Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Biomedical Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kentucky

Program Overview

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at the University of Kentucky is designed for students who want to combine engineering with biology and medicine to develop technologies that improve human health. Students build engineering foundations before progressing into areas such as medical device design, biomaterials, tissue engineering, biomechanics, medical imaging and physiological systems, with the degree culminating in an interdisciplinary senior design experience.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
Students begin with the First-Year Engineering experience and establish their quantitative and scientific foundation through MA 113 Calculus I, PHY 231 General University Physics, and EGR 102 Fundamentals of Engineering Computing. They continue with CHE 105 General College Chemistry I and BIO 148 Introductory Biology I, giving them the mathematics, computing, physics, chemistry and biology background needed for biomedical engineering.

Year 2:
The second year introduces students more directly to biomedical engineering through BME 201 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, alongside BIO 152 Introductory Biology II and EM 221 Statics. Students also study BME 170 Human Anatomy for Design and EE 305 Electrical Circuits/Electronics, connecting engineering principles with human anatomy and electronic systems.

Year 3:
Students move into specialist biomedical engineering subjects such as BME 322 Design Strategies for Biomedical Engineering, BME 431 Biotransport, and BME 330 Experimental Methods in Biomedical Engineering. Coursework in PRD 230 Means of Production III: CAD, PRD 260 Ergonomics, and BME 350 Materials and Processes further develops design, manufacturing, experimental and materials-related skills.

Year 4:
The final year focuses on applying the knowledge gained throughout the degree through BME 420 Senior Design Project in BME I and BME 421 Senior Design Project in BME II, a two-semester capstone completed with interdisciplinary teams and industry or healthcare partners. Students also study BME 451 Integrated Entrepreneurship in Product Design, PGY 206 Elementary Physiology, and advanced BME electives to connect engineering design with healthcare applications.

Focus Areas:

Biomedical engineering, medical device design, biomaterials, tissue engineering, biomechanics, biotransport, biomedical imaging, physiological systems, healthcare technology, engineering design, medical manufacturing

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop the ability to apply engineering, science and mathematics principles to biomedical problems, analyze biological and physiological systems, design solutions for healthcare needs, conduct biomedical experiments, work across engineering and healthcare disciplines, and consider safety, ethical and real-world factors when developing biomedical technologies.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The Biomedical Engineering B.S. at the University of Kentucky is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. The accreditation became effective in October 2022 and provides an established quality framework for the program's engineering education and student outcomes.

Reputation (Employability & Research):

The University of Kentucky's Pigman College of Engineering was ranked No. 63 among U.S. public institutions in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Engineering Schools ranking and No. 1 in Kentucky, according to the college's official announcement.

The Biomedical Engineering department also reports an average starting salary of $70,258, based on NACE 2023 data, and notes that graduates move into leadership positions in medical-device industry, academia and medicine

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at the University of Kentucky emphasizes practical engineering experience through laboratory courses, biomedical design and a two-semester senior design project. Students work with interdisciplinary teams to develop solutions to real biomedical problems, while coursework such as BME 330 Experimental Methods in Biomedical Engineering gives students direct experience with biomedical experimentation. The program also connects students with research opportunities across UK’s biomedical engineering and healthcare environment.

These program-specific opportunities and resources help students turn engineering concepts into practical biomedical applications:

Senior Design Project: BME 420 Senior Design Project in BME I and BME 421 Senior Design Project in BME II provide a two-semester, team-based capstone experience focused on developing biomedical engineering solutions.
Experimental laboratory experience: BME 330 Experimental Methods in Biomedical Engineering provides hands-on experience with experimental approaches used in biomedical engineering.
Biomedical design: BME 322 Design Strategies for Biomedical Engineering develops students' ability to approach biomedical problems through engineering design.
CAD and product design: Students use computer-aided design through PRD 230 Means of Production III: CAD, supporting the development and communication of engineering designs.
Materials and manufacturing: BME 350 Materials and Processes and related product-design coursework expose students to materials and manufacturing considerations relevant to biomedical products.
Interdisciplinary projects: The senior design sequence brings together engineering knowledge with biomedical and healthcare applications, allowing students to work collaboratively on extended design projects.
Research environment: Students can engage with biomedical engineering research at UK, including work connected to areas such as biomaterials, biomechanics, medical devices, imaging and other biomedical technologies.

Facilities and resources: Biomedical Engineering students benefit from the University of Kentucky's engineering and biomedical research environment, including department research laboratories and facilities supporting biomedical device development, biomaterials, biomechanics, imaging and experimental research. The broader UK Pigman College of Engineering provides engineering laboratories and design resources, while the university's healthcare and research infrastructure creates opportunities to connect engineering with medical applications.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Biomedical Engineering, B.S. at the University of Kentucky prepares graduates to apply engineering principles to healthcare, medical devices, biological systems and clinical technologies. The program's combination of engineering, life-science coursework, laboratory work and senior design can support careers in medical-device companies, healthcare technology, research and graduate or professional education.

Potential career roles include: Biomedical Engineer, Clinical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer.

Career development and employment opportunities include:

Career services: UK’s Stuckert Career Center provides career coaching, resume and cover-letter assistance, interview preparation, career fairs, employer events and access to employment opportunities through Handshake.
Employment and salary: The UK Biomedical Engineering department reports an average starting salary of $70,258, based on NACE 2023 data. This is a program/department-reported figure rather than a guarantee for individual graduates.
Industry connections: The Biomedical Engineering program incorporates industry and healthcare participation into its senior design experience, allowing students to work on practical biomedical engineering problems with external stakeholders.
Medical-device industry preparation: UK reports that Biomedical Engineering graduates enter leadership positions in the medical-device industry, academia and medicine, reflecting the program's combination of engineering and healthcare preparation.
Professional accreditation: The B.S. is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs. This provides an externally recognized quality framework for the engineering education students receive.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can move into biomedical engineering and healthcare technology employment or continue into advanced study in biomedical engineering, engineering, medicine and related health or life-science disciplines.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., students can pursue master's or doctoral study in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, biomechanics, biomaterials, medical imaging, biotechnology or related engineering fields. Students interested in clinical careers can also use their biomedical engineering foundation as preparation for professional programs such as medicine or other healthcare disciplines, depending on the prerequisites of the institution they choose.