B.S. in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Miami

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami is designed for students who want to combine engineering, medicine and life sciences to develop solutions such as biomaterials, tissue-engineering technologies, medical devices and therapeutic systems. The Biomaterials and Tissue focus is particularly suited to students interested in how engineered materials interact with cells and tissues, while the broader degree also develops strong foundations in programming, instrumentation, biomechanics, biotransport and biomedical design.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics and engineering while being introduced to biomedical engineering from the beginning. Courses such as BIL 150 General Biology, CHM 121 Principles of Chemistry, MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers, BME 112 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering and EGN 110 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Engineering connect fundamental science with engineering applications.

Second Year: Students begin developing the technical skills needed to analyse and design biomedical systems. BME 211 Introduction to Programming for Biomedical Engineers, BME 267 Medical Systems Physiology with Lab and BME 221 Biomedical Design I introduce programming, human physiology, experimentation and the first stages of biomedical product design, followed by BME 222 Biomedical Project I.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into specialised biomedical engineering concepts, including BME 312 Biomedical Statistics and Data Analysis, BME 340 Medical Instrumentation I, BME 370 Biomedical Signal Analysis, BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics and BME 335 Biomaterials. For students interested in biomaterials and tissue applications, BME 335 provides a direct foundation in ceramics, metals, polymers and composites, while the design and instrumentation courses strengthen their ability to develop and evaluate biomedical technologies.

Fourth Year: Students integrate their engineering, biological and design knowledge through advanced study in BME 336 Living Systems Engineering, BME 512 Regulatory Control of Biomedical Devices, and the year-long BME 420 Capstone Project I/BME 421 Capstone Project II sequence. Living Systems Engineering explores cellular and tissue engineering, biomaterials and mechanobiology, while the capstone allows teams to develop and test a substantial biomedical solution while considering regulatory requirements.

Focus areas

Biomaterials, tissue engineering, cellular engineering, mechanobiology, medical devices, biomedical design, medical instrumentation, biomechanics, biomedical signal analysis, applied biotransport, physiology and biomedical research.

Learning outcomes

Students learn to solve complex engineering problems using mathematics, science and engineering principles; design solutions that consider health, safety, ethical, environmental and societal factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively in teams; conduct experiments and analyse data; and continue acquiring new technical knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering has been continuously accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET since 1997. This provides an established professional-quality framework for the engineering curriculum and supports preparation for professional practice in biomedical engineering.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of Miami states that its undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program was the first of its kind in Florida, with the first B.S.B.E. students graduating in 1993. The university also reports strong ties with the Miller School of Medicine and industry, together with extensive undergraduate research and internship opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Miami integrates practical design and experimentation throughout all four years rather than leaving hands-on engineering until the end of the degree. Students work with biomedical laboratory techniques, biomaterials and tissue systems, medical instrumentation and prototyping, while the year-long senior capstone gives teams the opportunity to take a biomedical problem from identification and concept development through implementation and testing.

Students can develop these practical skills through:

Biomedical design and project courses: BME 221 Biomedical Design I, BME 222 Biomedical Project I, BME 321 Biomedical Design II and BME 322 Biomedical Project II progressively build experimental, design and prototyping skills. The curriculum describes design work covering problem identification, conception, implementation, testing and regulatory considerations.
Year-long team capstone: BME 420 Capstone Project I and BME 421 Capstone Project II form the culminating design experience. Projects are normally completed by teams of two to four students who solve a major biomedical design problem by integrating knowledge developed throughout the program.
Ben-Josef Cell and Tissue Laboratory: This laboratory provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience in cell and tissue engineering, biomaterials and tissue mechanics, making it particularly relevant to the Biomaterials and Tissue focus.
Biomedical teaching laboratories: Departmental teaching labs provide practical experience in areas including cell and tissue engineering, tissue mechanics, medical instrumentation, measurements, optics and physiology.
Scanning Electron Microscope and 3D printing: Students can use a state-of-the-art Scanning Electron Microscope and 3D printer in design and research projects.
Engineering maker facilities: Students have access to the College of Engineering's maker space and 3D Printing Center of Excellence, which includes advanced 3D printers and fabrication equipment, with a full-time engineer/scientist available for training.
Research opportunities: Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate in research, including opportunities in Biomedical Engineering laboratories and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Internships and cooperative education: The department provides internship opportunities in leading research laboratories and with local biomedical industry, while BME 399 Cooperative Education gives students the opportunity to apply classroom theory through alternating semester or summer employment with firms relevant to their field.
Clinical and translational environment: The department maintains strong connections with the Miller School of Medicine, giving students access to an environment where engineering, clinical medicine and biomedical research intersect.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering can enter industry and research or continue into graduate and professional education. The University of Miami specifically identifies pathways into biomedical engineering employment, graduate school, medicine and other health-related professions such as dentistry, optometry and orthotics, as well as law and business.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Biomaterials Engineer, Tissue Engineer, Medical Device Engineer:

Career and professional development: The program's design, research and internship opportunities allow students to build experience relevant to biomedical industry and research careers. The department also encourages undergraduate participation in professional activities and benefits from its small class size and faculty open-door policy.
Employment and salary figures: The official University of Miami Biomedical Engineering sources reviewed do not publish a current program-specific graduate employment percentage or graduate salary figure, so no unsupported statistic is included.
University–industry partnerships: The department reports strong ties with industry and provides undergraduate internship opportunities with local biomedical companies. Its connections with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine also create an interdisciplinary environment linking engineering with clinical and medical research.
Research and healthcare connections: The broader Biomedical Engineering graduate and research environment works with University of Miami clinical and research centers, including the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Ear Institute and Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute.
Graduation outcomes: The department's educational objectives expect graduates to work as professionals in industry, research, entrepreneurship and medicine, build careers across disciplinary boundaries, and pursue continuing professional development or postgraduate education.
Long-term accreditation value: Continuous ABET EAC accreditation since 1997 provides a longstanding professional engineering framework and strengthens the degree's alignment with established engineering education standards.

Further Academic Progression: The University of Miami offers a B.S./M.S. in Biomedical Engineering that allows qualified internal undergraduate students to earn both degrees in five years. Students can also pursue B.S./M.S. pathways in Neural Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Software Engineering, while the department also offers M.S. and Ph.D. study in Biomedical Engineering; students following the Premed track can use the degree as preparation for medical school and other health-professional programs.