Biomedical Engineering

Two students in lab coats examine a microscope slide in a science lab.

Program Type

B.S.

Est. Time to Complete

4 Years

School

Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology

Delivery Mode

On Campus

Biology student examining test tubes

Design solutions that improve lives through Biomedical Engineering.

The Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Engineering degree program at York College of Pennsylvania combines engineering, biology, and healthcare to help you understand the human body as an engineering system and develop solutions that support, improve, or restore its function.

As a Biomedical Engineering major, you’ll build skills in areas such as biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, physiology, and medical device design. Hands-on projects throughout the program lead to a senior Capstone Design experience where you’ll identify a real clinical need, design and build a prototype, and test your solution.

You’ll also gain professional experience before graduation through a required two-semester co-op and a senior clinical immersion that gives you the opportunity to learn directly in healthcare environments and the people your designs may ultimately serve.

About the Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering Curriculum

York College’s Biomedical Engineering program combines engineering and biological sciences to help students understand the human body as an engineering system and develop solutions that examine, augment, or repair its function.

Key courses include:

  • BME460/1: Biomaterials and Laboratory — Explore metals, polymers, composites, biocompatibility, and clinical experimental design for applications including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and implantable devices.
  • BME 360/1: Transport and Laboratory — Study how fluids and small molecules move through the body and medical devices, with applications involving blood flow, cardiac bypass, and dialysis.
  • BME400/402: Capstone Design I and II — Design, build, and test a biomedical device or system based on an unmet clinical need.
  • BME342: Quantitative Physiology — Use mathematical modeling to understand biological signaling and systems such as the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems.
  • BME432: Bioinstrumentation — Learn about microcontrollers and signal filtering while developing skills used to design, build, and validate medical devices.
    Project-Based Learning

Projects appear throughout the curriculum, beginning with broad engineering work in machining and fabrication, computer programming, and electrical or mechanical design. Later coursework brings biology and engineering together as students design systems intended to interface with living tissues.

Admissions and Aid

Students applying to the B.S. in Biomedical Engineering program follow the same admissions requirements as York College’s other engineering programs.

Explore undergraduate admissions to learn more about applying to York College. You can also learn about costs and financial aid, including tuition and scholarship information.

Learn about costs and financial aid at York College to understand tuition and reach out with any questions

Earn a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at York College of Pennsylvania

York College’s Biomedical Engineering program brings engineering and biology together to prepare students to develop solutions for challenges involving the human body and medical technology.

Get started with a request for information or begin an online application.

Prepare for Biomedical Engineering Careers

A B.S. in Biomedical Engineering can prepare graduates for careers across healthcare, research, medical technology, and engineering.

Career paths include:

  • Medical device design and development
  • Clinical engineering
  • Research and development engineering
  • Quality and regulatory engineering
  • Biomaterials engineering
  • Rehabilitation engineering
  • University teaching and research with graduate education

Salary and Outlook

The field of biomedical engineering offers opportunities across healthcare, medical technology, research, and engineering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of biomedical engineers to grow 5% between 2024 and 2034.

According to the BLS, the median annual salary for biomedical engineers was $106,950 in 2024.

Professional Engineering Preparation

Students are prepared to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, the first step toward licensure as a Professional Engineer.

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Two-Semester Co-op

Professional work experience is built into the Biomedical Engineering program through a required two-semester co-op. Students graduate with two semesters of experience working in a professional setting.

Clinical Immersion and Capstone Design

During the senior Capstone Design experience, students begin with a clinical immersion in a local hospital, where they observe practitioners and patients to identify an unmet medical need.

Students then design, build, and test a prototype biomedical device or system based on that need. As part of the experience, they also apply for a provisional patent and learn about regulatory processes related to medical innovations and devices.

The clinical immersion allows students to see the end user, including clinicians and patients, and better understand their needs as they develop engineering solutions.

Engineering Co-Op

Undergraduate Research

Students interested in research can pursue independent studies with faculty. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs or equivalent opportunities may also be applied toward cooperative learning requirements.

Industry Connections and Mentorship

The engineering and computer science programs have an industry advisory council that gives students opportunities to connect with industry professionals for potential mentoring.

Clubs and Interdisciplinary Opportunities

Biomedical Engineering intersects multiple areas of engineering and science, creating opportunities for students to participate in interdisciplinary projects, research, campus student clubs, and other collaborations.

Students can also explore York College’s broader range of clubs and organizations to connect with peers and get involved across campus.

Undergraduate Research at YCPExplore Clubs and Organizations

Key Skills for Biomedical Engineering Careers

By earning your bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering at York College of Pennsylvania, you’ll develop technical skills that bring engineering and biological systems together. You’ll learn to:

  • Apply mechanical analysis
  • Apply electrical analysis
  • Select materials for biomedical applications
  • Design and conduct experiments
  • Use design thinking to approach engineering challenges
  • Consider biocompatibility when developing solutions
  • Integrate living and non-living systems

Professional Skills

Biomedical Engineering students also develop professional skills that support work across engineering and healthcare environments, including:

  • Empathy
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Ethical decision making
  • Creativity
  • Interviewing and job search skills

These skills are reinforced through the program’s required co-op experience and hands-on Capstone projects focused on medical device creation.

View All Majors and Minors

Biomedical Engineering Courses

Explore courses that bring engineering and biology together through hands-on study of biomaterials, transport, physiology, bioinstrumentation, and biomedical device design.

Course NameCourse CodeCredits
Quantitative PhysiologyBME 3423 Credits
Transport and LaboratoryBME 360/14 Credits
Capstone Design I and IIBME 400/4023 Credits
BioinstrumentationBME 4324 Credits
Biomaterials and LaboratoryBME 460/14 Credits

Careers in Biomedical Engineering

A bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering can prepare you for a variety of careers across medical device development, healthcare, research, and engineering. Career options may include:

Medical Device Designer

Clinical Engineer

Research and Development Engineer

Rehabilitation Engineer

Biomaterials Engineer

Quality and Regulatory Engineer

An advisor and a student sit on a couch in the seating area of a campus office. The student holds a piece of paper as they talk.

Build your dream career, one day at a time.

This is day one. From your first semester on campus through graduation day, York College offers expert advice, professional development opportunities, and personalized support to help you navigate the choices that influence your future. 

Explore resources for a successful college experience: 

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering is designed to be completed in four years.

York College’s Biomedical Engineering program includes a required two-semester co-op, giving students professional work experience before graduation.

The program includes a clinical immersion experience that gives students the opportunity to observe clinicians and patients and better understand the needs of the people their engineering solutions are intended to serve.

Meet the Faculty

Jessica Fautch
Jessica M. Fautch, Ph.D.
Dean, Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology
Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology
Stephen Kuchnicki
Stephen N. Kuchnicki, Ph.D.
Chair, Civil and Mechanical Engineering Department
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Kinsley School of Engineering, Sciences and Technology
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