Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Grand Canyon University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Grand Canyon University combines biology, medicine and engineering to prepare students to develop technologies that can address real healthcare challenges, from medical devices and biomaterials to biomedical instrumentation and imaging. It is well suited to students who enjoy engineering, science and problem-solving and want to apply those interests to improving patient care, with a strong emphasis on practical learning and collaborative design.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build the mathematical, scientific and engineering foundation needed for biomedical engineering through subjects such as CHM-113 General Chemistry I (3 credits), BIO-181 General Biology I (3 credits) and ESG-162 Engineering Math (3 credits). They also begin hands-on engineering through ESG-210 Engineering Innovation & Lab (2 credits) and ESG-220 Introduction to Engineering Design and Prototyping & Lab (2 credits), where they learn design methodology, engineering documentation, tolerances, fabrication concepts and multidisciplinary project work.

Year 2: Students progress into core engineering mathematics, physics, programming and computer-aided design. Courses such as ESG-111 Introduction to Engineering Programming & Lab (4 credits) introduce C programming, embedded devices and MATLAB, while ESG-251 Computer Aided Design & Lab (2 credits) develops 2D/3D modelling and the integration of electrical and mechanical systems; students also study subjects such as University Physics, Calculus and Circuits.

Year 3: The curriculum moves deeper into biomedical engineering applications, connecting engineering mechanics with human biology and healthcare. Students study BME-352 Bio-Solid Mechanics & Lab (4 credits), BME-356 Biomaterials (3 credits) and BME-361 Biomechanics & Lab (4 credits), exploring biological materials, biocompatibility, human movement, gait, joint models and the mechanical behaviour of biological systems.

Year 4: Students focus on advanced biomedical technologies, medical applications and professional design. BME-460 Biomedical Instrumentation and Devices & Lab (4 credits) covers physiological measurement, transducers, data acquisition and signal processing, while BME-480 Bioimaging (3 credits) introduces medical image acquisition and processing; students also complete ESG-451 Capstone Project I (2 credits) and ESG-452 Capstone Project II (2 credits), taking a team-based applied research project from proposal and feasibility study through implementation and presentation.

Focus Areas

Biomechanics, physiology and anatomy, biomaterials and biocompatibility, biomedical design, biomedical instrumentation and devices, medical imaging and image processing, tissue engineering, engineering programming, medical-device development, FDA regulation and medical product liability.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply engineering principles to biomedical problems, understand human biological systems and biomaterials, design and evaluate biomedical devices, use programming and computational tools, analyze physiological data, consider FDA and safety requirements, conduct applied research, manage engineering projects and communicate technical solutions effectively.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BS in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biomedical Engineering. This provides external quality assurance for the engineering program and aligns the degree with established professional engineering education standards.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

GCU does not list a QS or Guardian ranking specifically for this bachelor's program on its official program page. Instead, the university highlights career relevance and reports that bioengineers and biomedical engineers had a $99,550 median annual salary as of May 2022, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data; GCU explicitly notes that this figure is an occupation-wide statistic and does not represent GCU graduate salaries.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

GCU's Biomedical Engineering program gives students access to practical engineering experiences from the beginning of the degree, with biomedical-specific facilities including a biomaterials lab, bioinstrumentation lab and medical imaging lab. The curriculum combines laboratory work, computer programming, CAD, biomedical measurements, medical-device design and team-based applied research, allowing students to move from engineering concepts to prototypes and healthcare applications.

Students also work collaboratively on multidisciplinary engineering projects and complete a two-semester capstone in which they research a real-world problem, develop a proposal and feasibility study, protect intellectual property, create a design and ultimately implement and present an applied research prototype.

Key practical opportunities include:

Biomedical laboratories: Students can access GCU's biomaterials, bioinstrumentation and medical imaging laboratories from the beginning of their undergraduate studies.
Applied Biomedical Engineering Lab: GCU's engineering research facilities include an Applied Biomedical Engineering Lab focused on developing medical devices and solutions that combine biology and engineering.
Programming and digital tools: C programming and MATLAB are taught in Introduction to Engineering Programming & Lab, including embedded-device programming, rapid prototyping and object-oriented programming concepts.
CAD and modelling: ESG-251 Computer Aided Design & Lab provides hands-on experience with 2D and 3D design, modelling, tolerances and electrical-mechanical system integration.
SolidWorks: Students use SolidWorks for static simulation in the Statics course, connecting computer-based engineering analysis with mechanical design.
Biomedical instrumentation: BME-460 gives students practical experience with transducers, physiological measurements, data acquisition, signal processing and computer-based instrumentation.
Medical imaging: BME-480 includes hands-on training with medical imaging modalities and image processing, including acquiring, interpreting and processing radiologic and optical images.
Biomaterials laboratory: BME-356L gives students hands-on experience with materials that interact with living systems, biocompatibility and preparation of regulatory-compliant documentation.
Multidisciplinary projects: ESG-220 requires students to work on several multidisciplinary projects involving engineering documentation, tolerances, standards and fabrication tools.
Capstone research and design: The two-part capstone requires team-based real-world applied research, feasibility analysis, project planning, budgeting, mentoring, implementation and final presentation of the project.
Internships: GCU Career Services provides access to elective and programmatic internships, including opportunities to work alongside industry professionals and gain field-specific practical experience.
3D printing and prototyping: GCU's engineering environment supports additive manufacturing and 3D-printing activities, including biomedical projects and prototype development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of GCU's Biomedical Engineering degree can pursue engineering and biomedical roles across research laboratories, universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, government agencies and software-development companies. The program's ABET accreditation, hands-on laboratories, biomedical design training and applied capstone experience provide a strong foundation for entering the biomedical engineering field or continuing into advanced study.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Bioengineer, Medical Device Engineer and Biomedical Design Engineer.

Career development opportunities include:

Career Services: GCU provides career exploration, resume and cover-letter support, job-search assistance, networking guidance, interview coaching, mock interviews, career fairs and assistance identifying internships and off-campus employment.
Employment and salary outlook: GCU cites a $99,550 median annual salary for bioengineers and biomedical engineers as of May 2022, based on BLS data. This is an occupation-wide figure rather than a GCU graduate salary or entry-level salary.
Industry exposure: GCU's engineering programs emphasize industry-standard equipment, practical project-based learning and faculty experience spanning areas such as biomedical devices, mobility, defense and semiconductors.
Professional accreditation: The program's ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission accreditation provides an important professional-quality benchmark for the biomedical engineering curriculum.
Graduation preparation: Students complete a two-semester capstone involving applied research, feasibility analysis, intellectual-property considerations, project scheduling, budgeting, mentoring, implementation and presentation, helping connect academic learning with professional engineering practice.
Internship support: GCU Career Services provides access to programmatic and elective internships where students can gain practical field experience, work alongside industry professionals and build marketable skills.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS in Biomedical Engineering, students can continue into GCU's Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering to develop more advanced expertise in biomedical innovation, medical-device design and clinical applications. Students interested in healthcare can also pursue the BS's pre-med pathway or continue toward medicine and other graduate-level biomedical or health-profession programs, depending on their academic and professional goals.