B.S. in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Mississippi State University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Mississippi State University combines engineering, life sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry and medical sciences to prepare students to solve real-world healthcare challenges. It suits students interested in designing medical technologies, biomaterials, biomedical devices and intelligent healthcare systems, while also providing strong preparation for graduate study or professional schools such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine.

Curriculum structure

Year 1: Students begin by building a strong foundation in mathematics, science and engineering problem-solving through courses such as Calculus I, Biology I, Chemistry I and Introduction to Engineering Design. They also develop communication and analytical skills through English Composition I and Computer Problem Solving in Biosystems Engineering.

Year 2: The second year moves further into engineering fundamentals, with students studying Calculus III, Calculus IV, Physics I, Physics II, Engineering Mechanics I and Engineering Mechanics II. Courses such as Mechanics of Materials and Transport in Biological Environments begin connecting traditional engineering principles with biological and biomedical applications.

Year 3: Students begin working more directly with biomedical engineering concepts through Biophysical Properties of Materials, Bioinstrumentation I, Bioinstrumentation II and Biosystems Simulation. Depending on their interests, they can also choose biological science and engineering electives such as Cell Biology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Genetics I, Biochemistry or Computational Biology.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced biomedical systems and engineering design through Physiological Systems in Biomedical Engineering, Principles of Engineering Design and Practical Engineering Design. Students can strengthen their specialization with subjects such as Biomedical Materials, Biomechanics, Tissue Engineering, Introduction to Imaging in Biological Systems, Spectroscopic Sensing in Biosystems, or Machine Learning and Soft Computing.

Focus areas: Biomaterials, Sensors and Instrumentation, Premedical studies, Biomedical Materials, Bioinstrumentation, Medical Imaging, Biomechanics, Tissue Engineering, Computational Biology, Artificial Intelligence

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems, design solutions for healthcare needs, communicate technical information effectively, work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, conduct experiments and interpret data, apply ethical and professional judgment, and acquire new technical knowledge independently.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The B.S. 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): Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering provides access to a university-wide cooperative education and industry recruitment network, while the Biomedical Engineering program specifically prepares students for biomedical industry careers and encourages graduate and professional education. Mississippi State's Career Center also conducts a First Destination Survey covering graduate outcomes and maintains college-specific career outcome reports.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Mississippi State's Biomedical Engineering program gain practical experience through a combination of engineering design, laboratory-based biomedical research, instrumentation, computational modeling and multidisciplinary projects. The Agricultural and Biological Engineering department has dedicated biomedical engineering laboratories with more than 3,000 square feet of research space, while students and faculty also use the department's machine shop and collaborate with scientists, engineers and clinicians at Mississippi State's College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The program's research environment exposes students to areas such as bone healing, cartilage regeneration, orthopedic biomechanics, cellular engineering, computational modeling, biomaterials and intelligent medical decision-making. Students can also encounter advanced biomedical manufacturing, imaging, mechanical testing and biological-analysis technologies through university research facilities and laboratories:

Biomedical engineering research laboratories: Cell culture facilities, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, thermal cyclers, electrophoresis and Western blotting equipment, mechanical testing systems, autoclaves, sonicators and research-grade microscopes.
ABE Machine Shop: Biomedical engineering faculty and students regularly use the department's machine shop for fabrication and engineering projects.
Biomaterials and tissue-engineering research: Research includes bone healing, infection mitigation, cell/biomaterial interactions and mechanical and physiological testing of tissues.
3D bioprinting and imaging: The Priddy Lab provides access to a Cellink BioX 3D printer, cell imaging equipment, microplate spectrophotometry and materials-testing systems.
Advanced microscopy and imaging: Research access includes scanning and transmission electron microscopes, atomic force microscopes, X-ray and computed tomography systems, and other advanced imaging technologies.
Biomedical testing: Students involved in research can work with Instron mechanical testing systems, surface profilometry and additive manufacturing systems.
Veterinary biomedical facilities: Collaborative research access includes an IVIS Lumina imaging system, flow cytometry, laser-capture microdissection and a BSL-3 laboratory.
Computational and technical electives: Students can build computational skills through courses such as Bio-Computing, Computational Biology, Machine Learning and Soft Computing, Introduction to Finite Elements and Finite Element Analysis.
Multidisciplinary collaboration: Biomedical engineering research projects can involve collaboration with MSU scientists and engineers, clinicians at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Cooperative education and internships: Mississippi State's Bagley College of Engineering supports cooperative education opportunities that allow engineering students to gain professional experience while working with industry employers.
University research environment: Students can participate in research areas including cellular engineering, orthopedic biomechanics, computational modeling, biomaterials and intelligent medical decision-making.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prepares graduates for roles that combine engineering with healthcare, medical technology, biomedical research and device development. Students can pursue careers in areas such as biomedical device development, biomedical instrumentation, medical imaging, biomaterials and computational biomedical engineering, while the degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate and professional education.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Device Engineer, Biomedical Instrumentation Engineer and Medical Imaging Engineer.

The program and Mississippi State's wider engineering environment support career development through:

Career preparation: Mississippi State's Career Center conducts a First Destination Survey of graduates and provides career-outcome information, while the Bagley College of Engineering supports students through cooperative education, professional development, résumé preparation and interview preparation.
Industry experience: Bagley College of Engineering reports that more than 270 companies recruit its students through its industry network, with organizations listed by the college including Boeing, Caterpillar, GE Aviation, Honda, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Raytheon and Siemens.
Biomedical industry exposure: The Biomedical Engineering program was established specifically to expand students' competitiveness in the biomedical job market and increase opportunities for internships and research partnerships with the biomedical industry.
Research and clinical connections: Biomedical engineering research at Mississippi State involves collaboration with scientists and engineers across the university as well as clinicians at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation demonstrates that the B.S. program meets established engineering education standards and has defined graduate outcomes covering engineering problem-solving, design, communication, teamwork, experimentation, ethics and lifelong learning.
Professional development: The program's official objectives encourage graduates to pursue graduate or professional degrees, professional licensure, short courses or seminars relevant to their careers.
Graduate outcomes: Mississippi State's Career Center maintains First Destination Survey data and college-specific reports to track graduates' post-graduation destinations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into Mississippi State's M.S. in Biomedical Engineering or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. The undergraduate degree also provides preparation for professional schools including medical, dental and veterinary programs, as well as further study in biomedical engineering and related engineering or life-science disciplines.