Program Overview
Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary program that integrates skills and expertise in biomedicine, mechanics, electronics, materials and engineering design. Our graduates will be versatile problem-solvers who succeed as researchers, consultants, entrepreneurs, medical doctors and engineers in the med-tech field and beyond.
Students follow one of three paths:
- Industry/graduate track: For students who are interested in pursuing a career in industry or graduate school (research or academia)
- Pre-medical track, bioinstrumentation option: For students interested in going to medical school and are interested in medical devices, such as biosensors and imaging systems, or robotic surgical tools.
- Pre-medical track, biomechanics option: For students interested in going to medical school and are interested in human motion, performance, disabilities, prosthetics or orthopedics.
Program Educational Objectives
The Biomedical Engineering Program at CU Boulder is dedicated to preparing our graduating students for the following achievements within 5–10 years of receiving their undergraduate degrees:
- Professional employment in areas such as the medical device industry, engineering consulting, biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, biomedical imaging, and biotechnology, with promotions and increasing levels of leadership and responsibility over time.
- Completion of graduate studies in biomedical engineering or related fields, with subsequent employment and success in academy, industry, or related professions.
- Completion of medical, veterinary, dental or other professional school, with subsequent success in residency, clinical practice and/or other professional employment.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
- Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Biomedical Engineering Specific Criteria
- Applying principles of engineering, biology, human physiology, chemistry, calculus-based physics, mathematics (through differential equations) and statistics.
- Solving biomedical engineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems.
- Analyzing, modeling, designing and realizing biomedical engineering devices, systems, components or processes.
- Making measurements on and interpreting data from living systems.
ABET Accreditation
New degree programs are able to seek ABET accreditation after graduation of their first cohort of students. Biomedical Engineering will seek accreditation in 2023 through the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Update: In the Fall of 2023, the Biomedical Engineering Program met with ABET. The program had a successful accreditation visit, no weaknesses or deficiencies were identified, and we are anticipating receiving our accreditation letter in August (after the ABET July meeting) based on the ABET process. This accreditation would be retroactive to our first year of graduates.
Enrollment and Degree Data
Available at: https://www.colorado.edu/engineering/accreditation
