BS Bioengineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Stanford University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Bioengineering at Stanford combines engineering, biology, mathematics, computing and medicine to prepare students to solve complex problems in healthcare, biological systems and emerging technologies. It suits students who want a strongly interdisciplinary engineering education, with opportunities to build expertise through core BioE courses, depth electives, research and a senior design project.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students build the mathematical, scientific and engineering foundation needed for Bioengineering through courses such as MATH 19/20/21, CHEM 31A/B, BIO 82/83/84, PHYSICS 41/43 and introductory engineering coursework. They also begin developing programming skills through CS 106A, giving them the quantitative and computational preparation required for later BioE study.

Second Year: Students move into the Bioengineering core and begin applying engineering concepts directly to biological systems. Courses such as BIOE 101: Systems Biology, BIOE 102: Physical Biology, and BIOE 44: Fundamentals for Engineering Biology Lab introduce computational modelling, molecular and cellular engineering, quantitative biological analysis, synthetic biology and laboratory techniques.

Third Year: The curriculum becomes more focused on physiology, engineering design and hands-on systems development. BIOE 103: Systems Physiology and Design examines human tissues, organs, disease and biomedical technologies, while BIOE 123: Bioengineering Systems Prototyping Lab develops practical skills in CAD, 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers and oscilloscopes; students can also begin building depth through selected upper-division electives.

Fourth Year: Students bring their technical knowledge together through advanced depth coursework and the two-quarter BIOE 141A/B: Senior Capstone Design sequence. Working in teams, students develop bioengineering technologies around unmet societal needs, progressing from design and testing to implementation while considering regulatory, intellectual-property and commercialization issues.

Focus areas

Engineering and life sciences, systems biology, physical biology, human physiology and disease, bioengineering design, biomedical devices, computational analysis, molecular and cellular engineering, synthetic biology, biomechanics, medical imaging, biotechnology and health technology innovation.

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to define projects addressing societal or technical needs, predict how engineering interventions affect complex systems, use standards and measurements, analyze experimental data and mathematical models, develop computational tools, work effectively in teams, evaluate ethical and societal impacts, and communicate technical work to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Stanford's official School of Engineering accreditation information lists Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering as its ABET-accredited undergraduate programs; Bioengineering is not listed among Stanford's ABET-accredited undergraduate programs. The B.S. Bioengineering therefore should not be described as ABET-accredited.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Stanford's official sources do not publish a current program-specific employability ranking or salary ranking for the B.S. Bioengineering. Stanford School of Engineering has previously described the Bioengineering department as being among the top ten such programs nationally, while the department highlights graduate pathways across academia, industry, consulting, startups and nonprofits and alumni roles including scientists, data scientists, synthetic biologists, robotics engineers, machine-learning engineers, software engineers and entrepreneurs.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Stanford's Bioengineering curriculum places strong emphasis on learning by designing, building, testing and researching real bioengineering systems. Students can work with biological materials and laboratory techniques, develop prototypes using engineering tools, participate in faculty research, and complete a two-quarter senior capstone in which teams develop technologies addressing unmet societal needs. The department also provides access to a broad network of research centers and facilities spanning Stanford Engineering and Stanford Medicine.

Students can develop these practical skills through:

Bioengineering Systems Prototyping Lab (BIOE 123): Students work with CAD, 3D printing, laser cutting, microcontrollers and oscilloscopes, create quantitative specifications and testing plans, and collaborate on complex system-design projects.
Fundamentals for Engineering Biology Lab (BIOE 44): Hands-on work covers genetic, molecular, biochemical, cellular and tissue-engineering techniques, including plasmid design, gene synthesis, genetic circuits and engineering of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Team projects emphasize quantitative analysis, molecular design and product development.
Senior Capstone Design (BIOE 141A/B): Students work in teams to design and develop new bioengineering technologies, with mentoring and design reviews. The second course includes implementation, technical-feasibility demonstration and exposure to regulatory, intellectual-property and commercialization considerations.
Diagnostic Devices Lab (BIOE 201C): Students work in pairs with technologies including X-ray, CT, MRI, EEG, ECG, ultrasound and brain-machine interfaces, taking measurements and relating experimental results to engineering theory.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Stanford Bioengineering offers a 10-week, full-time summer research program where selected students are matched with faculty and research projects, attend research seminars and present their work at a final poster session.
Faculty-run research laboratories: Students can encounter research in areas including AI and drug discovery, robotics and biomechanics, microfluidics, synthetic biology, tissue regeneration, neurotechnology, bioimaging, gene and cell therapy, biosensors and medical devices across 37 faculty-run labs.
Research facilities: Resources include the Cell Sciences Imaging Facility, Computational Services and Bioinformatics Facility, Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility, FACS facilities, MRI resources, Stanford Microfluidics Foundry, Stanford Nanofabrication Facility, Stanford Center for Innovation in In Vivo Imaging and Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign.
Industry and translational exposure: Stanford Bioengineering is located in Silicon Valley and maintains connections with biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical-technology companies. Its Stanford-Coulter Translational Research program specifically supports projects designed to address unmet clinical needs and move innovations toward patents, licensing, commercial products and startups.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Stanford's B.S. in Bioengineering can move into biotechnology, medical devices, medical imaging, government service and other technology-driven industries, while others continue into graduate or medical school. Stanford also highlights pathways into research, startups, consulting, business, law and policy, making the degree particularly suitable for students who want flexibility across science, technology and healthcare.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Bioengineering Researcher, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Imaging Engineer:

Career and employment support: Stanford Bioengineering directs students and employers toward Handshake through BEAM and BioSci Careers for internship and full-time employment opportunities. The department also maintains BioSci Connect as a mentoring and networking community for alumni and students.
Employment and salary figures: A current Bioengineering-specific undergraduate employment rate or salary figure is not published on the official Bioengineering pages reviewed, so no unsupported salary figure is provided.
University–industry partnerships: Stanford Bioengineering benefits from its Silicon Valley location and relationships with biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical-technology companies. The Stanford-Coulter program also brings together Bioengineering and School of Medicine researchers to develop clinically relevant technologies with potential for patents, licensing, commercial products and startup companies.
Research-to-industry pathway: Students can gain exposure to translational research through facilities such as the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign and through faculty research spanning medical devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, AI, robotics, synthetic biology and tissue engineering.
Graduation outcomes: Stanford's Bioengineering department reports alumni pursuing roles across academia, industry, consulting, startups and nonprofits, including scientist, data scientist, synthetic biologist, robotics engineer, machine-learning engineer, software engineer, founder, venture capitalist, corporate executive, patent attorney and policy expert.
Long-term professional value: Although the B.S. is not listed as an ABET-accredited Stanford undergraduate program, its interdisciplinary engineering curriculum, substantial research opportunities and direct connections across Stanford Engineering and Medicine provide preparation for advanced study and technology-focused careers.

Further Academic Progression: Stanford Bioengineering offers a coterminal M.S. in Bioengineering for eligible Stanford undergraduates, allowing students to work toward a master's degree while completing their bachelor's degree. Students can also progress to Stanford's M.S. or Ph.D. in Bioengineering, and Bioengineering graduate students have options for dual or joint programs with Stanford's Schools of Business, Medicine and Law, including MS/MBA, MD/PhD and JD/MS or JD/PhD pathways.