Bachelor in Cellular and Molecular Biomedical Science (Major)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Program Overview

The Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering (CMB:BME) program at the University of Michigan brings together cell and molecular biology with biomedical engineering, giving students a strong understanding of biological systems and how engineering can be used to solve biomedical problems. It is a good fit for students interested in biotechnology, biomedical research, medicine and engineering, and the five-year program leads to both a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and engineering. Courses such as BIOLOGY 171, CHEM 210 and 211, MATH 115 and 116, and ENGR 101 or EECS 183 help students build the scientific and technical knowledge needed for later study.

Year 2: Students move deeper into cell and molecular biology through courses such as BIOLOGY 305: Genetics, MCDB 310/BIOLCHEM 415: Biochemistry, and MCDB 306: Genetics Laboratory. They also study MCDB 427: Molecular Biology and MCDB 428 or BIOMEDE 418: Cell Biology, combining classroom learning with laboratory experience.

Year 3: Students begin bringing biology and biomedical engineering together through courses such as MCDB 429: Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, BIOMEDE 221: Biophysical Chemistry and Thermodynamics, and BIOMEDE 231: Biomechanics. They can further develop their engineering knowledge through BIOMEDE 321: Bioreaction Engineering and Design and BIOMEDE 331: Biofluid Mechanics.

Year 4: Students take more advanced courses that connect biological knowledge with biomedical applications. Courses such as BIOMEDE 350: Biomedical Engineering Design and BIOMEDE 419: Quantitative Physiology help students strengthen their engineering, analytical and problem-solving skills, while advanced MCDB courses and research opportunities allow them to explore areas of interest in greater depth.

Year 5: Students complete the graduate-level biomedical engineering component of the program and move into more advanced study. Courses such as BIOMEDE 584: Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology, together with the BIOMEDE 500, BIOMEDE 550 and BIOMEDE 590 graduate biomedical engineering core, provide advanced preparation in biomedical engineering and related research.

Focus Areas

Cell and Molecular Biology, Genetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysical Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Biomechanics, Bioreaction Engineering, Biofluid Mechanics, Biomedical Engineering Design, Quantitative Physiology, Biological Research, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Mathematics, Statistics

Learning Outcomes

Students develop a strong understanding of cell and molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry, gain laboratory and research experience, build knowledge of biomedical engineering principles, apply mathematics and statistics to biological and engineering problems, understand biomechanics and biofluid mechanics, develop biomedical design skills, and learn to combine biological science with engineering approaches to address biomedical challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program brings together the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology in LSA and the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering. It leads to a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, giving students an integrated academic pathway across biological science and biomedical engineering.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Students benefit from the University of Michigan's strong research environment and the combination of two complementary fields. The program provides broad preparation for careers and further study in biomedical research, biotechnology, biological sciences and biomedical engineering, while the combined degree structure gives students an opportunity to develop both biological and engineering expertise.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering (CMB:BME) program gives students strong opportunities to gain practical experience across both biological science and biomedical engineering. Students can build hands-on skills through laboratory courses, independent research, biomedical engineering design, prototyping and advanced research facilities, while working with equipment and techniques used in modern biological and medical research. The program also encourages collaboration, allowing students to connect biological knowledge with engineering approaches to real biomedical challenges:

Cell and molecular biology laboratories: The Undergraduate Science Building has 16 teaching laboratories used for areas such as cell biology, microbiology, genetics and developmental biology. These laboratories include computers, internet access, multimedia systems, whiteboards and computer drawing tablets.
Independent research: Students can participate in biological research projects involving the design, implementation and interpretation of experiments while working with research mentors.
Biomedical engineering research: BIOMEDE 490: Directed Research allows undergraduate students to gain direct research experience in biomedical engineering.
Biomedical engineering design and prototyping: The Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building provides spaces for teamwork, idea development, prototyping, fabrication and testing. It also includes instructional laboratories covering areas such as biomechanics, biotechnology and instrumentation.
Group projects and teamwork: Biomedical engineering design spaces are designed to support teamwork and collaboration, giving students opportunities to work together on engineering and biomedical projects.
Research equipment: Biological research facilities provide access to equipment such as electron microscopes, controlled-environment rooms, analytical and preparative centrifuges and spectrophotometers.
Molecular and imaging techniques: MCDB research facilities support techniques including recombinant DNA, genetics, biochemistry and specialized imaging, giving students exposure to modern molecular research methods.
Biomedical imaging: Biomedical engineering research facilities include functional and in-vivo MRI laboratories, with advanced MRI systems used for biomedical research and imaging.
Microscopy and image analysis: Students involved in research can benefit from advanced microscopy resources, including fluorescence microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
DNA sequencing and genomics: The DNA Sequencing Core supports DNA sequencing, genotyping, gene-expression analysis, DNA quantification and quality-control activities relevant to molecular and biomedical research.
Tissue culture and biological research: Biomedical engineering research facilities include tissue-culture resources, small-animal facilities and advanced microscopy systems, supporting a range of biomedical research activities.
Biointerfaces Institute: The Biointerfaces Institute brings together researchers from life sciences and physical sciences to develop healthcare technologies and move scientific discoveries toward real-world applications.
Biomedical biotechnology research: The Carl A. Gerstacker Building houses research facilities working in areas such as ultrasonic imaging, nano- and micro-molecular biotechnology and biofluid mechanics.
Digital and computational resources: Students can access bioinformatics and Bio-IT resources through MCDB, as well as advanced computing resources supporting biomedical engineering research.
Internships: The official CMB:BME program information does not identify a mandatory internship as part of the degree. Students can instead gain practical experience through research, directed research and biomedical engineering design activities.
Field trips: The official program information does not identify a mandatory program-specific field trip.
Research institutes and facilities: Students can benefit from the wider University of Michigan research environment, including the Biointerfaces Institute, North Campus Research Complex, Biomedical Research Core Facilities and Center for Arrhythmia Research.
Early research opportunities: The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) connects first- and second-year students with faculty research opportunities, allowing students to begin gaining research experience early in their degree.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Cell and Molecular Biology and Biomedical Engineering (CMB:BME) program gives students a strong foundation across biology, engineering and medicine. By completing both a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, graduates can pursue careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, medical devices and pharmaceutical industries, while also being well prepared for further academic or professional study.

Typical career directions include Biomedical Engineer, Research Scientist, Biotechnology Researcher, Medical Device Engineer:

Career support: Students can access career guidance through the Engineering Career Resource Center, including career coaching, career fairs, internship and job-search support, and professional development opportunities.
Internships and co-ops: Biomedical engineering students can pursue summer internships and longer eight-month co-op opportunities with companies in areas such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. These experiences help students gain practical industry knowledge and build professional networks.
Industry connections: Through the BME Design Program, students can work on projects sponsored by companies and other organizations. This gives students the chance to apply their technical knowledge to real biomedical challenges while working with industry and clinical professionals.
Industry partners: U-M Biomedical Engineering has worked with companies including Abbott, Baxter Healthcare, Bio-Rad, Boston Scientific, Edwards Lifesciences, Philips, Roche, Sanofi, Siemens, Stryker, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson and Zimmer Biomet.
Translational research: The Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program supports projects that help move promising biomedical technologies from research laboratories toward commercial development and clinical applications.
Research opportunities: Students can gain research experience through directed biomedical engineering research and the wider University of Michigan research environment. Research areas include biomedical AI and computing, biomechanics, imaging, biomedical devices, immunoengineering, regenerative medicine, neural engineering and synthetic biology.
Employment opportunities: University of Michigan Biomedical Engineering graduates have moved into roles such as Associate Researcher, Associate Scientist, Clinical Application Specialist, Design Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Process Engineer, Project Engineer, Quality Engineer, R&D Engineer, Research Support Engineer and Systems Engineer.
Salary information: The official University of Michigan sources reviewed do not provide a specific average starting salary for graduates of the CMB:BME joint program. Therefore, a program-specific salary figure should not be assumed.
Professional value: Combining a bachelor's degree in cell and molecular biology with a master's degree in biomedical engineering gives graduates a broad academic background that can support long-term careers in biomedical research, biotechnology, medical technology and healthcare innovation.
Accreditation: CMB:BME is a joint B.S./M.S. degree pathway and should not be described as the standard ABET-accredited Biomedical Engineering BSE program. The University of Michigan separately identifies its undergraduate BME BSE program as ABET accredited.
Graduation outcome: Successful students graduate with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the College of LSA and an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, giving them qualifications in both biological science and advanced biomedical engineering.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the CMB:BME program, students can continue into PhD programs, medical school and other advanced programs in biomedical engineering, biological sciences, biotechnology and health-related fields. Their combined biology and engineering background can also support further specialization in areas such as biomedical devices, regenerative medicine, medical imaging, computational biomedical science, synthetic biology and translational research.