Biomedical Engineering, B.S.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of California Irvine

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) combines engineering with biology, physiology, chemistry and physics to prepare students to solve complex problems in healthcare, including medical devices, biomedical imaging, tissue engineering and diagnostic technologies. It suits students who enjoy both engineering and life sciences and want to develop practical solutions for medicine through laboratory experimentation, computer applications, research and multidisciplinary design.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their mathematical, scientific and biomedical foundation through courses such as MATH 2A – Single-Variable Calculus I, CHEM 1A – General Chemistry and BME 1 – Introduction to Biomedical Engineering. The year introduces engineering problem-solving while establishing the chemistry, calculus and physics knowledge required for advanced biomedical engineering study.

Year 2: Students begin developing core biomedical engineering skills through BME 50A/B – Cell and Molecular Engineering and BME 60A/B/C – Engineering Analysis/Design: Data Acquisition, Data Analysis and Computer-Aided Design. Alongside mathematics, physics and statistics, these courses introduce biological engineering concepts and the use of data and computer-aided approaches in biomedical design.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized with BME 110A/B/C – Biomechanics I, II and III, BME 130 – Biomedical Signals and Systems, and BME 140 – Design of Biomedical Electronics. Students apply engineering principles to biomechanics, physiological signals and biomedical electronics while also taking BME 179 – Biomedical Engineering Design: Addressing Unmet Clinical Needs, connecting their technical knowledge with real clinical challenges.

Year 4: Students complete the major's advanced design and laboratory experience through BME 180A/B/C – Biomedical Engineering Design and BME 170 – Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, supported by engineering electives. They can also develop a focused area of expertise through options such as BME 137 – Introduction to Biomedical Imaging, BME 147 – Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip, or other courses within the optional Biophotonics and Micro & Nano Biomedical Engineering specializations.

Focus Areas

Biomedical imaging, tissue engineering, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical electronics, biomedical signals and systems, biophotonics, biomedical computational technologies, biomedical nanoscale systems, biomolecular/genetic engineering, cardiovascular engineering, neuroengineering, microfluidics, microimplants and biomedical devices.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply mathematics, biological sciences, physical sciences and engineering to health-related problems; design and conduct biomedical experiments; analyze and interpret data; use experimental and computational techniques; work effectively in multidisciplinary teams; design feasible biomedical solutions; communicate with engineers, scientists and clinicians; and understand the professional, ethical and societal responsibilities of biomedical engineering.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering, Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This provides external recognition that the program meets established standards for engineering education and professional preparation.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

UCI's Biomedical Engineering department has strong research and industry connections, with 433 undergraduate Biomedical Engineering students in Fall 2024, 29 full-time faculty and 61 affiliated faculty. The department also reports strong ties with more than 300 biomedical device and biotechnology companies in Orange County, creating opportunities connected to contemporary biomedical challenges.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

UCI integrates practical experience throughout the Biomedical Engineering curriculum rather than limiting it to a single final-year activity. Students work with laboratory experimentation, computer applications, real bioengineering problems and multidisciplinary design, while the department provides opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, clinical and industrial exposure, and collaboration with biomedical device and biotechnology companies.

Students can gain hands-on experience through:

Biomedical Engineering Laboratory: BME 170 – Biomedical Engineering Laboratory provides dedicated laboratory experience as part of the senior curriculum.
Engineering design: BME 60A/B/C develops experience in data acquisition, data analysis and computer-aided design, while BME 180A/B/C – Biomedical Engineering Design provides a multi-course senior design sequence.
Clinical problem-solving: BME 179 – Biomedical Engineering Design: Addressing Unmet Clinical Needs connects engineering design with unmet clinical requirements.
Internships: BME 198 – Biomedical Engineering Internship allows BME majors to receive academic credit for an approved company internship supervised by an industry mentor and faculty advisor.
Undergraduate research: Students can pursue research through BME 199, and approved undergraduate research can count toward an engineering technical elective.
Research facilities and centers: Department-affiliated facilities and centers include the Beckman Laser Institute, Center for Advanced Design and Manufacturing of Integrated Microfluidics, Center for Complex Biological Systems, Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, Integrated Nanosystems Research Facility, Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, Reeve-Irvine Research Center and Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Facility.
Specialized research: Department research spans biomedical computational technologies, biomedical nanoscale systems, biomolecular/genetic engineering, biophotonics, cardiovascular engineering, neuroengineering and tissue engineering.
Micro/nano training: Students interested in micro- and nanoscale technologies can choose courses such as BME 142 – Microfabrication, BME 147 – Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip, and BME 148 – Microimplants.
Biophotonics: The optional Biophotonics specialization includes BME 135 – Photomedicine, BME 136 – Engineering Medical Optics, BME 137 – Introduction to Biomedical Imaging and BME 138 – Spectroscopy and Imaging of Biological Systems.
Industry collaboration: UCI states that its BME curriculum incorporates collaboration with local biomedical device and biotechnology companies, while the department reports ties with more than 300 biomedical device and biotech companies in Orange County.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prepares graduates for careers across biomedical-device development, healthcare technology, research laboratories and related engineering industries, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate study. UCI specifically identifies industry, hospitals, research laboratories and graduate school as progression pathways for Biomedical Engineering graduates.

Typical career roles include: Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Device Engineer, Biomedical Design Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer

Students can build toward these opportunities through:

Career preparation: UCI's Division of Career Pathways provides engineering-specific career resources, including access to the Biomedical Engineering Society Job Board, engineering job resources and other professional career platforms.
Industry exposure: The BME department reports strong relationships with more than 300 biomedical device and biotechnology companies in Orange County, giving students access to a region with a substantial biomedical technology presence.
Employment preparation: The BME program's educational objectives emphasize preparing graduates to lead and manage biomedical engineering projects in industry, government or academia and to communicate across engineering, life-science and medical disciplines.
Professional experience: The credited BME 198 internship provides supervised experience at a company with both an industry mentor and a faculty advisor.
Research progression: The department reports annual research expenditures of more than $30 million and seven major research thrusts, providing an extensive research environment for students considering advanced study.
Career areas: UCI identifies engineering career areas including Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation, Biomedical Imaging and Biotechnology, with engineering graduates commonly entering design, research and development, manufacturing, operations, consulting, applications and sales, management or teaching.
Accreditation value: The ABET accreditation of the B.S. program provides recognized professional quality assurance for the engineering curriculum.
Graduation outcomes: UCI reports 91 B.S. Biomedical Engineering degrees awarded in 2023–2024, with the undergraduate program enrolling 433 students in Fall 2024.
Salary/employment data: I did not find an official UCI source reporting a B.S. Biomedical Engineering-specific employment rate or starting salary, so I would not insert a salary figure into the database. UCI does publish employment statistics for its BME M.Eng. program, but those figures should not be represented as outcomes for this B.S. program.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S., students can continue into UCI's M.S. in Biomedical Engineering or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. The B.S. also provides preparation for graduate education and careers in biomedical engineering, hospitals, research laboratories and related biomedical fields.