Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Boston University

Program Overview

The BS in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University combines engineering, mathematics, biology, and physiology to prepare students to solve real-world challenges in medicine, healthcare, and biotechnology. It is a strong fit for students who enjoy applying engineering to biological and medical problems, with opportunities to develop skills in programming, engineering design, biomedical measurements, data science, and advanced areas such as biomechanics, imaging, biomolecular engineering, and machine learning.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with a broad foundation in engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and programming. Courses such as General Chemistry, Calculus I, Introduction to Programming for Engineers, Computational Linear Algebra, and Introduction to Engineering help build the scientific and technical skills needed for more advanced biomedical engineering study.

Second Year: Students move into more advanced mathematics, physics, engineering design, mechanics, biology, and electrical engineering. Key courses include Multivariate Calculus, Introduction to Engineering Design, Engineering Mechanics I, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Electric Circuits, helping students connect fundamental engineering concepts with biological systems.

Third Year: Students begin applying their engineering foundation directly to biomedical applications, studying physiology, biomedical signals, measurements, statistics, data science, and thermodynamics. Courses such as Systems Physiology, Biomedical Signals and Controls, Biomedical Measurements & Analysis, and Probability, Statistics and Data Sciences for Engineering develop the analytical and practical skills needed to understand and solve biomedical problems.

Fourth Year: Students bring their knowledge together through advanced electives and a two-term senior design experience. Senior Project I and Senior Project II form the program's capstone sequence, while Biomedical Engineering, Engineering, and Professional electives allow students to explore areas such as instrumentation, biomechanics, imaging and sensing, biomolecular engineering, systems and synthetic biology, and machine learning for biomedical engineers.

Focus Areas

Biomedical instrumentation, sensory and neural systems, biomechanics, imaging and sensing, signal processing, biomolecular engineering, systems and synthetic biology, machine learning for biomedical engineers, biomedical measurements, physiology, engineering design, biotechnology.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to identify and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and mathematics; design solutions that consider public health, safety, ethical, social, environmental, and economic factors; communicate effectively; work successfully in teams; conduct experiments and analyse data; make informed professional judgments; and acquire and apply new knowledge.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BS in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing students with a recognised standard of quality for undergraduate engineering education.

Reputation (Employability & Rankings)

Boston University's Biomedical Engineering department has a strong research and academic profile and is recognised by the university as one of the leading biomedical engineering departments in the United States. The program's interdisciplinary curriculum, ABET accreditation, research environment, and focus on engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, and advanced technologies provide students with a strong foundation for both employment and further study.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The BS in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University gives students a strong opportunity to learn through practical laboratory work, engineering design, computational methods, and research. Students can work in specialised biomedical facilities and research laboratories, while the two-semester senior design experience allows them to work in teams on substantial biomedical engineering projects with guidance from faculty, clinical, or industry mentors. Undergraduate research opportunities also allow students to explore areas such as biomedical imaging, biosensors, tissue engineering, biomechanics, and computational medicine.

Students can develop practical and research experience through:

Biomedical Measurements & Analysis: Students gain laboratory experience in biomedical measurements and analysis, connecting their knowledge of physiology, biomedical signals, systems, and controls with practical applications.
Two-semester Senior Design: Senior Design I and II provide a substantial team-based capstone experience where students work on biomedical engineering design challenges.
Team-based projects: Students collaborate on projects covering areas such as biomedical instrumentation, biosensors, tissue engineering, biological signal processing, modelling and simulation, clinical imaging, and health information systems.
Faculty, clinical, and industry mentoring: Senior design projects can be conducted with support from faculty members, clinicians, or industry mentors, giving students exposure to real biomedical engineering challenges.
Undergraduate research: Students can undertake independent biomedical engineering research under the supervision of a BME faculty member, providing valuable preparation for research careers and graduate study.
Bioengineering Technology & Entrepreneurship Center: The BTEC is a 5,000-square-foot bioengineering makerspace supporting hands-on innovation in molecular, cellular and tissue engineering, biosensors and instrumentation, and digital and predictive medicine.
Biomedical Engineering Core Facilities: Students benefit from specialised research infrastructure including the Bio-Interface and Technology facility and Micro and Nano Imaging facility, which support areas such as biomaterial analysis, biological assays, mechanical analysis, and imaging.
Specialised research laboratories: Students are part of an active research environment that includes facilities such as the Biomedical Optics Lab, Bionic Pancreas Research Lab, Cell and Tissue Mechanics Laboratory, Tissue Microfabrication Lab, Neurovascular Imaging Laboratory, and Respiratory and Physiological Systems Identification Laboratory.
Computational and digital skills: The curriculum develops programming, biomedical signal processing, statistics, data science, and computational skills, with advanced options such as Machine Learning for Biomedical Engineers.
Design and prototyping: Senior design projects give students experience in developing biomedical engineering solutions, planning projects, preparing technical proposals, working collaboratively, and presenting their results.
Research centres and institutes: Students can engage with Boston University's wider biomedical research environment through centres such as the Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering, Biomolecular Engineering Research Center, Center for Regenerative Medicine, Neurophotonics Center, Photonics Center, Precision Diagnostics Center, and Cell-MET.
Advanced engineering facilities: The university's biomedical engineering infrastructure includes the Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering Facility, BioInterface Technologies Facility, Micro and Nano Imaging Facility, and Biomedical Engineering Computational Simulation Facility.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The BS in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University prepares students for careers across biomedical engineering, healthcare, biotechnology, research, science, and business. The program also provides a strong foundation for students who want to continue into advanced education, including graduate engineering programs, medicine, law, management, and other health-related fields.

Typical career paths include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer, Biomedical Data Scientist.

Students can strengthen their career prospects through:

Career support: Boston University's College of Engineering provides career development opportunities through career fairs, employer information sessions, Tech Talks, Employer-in-Residence events, on-campus interviews, and Handshake, the university's online recruiting platform.
Employer engagement: Engineering students can connect with employers through recruiting events, career activities, sponsored undergraduate projects, and other opportunities to interact directly with companies.
Industry and clinical mentoring: The BME Senior Design experience allows students to work with faculty, clinicians, and industry mentors while addressing practical biomedical engineering challenges.
Real-world project experience: Senior Design projects can involve industry challenges, clinical needs, and biomedical research questions, giving students experience that connects their academic knowledge with professional practice.
Employment outcomes: Boston University states that BME graduates are prepared for careers in engineering, science, healthcare, and business. The university's official undergraduate BME information does not provide a current program-specific employment rate or average starting salary, so a specific figure should not be assumed.
Employer connections: BU identifies organisations such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, GE Healthcare, Smith & Nephew, Merck, and Intuitive Surgical among employers connected with its BME graduates. These examples demonstrate the breadth of potential employers but are not a guarantee of employment with these organisations.
ABET accreditation: The BS in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This provides a recognised quality benchmark for the engineering degree and can be valuable when graduates pursue professional engineering careers or further technical education.
Graduation outcomes: The program's educational objectives expect graduates to enter biomedical engineering and other professional fields such as medicine, law, and management, while continuing to develop their technical and professional skills.
Professional development: Through senior design, research, laboratory work, teamwork, communication, and engineering practice, students graduate with skills that can be applied across a wide range of biomedical and healthcare-related careers.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS, students can continue into advanced study in biomedical engineering, engineering, science, medicine, business, law, or other related disciplines. Boston University offers MS, MEng, and PhD programs in Biomedical Engineering, giving graduates options ranging from research-focused postgraduate study to professional master's-level training. Students interested in medicine can also explore BU's MMEDIC pathway and other opportunities within the university's wider biomedical education environment.