Biomedical Engineering (BS)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Messiah College

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Messiah University combines engineering, biological sciences and healthcare applications, preparing students to solve complex problems involving the human body and medical technology. It is particularly suited to students interested in medical-device design, healthcare technology, research and hands-on engineering, with an emphasis on teamwork, project management, service and practical problem-solving.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their engineering and scientific foundation through courses such as ENGR 111 Introduction to Engineering, ENGR 112 Engineering Design Tools, CHEM 105 Chemistry and MATH 111 Calculus I. The year introduces engineering design while building the chemistry and mathematics knowledge needed for more advanced biomedical engineering study.

Year 2: Students move into more applied engineering concepts through ENGR 213 Engineering Statistics, ENGR 214 Materials Engineering, ENGR 215 Circuits I and ENGR 216 Mechanics I, while ENGR 212 Programming for Engineers and ENGR 211 Project Management develop practical technical and project skills. ENGR 323 Mechanics II and MATH 270 Linear and Differential Methods further strengthen the mathematical and mechanical foundation needed for biomedical applications.

Year 3: Biomedical applications become much more prominent through ENGR 332 BME Laboratory Techniques, ENGR 432 Design of Medical Devices, BIOL 170 Cellular Foundations of Life and APHS 271 Kinesiology. Students also participate in ENGR 415 Engineering Project, giving them an opportunity to apply engineering knowledge to project-based work while developing an understanding of biological systems and medical-device design.

Year 4: The final year brings together biomedical engineering, instrumentation, robotics and design through ENGR 331 Biomechanics, ENGR 421 Robotic Systems, ENGR 431 Biomedical Instrumentation and the continuing ENGR 415 Engineering Project. This combination allows students to apply their technical knowledge to advanced biomedical problems while developing the design, teamwork and project-management skills expected in professional engineering environments.

Focus areas

Biomedical engineering, biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, medical-device design, laboratory techniques, robotics, engineering design, biological sciences, programming, medical technology

Learning outcomes

Students develop engineering problem-solving, design, teamwork, leadership, project-management and planning skills while learning to apply engineering principles to healthcare and the human body; the program also develops practical experience through authentic projects, laboratory work and undergraduate research.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the Commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biomedical Engineering. This provides the degree with a recognized professional engineering quality framework.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Messiah University states that its engineering programs have been recognized as a "Top Undergraduate Engineering Program in the U.S." by U.S. News & World Report, and the Biomedical Engineering program was named an "Engineering College of Distinction" for 2026–2027. The university also reports that 98% of respondents from the Class of 2025 were employed or enrolled in graduate school within 6–9 months of graduation.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Messiah's Biomedical Engineering program places a strong emphasis on applying classroom knowledge to real engineering and healthcare challenges. Students use industry-standard design tools, work in specialized engineering and biomedical laboratories, develop medical devices and participate in the five-semester Integrated Projects Curriculum (IPC) through the Collaboratory, where engineering teams address authentic problems for local and international clients.

Students gain practical experience through:

Integrated Projects Curriculum (IPC): Students complete a five-semester sequence of credit-bearing projects through the Collaboratory, working on authentic problems for local and international clients; previous projects have included prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs.
Biomedical engineering laboratories: Students use updated undergraduate laboratories, including biomedical, mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering labs designed for hands-on learning.
Biosafety Level II laboratory: Students can learn practical biomedical techniques including DNA analysis, tissue decellularization and cell imaging in the university's Biosafety Level II certified student laboratory.
3D-printed prosthetics: Students create prosthetic devices using a three-dimensional scanner, rectification software and a range of 3D printers, with projects serving local and international patients.
Medical-device projects: Upper-level students can conduct forensic medical-device failure analysis and design their own custom biosensor, connecting engineering theory with biomedical applications.
Industry-standard software: The program provides experience with industry-standard computer design tools, supporting engineering design and prototyping work.
Engineering Project: Students complete ENGR 415 Engineering Project across multiple semesters, giving them an extended project-based engineering experience.
Internships: Most students pursue summer internships, with recent placements including Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Teleflex, Hershey Medical Center Cardiovascular Device Laboratory, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories and Devilbiss.
Engineering facilities: Students have access to a professionally staffed machine shop, in-house circuit-prototyping equipment and a robotics lab in addition to the biomedical engineering laboratories.
Undergraduate research: The program provides opportunities for rigorous undergraduate research, allowing students to explore biomedical engineering questions beyond standard coursework.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prepares graduates for roles across medical technology, engineering design, research, product development and manufacturing. Messiah specifically identifies biomedical engineer, clinical engineer, researcher, product designer, product developer and manufacturing engineer among the career options for graduates, while its internship and project experiences help students build evidence of professional engineering skills before graduation.

Typical career directions include: Biomedical Engineer, Clinical Engineer, Biomedical Researcher, Medical Device/Product Designer

Key progression and employment opportunities include:

Career & Professional Development Center: Messiah directs engineering students to its Career and Professional Development Center for career planning and employment preparation.
Professional Development Hour: Engineering students can attend a weekly session where professionals from the engineering industry discuss their daily work, companies and career preparation, creating additional opportunities for professional networking.
Career Expo: Messiah hosts an annual October career expo that often includes employers looking to recruit engineers.
Internship support: Faculty advisors assist students with internship placement where possible, including referrals to alumni and professional contacts.
Industry experience: Recent Biomedical Engineering internship destinations include Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Teleflex, Hershey Medical Center Cardiovascular Device Laboratory, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories and Devilbiss.
Employment/graduate study outcome: Messiah reports that 98% of Class of 2025 respondents were employed or in graduate school within 6–9 months of graduation.
Industry preparation: The Collaboratory gives students substantial project-management and technical application experience that they can present to prospective employers.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation provides professional recognition for the Biomedical Engineering degree and demonstrates that the program meets established engineering accreditation criteria.
Graduate-school pathway: Messiah states that its graduates are welcomed by graduate schools as well as employers, making the degree suitable for students who want to continue into advanced study.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into graduate-level study in biomedical engineering, engineering and related scientific or healthcare fields. The university also provides opportunities to prepare for further professional education through its biomedical curriculum; students interested in medical, dental or veterinary school preparation can also use the broader engineering curriculum and recommended science coursework as a foundation.