BS in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Marquette University

Program Overview

Marquette University’s B.S. in Biomedical Engineering combines engineering, biology and medicine to prepare students to develop technologies that improve patient care and health outcomes. It is particularly suited to students who enjoy mathematics and science and want to work on medical devices, healthcare technologies, biomedical software, instrumentation, biomechanics or other multidisciplinary healthcare challenges.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students begin with biomedical engineering design and problem-solving through BIEN 1100 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Methods 1, BIEN 1110 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Methods 2, and BIEN 1120 Introduction to Computing for Biomedical Engineers. These courses introduce physiological signal measurement, biomedical instrumentation, image processing, fluid mechanics, biomaterials and programming using C and MATLAB.

Second Year: Students develop their engineering design and electronics foundation through BIEN 2100 Statistics for Biomedical Engineering, BIEN 2200 Engineering Design with SolidWorks, and BIEN 2300 Biomedical Circuits and Electronics. The curriculum connects biomedical data analysis with computer-aided design, electronic devices, digital circuits and laboratory-based engineering practice.

Third Year: Students move into advanced biomedical analysis through BIEN 3200 Computer Applications in Biomedical Engineering, BIEN 3300 Signals and Systems for Biomedical Engineering, and BIEN 3400 Clinical and Regulatory Issues in Medical Device Design. Depending on their selected option, students can develop deeper skills in biomedical computing, electronics, biomechanics, medical-device design, clinical needs identification and regulatory considerations.

Fourth Year: Students complete advanced option-specific laboratories and design work before undertaking the two-semester BIEN 4920 Senior Capstone Design 1 and BIEN 4998 Senior Capstone Design 2 sequence. The capstone emphasizes customer needs, product specifications, concept generation, detailed design, prototyping, testing, project management and communication, with teams developing technically and economically viable biomedical solutions.

Focus areas: Biocomputing, bioelectronics, biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, biomedical imaging, computational systems biology and medicine, medical devices, biomaterials, tissue engineering, neural engineering and neurorehabilitation.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to solve biomedical engineering problems, communicate with life scientists and healthcare professionals, collect and analyze experimental or clinical data, understand biomedical instrumentation, design solutions, work collaboratively, consider ethical and regulatory requirements, and continue developing their professional and technical skills.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Biomedical Engineering B.S. 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): Marquette reports that the majority of its biomedical engineering majors go directly into the workforce, with recent employers including Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Life Sciences, Epic, Fresenius Kabi, GE HealthCare, Mayo Clinic, Medline, Medtronic, Siemens and Zimmer Biomet. Marquette also reports #6 Best College in Job Placement / #1 in Wisconsin, #82 in Student Outcomes by The Wall Street Journal and #14 Best Colleges for Internships among private universities by The Princeton Review.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Marquette’s Biomedical Engineering program places hands-on learning at the center of the degree through laboratories, design challenges, research, internships, co-ops and industry-connected projects. Students work with biomedical engineering methods from their first year and progress toward advanced design laboratories and a multidisciplinary senior capstone, while the Joint Department’s connection with the Medical College of Wisconsin adds clinical and medical perspectives to engineering education.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Biomedical engineering methods: BIEN 1100 introduces physiological signal measurement, signal acquisition, biomedical instrumentation and image processing through cross-disciplinary teamwork, while BIEN 1110 adds a hands-on design challenge involving problem identification, prototype development and technical communication.
Programming and MATLAB: BIEN 1120 provides hands-on programming in C and teaches students to use MATLAB for physiological-signal analysis, biological event detection and biomechanical analysis.
SolidWorks: BIEN 2200 teaches computer-aided design using SolidWorks, including 3D part and assembly modeling, drafting and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
Biomedical circuits laboratory: BIEN 2300 provides laboratory experience with AC/DC circuits, electronic devices, amplifiers, digital circuits and Boolean logic.
Clinical exposure: BIEN 3400 introduces students to clinical environments, medical terminology, operating-room workflow and the needs of surgeons, nurses and other healthcare stakeholders; students also participate in field trips involving medical devices.
Biomedical instrumentation: BIEN 4320 provides hands-on experience with biosignals, sensors, transducers, data acquisition, instrumentation design, testing and troubleshooting.
Biocomputing design laboratories: BIEN 4280 and BIEN 4290 provide hands-on work with software design and validation, microprocessors, computer architecture, real-time computing, embedded software, graphical user interfaces and networking for medical devices.
Biomechanics laboratories: BIEN 4480 and BIEN 4490 involve data acquisition, transducers and experimental procedures for analyzing musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, human motion, postural stability and biomechanical responses.
Research laboratories: The department operates biomedical image and signal-processing laboratories, biocomputer, bioelectronic and biomechanical design laboratories, with students also able to access computer, electrical and mechanical engineering laboratories.
Undergraduate research: Students can work with faculty members or research groups in areas including biomechanics and rehabilitation bioengineering, biomedical imaging, computational systems biology and medicine, medical devices and bioinstrumentation, molecular/cellular/tissue engineering, and neural engineering and neurorehabilitation.
Industry-connected capstone: BIEN 4920 and BIEN 4998 place students in multidisciplinary design teams and require them to develop, prototype, test and document a biomedical engineering solution.
Co-ops and internships: Marquette’s College of Engineering has offered co-ops and internships for more than 100 years and works with 500+ companies across 30+ states; biomedical engineering partners highlighted by Marquette include Boston Scientific, GE HealthCare, Fresenius and Medtronic.
Engineering Hall: The college’s Engineering Hall contains 30+ laboratories, providing students with spaces for engineering experimentation, creativity and innovation.
Global Mobility: Biomedical engineering students can participate in summer research and rehabilitation activities through Marquette’s Global Mobility opportunities, including designated outreach clinics around the world.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biomedical Engineering major at Marquette University prepares students to apply engineering principles to healthcare, medical technology, and biological systems. Graduates can move into the biomedical industry, research, and healthcare-related roles, while the program also provides a strong foundation for students who want to continue into graduate or professional health education.

Typical career directions include Biomedical Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Research and Development Engineer, Systems Engineer. Students can build their professional experience and prepare for employment through Marquette's career services, industry connections, internships, co-op opportunities, and research activities:

Career support: Marquette's Career Center provides career guidance and employment resources, while the College of Engineering connects students with employers and alumni and supports professional development.
Co-op and internship opportunities: The College of Engineering has a long-standing co-op and internship program. Biomedical Engineering students have opportunities with organizations such as Boston Scientific, GE HealthCare, Fresenius, and Medtronic.
University-industry connections: The Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering works with companies including Toyota, GE HealthCare, Medtronic, and Fresenius through paid internships, cooperative employment, student projects, translational research, and curriculum development.
Graduate employers: Recent Biomedical Engineering graduates have joined organizations including Abbott, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Epic, Fresenius Kabi, GE HealthCare, Mayo Clinic, Medline, Medtronic, Siemens, and Zimmer Biomet.
Employment outcomes: Marquette's Class of 2025 achieved an 87% career outcomes rate within six months of graduation, covering employment, continuing education, service, and military engagement. Among full-time employed graduates who reported salary information, the median starting salary was $70,000. These figures are university-wide undergraduate results and are not specific to Biomedical Engineering.
Research experience: Students can work with faculty and research groups in areas such as biomechanics and rehabilitation bioengineering, biomedical imaging, computational systems biology and medicine, medical devices and bioinstrumentation, molecular and tissue engineering, and neural engineering.
Professional development: The combination of engineering coursework, research, industry experience, and exposure to medical technologies can help students develop skills relevant to medical-device companies, healthcare organizations, research institutions, and biomedical technology businesses.
Graduation outcomes: Marquette reports that many Biomedical Engineering graduates enter the workforce directly, while others continue their education at graduate and professional institutions. Graduates have progressed to institutions such as Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, MIT, and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Biomedical Engineering major, students can continue into master's or doctoral study in biomedical engineering and related engineering or scientific fields. The degree can also provide a foundation for professional education such as medical school, dental school, and other health-related graduate programs.