Why We Love It
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$91,230Potential Avg. Salary*
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Growing DemandJob Outlook
* Salary & growth data is based on the recent Bureau of Labor and Statistics data published at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes172031.htm for 17-2031 Biomedical engineers 11/2021. Based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
Are you curious about genetically-modified organisms (GMOs)? Would you like to be part of a team that works to invent new life-saving medical devices like artificial hearts and joint transplants? If so, you may want to consider pursuing a bachelor of science in biological engineering. Biological engineers use the principles of biology and engineering to innovate and develop things that promote life in all of its forms.
What is a Degree in Biological Engineering?
In recent years, biological engineers have developed many different forms of crops that are resistant to disease and do not require pesticides, improving health and increasing food production worldwide. They’ve developed artificial organs that can be transplanted into individuals whose natural organs are failing. Today, the field also contributes to precision agriculture, biomaterials, diagnostic tools, and tissue-engineering research, showing how biological engineering can influence both food systems and healthcare innovation at the same time.
Biological engineers are both biologist and engineer, using their understanding of biological life forms to develop and invent new devices, compounds, and materials that work to promote and sustain life. Because the discipline combines design, biology, and data-driven problem-solving, graduates can move into roles that involve product development, laboratory research, manufacturing support, and process improvement.
In a biological engineering bachelor’s degree program, you’ll take coursework in human, animal, and plant biology, engineering design, biomaterials, and microbiology. You’ll engage in coursework that’s heavily rooted in the study of mathematics, the natural sciences, and information technology to develop a full understanding of the biological engineering lifecycle. Graduates find work in many different engineering disciplines and qualify to sit for the ABET exam to become licensed to work as engineers.
Currently, ABET accredits engineering programs rather than administering a licensing exam; in the United States, the FE exam is typically the first formal step toward professional engineer licensure for graduates of ABET-accredited programs.
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What Courses Would I Take For a Major in Biological Engineering?
- Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering
- Biological and Bioenvironmental Transport Processes
- Biologically Inspired Microsystems Engineering
- Thermodynamics of Biomolecular Systems
- Laboratory Fundamentals in Biological Engineering
- Instrumentation and Measurement for Biological Systems
- Fields, Forces and Flows in Biological Systems
- Biological Engineering Design
What Jobs Can You Get with a Degree in Biological Engineering?
Biological engineering is a relatively new field, but it’s growing rapidly. As the Baby Boomer generation ages and people seek medical care more often to extend their lifespans and help them stay active as seniors, more innovation is needed in the medical field to provide the necessary care. That demographic pressure remains significant: the U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030 all baby boomers will be age 65 or older.
Biological engineers will be in high demand to help design and create the materials, machines, and treatments needed to provide this medical care, and should be able to find work quickly after graduation. For the closest current occupation tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bioengineers and biomedical engineers are projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 1,300 openings each year on average, and a median annual wage of $106,950 in May 2024.
How Long does it take?
A bachelors in Biological Engineering will have a typical length of 4 years in a full time schedule. That said, there are many ways to speed up the timeframe by either taking more units via online coursework, community college, or taking free classes at OnlineDegree.com that could transfer to universities in the US.
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Best Jobs for Biological Engineering Degrees
After passing the ABET engineering licensing exam, biological engineering graduates can work as engineers in a variety of disciplines. Many graduates find work in biological research laboratories run by government, university, or private organizations. Others work for engineering research firms. Some graduates continue on to earn graduate degrees and become pharmacologists, biologists, or professors.
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