Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering degree

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Washington

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at the University of Washington brings together engineering, biology, medicine, and health sciences to help students create practical solutions to healthcare challenges. It is a strong choice for students who are interested in biomedical technology and want to explore areas such as medical devices, biomaterials, medical imaging, molecular and cellular engineering, and technologies that can improve human health.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students start by developing a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering. Courses such as MATH 124 Calculus I, CHEM 142 General Chemistry & Lab I, and PHYS 121 Mechanics, with Lab help students build the scientific and mathematical skills they will use throughout the degree.

Year 2: Students begin connecting their science background with engineering and computational applications. Courses such as BIOL 180 Introductory Biology I, CHEM 223 Organic Chemistry, and AMATH 301 Beginning Scientific Computing introduce students to biological systems, organic chemistry, and the computational skills needed to solve bioengineering problems.

Year 3: Students move deeper into bioengineering and learn how engineering principles can be applied to biological and medical systems. Courses such as BIOEN 315 Biochemical and Molecular Bioengineering, BIOEN 316 Biomedical Signals and Sensors, and BIOEN 325 Biotransport I develop knowledge of molecular processes, biomedical sensing, transport phenomena, and quantitative analysis.

Year 4: The final year gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to advanced bioengineering challenges through design, research, and specialized study. Courses such as BIOEN 400 Fundamentals of Bioengineering Design, BIOEN 402 Independent Research and Design, and BIOEN 404 & 405 BioE Team Design Capstone provide opportunities to work on substantial engineering and research projects.

Focus Areas

Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Engineering, Biomedical Signals and Sensors, Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Neural Engineering, Synthetic Biology, Biotransport, Bioengineering Systems and Control, Medical Devices, Computational Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Global Health, Biomedical Research.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply engineering, mathematics, biology, and physical science to real-world biomedical challenges. They learn to analyze biological and physiological systems, design and evaluate bioengineering solutions, use computational and quantitative tools, conduct experiments and research, communicate technical ideas clearly, work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and approach healthcare challenges with creativity and responsible engineering practices.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Bioengineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the program criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This accreditation confirms that the program meets established standards for engineering education and provides a strong foundation for careers and further study in bioengineering, biotechnology, medical technology, and related fields.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Washington has a strong reputation in bioengineering and biomedical research, supported by its connections across engineering, medicine, and healthcare. The Bioengineering department has also received strong national recognition in U.S. News & World Report rankings, giving students access to a well-regarded academic and research environment.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Washington gives students plenty of opportunities to take their learning beyond the classroom and build practical engineering and research skills. Students gain hands-on experience through laboratory work, biomedical design, computing, research projects, and collaboration with healthcare professionals and industry partners. The senior capstone is a particularly valuable experience, allowing students to work independently in a faculty research laboratory or as part of a small team to develop and test solutions to real healthcare challenges:

Hands-on laboratory experience: Courses such as BIOEN 327 Fluids and Materials Lab and BIOEN 337 Mass Transport and Systems Lab give students practical experience conducting bioengineering experiments and analyzing results.
Computational skills: Students can develop scientific computing skills through courses such as AMATH 301 Beginning Scientific Computing and BIOEN 217 MATLAB Fundamentals, providing experience with computational methods and MATLAB.
Individual research projects: Through BIOEN 401 and BIOEN 402, senior students can work on research and design projects in Bioengineering faculty laboratories. Projects can involve areas such as hydrogel drug delivery, brain-machine interfaces, and ultrasound imaging for traumatic brain injury.
Team-based capstone projects: BIOEN 404 and BIOEN 405 BioE Team Design Capstone allow students to work in teams of around 2–5 students to design, develop, and test a device, system, or process that addresses a healthcare problem.
Clinical and industry collaboration: Capstone projects can involve partners from UW Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and local industry, giving students the opportunity to work on challenges related to diagnostics, rehabilitation, drug and vaccine delivery, tissue engineering, cancer detection, and medical imaging.
Internship and professional experience: Students may add professional experience through options such as a Full-Time Internship (ENGR 321), as well as study-abroad or clinical experiences.
Research centres and facilities: Students benefit from the department's research environment, which includes facilities and centres such as UWEB-21, the National ESCA and Surface Analysis Center for Biomedical Problems (NESAC-BIO), and the Washington Molecular Imaging and Therapy Center.
Computing and collaborative spaces: Bioengineering provides student computing facilities, including a student-only drop-in computing lab and an advanced computing lab, along with collaborative spaces, seminar rooms, presentation equipment, and video-editing resources.
Undergraduate research opportunities: BioExplore UW helps students discover research opportunities, attend research talks and workshops, visit laboratories, and connect with Bioengineering faculty and research groups.
Library and research resources: Students can use UW Libraries to find scientific literature and supporting research for laboratory, design, and capstone projects.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Bioengineering at the University of Washington prepares students for careers across biomedical engineering, medical technology, biotechnology, healthcare, and research. With hands-on design experience, research opportunities, industry connections, and ABET accreditation, graduates can confidently move into professional roles or continue their education through advanced study.

Typical career paths include Bioengineer, Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biotechnology Engineer. Students can build their career through:

Career and Internship Support: UW provides career guidance, job and internship resources, employer connections, and access to Handshake, helping students explore career options and find professional opportunities.
Industry and Healthcare Connections: Senior capstone projects can involve UW Medicine, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and local industry, giving students the opportunity to work on real healthcare challenges with support from faculty, clinicians, and industry professionals.
Practical Industry Experience: Students can work on projects involving point-of-care diagnostics, rehabilitation, drug and vaccine delivery, tissue engineering, cancer detection, and medical imaging, helping them develop skills that are directly relevant to the bioengineering industry.
Employment Outcomes: UW reports an 85% positive outcome rate for the Class of 2024, combining graduates who were employed or continuing their education. This is a university-wide undergraduate figure rather than a Bioengineering-specific outcome.
Salary Information: The university does not publish a specific average starting salary for B.S. in Bioengineering graduates on its official undergraduate program pages, so a program-specific salary figure should not be assumed.
Professional Accreditation: The B.S. in Bioengineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This provides valuable professional recognition and confirms that the program meets established standards for bioengineering and biomedical engineering education.
Research and Innovation: UW Bioengineering has a strong research and innovation environment, with faculty and students contributing to inventions, patents, licenses, and startup companies. This gives students exposure to an environment where biomedical research can progress toward real-world technologies and products.
Graduation Outcomes: Graduates are prepared to pursue employment or advanced education in areas such as medical device development, biotechnology, medicine, biomedical research, and related engineering fields.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into advanced study in bioengineering and related engineering or life-science disciplines, including master's and Ph.D. programs. Students may also pursue professional education in areas such as medicine and other health-related fields, while UW's Bachelor's/Master's pathway can provide an additional route into graduate-level study.