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Biomedical Engineering

College of Engineering


Biomedical engineers use engineering principles and a knowledge of biological sciences to design and create new technology to improve the delivery of health care.

San Luis Obispo, California

The biomedical engineering curriculum provides you with a broad understanding of both biomedical and core engineering principles, along with fundamentals in mathematics, biology and chemistry.

Biomedical Engineering Curriculum

Opportunities are available for undergraduate and graduate work in many fields of interest, with the following laboratories available for course work and research projects:

  • Advanced Instrumentation Facility
  • Biofluidics Lab
  • Biomedical Imaging and Bioinstrumentation Lab
  • Biomedical Materials Characterization Lab
  • Electrophysiology and Neural Electronics Lab
  • High Performance Modeling and Simulation Lab
  • Human Motion Biomechanics Lab
  • Microcirculation and Vascular Regeneration Lab
  • St. Jude Bio Engineering Lab
  • Tissue Analysis Lab
  • Tissue Engineering and In Vitro Systems Lab

Bioinstrumentation

The bioinstrumentation concentration prepares you for entry positions in the medical device industry that require a deeper understanding of electrical systems.

More about Bioinstrumentation

General Curriculum in Biomedical Engineering

While you are encouraged to select a formal concentration, those who do not will default to the general curriculum and can tailor courses to fit a variety of specialties.

More about General Curriculum in Biomedical Engineering

Mechanical Design

The mechanical design concentration prepares you for entry positions in the medical device industry that require a deeper understanding of design, manufacturing or mechanical systems.

More about Mechanical Design

Biomedical engineering majors are able to participate in a blended program where you can earn your bachelor's and master's degrees through a streamlined program.

If you are interested in applying to the blended program, you should apply two quarters before you are scheduled to graduate with your BS degree. Blended applications are due the second full week of instruction of each quarter.

About the Program

Surf Prosthetic Test

In biomedical engineering, you will learn to design and create complex medical devices and imaging technology, as well improve health care delivery systems and early detection methods.

The program encourages you to master the fundamentals of engineering, physical and life sciences. Our carefully planned curriculum was designed in consultation with industry and academic leaders in California and throughout the world and consists of labs, lectures, research and networking opportunities. The degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Learn by Doing

From building prosthetics for wounded veterans to growing tissue engineered blood vessels to testing cerebral aneurysm devices, you will spend much of your time learning with real-world examples. The program includes partnerships with the biomedical device industry that allow you to work on confidential, real-life development projects as part of your study.

Biomedical Engineering student in lab

Improve Heart Health

Gain a better understanding of the impact of vascular health in the Tissue Engineering and In Vitro Systems Laboratory.

Learn More

Our Graduates

Biomedical engineering graduates successfully transition into the medical device industry and often find jobs at prominent and global leaders in medical devices and healthcare industries.

Major employers include Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Abbott Laboratories, Edwards LifeSciences, Stryker and Boston Scientific. Our graduates have also successfully founded start-up companies or have gone on to medical school and various other graduate programs.