Biomedical engineers (BMEs) advance the technologies and frameworks needed to drive modern healthcare. Blending engineering skills with thorough knowledge of the health services industry and natural biology, BMEs are often experts in a particular engineering discipline and biomedical science.
By its nature, this field is about problem-solving. Biomedical engineers work to solve complex translational problems in industries like biotechnology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, equipment manufacturing, consulting, and research and development.
Prospective BMEs should develop an educational plan based on standards set by the intended state-of-practice. For example, some states only issue licenses to engineers with graduate degrees. All undergraduate BME programs should be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
Students need to complete at least a 4-year bachelor's degree, preferably in BME or, alternatively, a related engineering discipline with significance relevance to biomedical engineering applications.
The best biomedical engineering schools afford students didactic access to a medical facility or medical school. They maintain an interdisciplinary approach that spans numerous engineering disciplines and engages the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, among others.
Core BME coursework includes:
Many top biomedical engineering schools let students earn a specialized bachelor's degree. Specialty areas on the medical side of BME studies may focus on a body system, special technology, pathology like cancer, or product like a devices or class of drugs.
On the engineering side, specialization often emphasizes an engineering science like chemical, electrical, or mechanical engineering. The possibilities are myriad. In general, the higher the education pursued, the more power students will have to determine their own course of study.
Here are some other areas of specialization:
Students with a bachelor's in biomedical engineering may go on to medical school or graduate school, or they may simply enter the workforce. The latter can usually find entry-level jobs as technicians or field support. For these individuals, the idea is to gain as much solid work experience as possible. Employers will hire Bachelors as full-title biomedical and clinical engineers once they have some industry experience, ranging from 2 to 10 years.
Which jobs are available to bachelor degree-holders, especially with industry experience?
Master's candidates study how biological organisms function as engineering systems. They learn to apply engineering techniques to solve complex clinical technology problems. Master degree programs typically last about 2 years. Those who go on to medical school will spend 4 years earning an M.D.
Master candidates pursue either the Master of Science (M.S.) or Master of Engineering (M.Eng.). The former is for research; the latter is considered the terminal professional degree. Typically, the M.Eng. involves a greater design component. Both are acceptable for employment purposes.
To get into graduate school, students must complete the undergraduate coursework sought by their desired program. Medical schools, for example, look for pre-med coursework. Many programs accept undergraduate degrees in Chemistry, Physics, or a related Engineering discipline in lieu of the BME major, but compensatory coursework may be required.
Coursework for an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering may include:
A master's degree-holder can become a:
Employers value higher education in this industry, and there are many rewards for those who earn a Ph.D. Doctoral students often have access to professional connections who can considerably enhance their employment prospects. They will also be eligible for academic work or independent research.
Doctoral graduates may further attend postdoctoral fellowships to gain valuable experience for a professional research career. Such fellowships provide specialized experience that can open up advanced employment opportunities. In general, those with a Ph.D. plus clinical postdoctoral work will retain a competitive job outlook.
BMEs who can transform biological discoveries into viable products and help bring them to market will see some of the best employment prospects in the field. Ph.D.s are well-suited to this task as researchers who develop effective methods, devices and therapies for contemporary medical practice.
Some common Ph.D. areas of research focus are:
Here are some BME jobs that require a Ph.D.:
We found 86 schools offering "Bioengineering And Biomedical Engineering" degree programs in the U.S.
>> See all 86 Bioengineering And Biomedical Engineering Colleges in the U.S.
