Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Bioengineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of California San Diego

Program Overview

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) combines engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, and physical sciences to prepare students for careers in biomedical devices, healthcare technology, and advanced bioengineering research. Students study areas including biomechanics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, bioelectricity, biosystems, biomaterials, and physiology, making the program a strong fit for students interested in developing technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Curriculum Structure

Freshman Year: Students establish their scientific and engineering foundation through courses such as BENG 1: Introduction to Bioengineering (2 units), BILD 1: The Cell, and PHYS 2BL: Physics Laboratory-Mechanics (2 units). Alongside biology, chemistry, calculus, and physics, students begin understanding how engineering principles can be applied to biological and medical problems.

Sophomore Year: The curriculum develops quantitative and physiological engineering skills through BENG 100: Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Bioengineers, BENG 140A/B: Bioengineering Physiology, and MAE 8: MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis. Students also study linear algebra, differential equations, circuits, and physics, building the mathematical and computational skills needed for advanced bioengineering work.

Junior Year: Students move into specialized bioengineering subjects including BENG 103B: Bioengineering Mass Transfer, BENG 110: Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, and BENG 152: BioSystems Engineering Laboratory. They also gain practical experience through BENG 172: Bioengineering Laboratory, BENG 186B: Principles of Bioinstrumentation Design, and the first stage of the senior design sequence, BENG 187A: Bioengineering Design Project: Planning (1 unit).

Senior Year: The final year emphasizes systems, modeling, biomaterials, computer-aided design, and the completion of a multidisciplinary design project. Students take courses such as BENG 122A: Biosystems and Control, BENG 125: Modeling and Computation in Bioengineering, and BENG 186A: Principles of Biomaterials Design, followed by BENG 187B/C/D: Bioengineering Design Project—Development, Implementation, and Presentation (1 unit each).

Focus Areas

Biomechanics, Biotransport, Bioinstrumentation, Bioelectricity, Biosystems, Biomaterials, Physiology, Biomedical Devices, Bioengineering Design, Modeling and Computation

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and mathematics; design solutions that consider public health, safety, welfare, and broader social and environmental factors; communicate effectively; work in multidisciplinary teams; conduct experiments and interpret data; and apply professional and ethical responsibilities in bioengineering.

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.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering reports that its Bioengineering Department ranks 4th in the nation for biomedical/bioengineering in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Engineering Schools rankings. The university also reports that its undergraduate bioengineering and biomedical engineering program ranked #7 nationally and #3 among public universities in the September 2025 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UC San Diego's Bioengineering program places substantial emphasis on learning through research, laboratory work, design, and industry experience. About two-thirds of UC San Diego Bioengineering undergraduates participate in research before graduation, while the required Senior Design Project gives students a closely mentored opportunity to develop technologies that can support cutting-edge biomedical research.

Students also work with engineering software, laboratory facilities, research centers, and industry-connected projects as they progress through the program:

MATLAB: Students learn MAE 8: MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis, developing computational skills directly relevant to engineering analysis.
Computer-Aided Design: MAE 150: Computer-Aided Design provides computer-based design experience in the senior year.
Senior Design Project: Students complete the four-course BENG 187A–187D sequence covering project planning, development, implementation, and presentation. The Senior Design experience is required for every student in the department.
Laboratory experience: Students complete BENG 152: BioSystems Engineering Laboratory, BENG 172: Bioengineering Laboratory, and BENG 186B: Principles of Bioinstrumentation Design as part of the major.
Undergraduate research: Students can conduct faculty-mentored independent research through BENG 99 and BENG 199. Two quarters of BENG 199 can provide 8 units of technical-elective credit when completed with the same Bioengineering faculty advisor.
Internships: Students are encouraged to complete internships during their junior and senior years, and bioengineering-related internships can receive academic credit through BENG 196; one quarter of BENG 196 provides 4 units that can fulfill a technical-elective requirement.
Industry projects: UC San Diego's Industry Central connects industry with students for design projects, internships, and career positions, while companies can also sponsor senior-design projects.
Instructional Core: Powell-Focht Bioengineering Hall contains an Instructional Core laboratory complex specifically designed for bioengineering laboratory classes.
Cell Engineering Research Center: The CERC provides research resources for mammalian-cell engineering and includes biological safety cabinets, microscopes, incubators, autoclaves, and specialized cold-storage equipment.
Research facilities: Department facilities include biotechnology, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, information technology, functional MRI, and the Cell Engineering Research Center.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Bioengineering prepares graduates for careers in biomedical-device and biotechnology industries as well as further graduate education. UC San Diego alumni examples demonstrate progression into medical-device engineering, product development, process engineering, systems engineering, healthcare technology, and research-oriented careers.

Typical job roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, R&D Engineer, Process Engineer.

Key career and progression opportunities include:

Career services: Students receive support from the UC San Diego Career Center for internships, employment searches, applications, and graduate-school planning, while the Bioengineering Department hosts an annual Bioengineering Career Fair connecting students with industry recruiters.
Industry connections: Industry Central allows companies to recruit students for internships and career positions and sponsor senior-design projects. The department's Industrial Advisory Board also supports internships, company visits, industry events, mentorship, and research exposure.
Industry examples: UC San Diego Bioengineering alumni have progressed into roles at organizations including NVIDIA, Illumina, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Genentech, HeartFlow, Philips, Amgen, Daré Bioscience, and Project Farma.
Professional preparation: ABET accreditation provides a recognized engineering-quality framework and confirms that the program meets established educational standards for bioengineering and biomedical engineering.
Graduate outcomes: The department reports that about two-thirds of undergraduate Bioengineering students participate in research before graduation, strengthening preparation for both technical employment and graduate-level study.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's and Ph.D. programs in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, biomaterials, biomechanics, computational engineering, or related fields. The degree also provides a foundation for professional programs such as medicine and other health-related graduate pathways, while research experience and the department's industry connections can support applications to advanced academic programs.