Biomedical Engineering Bachelor of Science

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Bucknell University

Program Overview

Bucknell University’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering combines engineering, mathematics, physical sciences and biology to prepare students to design technologies that improve human health, with laboratory work and design beginning from the first semester. The program is particularly suited to students interested in medical devices, biomechanics, biomedical research and healthcare technology, with small classes, undergraduate research and a year-long opportunity to work with medical professionals on real healthcare problems.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin building their engineering and scientific foundation through mathematics, physics and introductory biomedical engineering. Courses such as BMEG 210 Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering (1 credit) introduce fluid mechanics, mass transfer, instrumentation and mechanics through hands-on laboratory experiences, while BMEG 226 Statistical Methods in Biomedical Engineering (0.5 credit) develops skills in experimental design and biomedical data analysis.

Year 2: The second year moves further into biomedical applications, combining engineering analysis, chemistry, mathematics and computing. BMEG 250 Fundamentals of Biomechanics (1 credit) applies mechanical analysis to biological systems, while BMEG 205 Bioinstrumentation I (1 credit) introduces analog and digital circuits used in medicine and biology; BMEG 220 Introduction to Engineering Computing (0.5 credit) adds numerical methods and programming fundamentals.

Year 3: Students develop more advanced capabilities in biological transport, biomedical signals and systems, and experimental research. BMEG 300 Biotransport I (1 credit) applies fluid mechanics and computational modeling to biological systems and medical devices, while BMEG 350 Fundamentals of Biomedical Signals and Systems (1 credit) covers time- and frequency-domain analysis, filter design and feedback control for biomedical applications.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced engineering design and turning biomedical problems into tested solutions. Students complete BMEG 400 Biotransport II (1 credit) and the two-semester BMEG 401 Biomedical Engineering Capstone I (1 credit) and BMEG 402 Biomedical Engineering Capstone II (1 credit) sequence, progressing from problem identification, research, medical regulations and design proposals to fabrication, instrumentation, testing, evaluation and final presentation.

Focus Areas

Biomedical engineering design, biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, biomedical signals and systems, biotransport, medical devices, biomaterials, biomedical research, computational modeling, healthcare technology

Learning Outcomes

Graduates develop the ability to solve complex biomedical engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics; design solutions that consider health, safety, ethical and societal factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively in teams; conduct experiments and interpret data; and continue developing new technical knowledge.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering 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)

Bucknell reports strong university-wide career outcomes: 93% of the Class of 2025 secured employment, graduate school or another post-graduation opportunity within nine months, with an average starting salary of $73,346. Bucknell also reports that LinkedIn ranked it #1 among liberal arts colleges for long-term career success in 2026 and #16 among all colleges and universities in its Top Colleges ranking for career success.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Bucknell’s biomedical engineering program places practical work at the center of the degree, with students entering laboratories and undertaking design work from their first year. The department provides specialized equipment for biomedical instrumentation, biotransport, biomechanics, biomaterials and biological-tissue testing, while its partnership with Geisinger gives students opportunities to work with healthcare professionals through research projects and internships.

Students also spend their senior year developing solutions to authentic engineering challenges, often with external partners, giving them experience with prototyping, testing, technical communication and professional collaboration. Biomedical engineering students can also participate in undergraduate research, with previous student work including prosthetic hands, patented devices and projects used in clinical research.

Key hands-on opportunities include:

Biotransport Research Laboratory: Research involving drug delivery, microfluidics, fluid mechanics, mass transport, hemodialysis and fluid-flow visualization.
Bioinstrumentation Laboratory: Equipment for electrocardiography, Doppler ultrasound, blood-glucose monitoring, exercise physiology and measurement of thermal, electrical and fluid properties of tissues.
Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Laboratory: Force platforms, electromyography and motion-capture equipment for studying human movement and biomechanics.
Biomaterials Laboratory: Equipment for examining the microscale mechanical and chemical properties of tissues and biological materials.
Experimental Dynamics Laboratory: Facilities for biological tissue testing and high-rate impact/failure testing.
Medical device development: BMEG 408 Medical Device Assessment and Development covers benchmarking, intellectual property, regulatory pathways, industry standards, project planning and project management.
Two-semester Senior Design: BMEG students work in teams to identify a healthcare need, conduct background research, develop a design, fabricate and test a solution, and present the final result.
Geisinger partnership: Students can work with healthcare experts on research projects, internships and clinically relevant problems; Bucknell describes students receiving access to Geisinger experts and clinical environments.
Computational projects: Recent BMEG 300 student projects have included computational fluid-dynamics models of medically relevant flows, including models developed from CT scans.
Industry-connected projects: Bucknell's College of Engineering reports more than 3,000 students working with over 300 companies and institutions on more than 700 projects through its engineering project partnerships.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can move into biomedical engineering, medical-device development, research, clinical technology and related engineering fields, or continue into graduate and professional education. Bucknell's biomedical engineering outcomes demonstrate pathways into product development, clinical research, manufacturing engineering, medical-device roles and R&D, with employers including Medtronic, Lockheed Martin and MTF Biologics among the employers listed in the university's outcomes data.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer.

Key progression and career advantages include:

Career support: Bucknell's Center for Career Advancement provides industry exploration, employer connections, career advising and support for graduate-school searches and applications.
Employment and salary: Bucknell's 2024 College of Engineering report lists Biomedical Engineering average starting salary at $72,902. A separate Class of 2024 employment snapshot reports a higher BME average of $90,764, demonstrating the outcomes reported for that graduating cohort.
Healthcare partnerships: The Bucknell-Geisinger Research Initiative connects students and faculty with healthcare experts on projects designed to improve patient care, including work involving medical imaging and clinical applications.
Industry experience: Senior Design projects are typically sponsored by external companies, government organizations, nonprofits or other partners, allowing students to work on authentic engineering challenges and receive feedback from industry professionals.
Accreditation value: ABET EAC accreditation confirms that the program meets established engineering education criteria and supports graduates pursuing technical and professional careers or further education.
Graduate outcomes: Bucknell's Class of 2025 achieved a 93% successful-outcome rate within nine months, including employment, graduate school and other post-graduation opportunities.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's and doctoral study in biomedical engineering and related engineering or life-science fields, as well as medical and other health-profession programs. Bucknell's engineering outcomes specifically show graduates progressing to institutions including Johns Hopkins, Harvard-MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, UC Berkeley and the University of Pennsylvania.