Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering Degree

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Mount Union

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Mount Union is a four-year interdisciplinary program that combines engineering, biology, mathematics and business skills to prepare students to solve challenges related to medicine and biological systems. It is a strong fit for students interested in medical technology, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, medical imaging and hands-on product development, with internships, research, international fieldwork and a capstone design experience built into the program.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their engineering, mathematics and science foundations through courses such as EGE 110 Introduction to the Engineering Profession, EGE 120 Introduction to Engineering Design, MTH 141 Calculus I, CHE 120N Concepts in Chemistry and PHY 101N General Physics I. The year introduces students to engineering design while building the chemistry, physics and calculus knowledge needed for biomedical applications.

Year 2: Students move into core engineering concepts through EGE 130 Computer-Aided Design, EGE 210 Statics and Dynamics, EGE 240 Mechanics of Materials and BME 210 Biomaterials I. They also study BIO 210 Anatomy and Physiology I, CHE 231 Organic Chemistry, MTH 333 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations and PHY 230V Electronics, connecting engineering mechanics and biological science with biomedical materials and systems.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized with BME 310 Biomechanics, BME 320 Biomedical Signals and Instrumentation, BME 410 Biomaterials II, BME 412 Biomedical Transport and BME 414 Rehabilitation Engineering. Students apply mechanics and engineering principles to biological tissues, biomedical measurement systems, biomaterials, transport processes and rehabilitation technologies; the program also includes the required global engineering experience.

Year 4: Students concentrate on advanced biomedical applications and professional engineering practice through BME 424 Medical Imaging and Digital Image Processing, BME 480 Biomedical Engineering Capstone I and BME 490 Biomedical Engineering Capstone II. The capstone sequence gives students the opportunity to bring their engineering knowledge together in a substantial design experience, while BME 436 Biomedical Engineering Research I and BME 437 Biomedical Engineering Research II provide an additional research pathway.

Focus Areas

Biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical signals and instrumentation, biomedical transport, rehabilitation engineering, medical imaging, digital image processing, biomedical research, medical-device design, engineering design and global engineering.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems using mathematics, science and engineering principles; design solutions that consider health, safety and broader societal factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively; conduct experiments and interpret data; make ethical and professional judgments; and acquire new technical knowledge throughout their careers.

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 Biomedical Engineering. This accreditation aligns the program with established standards for biomedical engineering education and professional preparation.

Reputation (Employability)

Mount Union reports a 94% placement rate in paid engineering internships through its School of Engineering, giving students substantial access to professional experience before graduation. The university has also reported that experiential learning, internships and research opportunities in its engineering programs have led to 100% job placement and acceptance in top-ranked engineering graduate programs; this figure is for the School of Engineering rather than specifically for biomedical engineering.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Mount Union places hands-on engineering at the center of its biomedical engineering education. Students work with faculty and peers on research and projects that can result in working prototypes, complete laboratory components within courses such as Biomaterials I, Biomechanics, Rehabilitation Engineering and Medical Imaging, and gain professional experience through paid engineering internships. The program also requires an international engineering field experience during the junior year, with recent destinations including London, Belize and Abu Dhabi.

Students can develop practical and research skills through:

Computer-Aided Design: EGE 130 Computer-Aided Design introduces students to engineering design and CAD-based work.
Biomedical instrumentation: BME 320 Biomedical Signals and Instrumentation covers electrodes, sensors, transducers and bioelectric amplifiers, including measurements such as ECG, EEG and EMG.
Medical imaging: BME 424 Medical Imaging and Digital Image Processing provides laboratory experience with imaging modalities including radiology, scintigraphy, ultrasound and MRI, together with digital-image processing, segmentation and reconstruction.
Biomechanics laboratory: BME 310 Biomechanics includes a laboratory component and applies mechanics to biological tissues and the design of medical devices and bioengineered tissues.
Biomaterials laboratory: BME 210 Biomaterials I includes laboratory work and covers the selection, design and evaluation of metals, ceramics and polymers for biomedical use.
Rehabilitation engineering: BME 414 Rehabilitation Engineering includes laboratory work involving prosthetic devices and assistive systems.
Research: Students can take BME 436 Biomedical Engineering Research I and BME 437 Biomedical Engineering Research II, involving research-question development, literature searches, data collection and presentation of research findings.
Capstone design: BME 480 Biomedical Engineering Capstone I and BME 490 Biomedical Engineering Capstone II provide an extended engineering design experience in the final year.
Paid internships: Mount Union's School of Engineering reports a 94% placement rate in paid engineering internships, allowing students to gain professional experience before graduation.
International fieldwork: The required International Engineering Field Experience gives students an opportunity to apply engineering knowledge in an international setting; recent experiences have included London, Belize and Abu Dhabi.
Engineering facilities: Mount Union highlights dedicated biomedical engineering facilities and modern engineering laboratories and equipment supporting hands-on learning and research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is designed to prepare graduates for professional careers as biomedical engineers while also supporting advanced study and alternative career paths. Mount Union specifically emphasizes employment, career advancement, graduate study, entrepreneurship and leadership, with the curriculum combining biomedical engineering expertise with business and communication skills.

Typical career roles include Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Device Engineer, Bioinstrumentation Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer. The program's subject areas can also support careers involving medical imaging, biomaterials, biomechanics, rehabilitation technology and biomedical product development.

Career support: Mount Union's School of Engineering emphasizes faculty advising and professional preparation throughout the degree, while the university's broader career-development resources support students with post-graduation planning.
Employment outcomes: Mount Union's latest university-wide First-Destination Survey for the Class of 2025 reports a 98.8% career outcomes rate, with 54.0% securing employment and 25.0% pursuing continuing education. These are university-wide figures, not BME-specific.
Engineering internship outcomes: The School of Engineering reports that 94% of students secure paid engineering internships, giving BME students an opportunity to gain relevant professional experience before graduation.
Industry preparation: The program integrates engineering with business skills and emphasizes the ability to create value, meet employer expectations, and work in entrepreneurial or start-up environments.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation provides an established professional-quality framework for the biomedical engineering curriculum and demonstrates alignment with recognized biomedical engineering education standards.
Graduate outcomes: Mount Union reports that engineering experiential learning, internships and research opportunities have contributed to 100% job placement and acceptance in top-ranked engineering graduate programs for its engineering programs; this is not presented as a current BME-only statistic.
Salary information: The BME program page currently cites a $88,040 median salary from 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics data for biomedical engineers. Because this is historical occupation-level data rather than a current Mount Union graduate salary, it should not be treated as a BME-specific graduate salary.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can pursue advanced studies in biomedical engineering or related engineering and scientific disciplines, while the program's educational objectives explicitly support advanced study and alternative career paths. Students interested in research can build on the undergraduate research experience through graduate engineering programs, while those interested in entrepreneurship can use the program's engineering, business and innovation foundation for further professional development.