Biomedical Engineering, BSE

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Iowa

Program Overview

The Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering at Iowa prepares students to improve human health at the intersection of engineering and medicine, offering four specialized focus areas — bioimaging, biomechanics and biomaterials, cellular engineering, and computational bioengineering. With strong ties to UI Health Care and the College of Medicine, students graduate ready for careers in industry, medicine, or graduate study, backed by one of the longest-running BME programs in the country (established in 1974).

Curriculum Structure

Year One builds your math, chemistry, and engineering foundation with CHEM:1110/1120: Principles of Chemistry I & II, MATH:1550/1560: Engineering Calculus I & II, ENGR:1100: Introduction to Engineering Problem Solving, and BME:1010: First-Year Forum, your first direct introduction to the department.

Year Two introduces the BME core: all students take BME:2400: Cell and Tissue Engineering Fundamentals and BME:2500: Biomaterials and Biomechanics, alongside ENGR:2110/2120: Statics and Electrical Circuits, BME:2010: Professional Seminar, and HHP:2400/BME:3260: Human Physiology — plus students formally declare their focus area by filling out a Focus Area Plan of Study Form.

Year Three completes the remaining BME core courses — BME:2200: Systems, Instrumentation, and Data Acquisition and BME:2210: Bioimaging and Bioinformatics — while diving into focus-area-specific required courses and electives tailored to bioimaging, biomechanics, cellular engineering, or computational bioengineering.

Year Four culminates in the two-semester capstone sequence BME:4910 and BME:4920: Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I & II, where students apply everything they've learned to a full engineering design project, alongside remaining focus-area electives.

Focus Areas: Bioimaging, Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Cellular Engineering, and Computational Bioengineering — each with the option to designate a pre-medicine track through specific elective choices.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates can identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and math principles; develop and conduct experimentation and analyze data using sound engineering judgment; and acquire and apply new knowledge using appropriate learning strategies.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): The undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission's General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biomedical Engineering.

Reputation: Within six months of graduating, 95% of University of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing education, or not seeking work — and the Roy J. Carver BME Department, established in 1974, maintains strong, long-standing collaborations with the University of Iowa College of Medicine.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Iowa's BME program is deeply embedded in a research ecosystem that spans engineering, medicine, and biotechnology — students train and conduct research inside facilities most undergrad programs simply don't have access to, from imaging centers to biomechanics labs to startup incubators:

Two-semester senior capstone: BME:4910/4920: Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I & II, where student teams take on real engineering design projects — some developed directly alongside experts at UI Health Care
Research facilities: Access to the Iowa Institute for Biomedical Imaging (housing research-dedicated 3T and 7T MRI scanners, a 7T small animal scanner, and a PET Center with its own cyclotron), located in the Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Specialized biomechanics labs: The BioMOST (BioMechanics Of Soft Tissues) Lab, the Carver Biomechanics and Mechanobiology Lab (featuring a Bose planar biaxial test bench and ViVitro pulse duplicator), and the Multi-scale Mechanics, Mechanobiology, and Tissue Engineering (3MT) Lab
Iowa Technology Institute labs: Access to labs like the 3D Bio-Motion Research Lab, housed in the Engineering Research Facility, spanning biotechnology and human modeling and simulation research
Combined BSE/MS and U2G programs: Direct pathways to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in five years through Undergraduate to Graduate (U2G) programs, plus dedicated combined BSE/MS in Biomedical Engineering, BSE/MPH (Occupational and Environmental Health), and BSE/MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering options
Startup and innovation spaces: Access to the University of Iowa's Office of Innovation network, including the Iowa Research Park, BioVentures Center, and Translational Research Incubator, which supports biomedical startups commercializing university research
Career services & co-ops: Engineering Career Services coordinates the college's co-op and internship program, career fairs, and employer relationships, working alongside the Pomerantz Career Center to facilitate on-campus interviewing and manage Handshake, UI's recruiting platform
Pre-medicine track flexibility: Any focus area can be paired with pre-medicine elective coursework, letting students blend hands-on engineering research with med-school preparation

Progression & Future Opportunities

Iowa BME graduates pursue careers designing medical devices, diagnostic technologies, and therapeutic systems — with the flexibility to specialize toward biomechanics, imaging, systems engineering, or regulatory/quality roles. Typical paths include Medical Device Engineer, Biomechanics Engineer, Imaging Systems Engineer, and Quality/Regulatory Engineer: here's how Iowa sets that up.

Career services support: Engineering Career Services provides individual advising on resumes, job and internship search strategies, interviewing, and evaluating job offers, while working with the Pomerantz Career Center to manage Handshake and collect postgraduation employment data
Employment & outcomes stats: 95% of University of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing education, or not seeking work within six months of graduation — an official university-wide outcomes statistic
University–industry & research partnerships: Direct collaboration with UI Health Care and the College of Medicine, plus ties to the Iowa Research Park and BioVentures Center for students interested in medical technology commercialization and startups
Long-term accreditation value: ABET accreditation under the Engineering Accreditation Commission's Program Criteria for Biomedical Engineering gives the degree lasting, portable recognition with employers and graduate programs
Graduation outcomes: Graduates pursue careers in the design and development of medical devices, diagnostic technologies, therapeutic systems, and prosthetics, as well as biomechanics, imaging, and systems engineering roles — working in industry, research settings, hospitals, or government agencies, with about 45% of BME students identifying as female

Further Academic Progression: Iowa offers one of the most extensive combined-degree ecosystems for BME students: a BSE/MS in Biomedical Engineering fast-track (apply in junior year, count 12 s.h. toward both degrees), a BSE/MPH in Occupational and Environmental Health, a BSE/MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and a BSE (Biomechanics and Biomaterials focus)/MS in Occupational and Environmental Health with an Industrial Hygiene subprogram. Beyond that, the department also offers standalone Biomedical Engineering MS and PhD programs for students pursuing research careers, and many graduates go on to medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, or law.