Undergraduate Programs
At CSU, graduates of the biomedical engineering (BME) program receive two degrees: one B.S. in biomedical engineering and the other B.S. in one of the three traditional engineering areas:
Chemical & Biological Engineering (CBE)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Mechanical Engineering (MECH)
Biomedical Engineering (BME)
Biomedical engineers work at the interface of biology, medicine, and engineering to help solve problems in human and animal health. As the first bachelor’s program in the state of Colorado, CSU pioneered education efforts in this growing area.
Graduates of the program are more competitive for positions in the biomedical engineering industry, one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.
At CSU, you will integrate the breadth of a biomedical engineering degree and depth of a traditional engineering degree in five years. You develop and use transdisciplinary skills in classroom, laboratory, internship, and senior design experiences. Below, explore the three pathways to discover which one is right for you.
Are you planning to major in math, biology, chemistry or some other science but would still like to earn a credential in biomedical engineering? Learn more about our BME minor, which is open to all majors including any engineering discipline.
Which pathway is right for you?
Biomedical Engineering + Chemical and Biological Engineering (BME+CBE)
Potential Occupations
The BME+CBE pathway will enable you to develop or improve therapies for fighting cancer, tuberculosis, or other illnesses and diseases (e.g., nanoscaffolding for localized chemotherapy delivery, telemetric sensors to determine healing rates in bone fractures or to detect key chemicals in live tissue with high temporal and spatial resolution).
Snapshot – Percentage breakdown of courses
Critical Skills & Abilities
In addition to the important qualities required of a biomedical engineer (creativity as well as analytical, communication, math, and problem-solving skills), chemical and biological engineers need:
Ingenuity
When faced with a production problem, for example, chemical engineers must apply creative and resourceful thinking to work through the problem.
Interpersonal skills
Working with teams, it is critical for chemical engineers to communicate and relate to others. Developing strong conflict management, listening, and negotiating skills will help in the workplace.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of biomedical engineers is projected to grow 4% from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average of all occupations. However, employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Chemical Engineers
Biomedical Engineering + Electrical Engineering (EE)
Snapshot – Percentage breakdown of courses
Potential Occupations
The BME+EE pathway will enable you to develop or design better ways to image and/or diagnose illnesses. For example, using laser-based imaging to detect viruses, developing ways to increase electrical signals to detect threats to food safety and security, designing biosensors to diagnose cancer cells, or developing software to determine toxic pesticide levels in people. You might also design medical instruments including MRI, ultrasound, or x-ray machines.
Critical Skills & Abilities
In addition to the important qualities required of a biomedical engineer (creativity as well as analytical, communication, math, and problem-solving skills), electrical engineers need:
Concentration
When designing and developing complex electrical systems, electrical engineers must keep track of multiple design elements and technical characteristics when performing these tasks.
Initiative
Keeping up with the latest changes in the industry is an critical element for electrical engineers. They must apply their new knowledge to the project they undertake.
Interpersonal Skills
Electrical engineers must collaborate with others to ensure that their plans are implemented correctly. This may include keeping a group “on track” and moving toward the completion of a project or interacting effectively with peers and supervisors.
Speaking skills
Electrical engineers work on complex projects with lots of detail and, often times, work closely with other engineers and technicians. They must be able to convey information or instructions clearly and effectively, not only to their peers, but also to customers who may not have the technical expertise.
Writing skills
The ability to write concisely is imperative for electrical engineers, as they often develop design methods documents, maintenance or operation manuals, parts lists, and product proposals related to equipment they develop.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of biomedical engineers is projected to grow 4% from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average of all occupations. However, employment of electrical engineers is projected to grow only 2% from 2018 to 2028.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Electrical Engineers
Biomedical Engineering + Mechanical Engineering (BME+MECH)
Potential Occupations
The BME+MECH pathway will enable you to design medical devices and equipment (e.g., pacemakers, assistive devices, artificial internal organs, replacement body parts, surgical tools, exercise equipment for astronauts)
Snapshot – Percentage breakdown of courses
Critical Skills & Abilities
In addition to the important qualities required of a biomedical engineer (creativity as well as analytical, communication, math, and problem-solving skills), mechanical engineers need:
Listening skills
Listening skills are imperative to understand and analyze different ideas or approaches from other members of a team, such as architects and computer scientists.
Mechanical skills
A mechanical engineer must be comfortable operating equipment and tools. They are adept at fixing things and intuitively see how things work. They apply basic engineering concepts and mechanical processes to the design of new devices and systems.
Job Outlook
According to the Labor of Bureau Statistics, employment of mechanical engineers is projected to grow 4% from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations, and the same rate of growth as a biomedical engineer. However, because mechanical engineers can work in many industries, the growth rate will differ depending on the industry that employ them.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mechanical Engineers