Biomedical Engineering, BSE

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Arizona State University Tempe

Program Overview

The BSE in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University is ideal for students who want to combine engineering, biology and medicine to create solutions for real healthcare challenges. Students learn how to turn health-related ideas into practical biomedical technologies while developing knowledge in areas such as medical devices, physiology, biomaterials, imaging, sensors, tissues and neural engineering.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Students begin by building the strong mathematics, science and engineering foundation needed for biomedical engineering. Early study includes MAT 265 Calculus for Engineers I, along with introductory engineering, computer science, biology, chemistry and physics courses that prepare students for more specialized biomedical topics.

Year 2:
Students start applying engineering principles directly to biological and healthcare systems. Courses such as BME 200 Conservation Principles in Biomedical Engineering, BME 235 Physiology for Engineers and BME 213 Ethical and Social Dimensions of Biomedical Engineering help students understand physiological systems while considering the ethical and social responsibilities involved in developing healthcare technologies.

Year 3:
The program becomes more focused on designing and analyzing biomedical solutions. Students study areas such as BME 300 Bioengineering Product Design, BME 301 Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering, BME 316 Biomechanics for Biomedical Engineers and BME 318 Biomaterials, while developing the technical skills needed to work with biological materials, physiological systems and biomedical products.

Year 4:
Students bring their knowledge together through advanced coursework and a substantial design experience. The two-part BME 417 Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design I and BME 490 Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II allow students to work on biomedical engineering design challenges, while technical electives can take them into areas such as biomedical instrumentation, tissue engineering, medical imaging, drug delivery, biosensing, neural engineering and biomedical devices.

Focus Areas:
Biomedical engineering, biomedical devices, bioengineering, biomechanics, biomaterials, physiology, biomedical instrumentation, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, medical imaging, drug delivery, neural engineering, biosensing, medical technology and biomedical research

Learning Outcomes:
Students learn to combine engineering and life-science knowledge to address healthcare and biomedical challenges. They develop skills in biomedical design, physiological systems, biomaterials, biomechanics, computational methods and medical technology, while learning how to develop practical solutions in an ethical and sustainable way.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The Biomedical Engineering BSE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering Program Criteria. This provides professional recognition that the program meets established standards for biomedical engineering education.

Reputation and Employability:
The program is part of ASU's Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and provides students with opportunities to gain experience through research, internships, global learning and hands-on biomedical engineering projects. ASU identifies career opportunities across hospitals and research facilities, medical and educational institutions, government regulatory agencies, and the medical device, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The university also lists career paths such as Biomedical Engineer, Bioinformatics Scientist, Biostatistician, Human Factors Engineer, Regulatory Affairs Manager and Validation Engineer.

Additional Opportunity:
Eligible students can pursue an accelerated bachelor's-plus-master's pathway and potentially complete the two degrees in as little as five years. Available options include the Biomedical Engineering MS, Innovations in Medical and Patient Care Technologies MS and Management of Technology MS.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BSE in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University gives students plenty of opportunities to turn engineering concepts into practical healthcare solutions. Students gain hands-on experience through biomedical design, laboratory work, research projects and a two-semester capstone, while also exploring technologies used in medical devices, imaging, biosensing, drug delivery and tissue engineering. The program's connection with the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering also gives students access to an interdisciplinary environment where engineering, biology and healthcare come together.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Biomedical product design: In BME 300 Bioengineering Product Design, students learn how biomedical products are developed and how engineering ideas can be turned into solutions for healthcare needs.
Biomedical instrumentation: Courses such as BME 413 Biomedical Instrumentation and BME 423 Biomedical Instrumentation Laboratory give students practical exposure to technologies used to measure and monitor biological systems.
Computational and control applications: Students can study BME 370 Microcomputer Applications in Biomedical Engineering, BME 360 Control in Biological Systems and related technical subjects to develop computational and engineering skills relevant to biomedical systems.
Two-semester capstone project: BME 417 Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design I and BME 490 Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II provide a major hands-on design experience. Students work in teams to develop solutions to biomedical problems, manage projects, build prototypes and present their results.
Industry and clinical projects: Capstone projects can involve partners from industry, clinical environments, higher education, nonprofit organizations and government agencies. This gives students experience working on biomedical problems that closely reflect professional practice.
Professional design methods: Through the capstone experience, students can be introduced to approaches used in biomedical product development, including the FDA Waterfall Model, ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and Six Sigma techniques.
Undergraduate research: Students can participate in research through opportunities such as BME 394 SBHSE Research Projects, BME 492 Honors Directed Study and BME 493 Honors Thesis. These experiences allow students to work on research projects and develop skills beyond regular classroom study.
Specialized biomedical projects: Technical electives allow students to explore areas such as Finite Element Modeling for Biomedical Applications, Medical Imaging Instrumentation, Polymeric Drug Delivery, Neural Engineering, Wireless Biomedical Devices, Biosensing Technologies, Cellular and System Modeling and Systems Biology of Disease.
Data and programming skills: Students can take courses involving R and Python, statistical modeling and machine learning, giving them useful computational skills for analyzing biomedical data and solving engineering problems.
Biomedical student organizations: Students can participate in organizations and teams such as the Biomedical Engineering Society, Society for Biomaterials, iGEM and DIYbio, where they can collaborate on biomedical, biomaterials, synthetic biology and biotechnology-related activities.
Biomedical prototyping: ASU's capstone projects include practical healthcare technologies such as an automated skin punch biopsy tool and an autonomous ultrasound system, showing how students can apply engineering knowledge to develop real biomedical solutions.

Facilities and Research Environment:
Students benefit from the research and engineering environment of ASU's School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering and the wider Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. The program's practical experiences cover biomedical design, instrumentation, research, computational work and prototyping, giving students opportunities to work across engineering, biology, healthcare and medical technology.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BSE in Biomedical Engineering at Arizona State University prepares students for careers at the intersection of engineering, healthcare and technology. Graduates can explore opportunities in medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, research and regulatory environments, while also having a strong foundation for further study.

Typical career paths include Biomedical Engineer, Bioinformatics Scientist, Biostatistician and Human Factors Engineer. Graduates can also move into areas such as medical technology, research and development, regulatory affairs, quality, manufacturing, business development and technical sales.

The degree supports students in building their careers through several opportunities:

Career development and professional exposure: Students benefit from the career resources and professional environment of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering. Research, design projects, student organizations and industry-focused activities can help students build practical experience and professional connections.
Global opportunities: ASU offers more than 300 Global Education programs, giving students opportunities to gain international experience and explore research and internship opportunities in different parts of the world.
Industry and healthcare opportunities: Graduates can work with medical device, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, as well as government regulatory agencies, hospitals, research facilities and medical institutions. Career functions can include research and design, manufacturing, quality, regulatory compliance, marketing, business development and sales.
Clinical engineering careers: The degree can also lead to clinical engineering opportunities involving medical equipment selection, testing and maintenance, as well as the development of customized technologies for healthcare, rehabilitation and research.
Employment and salary outlook: ASU lists a median salary of $109,370 for Biomedical Engineers. Other career figures listed by ASU include $98,920 for Bioinformatics Scientists, $105,650 for Biostatisticians and $102,440 for Human Factors Engineers. These figures are career-level salary estimates rather than guaranteed starting salaries and can vary depending on experience and location.
Professional accreditation: The Biomedical Engineering BSE is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This provides long-term value by confirming that the program meets established standards for engineering education and can support graduates pursuing professional engineering and advanced-study pathways.
STEM-OPT eligibility: The program is classified as STEM-OPT eligible, which can provide eligible international students with an opportunity to extend their U.S. work experience after graduation. The STEM-OPT designation does not apply to students completing the program through ASU Online.
Strong practical foundation: The combination of biomedical design, research, engineering analysis, laboratory work and the senior capstone helps students graduate with experience that can be applied to real biomedical and healthcare challenges.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the BSE, students can continue their education through master's and other graduate-level programs in biomedical engineering, medical technologies and related fields. ASU offers an accelerated bachelor's-plus-master's option that can allow eligible students to complete both degrees in as little as five years.

Accelerated options include the MS in Biomedical Engineering, MS in Innovations in Medical and Patient Care Technologies and MS in Management of Technology. Students interested in research can continue toward advanced technical study, while those interested in healthcare can use their biomedical engineering background as a foundation for medical school or other advanced healthcare education.