Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree

The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedical Engineering Degree program prepares students to conceive, design, and develop devices and systems that improve human health and quality of life, while doing so at an ABET-accredited university right in Philadelphia​.

Why Study Biomedical Engineering?

Biomedical engineering integrates life sciences and engineering education that underlie the development of cost-effective technology for health care, including medical devices and diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

Concentration Areas

Students pursuing a bachelor of science in biomedical engineering are required to select one concentration. Each concentration requires at least 3 courses which provides depth in a particular area of biomedical engineering.

Available concentrations include:

Concentration Areas

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Courses

Starting in the freshman year, biomedical engineering students will become acquainted with the unique challenges of designing solutions for biomedical needs. Students will be equipped with the appropriate skills and abilities to understand the medical need, evaluate existing solutions, define requirements, identify constraints, and choose tests to verify requirements have been met. More course information is available in the course catalog.

• BMES 201 – Programming and Modeling for Biomedical Engineers I
  This course aims to introduce students with some fundamental concepts about programming in MATLAB to give the ability to solve basic bioengineering problems.

• BMES 101 – Introduction to BMES Design I – Defining Medical Problems
  This course will focus on defining the problem which includes: 1) understanding the medical need, 2) evaluating existing solutions, 3) defining requirements, identifying constraints and 4) choosing tests to verify requirements have been met.

• BMES 102 – Introduction to BMES Design II – Evaluating Design Solutions
  This course will focus on developing solutions that include: 1) generating multiple solution pathways, 2) refining solution choices based on requirements and constraints, 3) conducting experimental verification tests and 4) finally concluding if the solution was a success.

As students advance through the curriculum they may pursue coursework in concentration areas such as Biomaterials, Biomechanics, Biomedical Imaging, Biomedical Informatics, Neuroengineering, and Tissue Engineering. Students learn from the School's esteemed faculty, and have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research thereby gaining access to advanced research labs such as the Orthopedic Biomechanics Lab, CONQUER Collaborative, Microencapsulation Lab, BioCirc Lab, or Neural Circuit Engineering (NCE) Lab. More information on concentration area requirements is available in the course catalog.

• BMES 460 – Biomaterials
  Course designed to acquaint students with the behavior of materials used in biomedical application under load (i.e., mechanical properties), their modes of failure and as a function of their environment.

• BMES 441 – Biomechanics I: Introduction to Biomechanics
  Teaches students to use mechanical tools to get an introductory appreciation for solving biomechanical problems. Builds on existing knowledge in mechanics to illustrate the practical application of mechanical tools in the determination of human systems performance.

• BMES 421 – Biomedical Imaging Systems I
  Provides an overview of the field of medical imaging. Covers aspects of light imaging; systems theory, convolutions, and transforms; photometry, lenses, and depth of field; image perception and roc theory; three-dimensional imaging; image acquisition and display; and image processing operations, including scanning and segmentation.

• BMES 483 – Quantitative Systems Biology
  This course uses a data-driven systems engineering approach to provide a foundation in systems biology. Topics covered include the organization of robust networks of genes and proteins; intercellular communication; and cells as basic units of life.

• BMES 477 – Neuroengineering I: Neural Signals
  Students will learn the fundamental theory of cellular potentials and chemical signaling, circuit representations of neurons and be able to derive and integrate equations describing the circuit as well as design computer models.

• BMES 471 – Cellular and Molecular Foundations of Tissue Engineering
  The initial part of a two-quarter sequence combining material from cellular/molecular biology, evolutionary/developmental biology with engineering design and biomaterials to educate students in the principles, methods, and technology of tissue engineering.

Experiential Learning Co-op Program

On her co-op, Angela Mamatas (Biomedical Engineering) stands next to a 400-L bioreactor used by Sanofi Pasteur's Bacterial Technology Department as part of the upstream process of making the Menactra vaccine.

Drexel Co-op is one of the oldest and most expansive university cooperative education programs in the world. Students graduate with 6-18 months of full-time employment experience in their field of study, depending on their choice of a 4-year or 5-year program. The majority of students in Biomedical Engineering choose the 5-year program and graduate with 18 months of full-time work experience, and often receive a job offer from their third co-op employer or from a connection made from one of their co-ops in biomedical engineering.

See Ryan Benjamin, a BS undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a focus in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, reflect on his first two co-ops with VenatoRX and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Listen as Ryan describes the breadth and depth of biomedical engineering research or check out more incredible co-op experiences in biomedical engineering.

Senior Design Project

The Senior Design Project three-course capstone design experience (BMES 491, 492, and 493) is intended to simulate a professional work environment, to provide experience working in a group on an open-ended problem and to develop information gathering and communication skills. Students benefit from the sequence in two ways: it provides a forum to communicate their ideas and results to the faculty and their peers, and it gives them an opportunity to demonstrate, the skills and knowledge they have acquired during their undergraduate education. Substantial interaction between students, faculty, and industry/government institutions is an integral part of leading them on the path to success.

See how Sonali Dadoo, a biomedical engineering student focusing in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, designed a successful biomedical device for Senior Design as a result from her co-op at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Change of Major / Internal Transfer Policy

Students changing their major or transferring from within Drexel University into the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems should review the official Policy for Change of Major/Internal Transfer to the School of BIOMED.

Undergraduate Admissions

For admission to the program, incoming students are required to have both one year of calculus and one year of physics (with lab).