an introduction to engineering concepts and exploring potential areas of specialisation.

Year 2: Students start applying engineering concepts directly to biological systems through courses such as ABE 20100 Material & Energy Balances in Biological Engineering, ABE 22600 Biotechnology Laboratory I, and BIOL 23000 Biology of the Living Cell. Their studies also expand into organic chemistry, microbiology, thermodynamics, and mathematical modelling, connecting biological knowledge with engineering applications.

Year 3: Students move into more advanced laboratory and computational work through courses including ABE 30100 Modeling and Computational Tools in Biological Engineering, ABE 30200 Biochemical Laboratory Techniques, and ABE 30400 Biological Engineering Laboratory. They develop practical skills in computational modelling, experimental design, biological analysis, bioprocessing, data analysis, heat and mass transfer, and reaction kinetics.

Year 4: In the final year, students bring together their biological and engineering knowledge through advanced process engineering and design. Courses such as ABE 46000 Sensors and Process Control, ABE 55700 Biological Engineering Design I, and ABE 55800 Biological Engineering Design II give students experience with process control, fermentation, separation, biological-product processing, engineering design, teamwork, and technical presentations.

Focus Areas

Bioenvironmental Engineering, Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering, Food and Biological Process Engineering, Pharmaceutical Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Bioprocessing, Biological Product Development, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Sustainable Biological Processing.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to apply engineering and scientific principles to biological systems, analyse and model biological processes, carry out laboratory and experimental work, design and improve biological and pharmaceutical processes, use computational and engineering tools, interpret experimental data, and develop practical solutions to challenges in healthcare, food, pharmaceuticals, energy, and sustainability.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biological Engineering at Purdue University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Biological and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This gives students an engineering education that meets an established professional quality standard and supports preparation for engineering careers.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Purdue reports a 94% placement rate and an average starting salary of $73,360 for Biological Engineering graduates. Purdue also reports that its agriculture program is ranked #3 in the U.S. in the QS World University Rankings 2026, adding further recognition to the academic area connected with the program.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Purdue’s Biological Engineering program gives students plenty of opportunities to take what they learn in biology and engineering and apply it to real problems. Through laboratory courses, computational work, biological processing experiments, research opportunities, and design projects, students develop practical skills in areas such as biotechnology, fermentation, bioprocessing, process control, and biological product development. They also have access to specialised research environments and equipment that support work across bioenergy, bioprocessing, bioproducts, and bioseparations:

Biotechnology Laboratory: In ABE 22600 Biotechnology Laboratory I, students gain hands-on experience with techniques involving nucleic-acid manipulation, cloning, restriction analysis, and DNA sequencing.
Biological Engineering Laboratory: ABE 30400 Biological Engineering Laboratory gives students practical experience with fluid flow, mixing, rheology, hydrolysis, and fermentation. Students design experiments, collect and analyse data, and present their findings.
Computational Tools: Students use Mathcad and MATLAB for engineering problem-solving and biological product design. The curriculum also includes Python, giving students useful programming skills for computational and numerical work.
Sensors and Process Control: In ABE 46000 Sensors and Process Control, students work with transducers, biosensors, instrumentation, and computer-controlled equipment. Laboratory activities include sensor calibration, process modelling, and controller selection and tuning.
Biological Engineering Design: ABE 55700 Biological Engineering Design I and ABE 55800 Biological Engineering Design II give students the opportunity to work on engineering design problems involving areas such as dehydration, fermentation, and separation.
Research Facilities: Purdue provides specialised research facilities supporting areas such as bioenergy, bioprocessing, bioproducts, bioseparations, and biorecovery. The Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering also supports research involving fermentation, cell culture, biocatalysis, bioseparations, and biomolecular characterisation.
Undergraduate Research: Students can explore undergraduate research opportunities within Purdue’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering department, allowing them to work alongside faculty and gain experience in specialised research environments.
Study Abroad and Student Activities: The department provides opportunities for students to broaden their experience through study abroad, undergraduate research, student organisations, and career-focused activities.
ADM Agricultural Innovation Center: This facility provides dedicated space for classes and laboratories and includes Research Machining Services, giving students an environment connected to applied biological engineering research and development.
Discovery Park: Purdue’s Discovery Park provides an interdisciplinary research environment where biological engineering connects with areas such as biotechnology, bioscience, biomedical development, and nanotechnology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biological Engineering at Purdue University prepares students for careers across biotechnology, bioprocessing, food and pharmaceutical industries, biological product development, and environmental applications. Graduates can enter industry through engineering and technical roles or continue their education through graduate, medical, or related professional programs. Purdue also encourages students to gain valuable workplace experience through internships, co-ops, research, and other career-focused opportunities.

Typical career options include Biological Engineer, Bioprocess Engineer, Pharmaceutical Process Engineer, Biotechnology Engineer.

Purdue provides several opportunities to help students move confidently from their studies into their careers:

Career support: Purdue’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering department provides access to career opportunities, including full-time positions, internships, and co-op opportunities. Students can also use Purdue’s Office of Professional Practice for support with work-integrated learning and connections with employers.
Strong placement outcomes: Purdue’s Agricultural and Biological Engineering department reports more than 95% placement across its undergraduate programs.
Industry opportunities: The degree prepares students for roles across the food, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and bioprocessing industries. Graduates can move into areas such as research and development, biological and pharmaceutical product development, manufacturing and processing, environmental systems, technical support, sales, and management consulting.
Internships and co-ops: Students are encouraged to gain professional experience through internships and co-ops, allowing them to apply their engineering and biological science knowledge in real workplace environments.
Industry-focused preparation: The program develops skills that are relevant to biological product development, pharmaceutical processing, biotechnology, food processing, environmental systems, and other areas where biological science and engineering come together.
Professional accreditation: The B.S. in Biological Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Biological and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This provides students with an engineering degree that meets recognised professional quality standards.
Long-term value of accreditation: ABET accreditation gives the degree strong professional recognition and can be valuable when graduates pursue engineering careers, professional opportunities, or pathways where an accredited engineering education is important.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can pursue opportunities in industry, research and development, manufacturing, environmental systems, technical services, and management. The degree also provides a strong foundation for students who want to continue into advanced study or professional healthcare education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biological Engineering, students can continue into graduate study in Biological Engineering or related fields. Purdue also provides options for students interested in pre-medical preparation and BS/MS study, while the department offers dual-degree pathways involving Biochemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences, which can be completed with an additional year of study.