BS in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Washington University in St Louis

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) combines engineering, biology, medicine and quantitative science to prepare students to develop technologies that address problems from the molecular level to the whole human body. It is particularly suited to students interested in medical devices, imaging, biomaterials, drug delivery, biomechanics, neural engineering, research, industry or further professional study.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their scientific and engineering foundation through subjects such as General Chemistry I, General Chemistry II, Calculus II, Introduction to Engineering Computing, and Intro to Biomedical Engineering (BME 1400). These courses establish the chemistry, mathematics, computing and biomedical concepts needed for more advanced engineering study.

Year 2: Students move into core biomedical engineering concepts through Intro to Biomedical Circuits (BME 2200), Biomechanics (BME 2400) and Biomechanics Lab (BME 2401). They also develop deeper mathematical and biological understanding through Differential Equations, Engineering Mathematics, and Physiological Control Systems, connecting engineering analysis with living systems.

Year 3: The curriculum progresses into advanced quantitative biomedical engineering through Quantitative Physiology I (BME 3010), Quantitative Physiology II (BME 3015), Bioengineering Thermodynamics (BME 3200) and Transport (BME 3660). Students can then tailor their education through upper-level courses such as Biomedical Data Science, Bioelectric Phenomena, Biomaterials Science, Biomedical Signal Processing, Molecular and Cellular Engineering and Biomedical Instrumentation.

Year 4: Students bring their technical knowledge together through Senior Capstone Design A (BME 4970) and Senior Capstone Design B (BME 4971) while completing advanced engineering electives. Options include Biofabrication & Medical Devices, AI-Augmented Neuromedical Data Science, Biomedical Optics, Ultrasound Imaging, Human-Machine Interfaces, Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Processing, allowing students to build a more specialized academic direction.

Focus Areas

Biomedical and biological imaging, cardiovascular engineering, cell and molecular bioengineering, neural engineering, orthopedic engineering, regenerative engineering in medicine, women's health technologies, biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical data science, biofabrication and medical devices.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to identify and solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science and mathematics; design solutions while considering public health, safety, environmental, social and economic factors; communicate effectively; work collaboratively; conduct experiments and interpret data; act ethically; and acquire new knowledge independently.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BS in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biomedical Engineering. The curriculum also requires students to meet ABET requirements for a professional engineering degree, including 47 engineering-topics credits.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

WashU BME is a nationally ranked program, and the department reports a No. 6 undergraduate biomedical engineering program ranking from Successful Student. The department also reports more than 60% of undergraduate BME students participate in biomedical engineering research, while WashU identifies career preparation for biomedical engineering industry, graduate study and professional degrees as key outcomes.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

WashU gives Biomedical Engineering students substantial opportunities to move beyond classroom learning into research, clinical applications, industry and engineering design. More than 60% of BME undergraduates participate in biomedical engineering research, with opportunities to work with engineering and medical faculty on projects involving surgical devices, imaging, bioactive materials and drug-delivery systems.

Students can build practical experience through:

Senior Capstone Design: BME 4970 Senior Capstone Design A and BME 4971 Senior Capstone Design B provide a two-course design experience in which students identify and solve pressing healthcare problems and present their solutions at the department's annual BME Day.
Independent research: Students can undertake faculty-supervised Independent Study for course credit, developing a defined research objective, project plan and final report. Research can take place with faculty in the School of Engineering or affiliated Biomedical Engineering faculty.
Medical and engineering research: Undergraduate research opportunities extend to laboratories on the Danforth Campus and at the Washington University School of Medicine, giving students access to interdisciplinary biomedical research environments.
Clinical and medical technology projects: Students can work with engineering and medical faculty on projects involving surgical devices, medical imaging, bioactive materials and drug-delivery systems.
St. Louis Internship Program: The department offers a 10-week biomedical engineering internship in the Greater St. Louis technology sector, specifically designed to broaden students' employment opportunities in engineering and technology.
Cooperative experience: Upper-level students can pursue cooperative experiences with life-science and technology companies in the St. Louis area and nationwide; participating companies generally expect the equivalent of one semester and a summer.
International clinical experience: Through the HKPU Partnership International Experience, selected students visit Hong Kong Polytechnic University and mainland China to learn how biomedical engineering is applied to diagnose, fit and fabricate orthotic devices for pediatric skeletal disorders.
Specialized summer research: The WashU Cardiovascular Research Summer Program (WashU CardS) provides training in techniques such as histology, PCR, ECG, microscopy and image analysis while students work on cardiovascular research projects.
Neuroscience and medical innovation: The Center for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology Fellowship gives students a paid summer experience working with neurosurgical and engineering faculty to design, draft and prototype an original concept.
Research centers: Students can engage with interdisciplinary centers including the Cardiac Bioelectricity & Arrhythmia Center, Center for Cellular Imaging, Center for Cyborg and Bio-robotics Research, and Center for Engineering MechanoBiology.
Research disciplines: The department's research environment covers Biomedical & Biological Imaging, Cardiovascular Engineering, Cell & Molecular Bioengineering, Neural Engineering, Orthopedic Engineering, Regenerative Engineering in Medicine, and Women's Health Technologies.

Progression & Future Opportunities

WashU's Biomedical Engineering degree is designed to support several routes after graduation: entering the biomedical engineering industry, progressing into advanced study, or pursuing professional degrees such as medicine, dentistry or law. The university's combination of ABET accreditation, extensive research participation, industry cooperative opportunities and medical-school connections gives students a strong platform for both technical careers and further professional education.

Typical job roles include: Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer, Clinical Engineer

Career development: McKelvey Engineering directs students to the WashU Center for Career Engagement for information on potential salaries, job titles and career outcomes, supporting students as they explore professional pathways.
Industry experience: Upper-level BME students can participate in cooperative experiences with life-science and technology companies in St. Louis and across the United States, while the department's dedicated St. Louis Internship Program provides a 10-week technology-sector internship.
Research opportunities: More than 60% of undergraduate BME students participate in biomedical engineering research, giving students opportunities to build experience relevant to research, development and graduate study.
Employment and professional pathways: WashU identifies future BME careers in research and development for medical and pharmaceutical companies, research science and academia, while the program also prepares students for professional degrees including medicine, dentistry and law.
Alumni career examples: WashU BME alumni have progressed into areas including medical devices, healthcare IT, quality assurance, manufacturing process engineering, systems engineering and physician-scientist careers.
Accreditation value: ABET EAC accreditation provides external validation that the professional BME program meets established engineering education criteria and supports preparation for professional engineering practice.
Graduate outcomes: The department reports 57 BS graduates in 2026, following 80 in 2025 and 68 in 2024. The program's stated educational objectives are employment in biomedical engineering or related fields, advanced study and professional-degree progression.
Salary statistics: WashU's official BME program pages do not publish a current program-specific graduate salary figure, so no unsupported salary figure is included.

Further Academic Progression: Students can continue into WashU's Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering or PhD in Biomedical Engineering, or pursue professional education such as medicine, dentistry or law. The Bachelor's/Master's Program in Engineering allows eligible current BME students to earn a master's with only one additional year of study, with up to six graduate-level units potentially shared between the BS and MS and a minimum combined requirement of 144 units.