Biomedical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Rochester offers students an interdisciplinary education that combines principles of engineering, biology, and medicine to develop innovative solutions for healthcare challenges. This program prepares students to design and improve medical devices, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic systems, addressing the complex needs of patients and healthcare providers. The curriculum integrates applied engineering concepts with a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, and physics, enabling graduates to understand both the technical and biological aspects of medical devices. Students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research projects and collaborate with faculty who are leaders in the fields of biomechanics, medical imaging, biomaterials, and systems physiology. The program emphasizes experiential learning through laboratory work, design courses, and internships, ensuring graduates gain practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. Students are encouraged to develop problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and innovation skills essential for advancing medical technology. The university’s state-of-the-art facilities support hands-on learning and research endeavors, fostering an environment of creativity and discovery. Graduates of the Biomedical Engineering program at Rochester are well-equipped to pursue careers in medical device development, healthcare consulting, research and development, or continue their education in advanced degrees. The program aims to produce graduates who are not only technically proficient but also socially responsible, capable of contributing to the improvement of global health. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and industry partnerships, students are prepared to become leaders in the biomedical engineering field.

Plan A

Requirements
BME 502: Analytic Foundations in BME (4 credits)
IND 501: Ethics and Prof Integrity in Research (1 credit)
14 credits from:

• BME intensives: 4 credits minimum
• Approved engineering courses: 4 credits minimum
• Approved biology courses: 4 credits minimum 

Research: 6-11 credits
Total of 30 credit hours   

Plan B

Requirements
BME 502: Analytic Foundations in BME (4 credits)
14 credits from:

• BME intensives: 4 credits minimum
• Approved engineering courses: 4 credits minimum
• Approved biology courses: 4 credits minimum 

6-12 additional credits (maximum 6 research credits )
Total of 30 credit hour  

MS Course List

BME Intensives: Minimum 4 Credits

• BME 404: Computational Methods Applied to Biological System (4 credits)
• BME 412: Viscoelasticity In Bio Tissues (4 credits)
• BME 418: Introduction to Neuroengineering (4 credits)
• BME 420: Biomedical Nanotech (2 credits)
• BME 428: Physiological Control Systems (4 credits)
• BME 432: Controlled Release Systems (2 credits)
• BME 442: Microbiomechanics (2 credits)
• BME 445: Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2 credits)
• BME 451: Biomedical Ultrasound (4 credits)
• BME 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• BME 453: Ultrasound Imaging (4 credits)
• BME 454: Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (4 credits)
• BME 455: Translational Biomedical Opt (4 credits)
• BME 460: Quantitative Physiology (4 credits)
• BME 462: Cell and Tissue Engineering (4 credits)
• BME 465: Cell Adhesion (4 credits)
• BME 467: Models and Simulations of BME Systems (4 credits)
• BME 470: Biomedical Microscopy (4 credits)
• BME 474: Biomedical Sensors, Circuits and Instrumentation (4 credits)
• BME 483: Biosolid Mechanics (4 credits)
• BME 485: Cell and Membrane Mechanics (2 credits)
• BME 486: Finite Elements (4 credits)
• BME 513: Introduction to FMRI (3 credits)
• BME 515: Neural Control of Movement (2 credits)
• OPT 448: Vision and The Eye (4 credits)
• BCS 521: Auditory Perception (3 credits)

Approved Engineering Courses: Minimum 4 Credits

Chemical Engineering

• CHE 411: Prob for Chemical Engineers (4 credits)
• CHE 413: Engineering of Soft Matter (4 credits)
• CHE 421: Thin Film Processing (4 credits)
• CHE 441: Advanced Transport Phenomenon (4 credits)
• CHE 447: Liquid-Crystal Materials and Optical Applications (4 credits)
• CHE 454: Interfacial Engineering (4 credits)
• CHE 460: Solar Cells (4 credits)
• CHE 465: Biomass Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals
• CHE 480: Chemistry of Advanced Materials (4 credits)
• CHE 482: Processing Microelectronic Devices (2 credits)
• CHE 486: Polymer Science and Engineering (4 credits)
• CHE 492  Biointerfaces

Mechanical Engineering

• ME 401: Mathematical Methods (4 credits)
• ME 402: Partial Differential Equations (4 credits)
• ME 406: Dynamical Systems (4 credits)
• ME 411: Mechanical Properties of Polymers (4 credits)
• ME 424: Introduction to Robust Design and Quality Engine (4 credits)
• ME 437: Incompressible Flow (4 credits)
• ME 440: Mechanics of Structures (4 credits)
• ME 441: Finite Elements (4 credits)
• ME 443: Applied Vibration Analysis (4 credits)
• ME 444: Continuum Mechanics (4 credits)
• ME 449: Elasticity (4 credits)
• ME 458: Nonlinear Finite Elem Analys (4 credits)
• ME 459: Applied Finite Elements (4 credits)
• ME 461: Fracture and Adhesion (4 credits)
• ME 463: Microstructures (4 credits)
• ME 481: Mechanical Properties (4 credits)

Optics

• OPT 421: Optical Properties of Materials (4 credits)
• OPT 425: Radiation and Detectors (4 credits)
• OPT 428: Optical Communication Systems (4 credits)
• OPT 441: Geometrical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 442: Instrumental Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 443: Foundations of Modern Optical Systems (4 credits)
• OPT 444: Lens Design (4 credits)
• OPT 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• OPT 461: Fourier Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 462: Electromag Waves (4 credits)
• OPT 463: Wave Optics and Imaging
• OPT 465: Principles of Lasers (4 credits)
• OPT 476: Biomedical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 492: Special Topics in Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 551: Introduction to Quantum Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 552: Quant. Opt. of Electromag. Field (4 credits)
• OPT 553: Quantum Optics Atom Fld Int (4 credits)
• OPT 563: Statistical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 564: Theory of Electronc Imag'G Sys (4 credits)
• OPT 568: Waveguide Optoelectr Devices (4 credits)
• OPT 592: Modern Coherence Theory (4 credits)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• ECE 401: Advanced Computer Architecture (4 credits)
• ECE 404: Multiprocessor Architecture (4 credits)
• ECE 405: Adv Digital Design Using Fpga (4 credits)
• ECE 423: Semiconductor Devices (4 credits)
• ECE 425: Superconductivity and Josephson Effect (4 credits)
• ECE 431: Microwaves and Wireless (4 credits)
• ECE 432: Acoustical Waves (4 credits)
• ECE 434: Microelectromechanical Systems (4 credits)
• ECE 435: Introduction to Optoelectronics (4 credits)
• ECE 437: Wireless Communications (4 credits)
• ECE 440: Introduction to Random Processes (4 credits)
• ECE 441: Detection and Estimation Theory (4 creditsECE 444: Digital Communications (4 credits)
• ECE 446: Digital Signal Processing (4 credits)
• ECE 447: Digital Image Proccessing (4 credits)
• ECE 450: Information Theory (4 credits)
• ECE 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• ECE 461: Introduction to VLSI (4 credits)
• ECE 462: Advanced CMOS VLSI Design (4 credits)
• ECE 465: Performance Issues VLSI/IC Design and Analysis (4 credits)
• ECE 466: Rf and Microwave Integrated Circuits (4 credits)
• ECE 472 Audio signal Processing

Approved Biology Courses: Minimum 4 Credits 

Basic Courses:

• BME 411: Appl Cell and Molec Biology (4 credits)BME 459: Applied Human Anatomy (4 credits)
• IND 408: Advanced Biochemistry (5 credits)
• IND 409: Cell Biology (4 credits)
• IND 410: Molecular Biology and Genetics (4 credits)
• MBI 414: Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits) and MBI 514: Microbial Pathogene Seminar (1 credit)
• PHP 403: Human Cell Physiology (4 credits)
• PHP 404: Principles of Pharmacology (4 credits)
• PTH 507: Cancer Biology (3 credits)
• PTH 509: Pathways of Human Disease (4 credits)
• PTH 510: Pathways to Human Disease (4 credits)

Advanced Courses:

• ANA 531: Integrative Neuroscience (6 credits)
• BIO 419: Nuc Structure and Function (4 credits)
• BIO 422: Biology of Aging (4 credits)
• BIO 426: Developmental Biology (4 credits)
• BIO 428: Lab in Cell and Dev Biology (4 credits)
• CVS 401: Cardiovascular Bio and Disease (3 credits)
• GEN 506: Principles in Stem Cell Bio (4 credits)
• GEN 507: Advanced Genetics and Genomics (4 credits)
• GEN 508: Systems Biology (4 credits)
• IND 407: Cytoplasmic Structures and Functions (4 credits)
• IND 411: Methods in Structural Biology (4 credits)
• IND 443: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation (4 credits)
• IND 447: Signal Transduction (4 credits)
• IND 520: Mitochondrial Medicine (2 credits)
• IND 525: Cell and Membrane Biophysics (4 credits)
• MBI 473: Immunology (3 credits)
• NSC 512: Cellular Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PHP 440: Topics in Vascular Biology (2 credits)
• PTH 571: Molecular Basis of Disease (3 credits)
• PTH 593: Nuclear Hormone Receptors (2 credits)
• TOX 521: Toxicology I (4 credits)

Requirements

• Three letters of recommendation (uploaded to the application per instructions)
• Official transcripts (minimum GPA is 3.0)
• Curriculum vitae
• Official GRE and TOEFL (or IELTS) test scores should be uploaded to the application and official copies should be mailed to the University for verification
• Other than the test scores, documents that are uploaded do not need to be mailed to the department
• The GRE General Test is required and should be taken in time for the admissions committee to receive score results by the January 1 deadline. We look for applicants to score at least a 145 on the Verbal, a 158 on the Quantitative, and a 3.0 on the Analytical Writing. The institution code is 2928 and the department code is 1603.
• All foreign applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL and achieve a minimum score of 250 for the computer-based test (CBT), 600 for the paper-based test (PBT), or 100 for the Internet-based test (IBT), unless they are graduates of a US undergraduate program. IELTS scores can be accepted in place of the TOEFL with a minimum score of 7.0. 

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

No stipend support is available for MS degree candidates but a limited number of partial tuition scholarships are available.

Full-time MS students who also work as teaching assistants are eligible for a competitive tuition discount (typically around 35%). Federal work-study program funds, government or personal loans, or part-time employment may sometimes be used to meet expenses.

The University of Rochester offers a comprehensive Biomedical Engineering program designed to prepare students for careers at the intersection of medicine, biology, and engineering. This undergraduate program provides students with a solid foundation in engineering principles, mathematics, and physical sciences, along with specialized coursework in biomedical topics such as biomechanics, biomaterials, biomedical instrumentation, imaging, and systems biology. The curriculum emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, often including laboratory experiences, design projects, and internships to foster hands-on learning and innovation.

Students in the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Rochester have opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research through collaborations with affiliated hospitals and medical institutions, such as the University of Rochester Medical Center. This integration of clinical insights and engineering solutions enables students to contribute to advancements in medical device development, diagnostics, and treatment technologies. The program also offers specialization tracks or electives that allow students to focus on areas like bioinformatics, neural engineering, or regenerative medicine, tailoring their education to their career interests.

The faculty involved in the program comprises leading experts in biomedical engineering research, facilitating mentorship and networking opportunities for students. The university also provides state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment to support experimental work, design projects, and research initiatives. Graduates of the Biomedical Engineering program are well prepared for diverse careers in industry, healthcare, or further graduate studies, including engineering roles in medical device companies, research institutions, or pursuing advanced degrees in biomedical engineering, medicine, or related fields.

The program’s strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration reflects the university’s broader commitment to innovation, research excellence, and societal impact. Students are encouraged to participate in research activities, professional development workshops, and student organizations related to biomedical engineering. Overall, the program aims to cultivate graduates with the technical expertise, ethical awareness, and creativity necessary to solve complex biomedical problems and improve healthcare outcomes worldwide.