- A calculus-based engineering degree with foundational science that includes cell and molecular biology, human physiology, physics, and chemistry.
- Gain a year of hands-on, full-time, paid career experience through required cooperative education.
- Companies hiring our students for co-ops include Medtronic, Merck, Moderna, Bausch & Lomb, Bristol Myers Squibb, Corning, Hill-Rom, Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Regeneron, and more.
Improving the health and well-being of others is the emphasis of this dynamic biomedical engineering degree. Biomedical engineers support biocompatibility testing, create innovative medical devices, design artificial organs and tissues, develop new drugs and drug delivery systems, and enhance medical imaging techniques.
What is Biomedical Engineering?
Biomedical engineering leverages the vast knowledge base of engineering, biology, and medicine to solve problems focused on health care and the human body. Biomedical engineers design instruments, devices, and software; bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new medical products, procedures, and pharmaceuticals; and conduct research needed to solve clinical problems. They often serve as coordinators and big picture problem solvers. By utilizing their expertise in engineering and biological science, biomedical engineers are often the bridge that connects the clinical aspect of medicine with the technological understanding of engineering to design, develop, and implement innovative solutions to health care problems.
Biomedical Engineering Curriculum
RIT's biomedical engineering degree is a five-year program consisting of the following requirements:
- Biomedical engineering core courses – The curriculum consists of a core set of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to give you the ability to apply principles of science and engineering to analyze, model, design, and realize biomedical devices, systems, components, and processes. You will learn to solve biomedical engineering problems including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems as well as make measurements on, and interpret data from, living systems.
- Professional technical electives – The program includes two free electives that allow you to choose courses from any college in the university. In the fourth or fifth year of the program, students choose two technical electives specifically related to some aspect of biomedical engineering, such as biomechanics, instrumentation and imaging, or tissue engineering.
- Cooperative education – An important aspect of the biomedical engineering program is one year of cooperative education experience. (See Cooperative Education below.)
- Liberal arts courses – Courses that include writing, communications, and the humanities and social sciences comprise liberal arts course you will complete as part of the program. A three-course immersion is also required. The immersion can enhance your biomedical engineering studies, or be a topic of personal.
- Free electives – Chosen based on your interests, these free electives provide you with the opportunity to select additional course work to enhance a personal or professional interest.
- Multidisciplinary senior design – The biomedical engineering major culminates in the fifth year with a two-course multidisciplinary senior design experience. This capstone design course integrates engineering theory, principles, and processes within a collaborative environment that bridges engineering disciplines. Learn more by exploring multidisciplinary senior design.
Learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives for the biomedical engineering BS degree.
Engineering vs. Engineering Technology
Two dynamic areas of study, both with outstanding outcomes rates. Which do you choose?
What's the difference between engineering and engineering technology? It's a question we're asked all the time. While there are subtle differences in the course work between the two, choosing a major in engineering vs. engineering technology is more about identifying what you like to do and how you like to do it.
Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health professions (e.g., physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy) welcome applications from students majoring in a wide range of academic programs. Acceptance into these programs requires the completion of pre-med requirements such as course work in biological and physical sciences, a strong academic record, pertinent experiences in the field, and key intrapersonal and interpersonal capabilities. Learn more about how RIT's Premedical and Health Professions Advisory Program can help you become a competitive candidate for admission to medical schools and graduate programs in the medical and health professions.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.