Biomedical Engineering, BS

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Wisconsin Madison

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison brings together engineering, biology and medicine to help students develop solutions for real healthcare challenges. It is a great choice for students who enjoy science and problem-solving and want to work on areas such as medical devices, biomedical imaging, biomaterials, biomechanics and technologies that can improve patient care.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students start by building a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, physics, computing and engineering. Courses such as MATH 221 – Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1, MATH 222 – Calculus and Analytic Geometry 2, and INTEREGR 170 – Design Practicum help students develop the analytical, technical and design skills they will use throughout the degree.

Year 2: Students begin moving deeper into biomedical engineering while continuing to strengthen their engineering fundamentals. Courses such as B M E 200 – Biomedical Engineering Design, B M E 201 – Biomedical Engineering Design and Fundamentals, and B M E 310 – Bioinstrumentation introduce students to biomedical design, instrumentation and practical engineering applications.

Year 3: Students apply their growing engineering knowledge to more specialised biomedical challenges and begin exploring areas that match their interests. Courses including B M E 300 – Biomedical Engineering Design and Leadership, B M E 315 – Biomechanics, and B M E 430 – Biological Interactions with Materials help students understand how engineering principles can be applied to the human body, biological systems and medical materials.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced study, technical electives and bringing together the skills developed throughout the program. Students complete B M E 400 – Capstone Design Course in Biomedical Engineering and B M E 402 – Biomedical Engineering Capstone Design II, giving them the opportunity to work on substantial biomedical engineering design challenges.

Focus Areas

Bioinstrumentation, Medical Devices, Biomedical Imaging and Optics, Neuroengineering, Biomechanics, Biomaterials, Cellular and Tissue Engineering, Rehabilitation Engineering, Tissue Engineering, Biomedical Microsystems, Medical Imaging.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to solve complex biomedical engineering problems using mathematics, science and engineering principles, design solutions that consider health, safety and societal needs, communicate effectively, work in multidisciplinary teams, conduct experiments, analyse and interpret data, make ethical and professional decisions, and continue developing their technical knowledge independently.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This accreditation provides an important quality benchmark for the degree and supports students who want to build a professional career in biomedical engineering.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has a strong reputation in biomedical engineering, with its undergraduate biomedical engineering program ranked among the top U.S. public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university also reports a $77,000 first-year median salary for Biomedical Engineering graduates, with graduates going on to work for employers such as Abbott, Boston Scientific, Epic, Exact Sciences and Medtronic.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison gives students plenty of opportunities to learn by doing. Design work is a major part of the program, allowing students to work on real biomedical challenges and develop solutions through teamwork, prototyping and testing. Students also have access to dedicated biomedical engineering design studios, teaching laboratories and specialised equipment that support work in areas such as medical devices, bioinstrumentation, biomaterials and biological systems.

Students can build practical skills through a range of program-specific opportunities:

Real-world design projects: Students work in teams on biomedical engineering problems provided by faculty, researchers, healthcare-related clients and industry partners. They gain experience taking an idea from identifying the problem through design, prototyping, testing and presenting a final solution.
Freshman Design Practicum: In INTEREGR 170 – Design Practicum, first-year students work in teams to develop and prototype solutions to problems presented by community clients. This gives students an early introduction to engineering design and practical problem-solving.
Biomedical Engineering Design Studios: Dedicated design studios support courses such as B M E 200, B M E 201, B M E 300, B M E 301, B M E 400 and B M E 402. Students can work with CAE-equipped laptops, oscilloscopes, power supplies, mobile workbenches, smartboards and other project equipment while developing biomedical prototypes.
Biomedical Experimental Teaching Lab: Students in courses such as B M E 201, B M E 315 and B M E 430 can gain hands-on laboratory experience using equipment including biosafety cabinets, incubators, centrifuges, microscopes, micropipettors, pH meters and sonicators.
Bioinstrumentation and Medical Device Lab: Through B M E 310 – Bioinstrumentation, students work with equipment such as oscilloscopes, waveform and function generators, digital multimeters, ECG monitors, pulse oximeters and spirometry equipment. This provides practical experience with the types of instruments used to measure and analyse biological and physiological signals.
Prototyping and fabrication: Students have access to tools such as laser engravers and cutters, spin coaters, syringe pumps and oxygen-plasma equipment. These resources can help students gain practical experience in fabrication and biomedical device development.
Undergraduate research: Students can work with BME faculty on research projects, giving them the chance to apply what they learn in class to ongoing biomedical engineering research and explore specialised areas that match their interests.
Senior capstone design: During the senior design sequence, students work on substantial biomedical engineering projects and develop solutions for real clients. This experience helps students strengthen their teamwork, design, communication, prototyping and problem-solving skills before entering the workforce.
Engineering and computing tools: Students use engineering and computing resources throughout the program. The design studios provide CAE-equipped laptops and technical equipment, while the bioinstrumentation facilities allow students to work with professional measurement and testing instruments.
Research facilities and shared resources: Students can also benefit from wider UW–Madison research facilities and resources, including microscopy facilities, the Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation and the Biotechnology Center. These resources support research across biomedical engineering, biotechnology and related scientific fields.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison prepares students for careers across medical technology, healthcare, engineering and biomedical research. With a strong focus on design, practical experience and research, graduates can move into roles such as Medical Device Engineer, R&D Engineer, Biomedical Engineer and Technical Solutions Engineer.

Career progression and opportunities:

Career support: UW–Madison’s College of Engineering provides dedicated career services to help students prepare for employment, find opportunities and connect with employers. Engineering Career Services also supports students with career planning and employer engagement, with more than 4,500 employers recruiting College of Engineering students each year.
Employment and salary: Biomedical Engineering graduates have reported a $77,000 first-year median salary. Across the College of Engineering, approximately 92% of engineering graduates are placed, while around 85% of undergraduates in the latest graduating class completed at least one co-op or internship before graduation.
University–industry connections: Students can gain experience through projects connected with industry and healthcare technology companies. UW–Madison highlights relationships with companies such as Boston Scientific and GE HealthCare, along with startups connected to the university’s University Research Park.
Internships and co-op opportunities: Students can gain valuable professional experience through internships and cooperative education. For example, a UW–Madison Biomedical Engineering student completed a co-op with Siemens Healthineers in Germany, working on medical devices, programming and prototype development while gaining paid professional experience and academic credit.
Employer opportunities: Graduates can explore careers with employers such as Abbott, Boston Scientific, Epic, Exact Sciences and Medtronic. The program can lead to positions in medical device development, research and development, engineering design, project management and technical solutions.
Long-term accreditation value: The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. This gives the degree an established professional quality benchmark and can be valuable for students planning long-term careers in engineering and biomedical technology.
Graduation outcomes: The program gives students several options after graduation, including entering the biomedical engineering industry, joining research and development teams, pursuing entrepreneurship or continuing their education. UW–Madison’s Biomedical Engineering department also has a strong research and innovation environment, with more than $20 million in annual research expenditures, over 100 patents and 13 startups.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the B.S., students can continue their education through advanced programs in Biomedical Engineering and related fields. UW–Madison offers an Accelerated M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, a Biomedical Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship M.S., and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, giving graduates opportunities to specialise further in research, medical technology, innovation, design or entrepreneurship.