Biomedical Engineering: Bachelor of Science (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Hawaii Pacific University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Hawaiʻi Pacific University combines engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, and biological sciences to prepare students to design solutions for medical and physiological challenges. It suits students interested in healthcare technology, medical devices, biomedical research, and engineering, with study spanning biomechanics, biomedical imaging, instrumentation, biosensing, tissue engineering, and device design.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the scientific and engineering foundation needed for biomedical engineering through subjects such as MATH 2214 Calculus I, PHYS 2050 General Physics I, and ENGR 1000 Introduction to Engineering Systems and Professional Practice. The early curriculum also develops grounding in biology, chemistry, computer science, and engineering fundamentals, including BIOL 2050 General Biology I, CHEM 2050 General Chemistry I, and CSCI 1611 A Gentle Introduction to Programming.

Year 2: Students move into the engineering applications of biology and medicine through subjects such as ENGB 2000 Biomechanics, ENGE 2000 Linear Circuits and Systems, and ENGT 2100 Biomaterials. Biomechanics examines human movement, musculoskeletal loading, gait analysis, and prosthetic-device design, while the engineering curriculum begins connecting biological systems with circuits, materials, and quantitative analysis.

Year 3: The program becomes more specialized, covering areas such as Biomedical Instrumentation and Device Fabrication, Thermodynamics of Living Systems, and Biomedical Imaging and Simulation. Students learn to work with sensors and transducers, acquire and process biomedical signals, and apply engineering principles to diagnostic and treatment technologies; the program also includes a substantial team-based design experience in which students develop an engineering solution to a real-world problem.

Year 4: Students deepen their expertise through advanced electives and biomedical engineering topics such as Biomedical Signal Processing, Biosensors, Biomedical Optics, Neuroscience, and Cancer Biology. Biomedical Signal Processing, for example, introduces advanced image and signal-processing approaches for patient monitoring and diagnostics, including medical-image analysis and disease detection.

Focus areas

Computational biomechanics, biomedical optics, biomedical signal processing, computer simulation and processing, medical image processing and instrumentation, tissue engineering, biosensing, biomedical device design, biomedical instrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical imaging and simulation.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and mathematics; design solutions while considering public health, safety, environmental, economic, and societal factors; communicate effectively; work successfully in multidisciplinary teams; conduct experiments and interpret data; apply ethical and professional judgment; and continue acquiring new technical knowledge.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. HPU states that its engineering degrees, including Biomedical Engineering, received ABET accreditation retroactive to 2021, giving graduates a professionally accredited engineering degree recognized by employers.

Reputation (employability rankings)

HPU does not publish a specific QS or Guardian subject ranking for this program on the official sources reviewed. However, the university states that its engineering students have high employability in Hawaiʻi, nationally, and internationally, while its Biomedical Engineering program has ABET accreditation and prepares graduates for healthcare technology, medical instrumentation, prosthetics, imaging, and assistive-technology careers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biomedical Engineering program gives students opportunities to move beyond theory through engineering design, laboratory work, experimentation, biomedical research, and team-based projects. HPU's engineering facilities include dedicated biomedical engineering laboratories, while its Shared Instrumentation Facility provides access to advanced instrumentation and laboratory spaces used for biomedical and multidisciplinary research.

Students can build practical experience through:

Team-based engineering design: HPU's engineering design sequence has students work in teams to develop a working prototype for a real-world challenge, continuing from project formation and feasibility through implementation, testing, deployment, demonstrations, and technical documentation.
Biomedical instrumentation: ENGB 3004 Biomedical Instrumentation and Device Fabrication covers bioinstrumentation, biomedical electronics, sensors, transducers, data acquisition, and signal processing for biomedical applications.
Biomechanics: ENGB 2000 Biomechanics provides applied study of musculoskeletal loading, gait analysis, postural stability, human-tissue modelling, and prosthetic-device design.
Biomedical research laboratories: HPU's Shared Instrumentation Facility supports biomedical research and provides cell-biology, biochemistry, instrumentation, cell-culture, chemistry, and multipurpose research laboratories with high-tech scientific instrumentation.
New biomedical engineering laboratory: HPU opened a new biomedical engineering lab in September 2024, supported by the NIH INBRE program and focused on biomechanics research.
Engineering internships: ENGR 4995 Engineering Professional Practice provides internship credit for engineering-related work experience under the supervision of a professional engineering supervisor or manager.
Career-connected practical experience: HPU's Career Development Center supports internships and co-op opportunities, while Handshake provides access to internships, employment opportunities, and employer connections.
Biomedical research experience: HPU states that undergraduate students participate in advanced biomedical research using instrumentation and tools comparable to those used in professional academic and industrial research laboratories.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can move into biomedical engineering and healthcare-technology roles involving medical devices, biomedical instrumentation, imaging, prosthetics, assistive technologies, and engineering research. HPU specifically identifies areas including artificial organs and prostheses, medical imaging and instrumentation systems, healthcare delivery and management systems, and medical assistive technologies as employment pathways for Biomedical Engineering graduates.

Typical career roles: Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Instrumentation Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer

Career Development Center: HPU provides career advising, résumé and cover-letter reviews, mock interviews, employer information sessions, recruitment events, internship/co-op guidance, and the Handshake employment platform.
Employer connections: The Career Development Center partners with organizations for employer information sessions, hiring events, and career fairs, giving students opportunities to connect directly with potential employers.
Internships and practical training: Engineering students can earn academic credit for approved engineering internships, connecting classroom learning with professional engineering work. International students may also be eligible for Curricular Practical Training where visa and academic requirements are met.
Industry and research exposure: The engineering program's biomedical facilities are supported by the NIH INBRE program, including a biomedical engineering laboratory focused on biomechanics research.
Employment statistics and salary: HPU's official Biomedical Engineering pages reviewed do not publish a program-specific graduate employment rate or graduate salary figure, so no unsupported salary or placement statistic is included here. HPU does state that its engineering students have high employability in Hawaiʻi, nationally, and abroad.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation provides an important professional-quality benchmark for the degree and gives graduates a professionally accredited engineering qualification. HPU states that its Biomedical Engineering accreditation is retroactive to 2021.
Graduation outcomes: HPU expects graduates to engage effectively in engineering practice, solve real-world medical challenges creatively and responsibly, develop leadership within industry and the community, and continue professional development after graduation.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate study in biomedical engineering or related areas of engineering, biotechnology, biological sciences, medical research, computer science, or other relevant fields. HPU's program specifically notes that its interdisciplinary biotechnology concentration can prepare students for further graduate study as well as employment in industry, government, and commerce.