Biomedical Engineering Bachelor of Science Degree

• Design instruments, devices, and software
• Bring together knowledge from many technical sources to develop new medical products, procedures, and pharmaceuticals
• Conduct research needed to solve clinical problems

Biomedical Engineering Courses

RIT’s biomedical engineering BS is a five-year program consisting of the following:

• Biomedical Engineering Core Courses: A core set of courses in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) 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: Two free electives 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: One year of cooperative education experience provides you with hands-on experience working in industry. (See Cooperative Education below.)
• Liberal Arts Courses: Courses that include writing, communications, and the humanities and social sciences comprise liberal arts courses you will complete as part of your degree. A three-course immersion is also required. The immersion can enhance your biomedical engineering studies or be a topic that explores a personal interest.
• 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: This two-course multidisciplinary senior design experience integrates engineering theory, principles, and processes within a collaborative environment that bridges engineering disciplines. Explore projects and innovations developed in multidisciplinary senior design.

Learn more about the Student Learning Outcomes and Program Educational Objectives for the biomedical engineering BS degree.

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 or engineering technology is more about identifying what you like to do and how you like to do it.

Furthering Your Education in Biomedical Engineering

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, giving you a competitive advantage.  

• Biomedical Engineering BS/Biomedical Engineering MS: In this combined accelerated biomedical engineering BS/MS pathway, you'll gain the skills to utilize technology, design, and engineering to positively impact human health and patient care, including how to develop biomedical systems and medical equipment and processes. This knowledge will give you the ability to contribute to innovations in medical technology, drug development, and regulatory compliance in academia, hospitals, laboratories, and manufacturing settings.
• Biomedical Engineering BS/Science, Technology and Public Policy MS: Throughout history, technology has been a major driver of social, political, and economic change. Societies around the globe employ public policies to solve problems and achieve their social, economic, and environmental objectives. The spheres of public policy and technology overlap as society is challenged to consider not only the role of new technologies in its quest for improved quality of life, but also how policies affect the development, emergence, and choice of new technologies. Because of the role engineers play in creating new technology, they increasingly have an important role in helping to shape public policy. Moreover, policies affecting how we as a society live and work—such as environmental, industrial, energy, and national security policy, to name a few—demand that engineers be prepared to integrate policy issues into their engineering practice. Biomedical engineering students may choose to pursue an accelerated dual degree in which they may complete a BS in biomedical engineering and an MS in science, technology, and public policy in approximately five years. Many biomedical engineers combine their technical knowledge with the policy skills needed to analyze and advocate for policy change in both private and public organizations. The interdisciplinary nature of the program, in conjunction with the quantitative and qualitative approaches taken to understand and analyze policy, will contribute to your ability to gain exciting leadership roles in a range of engineering fields.
• Biomedical Engineering BS/Industrial and Systems Engineering MS: In this accelerated dual degree pathway you will earn both a BS in biomedical engineering and an MS in industrial and systems engineering. Students with an interest in biomedical products and services will acquire the skills to optimize, design, manage, and innovate the operational, manufacturing, and decision-making processes necessary to produce and distribute goods and services effectively and efficiently. Gain a comprehensive understanding of modern solutions to challenges in services, manufacturing, product development, and systems design. The training places a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making solutions, combining engineering, business insights, mathematics, data analytics, and systems perspective to design solutions for complex problems. 

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising

RIT’s Office of Pre-Health Advising offers an advising program that’s open to all majors and provides personal, individualized academic counseling to help you create a comprehensive long-term strategy to assist you in building successful applications to medical, dental, and veterinary schools or graduate degrees in the health professions (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, etc.). Our pre-health advisors will have in-depth conversations with you around critical topics that include academic planning and course selection, MCAT and other admission exams, undergraduate research opportunities, clinical experiences and field work, timelines, and much more. Learn more about pre-med/pre-health advising.

Pre-Vet Advising

RIT’s pre-vet advising program provides personalized support to help you prepare successful applications for veterinary medical school. Pre-vet advising offers guidance on course selection, veterinary and animal care experience requirements, the veterinary school application process, and more. Learn about RIT’s pre-vet advising program.

RIT/University of Buffalo’s Early Opportunity Program in Medicine

RIT pre-health/pre-med students have a direct path to medical school through an RIT partnership with the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo (UB). The Early Opportunity Program in Medicine allows eligible RIT students to secure a pre-admission offer to the Jacobs School while completing their undergraduate degree at RIT. Students accepted into the program gain early access to professional training and mentorship at UB’s medical school, helping them prepare for the demands of medical school and beyond. Learn more about the Early Opportunity Program in Medicine.