Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Alabama State University

Program Overview

Alabama State University’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering combines engineering, biology, physical sciences, and human physiology to prepare students to design technologies and systems that improve healthcare and quality of life. The program is particularly suited to students interested in medical devices, biomaterials, tissue engineering, rehabilitation, biomedical imaging, and biomedical research, with three concentrations in Biomechanics and Rehabilitation, Tissue Engineering, and Biomedical Imaging.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: Students establish their foundation in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering through subjects such as Calculus & Analytical Geometry I, General Biology I, and Introduction to Biomedical Engineering. They also begin developing engineering-computing skills through Introduction to Computer for Engineers, preparing them for more specialized biomedical engineering work.

Year 2: Students move into core engineering concepts and begin applying them to biological systems through courses such as Statics, Introduction to Biomechanics, and Thermodynamics for Engineers. Laboratory-based study and biomechanics help students understand how mechanical and physical principles can be applied to the human body and biomedical problems.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized through subjects including Developmental Systems Biology, Biological Transport Phenomena, and Biomedical Devices and Systems. Students also study areas such as biomaterials and tissue engineering, while beginning undergraduate research or internship experience through BME 400 Undergraduate Research/Internship.

Year 4: Students deepen their expertise through advanced subjects such as Human Physiology, Bioimaging, and concentration-specific coursework. The program culminates in BME 490 Senior Design I and BME 491 Senior Design II, where students develop a biomedical engineering design project and demonstrate their ability to apply engineering knowledge to a practical problem.

Focus areas: Biomechanics and rehabilitation, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, biomaterials, biomedical devices, human physiology, biological transport, computational systems biology, bioimaging, medical technology

Learning outcomes: Apply engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and statistics to biomedical problems; analyze, model, design, and develop biomedical devices and systems; conduct measurements and interpret biological data; work effectively in multidisciplinary teams; apply modern engineering tools and experimental techniques; communicate technical information effectively; and recognize professional and ethical responsibilities.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Alabama State University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award bachelor's, master's, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. ASU's accreditation information references ABET among its accreditation organizations, but I could not verify a current ABET accreditation specifically for the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, so the program should not be described as ABET-accredited without further official confirmation.

Reputation (employability rankings): ASU reports that the Biomedical Engineering program was established in 2016, offers three areas of concentration, and highlights a $97,000 median salary for biomedical engineering professionals based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The university also emphasizes undergraduate research, internships, collaborative learning, and preparation for biomedical engineering careers and graduate study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Alabama State University places practical research and engineering experience at the center of its Biomedical Engineering program. Students can begin exploring BME research laboratories from their first year and progress toward advanced, potentially publishable research by their fourth year, while internships, co-ops, laboratory courses, and the senior design sequence provide opportunities to apply biomedical engineering concepts to real problems. The department's research infrastructure includes specialized equipment for 3D printing and bioprinting, materials characterization, mechanical testing, biomaterials research, and biological testing.

Students can develop practical skills through:

BME 400 Undergraduate Research/Internship: The curriculum formally includes undergraduate research or internship experience, giving students a structured opportunity to gain practical exposure before graduation.
Senior Design I and II: BME 490 and BME 491 provide a two-part senior design experience in which students develop a biomedical engineering project under faculty supervision and produce written and oral reports.
3D printing and bioprinting: Students can work with the Corning Matribot Bioprinter, Envision Tech Bioplotter, Creator Max 3D Printer, MakerBot Method, MakerBot Replicator, and Dremel DigiLab 3D Printer.
Materials characterization: Department facilities include a Phenom XL Bench Top Scanning Electron Microscope, TA Instruments TGA 5500, Discovery Series Rheometer, Discovery Series DMA 850, and MTS Criterion Model 42 Mechanical Testing System.
Biomaterials testing: Students can gain exposure to biological characterization methods involving cell viability, cell adhesion, and cell differentiation, supported by biosafety cabinets, CO₂ incubators, cryogenic and ultra-low freezers, an ultracentrifuge, and the BioTek Cytation 3 Cell Imaging Multimode Reader.
Biomedical engineering laboratories: Students can engage with research involving tissue regeneration, biocompatible implants and prostheses, diagnostic devices, therapeutic devices, imaging, and drug delivery.
Computational and imaging resources: ASU's engineering research environment includes simulation and image/signal-processing resources, with MATLAB, Multisim, and LabVIEW listed among the tools available through the university's CECSIP research infrastructure.
Faculty-led research: The department encourages students to work directly with faculty experts, with ASU stating that students begin exploring BME research labs in the first year and can undertake cutting-edge research by the fourth year.
Engineering library resources: The department provides a dedicated Biomedical Engineering research guide through the ASU Library to support students' research and academic work.
Collaborative learning: ASU highlights collaborative learning and student-run societies for Engineering and STEM majors as part of the student experience.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Alabama State University's Biomedical Engineering program can pursue careers in medical technology, biomaterials, manufacturing, biomedical research, medical devices, imaging, tissue regeneration, and drug delivery. The program also provides a foundation for students who want to continue into graduate study in biomedical engineering or related biomedical and engineering disciplines.

Typical job roles include Biomaterials Developer, Manufacturing Engineer, Biomedical Scientist, Medical Technology Developer.

Students can build their career progression through:

Research and faculty mentorship: Students can work alongside BME faculty experts, beginning research exposure in their first year and progressing toward potentially publishable research by the fourth year.
Internships and co-ops: ASU's Engineering Department identifies industry internships and co-ops as opportunities for students to apply their engineering knowledge to real-world problems and strengthen preparation for employment or graduate/professional school.
Employment areas: ASU identifies potential biomedical engineering opportunities in tissue regeneration, biocompatible implants and prostheses, diagnostic devices, therapeutic devices, imaging, and drug delivery.
Salary information: ASU's program page cites a $97,000 median salary for professionals with bachelor's degrees in biomedical engineering, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The same page reports 6% career-opportunity growth as a program callout.
Career preparation: The combination of internships, undergraduate research, senior design, collaborative learning, and hands-on laboratory work gives students experience they can use when applying for engineering positions or graduate programs.
Industry connections: ASU's Biomedical Engineering program specifically identifies industry internships and co-ops, while the university's engineering research infrastructure states that its research centers develop relationships with industry sponsors and support student placement pipelines.
Graduation outcomes: The program prepares students for employment in biomedical engineering-related fields as well as continued study. ASU specifically notes that some BME graduates continue into graduate degree programs in biomedical engineering.
Long-term accreditation value: The university's SACSCOC accreditation supports the institutional recognition of the bachelor's degree. A current program-specific ABET accreditation could not be verified from ASU's official BME pages, so no ABET-specific professional accreditation claim should be attached to this degree.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, students can continue into a graduate degree in biomedical engineering or related fields such as biomaterials, tissue engineering, biomedical imaging, biomechanics, rehabilitation engineering, bioengineering, or biomedical research. The program's research and senior-design experience can also support applications to graduate and professional schools.