Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of California Riverside

Program Overview

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of California, Riverside combines engineering, biology, medicine and biotechnology, preparing students to develop technologies and solutions for healthcare, biomedical and biological applications. It is particularly suited to students interested in areas such as biomedical devices, biotechnology, biomechanics, bioinstrumentation and tissue engineering, while also providing preparation for graduate study and medical school.

Curriculum Structure

First Year

Students begin with a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, biology and communication. Courses include CHEM 001A/01LA General Chemistry & Lab (5 units), BIOL 005A/05LA Cell & Molecular Biology & Lab (5 units) and MATH 009A First Year Calculus (4 units), followed by Organismal Biology, additional chemistry and calculus in the later quarters.

Second Year

The second year introduces students directly to bioengineering while strengthening their physics, mathematics, chemistry, programming and electronics skills. Key courses include BIEN 010 Overview of Bioengineering (4 units), CS 010 C++ Programming (4 units) and EE 001A & EE 01LA Engineering Circuit Analysis & Lab (4 units), alongside Differential Equations, Multivariable Calculus, Organic Chemistry and Physics.

Third Year

Students move into specialized bioengineering subjects and begin applying engineering concepts to biological systems. The curriculum includes BIEN 101 Quantitative Biochemistry (4 units), BIEN 110 Biomechanics of the Human Body (4 units) and BIEN 125 Biotechnology & Molecular Engr. (4 units), followed by Biomaterials, Quantitative Physiology, Biosystems and Signal Analysis, Bioinstrumentation and a dedicated Bioinstrumentation Laboratory.

Fourth Year

The final year emphasizes advanced biotechnology, laboratory experience, technical specialization and a substantial design project. Students take BIEN 135 Biophysics & Biothermodynamics (4 units), BIEN 155 Biotechnology Lab (2 units) and the three-part BIEN 175A/B/C Senior Design, in which students progress through the bioengineering design process while completing technical electives and broader university requirements.

Focus areas

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Biomedical Imaging, Computational Bioengineering, Neuroengineering, Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Biomechanics, Biotechnology, Bioinstrumentation, Tissue Engineering

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics; design solutions that consider public health, safety and societal factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively in teams; conduct experiments and interpret data; recognize ethical and professional responsibilities; and acquire new knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Bioengineering 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. The program's ABET criteria specifically require preparation in mathematics through differential equations, chemistry, biology and advanced biological sciences, together with the ability to apply engineering to biological systems.

Reputation (employability rankings)

UCR's Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering reports that 93% of its graduates are employed or continuing education within two years, with 78% employed in fields related to their degree and 15% pursuing graduate or professional school. UCR's current undergraduate admissions information also lists Bioengineering among its direct engineering career pathways, including biomedical device development, biotech/pharmaceutical R&D, diagnostic tool design and prosthetics/biomechanics development.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program gives students practical exposure through laboratory-based courses, programming, bioinstrumentation, biotechnology and a multi-quarter senior design experience. Students can also pursue undergraduate research using specialized bioengineering equipment and computational resources, with UCR's interdisciplinary facilities connecting bioengineering to areas such as advanced microscopy, genomics, analytical chemistry and medical research.

Students can build these practical skills through:

Senior Design: BIEN 175A/B/C Senior Design covers the complete bioengineering design process, including intellectual property, quality control, regulatory and ethical considerations, formal engineering reports, presentations, project demonstrations and a business plan. Students work in small teams on the design experience.
Bioinstrumentation Laboratory: BIEN 130 Bioinstrumentation (4 units) and BIEN 130L Bioinstrumentation Laboratory (2 units) provide dedicated practical experience with biomedical instrumentation.
Biotechnology laboratory: BIEN 155 Biotechnology Lab (2 units) provides hands-on laboratory experience during the final year.
Programming: CS 010 C++ Programming (4 units) introduces computational programming as part of the bioengineering curriculum.
Quantitative and computational work: BIEN 101 Quantitative Biochemistry uses mathematical modeling and simulation methods to understand biochemical systems.
Research opportunities: BIEN 197 Research for Undergraduates allows students to undertake directed research on a bioengineering topic.
Research facilities: Department facilities include resources for cell handling, biological safety levels 1 and 2, nucleic acids, fluorescent microscopy, optical instrumentation and mammalian cell tissue culture.
High-Performance Computing Center: UCR's HPCC provides shared high-performance computing resources and training for researchers and affiliates, supporting computational research.
Interdisciplinary facilities: Students have access to or benefit from facilities including the UCR Analytical Chemistry Instrumentation Facility, Center for Plant Cell Biology, Central Facility for Advanced Microscopy and Microanalysis, Institute for Integrative Genome Biology, San Diego Supercomputer Center and School of Medicine Research Core.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Bioengineering prepares graduates for careers across biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medical technology and pharmaceutical-related fields, while also supporting progression to graduate education and medical school. UCR specifically identifies career pathways including biomedical engineering, healthcare technology, biotechnology and medical-device development, giving students several directions after graduation.

Typical job roles include Biomedical Engineer, Clinical Engineer, Medical Device Developer, Research Scientist.

Career development and long-term progression are supported through:

Career pathways: UCR identifies roles such as biomedical device developer, biotech/pharma research and development specialist, diagnostic tool designer and prosthetics/biomechanics developer for Bioengineering graduates.
Employment outcomes: Across UCR's Bourns College of Engineering, 93% are employed or continuing education within two years, while 78% are employed in fields related to their degree.
Earnings: UCR's undergraduate admissions data reports $72,651 at the 75th percentile of annual earnings for Bioengineering graduates, based on UC's Alumni at Work data for undergraduate degree holders.
Career support: UCR's Career Center tracks graduate destinations through its First Destination Survey, including employment destinations, salary ranges and other first steps after graduation.
Industry connection: The Bioengineering department maintains an External Advisory Board that includes professionals associated with organizations such as Medtronic, 10x Genomics, Imperative Care, Kinamed and TruTouch Technologies, providing industry perspectives relevant to the program.
Entrepreneurship: UCR's engineering ecosystem supports students interested in turning engineering ideas into ventures through resources such as EPIC and other entrepreneurship initiatives.
ABET value: ABET accreditation provides an established quality framework for the engineering curriculum and requires graduates to demonstrate competencies in engineering problem-solving, design, experimentation, teamwork, communication and professional responsibility.
Graduate outcomes: UCR's engineering college reports that 15% of graduates pursue graduate or professional school, while Bioengineering itself is explicitly designed to prepare students for graduate education and medical school.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's and doctoral study in Bioengineering or related biomedical and engineering disciplines, and UCR offers a B.S.+M.S. pathway that allows eligible students to combine bachelor's and master's study through an accelerated five-year plan. The degree also provides preparation for medical school and other health-related professional programs.