Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University gives students plenty of opportunities to turn classroom knowledge into practical experience. Students can work in biomedical research labs, take part in hands-on laboratory courses, design solutions for real healthcare problems, gain industry experience through internships and co-op opportunities, and collaborate with faculty, researchers, and other students. The program also provides opportunities to explore biomedical engineering in real-world settings through research, design, international programs, and interdisciplinary projects:

• Biomedical Engineering Design Projects: Through BME 390-1/390-2 Biomedical Engineering Design, students work on real healthcare challenges and develop prototypes or proof-of-concept solutions. Students gain experience with experimental design, prototyping, risk assessment, testing, and developing practical biomedical devices or processes.

• Hands-on Laboratory Work: BME 207 – BME Lab: Experimental Design provides students with practical experience in biomedical experimentation and experimental design, helping them connect engineering concepts with real laboratory work.

• Undergraduate Research: Students can join faculty research laboratories and contribute to ongoing biomedical engineering projects. Research opportunities are available through courses such as BME 399 and BME 499, where students can work alongside faculty members, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers.

• Summer Research Experience: The Summer Undergraduate Research Awards (SURA) give selected students the opportunity to spend nine weeks working full-time on research in a BME faculty laboratory. Students can continue developing their research after the summer through additional academic-year research.

• Internships and Co-op: Students can gain professional engineering experience through Northwestern's Cooperative Engineering Education Program, which allows students to combine academic study with full-time industry placements. BME students can also access internship opportunities and career support through Northwestern Engineering Career Development.

• Career and Digital Resources: McCormickConnect gives students access to job and internship opportunities, career advising appointments, recruiting events, and other professional resources. Students can also receive support with resumes, internship applications, job searches, and career planning.

• Biomedical Technology Applications: Through coursework, research, and design activities, students can gain practical exposure to areas such as medical devices, biomedical imaging and signals, biomechanics, biomaterials, biosensors, rehabilitation engineering, and tissue engineering.

• Global Healthcare Experience: Students can take part in international learning opportunities such as the Global Healthcare Technologies program in South Africa, where engineering students explore healthcare technology and its application in a different healthcare environment.

• Student Organizations and Design Activities: Students can extend their practical experience outside the classroom through organizations such as the Biomedical Engineering Society Student Chapter and Medical Makers, providing additional opportunities to explore biomedical design, medical technology, and innovation.

• Interdisciplinary Research Environment: Northwestern Biomedical Engineering connects engineering with medicine, life sciences, arts and sciences, and communication. Faculty members have joint appointments across multiple departments, giving students opportunities to work on biomedical challenges from different academic and professional perspectives.

Facilities and research information: Northwestern Biomedical Engineering provides access to research laboratories, academic facilities, design environments, and interdisciplinary research opportunities that support hands-on learning throughout the degree.

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University prepares graduates for a wide range of careers in biomedical technology, healthcare, engineering, research, and consulting. Students can move into roles such as Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Researcher, or Healthcare Consultant, while also having strong opportunities to continue into medical school, graduate study, or research.

Students can strengthen their career prospects through Northwestern’s career services, industry connections, professional experience, and accredited engineering education:

• BME Alumni Mentorship: More than 200 Northwestern BME alumni volunteer as mentors, giving students the opportunity to connect with professionals, explore different career paths, and gain advice about life after graduation.

• Engineering Career Development: Northwestern Engineering provides support with resume reviews, career advising, job searches, internship applications, evaluating job offers, and access to recruiting opportunities through McCormickConnect.

• Industry Connections: BME graduates have progressed to organizations such as Medtronic, Abbott, AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Baxter, Stryker, Epic, Northwestern Medicine, Medline Industries, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, covering areas such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, and biomedical research.

• Co-op Experience: Through Northwestern’s Cooperative Engineering Education Program, students can gain up to 18 months of engineering experience in industry while completing their degree. This can allow students to graduate with significant professional experience alongside their academic qualification.

• Internship and Employment Support: Students have access to internship and full-time employment resources through Northwestern Engineering Career Development and Northwestern Career Advancement, helping them make the transition from university to professional employment.

• ABET Accreditation: The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This provides students with an engineering education built around established professional standards, including engineering design, experimentation, teamwork, ethics, communication, and lifelong learning.

• Graduate and Professional School Opportunities: Northwestern BME graduates have continued their education at institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Duke University, and the University of California, Berkeley. The degree can also provide a strong foundation for students planning to pursue medical school, doctoral research, or other advanced professional programs.

• Graduation Outcomes: Northwestern reports that approximately 40% of BME graduates, on average, continue into graduate or professional school or fellowships, while other graduates move directly into employment across healthcare, engineering, science, consulting, technology, and related fields.

• Employment and Salary Information: Northwestern’s official BME pages provide information about graduate destinations, career pathways, and further-study outcomes, but they do not publish a specific average or median starting salary for Biomedical Engineering graduates. For this reason, no external salary figure has been included.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering, students can continue their education through advanced study in biomedical engineering, medicine, research, or related fields. Northwestern offers a Combined BS/MS Program, which allows eligible students to work toward both degrees and potentially complete them in as little as four years. Students can also pursue an M.S. or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, while those interested in medicine can progress toward medical school and explore Northwestern’s premedical pathways.