Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering

Foster wide-ranging career opportunities through the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering (BSBME) at Wayne State University. Whether you intend to work in a laboratory, attend medical school or design life-saving medical equipment, our biomedical engineering major prepares you to thrive in this high-impact field.

 

 

Program highlights

• Rolling admissions — apply whenever you are ready!
• Transfer friendly
• Complete hands-on biomedical engineering research projects 
• Gain professional experience in co-ops and internships
• ABET-accredited

What is biomedical engineering?

Biomedical engineers apply engineering principles in medical contexts such as prosthetics, medical imaging, safety equipment and stem cell research. When you study biomedical engineering, you prepare to look at the human body and medical interventions through the technical lens, alert to problems and at the leading edge of solutions that can revolutionize people’s well-being. 

Biomedical engineering is a multidimensional, rewarding field that brings life sciences like biology, anatomy and physiology together with areas like mechanical and electrical engineering.

Learn more about biomedical engineering.

What will you learn in the biomedical engineering major?

With a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering from Wayne State University, you are equipped to:

• Work in multidisciplinary teams to translate biomedical science to applications that will improve people’s quality of life
• Utilize and advance engineering, mathematical, and biomedical tools to solve biomedical engineering problems and design biomedical engineering systems
• Continue a practice of lifelong learning in engineering and/or biomedical fields based on a strong underlying foundation in both areas of study

Program curriculum and courses

The 120-credit degree in biomedical engineering follows a four-year course path. You will begin with broad foundations in engineering design, chemistry, materials science, programming and more. As you advance through the program, you will select the courses and electives that prepare you for career success. 

Review the B.S. in biomedical engineering curriculum.

Real-world experiences and opportunities

From your first week in the biomedical engineering major, you will encounter real-world biomedical engineering problems and tools through our ongoing partnership with the Wayne State University School of Medicine and affiliated hospitals. These opportunities will equip you with thorough comprehension of the challenges and environments of clinical medicine.

In your capstone project, you will collaborate with peers and an industry or clinical professional to identify, analyze, design and execute a solution to a real-world problem. This invaluable practice positions you as an accomplished and success-driven candidate in the job market after graduation.

Discover how our hands-on-experience and undergraduate research equips students for real-world challenges.

Concentrations in biomedical engineering

As a biomedical engineering major, you can choose your degree concentration in biomaterials, biomechanics or biomedical instrumentation.

In this degree program, you will spend the first two years establishing a strong foundation of knowledge. Before your junior year, you will choose a specialization as the focus for the remainder of your study. This concentration will involve at least four to five elective courses designed to deepen your knowledge in the path of greatest interest to your professional career.

Jumpstart your master’s degree with AGRADE (4+1)

The Accelerated Graduate Enrollment (AGRADE) program at Wayne State empowers you to complete your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just five years. If you are accepted into AGRADE, talk to your advisor to develop a plan of work for 16 credits of coursework that contribute to both your BS and MS in biomedical engineering degrees.

Undergraduate research opportunities

Explore your interests and make your mark in biomedical engineering by joining our department’s undergraduate research groups. As early as your first year, you can work alongside peers and expert faculty mentors in leading-edge scholarly research that makes a real-world impact. 

The biomedical engineering faculty includes experts in biomedical imaging and instrumentation, computational systems biology, injury and musculoskeletal biomechanics, tissue engineering and biomaterials and more, all of whom are eager to collaborate with students on exciting research.

Biomedical engineering degree career outlook

Your future is expansive. With a bachelor’s in biomedical engineering, you will establish expertise in a wide range of fields and prepare to support the immense needs of a growing, aging human population. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 10% growth — faster than average — in biomedical engineering careers over the next decade, and salaries are lucrative; the median pay in 2021 was $97,410 per year. You can work in a variety of specialties, including: 

• Clinical engineer (work in hospitals to perform maintenance and repairs to medical devices)
• Medical device design
• Quality control of medical devices
• Regulation of medical devices
• Automotive safety
• Biomedical research

The bachelor of science in biomedical engineering prepares you for further study, including an M.S. in biomedical engineering or medical school.

ABET accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering program at Wayne State University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Why Accreditation Matters 

Learn more about Wayne State University's biomedical engineering program objectives and ABET accreditation.

Admission requirements

BME program application decisions are made after university admission. Applications from students not admitted to the university will not be considered.

Freshmen

Minimum admissions criteria for incoming freshmen are:

• High School GPA: 3.2
• Composite/Total Score: 
  • ACT Composite: 23/ACT Math: 26
  • SAT Combined:1150/SAT Math: 620

The department does not have absolute cut-offs for admission.

Prerequisite coursework for incoming freshmen

• Students entering from high school are encouraged to take the following tests:
  • AP and IB Chemistry
  • AP and IB Calculus (Math)
  • AP and IB Biology
  • AP and IB English

You will also need to place into at least Calculus I (MAT 2010) and General Chemistry (CHM 1125 and 1130).

You can achieve your math placement through testing (ACT, SAT or Math Placement Exam: test, material) or transfer credit. To get into General Chemistry, earn a passing score in AP Chemistry, the Chemistry Placement Exam (test, material), or transfer credit. In both cases, you can earn transfer credit through a course at another institution. 

You can be placed directly into the BSBME program with a passing score in AP and IB chemistry and calculus tests.

Review available tests, scores and equivalencies.

Transfer students

You can apply to transfer to the biomedical engineering major after you complete college-level coursework at Wayne State or another college or university. To transfer, you should have a minimum overall GPA of 3.3.

If you intend to transfer from another institution, review the course requirements in the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering curriculum and refer to Wayne State’s transfer equivalency tables. If a course you intend to transfer is not listed in the transfer tables, we haven’t yet evaluated that course for equivalency. In such cases, we encourage you to submit course syllabi with your application for a preliminary review.

BME undergraduate program transfer guides

Wayne State University’s undergraduate BME program is a four-year, cohort-based curriculum. In order to prepare for admission as a transfer student, you must complete a minimum set of courses so that you can join the cohort at the appropriate point in the program. If you do not meet the full set of prerequisites, you may request consideration for admission at an earlier point in the program.

Wayne State transfer and AP credit evaluation

Prerequisite coursework for transfer students

To transfer to the biomedical engineering major in your second year, you must complete the following courses or their equivalents:

• Math: MAT 2010 and MAT 2020
• Chemistry: CHM 1125 and 1130
• Physics: PHY 2175
• English: ENG 1020
• Biology: BIO 1510 (+ BIO 1511)
• Engineering: BE 1200, 1300, 1310 and BE 1500

The Transfer Credit website offers further guidance on how your credits can transfer to Wayne State. You can also review the Wayne State transfer and AP credit evaluation.

Apply to Wayne State’s biomedical engineering bachelor’s program

Embrace opportunities to develop as an engineer and a medical professional in the bachelor of science in biomedical engineering program at Wayne State University. 

Hone your studies in biomaterials, biomechanics or biomedical instrumentation, and put your learning into practice in co-op placements, internships and your capstone design project.

Contact BME Academic Advisor Namrata Murthy for questions regarding admission procedures and requirements.