What will I learn in a biomedical engineering degree program?

Simply put, biomedical engineers develop technological solutions to medical problems. From prosthetic limbs and artificial organs to medical devices like pacemakers, x-rays and MRI machines, the results of biomedical engineering are all around us.

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines the math, physics and engineering courses typical of an engineering degree with coursework in the life sciences focusing on biology and medicine.  The field encompasses a wide range of specialties, from pharmaceuticals and drug delivery systems to medical device development to software and programming.

At the University of Nevada, Reno, our bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering emphasizes topics related to electrical engineering, such as biomedical instrumentation, sensors, signal processing and image processing. With a few additional courses, graduates of the program have the option to apply for admission to medical school. The Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering also cooperates with local industry to offer a number of summer internships for qualified undergraduate students.

View the program's educational objectives and student learning outcomes for the bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Senior capstone project

In the College of Engineering, hands-on learning starts on day one. The first engineering class, Engineering 100, will challenge you to work in teams to design a hovercraft capable of traversing across a pre-set course. And in your final class before you graduate, you will work in a team to develop a product that’s ready for the marketplace. Your senior capstone project will be presented to potential employers at the annual Innovation Day. In between, you’ll gain hands-on experience in classrooms and research laboratories, putting your science and mathematical knowledge to work solving engineering problems.

Innovation Day

Learn more about the electrical and biomedical engineering department

From electromagnetics to biosensors to smart grids, we're on the cutting-edge of electrical and biomedical engineering research and training our students to be successful leaders in the field.

Visit the electrical & biomedical engineering department website

Specializations in the biomedical engineering program

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About the College of Engineering

Our students and faculty collaborate on new research to make a world of difference.

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  • Two engineering sutdents work on a drone, with computers in the background
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Careers with a degree in biomedical engineering

Median starting salary of $65,384

Student in lab coat working on lab project

Because biomedical engineering is a broad field, graduates have a wide range of employment and career options. Biomedical engineers can be found working in all aspects of medicine, from device design to pharmaceuticals to research and development to rehabilitation.  Because of our strong focus on electrical engineering, graduates of our biomedical engineering degree program will be well prepared for careers that involve designing and working with medical devices.

A bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering is also a strong foundation for other health care careers, including training to become a doctor, sales and marketing for a medical device company, or management. Many biomedical engineering graduates also choose to go to graduate school to prepare them for a career in research and device development.

Although the field of biomedical engineering is still relatively small, employment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow 6 percent from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That growth is driven primarily by an aging population as well as technological advances, such as 3D printing and advanced computing, in the field of health care.

Biomedical engineering majors had a median starting salary of $65,384, according to a 2022 salary survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

You can afford the University of Nevada, Reno

76% of students receive financial aid

Almost everyone is eligible to receive some kind of aid. We offer need-based and merit-based forms of financial aid to help you afford college.

54% of all students graduate with no debt

That's right. More than half of our students leave the University of Nevada, Reno with no student debt.

Related programs

Clubs & organizations
Student clubs are an integral part of the College of Engineering.
Society of Women Engineers
Society of Women Engineers aims to support women in pursuit of a career in engineering.
Engineering international exchange programs
Our exchange programs with top technical universities worldwide expose students to engineering in other cultures.
Engineering Career Services
Engineering Career Services helps students find employment and internship opportunities.

Life's a journey. Honors makes it meaningful.

At the University of Nevada, Reno Honors College, our students maximize their unique gifts and passions through a series of personalized experiences that deepen their capacity for transformative societal impact.

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