Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Minnesota combines biology, medicine, mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering to prepare students to solve real healthcare and medical-technology problems. It suits students who want to design medical devices, work with biomaterials and biological systems, develop healthcare technologies or pursue advanced study in biomedical engineering, medicine and related fields.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish the mathematical, physical and chemical foundation needed for biomedical engineering through courses such as MATH 1371 Calculus I, PHYS 1301W Intro Physics I, and CHEM 1071 General Chemistry I for Physical Scientists and Engineers, followed by Calculus II, Physics II and General Chemistry II. Students can also take BMEn 1601 Undergraduate Seminar I, which introduces the discipline and helps them explore biomedical engineering opportunities.

Second Year: The program begins connecting engineering fundamentals with biological and medical applications through BMEn 2501 Cellular & Molecular Biology, BMEn 2151 Introduction to Medical Device Prototyping, and BMEn 2401 Programming for BME. Students also study linear algebra and differential equations, multivariable calculus, organic chemistry, biomedical thermodynamics and kinetics, and probability and statistics.

Third Year: Students move into the core biomedical engineering subjects, including BMEn 3011/15 Biomechanics, BMEn 3211/15 Bioelectricity & Bioinstrumentation, and BMEn 3311/15 Biomaterials. The year also covers biomedical transport processes, biomedical systems analysis and physiology, allowing students to understand how engineering principles can be applied to living systems, medical technologies and biological materials.

Fourth Year: Students bring their technical knowledge together through BMEn 4001W Engineering Design I and BMEn 4002W Engineering Design II, while completing technical electives that allow them to shape the degree around their interests. The senior design sequence involves open-ended biomedical engineering design work and guidance from practicing biomedical engineers, providing a direct transition from classroom learning to professional problem-solving.

Focus Areas

Bioelectricity and Bioinstrumentation, Biomaterials, Biomechanics, Biomedical Transport Processes, Cell and Molecular Bioengineering, Cell and Tissue Engineering, Digital Health, Medical Device Design, Neural Engineering.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply mathematics, science, engineering, biology and physiology to biomedical problems; measure and interpret data from living systems; and address interactions between living and non-living materials and systems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing externally recognized engineering-program accreditation and supporting the program's professional preparation.

Reputation (Employability / Outcomes)

The University of Minnesota reports strong employment and graduate-study outcomes for Biomedical Engineering: the Class of 2023 had a 94.6% positive career outcome, with a reported $70,980 starting salary and $73,000 mean salary. Recent graduates have joined employers including Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, Baxter, BD, Epic Systems, Insitu Technologies and Inspire Medical Systems.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The University of Minnesota places substantial emphasis on learning by doing. Biomedical Engineering students complete core courses with integrated laboratory experiences, learn medical-device prototyping, work on team-based senior design projects and can gain full-time industrial experience through the CSE Co-op Program. The program also connects students with practicing biomedical engineers and provides access to innovation spaces and medical-device facilities where ideas can be designed, prototyped and tested.

Students can build practical skills through the following opportunities:

Medical Device Prototyping: BMEn 2151 Introduction to Medical Device Prototyping introduces students to the process of developing biomedical devices.
Integrated laboratory learning: Five four-credit core biomedical engineering courses include integrated laboratory experiences, giving students practical experience alongside theoretical study.
Senior Design I & II: BMEn 4001W and BMEn 4002W form a two-course engineering design sequence in which students work on open-ended biomedical design projects, with guidance from practicing biomedical engineers.
Anderson Student Innovation Labs: Students can use makerspace equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, electronics tools, microscopes, oscilloscopes, PCB equipment, vacuum forming and machine-shop resources for design and prototyping work.
Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center: The university identifies its Medical Devices Center as a campus resource supporting medical-device innovation and hands-on development.
CSE Co-op Program: Students can gain relevant full-time industrial experience while earning academic credit, with the Minneapolis–St. Paul region providing access to a large healthcare, medical-device and biotechnology sector.
Industry interaction: The BMEn 3601 Biomedical Engineering Careers and Practice in the Med Tech Industry course brings in local industry speakers and introduces students to areas such as failure-mode analysis, tolerancing and clinical literature.
Research opportunities: Students can participate in undergraduate research through opportunities such as UROP, while the BME Pathways program provides laboratory research, technical seminars, company visits and a poster symposium for eligible STEM undergraduates.
Programming and digital skills: BMEn 2401 Programming for BME develops programming skills specifically for biomedical engineering applications, supporting later work involving data, modeling and biomedical systems.
Professional student groups: The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) helps students build relationships with engineers and industry professionals and provides resources for entering the field.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biomedical Engineering degree prepares graduates for careers spanning medical devices, biotechnology, diagnostics, healthcare technology, research and engineering, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate and professional education. The university's published Class of 2023 data shows a 94.6% positive career outcome, with graduates moving into companies and organizations across the medical-device, healthcare and technology sectors.

Typical career roles: Medical Device Designer, Research and Development Engineer, Quality Control/Assurance Engineer, Prosthesis Designer

Key progression and career opportunities include:

Career preparation: The CSE Career Center and employer-engagement activities connect students with employers, career opportunities and professional development, while the CSE Co-op Program provides an avenue for practical industrial experience.
Employment outcomes: The Biomedical Engineering Class of 2023 recorded 94.6% positive career outcomes, with a $70,980 starting salary and $73,000 mean salary reported by the department.
Industry employers: Recent graduates have worked for Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific, Baxter Healthcare, BD, Epic Systems, Insitu Technologies, Inspire Medical Systems, Integer Holdings and M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, among others.
Medical-device ecosystem: The university's Minneapolis–St. Paul location provides access to more than 1,000 local healthcare companies, while practicing biomedical engineers contribute to student education and senior projects.
Industry-focused learning: BMEn 3601 exposes students to medical-technology careers through local industry speakers and topics such as failure-mode analysis, tolerancing and clinical literature.
Professional accreditation: ABET accreditation provides an important long-term professional quality benchmark for the Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering.
Further career directions: The university identifies opportunities in bio-instrumentation, biomaterials, biomechanics, biotechnology, diagnostics, healthcare, medical imaging, medical software, orthopedics, pharmaceuticals, tissue and cellular engineering and related sectors.

Further Academic Progression: After the BBmE, students can continue into the University of Minnesota's graduate Biomedical Engineering programs or related science and engineering fields. The university also offers an integrated five-year bachelor's + master's option, allowing eligible students to complete both degrees in five years, while the department identifies progression into biomedical engineering, related science or engineering, medicine and other health-professional programs as possible graduate pathways.