Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double-Major

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Duke University

Program Overview

The Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double Major at Duke University combines civil engineering with biomedical engineering, preparing students to connect engineering, biology, environmental science, and human health in interdisciplinary applications. Students develop foundations in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering design, mechanics, environmental engineering, biomedical systems, medical instrumentation, and engineering design while completing the requirements of both major programs.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1: Students establish their engineering and scientific foundation through EGR 101L Engineering Design and Communication, EGR 103L Computational Methods in Engineering, MATH 111L Laboratory Calculus I, and BIO 201L Gateway to Biology: Molecular Biology, alongside chemistry and introductory physics. This combination introduces computational thinking and engineering design while giving students the biological and quantitative preparation needed for both civil and biomedical engineering.

Year 2: Students move into core engineering and biomedical concepts with BME 244L Quant Physiology with Biostat Appl, EGR 201L Mechanics of Solids, MATH 216 Linear Algebra and Differential Equations, and BME 260L Modeling Cellular and Molecular Systems. Coursework connects mechanics and mathematical modeling with physiology, cellular systems, chemistry, and the scientific principles underlying biomedical applications.

Year 3: The curriculum becomes more specialized through BME 271D Signals & Systems, BME 354L Intro to Medical Instrumentation, CEE 301L, and CEE 461L, while students also complete an approved BME area core course. This stage brings together biomedical instrumentation and systems with civil and environmental engineering applications, creating a distinctly interdisciplinary pathway.

Year 4: Students integrate their two areas through BME/CEE Design, BME 302L or BME 307, CEE 462L, and CEE 463L, supported by advanced and general biomedical engineering electives and a life-science elective. The final year emphasizes advanced design, biomedical engineering specialization, and environmental engineering concepts, allowing students to apply knowledge from both disciplines to complex engineering challenges.

Focus Areas: Biomedical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, environmental health engineering, medical instrumentation, biomaterials and biomechanics, environmental engineering and water resources, biological processes, water resources engineering, and interdisciplinary engineering design.

Learning Outcomes: Engineering design, computational methods, quantitative analysis, mechanics, biological and cellular modeling, medical instrumentation, environmental engineering, water resources, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and engineering design integration.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): ABET accreditation — Duke states that its Biomedical Engineering and Civil Engineering bachelor's programs are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double Major combines these two separately accredited undergraduate programs; Duke does not state that the double-major combination itself has a separate ABET accreditation.

Reputation (Employability/Official Statistics): 94% of recent Duke Biomedical Engineering graduates are reported by Duke as working or continuing their education within six months of graduation. Duke also reports that Payscale places its School for Engineering Majors in the Top 10 for salary potential, while U.S. News & World Report 2027 ranks Duke #8 among universities in the United States.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students pursuing the Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double-Major at Duke University can combine civil-engineering design and infrastructure studies with biomedical applications through hands-on laboratory work, design projects, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering provides access to specialized facilities such as the Wilkinson Building, Fitzpatrick Center for Interdisciplinary Engineering, Medicine and Applied Sciences (CIEMAS), and biomedical and civil-engineering research spaces, giving students opportunities to apply engineering concepts using modern laboratory and computational resources. Students can also participate in faculty-led research, internships, design experiences, and interdisciplinary projects that connect engineering with medicine, materials, structures, and human health:

Civil engineering design projects: Civil engineering students work on practical design challenges involving structures, infrastructure, environmental systems, and materials, developing solutions through project-based coursework and collaborative engineering work.
Biomedical engineering design: Duke’s biomedical engineering curriculum includes hands-on design experiences where students apply engineering, biology, and medical concepts to develop solutions for healthcare and biomedical problems.
Duke Engineering Design: Students can participate in design courses and team-based engineering projects, developing prototypes and testing solutions while working collaboratively across engineering disciplines.
Research laboratories: Undergraduate students can participate in research with Duke faculty across areas such as structural engineering, materials, environmental engineering, biomechanics, biomedical devices, biomaterials, and tissue engineering.
Fitzpatrick Center (CIEMAS): CIEMAS provides interdisciplinary research and teaching facilities supporting work across engineering, medicine, materials, biomedical engineering, and related fields, making it particularly relevant to students combining civil and biomedical engineering.
Wilkinson Building: The Wilkinson Building houses engineering teaching and research facilities and provides spaces for hands-on engineering education, laboratories, design activities, and collaborative work.
Shared instrumentation and fabrication: Duke Engineering provides access to specialized fabrication, characterization, imaging, and instrumentation resources that support engineering research and student projects.
Computational tools: Students have access to Duke Engineering computing resources and software used for engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, and design, supporting both civil and biomedical applications.
Interdisciplinary research: The double-major structure allows students to work across Duke Engineering and the School of Medicine, creating opportunities to explore connections between infrastructure, materials, biomechanics, medical technology, and human health.
Internships and professional experience: Duke Engineering supports students in gaining industry and research experience through internships, co-ops, summer research, and other experiential opportunities, allowing classroom knowledge to be applied in professional settings.
Undergraduate research: Students can pursue independent research and faculty-mentored projects, including opportunities available through Duke’s undergraduate research programs and engineering research groups.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double-Major at Duke combines civil engineering with biomedical engineering, preparing students for interdisciplinary work spanning infrastructure, environmental health, medical technology, biomechanics, and healthcare. Duke reports that 96% of Pratt School of Engineering graduates in the Class of 2025 were employed, enrolled in graduate school, or participating in military or volunteer service six months after graduation, while BME graduates commonly move into medical-device design, biotechnology, consulting, medicine, and related fields.

Typical career roles: Biomedical Engineer, Civil/Environmental Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Engineering Consultant.

Career development and employment opportunities:

Duke career support: Pratt students have access to career-development opportunities, employer engagement, internships, and work experiences; Duke reports that 84% of Pratt students have internships or other work experiences and 82% of Pratt seniors have job offers by graduation.
Biomedical employment: Recent Duke BME graduates have joined organizations including Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Google, and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Civil engineering outcomes: Duke reports that 92% of its Civil & Environmental Engineering Classes of 2022–2025 were working or continuing education six months after graduation. Among seniors taking the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, 97% passed on their first attempt.
Industry exposure: Duke Engineering maintains an Corporate and Industry Relations function for private industry-academic partnerships, while Pratt's recent industry engagement has included companies such as Apple, AWS, BMW, Volkswagen, Gulfstream, and Honda Aircraft.
Biomedical industry experience: Through the BME Design Fellows program, students have accessed internships and design opportunities involving organizations such as Stryker, Garmin, Edwards Lifesciences, Zimmer Biomet, and LivaNova, as well as clinical departments at Duke University Hospital.
Salary information: Duke's official undergraduate outcomes pages provide employment and continuing-education outcomes but do not publish a specific salary figure for the Civil + Biomedical Engineering Double-Major. Therefore, no salary amount is stated here.
Accreditation value: Duke's Civil Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, while Duke's Biomedical Engineering program is also ABET-accredited. This provides an established professional-accreditation framework for the two engineering disciplines represented in the double major.
Graduation and professional progression: Duke CEE encourages students to take the FE exam during senior year as an important step toward professional engineering licensure, while its educational objectives explicitly include pursuing advanced degrees and professional licensure.
Entrepreneurship and innovation: Duke Engineering reported 111 new invention disclosures, 47 patents, 11 industry license agreements, and five faculty-research spin-off companies in FY2025, providing a broader innovation ecosystem for students interested in technology commercialization and startups.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the double major, students can continue into master's, doctoral, medical, or other professional programs. Duke specifically offers a 4+1 Bachelor’s & Master’s pathway, while BME identifies graduate and professional education—including medical school—as a common progression; recent BME graduates have continued to institutions including Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, and Cambridge University.