Biomedical Engineering (Bachelor of Science)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Oklahoma

Program Overview

The Biomedical Engineering B.S. at the University of Oklahoma combines engineering, biology and medicine to prepare students to develop technologies that address real healthcare challenges. It is a strong fit for students interested in medicine, research, mathematics, engineering and life sciences, with opportunities to explore areas such as medical devices, imaging, biomaterials and biomedical systems.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish a strong foundation in engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology through courses such as BME 1421 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, MATH 1914 Differential and Integral Calculus I, and CHEM 1315 General Chemistry. This stage introduces students to engineering thinking while building the scientific knowledge required for advanced biomedical study.

Second Year: Students begin integrating engineering with biological and computational concepts through BME 2333 Biomedical Engineering Fundamentals, BME 2433 Signals and Systems for Biomedical Engineering, and CS 1213 Programming for Non-Majors with Python. Coursework also introduces electrical circuits, biology, statistics and professional engineering skills.

Third Year: Students move into core biomedical engineering subjects including BME 3143 Biomechanics, BME 3123 Biotransport, BME 3233 Biomaterials, BME 3533 Biomedical Instrumentation, and BME 4813 Quantitative Physiology. Three corresponding laboratory courses give students practical experience while electives allow them to develop deeper expertise in areas aligned with their career goals.

Fourth Year: Students apply their technical knowledge through the two-semester BME 4713 Biomedical Engineering Design I and BME 4823 Biomedical Engineering Design II sequence. The senior design experience provides a major opportunity to work as a team on biomedical engineering problems, while BME electives and approved science, mathematics and engineering electives allow students to individualize their studies.

Focus Areas

Biomedical instrumentation, biomechanics, biotransport, biomaterials, quantitative physiology, biomedical imaging, neuroengineering, immunoengineering, biomedical data sciences

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply engineering principles to healthcare problems, work effectively in interdisciplinary teams, communicate technical ideas and contribute creative, evidence-based solutions to biomedical challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Bioengineering, Biomedical and Similarly Named Program Criteria.

Reputation (Employability)

OU reports that 77.9% of graduates seeking employment accepted positions within six months of graduation, with an overall average starting salary of $62,922; the university also reported 1,320 on-campus interviews with more than 79 companies during 2024–25.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program places strong emphasis on hands-on learning, with laboratory courses, research opportunities and a two-semester senior design experience. Students can work in biomedical research environments and collaborate with physicians, scientists and industry partners on problems involving imaging, implants, tissue engineering and other healthcare technologies.

Key opportunities and facilities include:

Biomedical Engineering Labs: Junior-year students complete BME 3531 Bioinstrumentation Lab, BME 3171 Biomedical Engineering Lab I and BME 3181 Biomedical Engineering Lab II, developing practical laboratory and instrumentation skills.
Senior Design: The fourth-year BME 4713/BME 4823 Biomedical Engineering Design I & II sequence provides a two-semester team design and capstone experience.
Gallogly Hall: The home of the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering includes teaching laboratories, group meeting spaces and a makerspace.
Stephenson Research and Technology Center: Students have access to an environment containing biomedical research labs, biomolecular and tissue labs, and interdisciplinary research facilities.
Biomedical Research: OU's research areas include immunoengineering, neuroengineering, biomedical imaging and biomedical data sciences, giving students opportunities to connect coursework with active research.
Research laboratories: The School lists facilities including the Biophotonics and ImmunoEngineering Laboratory, Biophotonic Imaging Laboratory, Computational Neuroimaging and Neuroengineering Lab, Nano-Engineered Smart Theranostics Lab and Biomedical Nano-Engineering Laboratory.
Industry projects: OU's Biomedical Engineering Industry Affiliates program connects students with companies through research collaborations, internships, permanent positions and potential senior capstone projects.
Study abroad and mentoring: The program provides opportunities for study abroad, upper-class mentoring and professional development with faculty and guest speakers.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of OU's Biomedical Engineering B.S. can move into technical roles across healthcare, life sciences and medical technology or continue into professional and graduate education. OU specifically identifies career paths including clinical engineering, medical-device engineering, technical sales and medical research, while its program objectives also highlight progression into medicine, dentistry and graduate study.

Typical career roles include Clinical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Technical Sales Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer.

Key career advantages include:

Career support: OU's Career Center provides dedicated career advising, résumé and cover-letter reviews, mock interviews, employer research, internship guidance, Handshake and career fairs connecting students with employers.
Employment and salary: OU Engineering lists Biomedical Engineering at an average entry-level salary of $57,000, with a $109,370 median annual salary and $168,180 salary for the top 10%, using its cited salary sources.
Industry partnerships: The Biomedical Engineering Bioscience Industry Affiliates program works with companies on research projects and provides opportunities for internships, permanent positions and senior capstone projects.
Healthcare collaboration: Biomedical Engineering faculty and students collaborate with physicians and scientists at the OU Health Sciences Center, while the School also highlights translational research with the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation provides professional recognition for the B.S. program and aligns the degree with established engineering education standards.
Graduate outcomes: OU's program objectives state that graduates advance in technical healthcare/life-sciences roles or continue into professional school or graduate school.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into OU's M.S. or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, pursue the accelerated B.S./M.S. Biomedical Engineering pathway, or apply their biomedical engineering background toward professional programs such as medicine and dentistry.