Biomedical engineers must have at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering from a school accredited by ABET. Many employers prefer that prospective employees earn a master’s degree or higher in biomedical engineering.
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1 Johns Hopkins University (Whiting)
Johns Hopkins University (Whiting) in Baltimore, Maryland is ranked the #1 top biomedical engineering school in the United States. The program in Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Whitaker Institute offers students a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
Students can choose to concentrate in computational biology and biological systems engineering, microsystems and nanotechnology, tissue and cellular engineering, sensors, or instrumentation. The BS program requires students take classes in algebra, calculus, chemistry, and physics. Required coursework includes studies in physics, calculus, chemistry, and algebra. Students also complete a laboratory component as part of the program.
BIOMEDICAL-ENGINEERING, BIOTECHNOLOGY-ENGINEERING
2 Georgia Institute of Technology
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology was ranked #2 by US News in 2011. The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Science is a collaboration between Georgia Tech and Emory University and offers students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering.
The program boasts world-class faculty who perform innovative research and are leaders in the field and houses the only research facility solely committed to Pediatric Nanomedicine research in the United States. In addition to the BS in Biomedical Engineering, students can pursue The Georgia Tech Master of Biomedical Innovation and Development, a traditional Ph.D., or an international Ph.D.
3 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is ranked as one of the top biomedical engineering schools in the country. The faculty in the Department of Biological Engineering is comprised of experts in the field, and more than one third have a membership in at least one major US academy.
MIT offers several degree programs for prospective biomedical engineers. The undergraduate program leads to a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering. Students study biological and biochemical sciences as well as engineering./ At the graduate level, MIT offers a Masters Degree in Biomedical Engineering which is designed for MIT undergraduates. A Ph.D. program in either Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering is also offered.
3 University of California—San Diego (Jacobs)
Ranked as one of the top five biomedical engineering programs, UC San Diego is at the forefront of bioengineering. The world-class faculty and the collaboration between the Schools of Engineering and Medicine offer students the opportunity learn and research in an exceptional atmosphere.
The school has two programs for prospective bioengineers. The first is a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering. Students will study such topics as biomechanics, biotransport, bioinstrumentation, bioelectricity, and biosystems. The second degree option is a combined Bachelor’s/Master’s degree program open to outstanding undergraduates in the Bioengineering Department. The program enables students to complete their master’s degree in one year.
5 Duke University (Pratt)
Duke University’s Biomedical Engineering program allows students to hone their skills through independent study research and the opportunity to collaborate with faculty in Duke’s Medical School. In addition, the program allows students to take classes in their own area of interest.
The school has an undergraduate program in Biomedical Engineering as well as three graduate programs. The Master of Science, Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), and the Ph.D. program are options for students seeking to further their education with advanced research and coursework.
5 Stanford University
The Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University is one of the best programs in the country. The department seeks to develop new technology in the field through a combination of engineering and life sciences.
The BioE major gives students the opportunity to study basic sciences and engineering fundamentals so that they will be able to pursue a career in the field after graduation. The school also offers a Master of Science in Bioengineering degree and a Ph.D. Before entering the Ph.D. program, prospective students must first complete the MS.
7 Rice University (Brown)
Rice University’s Department of Bioengineering has one of the top programs in the country for bioengineering. Located in Houston, Texas, the school’s location makes it an excellent place to study because of its close proximity to the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world.
The classes in the program are small and students are able to study in a close-knit community. In addition, the program combines teaching and research, and undergraduate students are encouraged to engage in research.
The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering, a Master in Bioengineering which is nonthesis degree, and a Ph.D. program that typically takes 4-5 years to complete.
7 University of California—Berkeley
The Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley is ranked #7 by US News. The program focuses its research and teaching in five different areas which consist of regenerative medicine and therapeutic engineering, biomaterials and nanotechnology, instrumentation, computational biology and bioinformatics, systems and synthetic biology.
The department offers students a Bachelor of Science degree which is a multidisciplinary program and gives students a foundation in bioengineering, engineering, and physical and biological sciences. A Master of Engineering in Bioengineering is also offered within the department as well as a Ph.D. and a Master’s of Translational Medicine in bioengineering jointly awarded from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco Medical School.
7 University of Washington
Located in Seattle, the bioengineering program at the University of Washington is a smaller program that promotes a close-knit group of students who support each other. In addition, faculty and staff know the students because of the smaller student body and class sizes.
The undergraduate degree program in bioengineering gives students a solid foundation in the subject and provides students with hands-on research opportunities. The combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program is open to current undergrads in the bioengineering program, and students accepted into the program can complete their master’s degree in five years. There is also a Master of Science available that is thesis-based and gives students independent research experience. The Ph.D. offered at the university is designed for students who wish to further their learning and research in bioengineering.
10 University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia and offers students wishing to enter the field of bioengineering several different degree options. The faculty at the university is world class, and students in the program are able to work with expert faculty in their various areas of research.
The school has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Science that students can choose from. Both programs consist of the same coursework for the first two years. The Master’s degree in Bioengineering prepares students to work in a variety of areas within the bioengineering industry through interdisciplinary education and a focus on biological and medical sciences. The Ph.D. program at the school was the first to grant a doctorate degree in bioengineering and offers top research facilities and curriculum that is flexible.
