BS in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Wichita State University

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Wichita State University combines engineering, mathematics, physical and chemical sciences with biology, medicine and health to prepare students to develop technologies that improve diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and quality of life. It is a strong fit for students interested in medical devices, biomaterials, biomechanics, biomedical instrumentation, imaging and other healthcare technologies, with the flexibility to continue into industry, research, graduate study or medical school.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their scientific and mathematical foundation through General Chemistry I and II (CHEM 211/212), Calculus I and II (MATH 242/243) and Physics for Scientists I (PHYS 313). They are also introduced to the discipline through BME 115 Biomedical Engineering Seminar, which includes faculty and student research presentations, laboratory tours and activities, and presentations from alumni and industry representatives.

Second Year: Students begin connecting engineering principles directly with the human body through Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 223), Statics (AE 223) and Biomedical Computer Applications (BME 335). They also study Introduction to Biomaterials (BME 477) and Design of BioDevices (BME 482), developing an understanding of materials used in medical devices and the engineering process behind creating biomedical products.

Third Year: The program moves into more advanced biomedical engineering applications through Biomechanics (BME 452), Introduction to Biofluids (BME 462) and Bioinstrumentation (BME 480). Students examine mechanics of biological tissues, fluid behaviour such as blood flow, and the detection, acquisition and processing of signals from living systems, while also completing physics, biochemistry or molecular cell biology and technical electives.

Fourth Year: Students bring their technical knowledge together through BME 585 Capstone Design I and BME 595 Capstone Design II, a two-semester sequence centred on clinical problem solving, biomedical innovation, prototype development and testing. The remaining technical electives allow students to deepen their expertise in areas such as Biocomputational Modeling, Biomedical Imaging, Mechanobiology of Cells and Tissue, Biomedical MEMS, Medical Image Processing, Drug Delivery or Tissue Engineering.

Focus areas

Biomaterials and tissue engineering, biomechanics and mechanobiology, instrumentation sensors and imaging, biomedical devices, bioinstrumentation, medical imaging, rehabilitation engineering, orthopedic engineering, biofluids, computational biomedical engineering

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to integrate engineering and life-science principles, measure and interpret data from living systems, solve biomedical problems, design biomedical devices and systems, work with multidisciplinary teams, consider ethical and regulatory requirements, and address health needs at local, national and global levels.

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 Bioengineering, Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. Wichita State has maintained ABET accreditation for the undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program since 2012, with the current accreditation affirmed through 2027.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Wichita State emphasizes an applied-learning model in which biomedical engineering students gain real-world experience through paid internships, research and industry partnerships. The university also reports that its biomedical engineering faculty have secured more than $2.2 million in research grants from agencies including NIH, NSF and NASA, while faculty published 27 peer-reviewed research articles from 2021–2023.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Wichita State's Biomedical Engineering program is built around applied learning, giving students opportunities to work with biomedical sensors, imaging systems, computational models, biomaterials and medical-device technologies rather than relying only on classroom theory. Students can combine laboratory work with undergraduate research, paid internships, co-op education and a team-based capstone in which they identify real clinical needs, develop concepts, build prototypes and test their solutions.

The program's practical opportunities include:

Biomedical Computer Applications: BME 335 introduces students to SolidWorks, MATLAB and LabVIEW for 3D computer-aided design, mathematical programming, data acquisition and analysis.
Clinical problem-solving projects: In BME 585 Capstone Design I, teams identify unmet medical or clinical needs through on-site observations, stakeholder assessments, needs statements and concept generation. BME 595 Capstone Design II continues with requirements definition, system analysis, project management, prototype construction, testing and final presentation.
Real biomedical projects: Recent capstone projects have included a wearable urinary-incontinence monitoring device, an expandable cranial band, a 3D-printed healing cast, a prosthetic-socket cooling system and a deep-wound sealant.
BioME Lab: The Biomedical Sensors, Imaging and Modeling Engineering Lab gives students exposure to ultrasound, lasers, spectral imaging, 3D scanning, electronics, sensors, multiphysics modeling software and high-performance computers for modelling medical problems in 3D virtual environments.
Bio-Integrated Electronics and Systems Lab: Students can engage with research involving flexible and stretchable electronics, wearable biosensors, human-machine interfaces, micro/nano-structures and nano-biosensors for disease diagnostics.
Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab: Research includes 3D printing of biomaterials, biodegradable metallic implants, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, drug delivery and medical-device design.
Mechanobiology and Biomedicine Lab: Students can explore cardiovascular mechanobiology, cell-tissue biophysics, instrumentation for studying cell and tissue behaviour, disease markers, gene regulation, epigenetics, cell/tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Neuroimaging Lab: Research opportunities include neuroimaging data analysis, optical neuroimaging design, human-subject motor-learning studies and machine learning related to stroke rehabilitation.
Internships and co-op: Students can gain workplace experience through BME 481A Co-op Education, while BME internship opportunities allow students to apply biomedical engineering knowledge in professional environments. Wichita State's applied-learning model connects students with hundreds of employers.
Independent research: BME 590 Independent Study and Research allows undergraduate students to undertake faculty-directed research and can contribute up to three credits toward graduation.
Industry exposure: The BME Seminar includes alumni and industry presentations, while Wichita State's broader applied-learning network provides paid and unpaid opportunities through internships, co-ops, research and industry partnerships.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering prepares graduates for engineering, biomedical, life-science and health-related professions, while also providing a strong foundation for graduate or professional education. Wichita State specifically identifies pharmaceutical companies, medical-equipment manufacturers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers and biomedical research institutes as employment environments for biomedical engineers, and its program objectives also encourage graduates to pursue further study and professional development.

Typical job roles include: Biomedical Engineer, Biomedical Device Engineer, Bioinstrumentation Engineer, Biomechanical Engineer

Students can build toward these outcomes through:

Career and applied-learning support: Wichita State's applied-learning model connects students with internships, research and industry partnerships, while the university's engineering college operates one of the largest engineering co-op and internship programs in Kansas.
Employment opportunities: WSU reports applied-learning placements at more than 700 employers and more than $39 million in student earnings from applied-learning experiences in 2025. These figures cover university-wide applied learning rather than Biomedical Engineering alone.
Industry connections: Wichita State actively develops partnerships with industry and provides companies with opportunities to recruit students for internships and full-time positions. The university's employer network is designed to create workforce pipelines and applied-learning opportunities.
Biomedical research environment: BME faculty research is supported by funding from NIH, NSF and NASA, as well as industry and internal grants, giving students opportunities to work within research addressing medical diagnostics, wearable sensors, rehabilitation, biomaterials, regenerative medicine and biomedical imaging.
Accreditation value: ABET accreditation demonstrates that the B.S. program meets established professional standards for biomedical engineering education. The accreditation framework includes assessment of student outcomes and continuous improvement of the program.
Graduate outcomes: Wichita State's educational objectives expect alumni within a few years of graduation to secure employment in engineering, biomedical, life-science or health-related professions, pursue graduate or professional education, or take leadership roles addressing societal needs.
Salary information: The official Wichita State Biomedical Engineering pages reviewed do not publish a current BME-specific graduate salary figure, so no university-specific graduate salary has been added.

Further Academic Progression: After the B.S., students can continue into Wichita State's Accelerated B.S. to M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, master's program or doctoral program. Wichita State states that it is the only university in Kansas offering the complete bachelor's, master's and doctoral Biomedical Engineering pathway, allowing students to continue into advanced research and specialized study without leaving the university.