Biomedical Engineering, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

The University of Akron

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at The University of Akron combines engineering with mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology and human physiology to prepare students to solve healthcare challenges and develop medical devices, technologies and systems. It is a strong fit for students who want to combine technical problem-solving with healthcare applications, with opportunities to specialize through electives and gain experience in design, research, medical-device regulation and professional practice.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their scientific and engineering foundation through BMEN 100 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (1 unit), BMEN 101 Tools for Biomedical Engineering (2 units) and MATH 221 Analytic Geometry-Calculus I (4 units), alongside chemistry, physics and writing. BMEN 101 introduces logic and problem-solving using MATLAB as well as engineering graphics with SolidWorks, giving students an early connection between computational tools and biomedical engineering design.

Year 2: Students deepen their understanding of the human body and engineering systems through BIOL 200 Human Anatomy & Physiology I (3 units), BMEN 220 Biomedical Computing (3 units) and BMEN 365 Mechanics for Biological Systems (3 units). They also complete BMEN 291 and BMEN 292, which introduce biomedical engineering design principles, including additive manufacturing, medical-device regulations and standards, and subtractive manufacturing.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into specialized biomedical engineering applications through BMEN 300 Biomaterials (3 units), BMEN 307 Bioelectronics Lab (1 unit) and BMEN 391 Biomedical Engineering Regulatory Process (1 unit). Students learn about materials used in medicine, biomedical circuits and instrumentation, while also studying engineering fundamentals such as circuits and thermal science and beginning their technical electives.

Year 4: Students bring together their technical knowledge through BMEN 305 Introduction to Biophysical Measurements (3 units), BMEN 310 Modeling & Simulation of Biomedical Systems (3 units) and BMEN 315 Biomechanics & Biomaterials Lab (2 units). The program then culminates in BMEN 491 Biomedical Engineering Design I (2 units) and BMEN 492 Biomedical Engineering Design II (2 units), where students undertake advanced biomedical design work and can tailor technical electives toward their career interests.

Focus Areas

Biomechanics, instrumentation, signals and imaging, biomaterials and tissue engineering, medical-device design, biomedical computing, physiological measurement, biomedical systems modelling, medical-device regulation and healthcare technology.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to solve complex biomedical engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics; design systems and devices while considering safety, ethical and societal factors; conduct experiments and interpret data from living systems; communicate effectively; collaborate in multidisciplinary teams; and apply new knowledge to biomedical engineering challenges.

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. The program's educational objectives emphasize technical competence at the interface of engineering and medicine, ethical and professional practice, continuing professional development and advancement along students' chosen career paths.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Akron does not state a QS or Guardian ranking specifically for its B.S. in Biomedical Engineering on the official program pages. Its official engineering materials report that 99% of spring 2023 engineering bachelor's degree recipients participated in at least one form of experiential learning before graduating, while the university's international engineering profile lists Biomedical Engineering starting salary at $65,000 and employers including Abbott, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare, Parker Hannifin, PerkinElmer, STERIS and Zimmer Biomet.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Akron's Biomedical Engineering program integrates hands-on laboratories, design projects, research and industry experience throughout the degree. Students work with industry-standard engineering tools such as MATLAB and SolidWorks, complete biomedical laboratory courses, participate in faculty research and can use the university's cooperative education pathway to gain paid professional experience before graduation.

The program also connects classroom learning with real healthcare needs through design-centered coursework and a senior capstone. Students can work with clinicians, surgeons or caregivers on projects addressing real-world healthcare challenges, while student design teams and undergraduate research provide additional opportunities to develop practical and collaborative skills.

Specific opportunities include:

MATLAB: BMEN 101 introduces logic and problem-solving using the MATLAB environment, while BMEN 220 uses MATLAB programming for engineering problems, including signal and image processing.
SolidWorks: BMEN 101 introduces engineering drawing and graphics using SolidWorks with an emphasis on biomedical engineering problems.
Biomedical circuit prototyping: BMEN 307 Bioelectronics Lab allows students to design, build and troubleshoot basic biomedical circuits, take measurements and analyze outputs.
Biomechanics and biomaterials laboratory: BMEN 315 provides laboratory experience applying concepts and practices in biomechanics and biomaterials.
Biomedical computing: BMEN 220 develops computational skills using MATLAB, including signal-processing and image-processing modules applied to biomedical engineering problems.
Medical-device design: BMEN 291 and BMEN 292 introduce the engineering design process, additive manufacturing, medical-device regulations and standards, and subtractive manufacturing.
Senior design: BMEN 491 and BMEN 492 form the two-part Biomedical Engineering Design sequence. The university states that senior capstone projects can involve clinicians, surgeons or caregivers and address real-world healthcare challenges.
Paid undergraduate research: Students have opportunities to participate in paid research in faculty laboratories and present their work to faculty, industry professionals and at conferences.
Cooperative education: The B.S. can be combined with the College of Engineering and Polymer Science Cooperative Education certificate, creating a nominal five-year pathway with four years of coursework and one full year of relevant work experience.
Industry experience: The university reports that Biomedical Engineering students participating in the co-op program earn an average of $43,200 over three co-op rotations on the program page; the current program page separately reports an average of $47,000 over three co-op rotations for engineering students.
Design teams and organizations: Students can participate in the Medical Device Design Team (MDDT) and professional organizations including the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Society of Women Engineers, National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Biomedical research facilities: University biomedical engineering research includes specialized laboratory environments such as the SIGNALS Research Lab, which houses EEG acquisition equipment and software including MATLAB, Python, EEGLAB and LabVIEW.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering are prepared for careers in medical-device and life-sciences companies, engineering firms, government agencies and research, while the degree also supports progression into medicine, law and other professional health sciences. The University of Akron identifies employers of its Biomedical Engineering graduates including Abbott, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare, Parker Hannifin, PerkinElmer, Pfizer, STERIS and Zimmer Biomet.

Typical job roles include Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Design Engineer and Biomedical Research Engineer.

Career development and progression opportunities include:

Co-op and placement support: The College of Engineering and Polymer Science operates a long-established cooperative education program that connects students with private industry and government agencies. The BME program can incorporate a full year of relevant work experience through its five-year co-op pathway.
Employment and salary: The university's engineering profile reports a $65,000 starting salary for Biomedical Engineering graduates and identifies employers such as Abbott, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare, Lumitex, Parker Hannifin, PerkinElmer, STERIS and Zimmer Biomet.
Experiential-learning outcomes: The University of Akron reports that 99% of spring 2023 engineering bachelor's degree recipients participated in at least one form of experiential learning before graduating, demonstrating the strong practical orientation of the engineering curriculum.
Industry connections: Biomedical Engineering graduates have joined organizations including Abbott, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare, Lumitex, Parker Hannifin, PerkinElmer, Pfizer, RoviSys, STERIS and Zimmer Biomet, giving students a clear connection between the degree and major biomedical and healthcare technology employers.
Professional accreditation: ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission accreditation provides an established quality benchmark for the B.S. curriculum and confirms alignment with criteria for biomedical and similarly named engineering programs.
Professional development: The program's educational objectives emphasize continuing professional development through conferences, workshops and post-baccalaureate coursework, as well as participation in professional societies and mentoring.
Real-world design preparation: Students complete senior design projects addressing current healthcare needs and can work with clinicians, surgeons or caregivers, strengthening their ability to translate engineering knowledge into practical healthcare solutions.
Research progression: Undergraduate research and senior capstone projects allow students to build research and presentation experience that can support future graduate study or research-focused careers.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into The University of Akron's M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, with the department offering a B.S./M.S. pathway that allows eligible students to complete the master's degree with one additional year of study. The university also states that BME graduates can pursue post-baccalaureate studies in engineering, law, medicine and other professional health sciences.