Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering concentration

The Bioengineering Department offers a BS degree in bioengineering with a concentration in biomedical engineering: the biological and medical application of engineering principles in healthcare.

Biomedical engineers integrate engineering principles with the medical sciences to design and create medicines, artificial tissues and organs, devices, computer systems, and software to improve human health.

As a concentration within UMassD's bioengineering program, your program of study will bring together the life sciences, medicine, and engineering—providing a solid academic foundation and a broad interdisciplinary approach to the field.

Within the concentration, you'll have the opportunity to explore:

cell and tissue engineering: with courses in areas such as nanotechnology, immunology, human organogenesis, and material surfaces
medical devices: with courses in areas such as implantable sensors, robotics, medical ultrasonics, and device regulations

Your education will prepare you to contribute to the profession in an ethical and socially responsible manner and to work effectively to further your career and to benefit society.

You’ll join a new generation of innovators and leaders in fields with significant opportunities for growth. Biomedical engineers pursue exciting, rewarding careers in manufacturing, universities, hospitals, research facilities, and other educational and medical institutions.

The bioengineering program's concentration in biomedical engineering provides rigorous, multidisciplinary training that integrates the engineering principles, life sciences, bio-research, and material design.

You’ll take 120 credits including:

66 credits in engineering (including general, mechanical, electrical and bioengineering)
7 credits in chemistry
47 credits in an array of course work: math (15), physics (8), English (9) and University Studies (15)

If you are thinking of continuing your studies in medical school, you will want to learn more about UMassD's pre-med/pre-health advising program.

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

Student success

Bioengineering student Jackie Horgan standing in Textiles hallway

Jacqueline Horgan '23, '24

Jacqueline Horgan is a bioengineer, cheerleading captain, volunteer tutor, president of the Biomedical Engineering Society, and honors student. She says UMassD gave her the opportunity to pursue ambitious research while still enjoying the full college experience.

Internship placements

Biomedical Research Institute
Biosurfaces
Curexo Technologies
Johnson & Johnson
Smith & Nephew
St. Jude Medical
Univ. of Pennsylvania

Graduate school placements

Cornell University
Northeastern University
Tufts University
UMass Medical School
Boston University

Career placements

Hospitals
Bioresearch centers
Pharmaceutical laboratories
Prostheses and medical devices manufacturers
Biomaterial developers
Patent offices
Consulting businesses
Government regulatory agencies
Medical information software developers
Heath management services

UMassD advantages

Capstone projects: most senior engineering students work in small teams on real-world, industry-specific challenges that demand analysis, proposals, prototypes, and solutions.
Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship: This UMass Dartmouth facility in Fall River is a business incubator. UMass Dartmouth students have educational and experiential opportunities at the facility with UMassD faculty members and start-up companies.
Center for Scientific Computing and Visualization Research: This interdisciplinary center provides collaboration opportunities and on-campus supercomputing facilities for faculty and students interested computationally-driven research that addresses the pressing needs of fields of study like modern engineering, mechanics, fluid dynamics and electromagnetics.
UMassD’s proximity to the Greater Boston area provides easy access to an epicenter of biotechnology/pharmaceuticals/medical devices companies.

International (F-1) students who receive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees may be eligible to apply for a 24-month extension of their post-completion optional practical training (OPT). To learn about the eligibility criteria and detailed steps to apply, please review the International Student & Scholar Center (ISSC) OPT page and USCIS resources. F-1 students must consult with the ISSC to apply for STEM OPT.