Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering

NA On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New Mexico

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at the University of New Mexico is a new four-year engineering degree that connects engineering, biology, medicine, and biological innovation, preparing students for applications in healthcare, agriculture, food science, pharmaceuticals, and related fields. It suits students interested in solving real-world biological and healthcare challenges, with opportunities to specialize in areas such as pre-med, biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, and biomanufacturing.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: The first year establishes the engineering and biological foundations needed for later bioengineering study. UNM states that the introductory bioengineering course will provide hands-on experience with cell culture, sterile technique, and bioengineering basics, giving students an early connection between laboratory practice and engineering applications.

Year 2: Students progress into the scientific and engineering concepts that underpin biological systems and their applications. The university has not yet published a complete year-by-year list of specific Year 2 courses for the new standalone B.S. in Bioengineering; therefore, individual course units are not stated on the current official program announcement.

Year 3: The program moves toward more specialized bioengineering study, with students able to develop interests in areas including biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, and biomanufacturing. UNM states that new courses will be introduced as students progress through the degree, allowing the curriculum to evolve with the field.

Year 4: The final stage emphasizes advanced laboratory and design work built around real-world, open-ended problems, allowing students to apply engineering principles to biological and healthcare challenges. The degree is designed with modular sequencing so students can dive deeper into their chosen area of interest while developing innovative solutions.

Focus areas

Pre-med, biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, biomanufacturing.

Learning outcomes

Engineering problem-solving, biological systems analysis, laboratory skills, cell culture and sterile technique, interdisciplinary design, and application of engineering approaches to healthcare and biological innovation.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

Accreditation: The new B.S. in Bioengineering is being launched by UNM’s School of Engineering and is currently in rollout. UNM’s September 2026 announcement describes the development of an ABET-accredited program, but the university has not yet published a separate final ABET accreditation page for the standalone B.S. in Bioengineering. The existing Chemical Engineering B.S. at UNM is ABET-accredited, but that accreditation should not be treated as accreditation of the new Bioengineering degree.

Reputation (employability rankings)

Official ranking: A program-specific QS or Guardian employability ranking for the new B.S. in Bioengineering is not stated on the official UNM sources reviewed. UNM does highlight the School of Engineering's proximity to three federal laboratories, undergraduate research opportunities, and industry practice opportunities, while the department has established connections involving Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in the new Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at the University of New Mexico gain practical experience through hands-on laboratory work, design courses, research, and interdisciplinary work connecting engineering with medicine and biological sciences. The program’s introductory course includes hands-on work with cell culture and sterile technique, while laboratory and design courses in the final two years focus on real-world, open-ended problems. Students can also connect their undergraduate studies with UNM’s established biomedical engineering research infrastructure, including specialized laboratories at the School of Engineering and Health Sciences Center.

Students can build their practical and research experience through these program-specific opportunities:

Hands-on bioengineering: The introductory bioengineering course provides practical experience in cell culture, sterile technique, and bioengineering fundamentals, giving students laboratory exposure from the beginning of the new degree.
Design projects: During the final two years, students complete laboratory and design courses based on real-world, open-ended problems, allowing them to apply engineering principles to biological and healthcare challenges.
Bioengineering pathways: Students can develop focused experience in areas including biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, biomanufacturing, and pre-med preparation.
Undergraduate research: Juniors and seniors can undertake research projects with individual faculty in UNM laboratories. Available research environments expose students to advanced processing and analytical equipment and research areas including biotechnology.
Biomedical engineering facilities: UNM’s Center for Biomedical Engineering provides specialized facilities for biomaterials engineering, cell and tissue engineering, biosensors, biochemical engineering, and optical research, with equipment including flow cytometry, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, cell-culture facilities, thermocyclers, HPLC, and confocal microscopy.
Advanced cell engineering: The Facility for Advanced Cell Engineering (FACE) at the UNM Health Sciences Center provides laboratory space for human stem-cell research, including BSL-2 biological safety cabinets, CO₂ incubators, centrifugation equipment, and inverted microscopy.
Research network: Students can benefit from UNM’s interdisciplinary biomedical research environment, which includes more than 100 research laboratories across the School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Engineering, and Department of Biology, with affiliated research opportunities involving Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.
Computational and analytical tools: Related Chemical and Biological Engineering research facilities provide access to specialized analytical equipment such as scanning electron microscopy, ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger spectroscopy, aerosol systems, and chemical-vapor-deposition equipment.
Research-for-credit opportunities: UNM’s Undergraduate Research Experience in Biomedical Sciences (UREBS) allows undergraduates to conduct research in university laboratories while earning academic credit, providing another route into biomedical research.
Industry and national-laboratory exposure: UNM Engineering emphasizes opportunities to practice within industry and benefits from proximity to three federal laboratories, while its biomedical engineering research community has established collaborations with Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at the University of New Mexico is a new undergraduate degree designed to prepare students for work at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biological innovation. Graduates can apply their training across healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food science, biotechnology, and related fields, with focus areas including biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, biomanufacturing, and pre-med preparation.

Career Opportunities: Typical pathways include bioengineering technician, biomedical engineering technician, bioprocessing or biomanufacturing professional, and research assistant; the program can also support progression toward medical and other professional careers.

Career Services: UNM Career Services provides career advising, resume and cover-letter support, interview preparation, Handshake access to job and internship postings, employer connections, on-campus recruiting, and career fairs. UNM’s Engineering Student Services also supports engineering students with internship and employment preparation.
Employment opportunities: UNM’s Engineering & Science Job and Internship Fair brings employers recruiting engineering and science students for internships and full-time positions. The university does not currently publish a program-specific employment rate or salary figure for this newly launched B.S. in Bioengineering.
University–industry connections: UNM’s Engineering Student Success Center maintains employer connections for engineering internships and jobs, with listed organizations including Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Sandia National Laboratories, BioFlyte, Boeing, Ball Aerospace, and Argonne National Laboratory. The center also reports that some company partners have transitioned engineering students from internships into part-time or full-time employment.
Research and innovation: The degree builds on UNM’s established strengths in biomaterials, tissue engineering, and mechanobiology, while addressing biotechnology as an identified economic-development priority in New Mexico.
Accreditation value: Because this is a newly launched undergraduate program, UNM’s official sources do not currently state that the B.S. in Bioengineering itself is ABET-accredited. UNM does have ABET-accredited engineering programs, but that accreditation should not be assumed to apply to this new degree.
Graduation outcomes: Graduates can enter biological and biomedical innovation fields or use the degree as preparation for advanced study. The program specifically provides a pathway for students interested in engineering and medical school to complete relevant coursework.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Bioengineering, students can continue into graduate-level study in areas such as biomedical engineering, bioengineering, biotechnology, biological sciences, or related engineering disciplines. UNM currently offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Engineering, providing a relevant route for students who want to deepen their research and technical expertise; students following the pre-med pathway can also progress toward medical school after completing the required prerequisites.