Biomedical engineering is a highly interdisciplinary field at the intersection of traditional engineering disciplines and medicine. Our program prepares students to assess, design and test solutions to medical problems.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BS

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Which courses will you take?

Group of students play cards around table

UMass Lowell is the first public university in Massachusetts to offer a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. Featuring a rigorous curriculum, world-class faculty and innovative research, our program prepares students to design and create medical devices and equipment. 

You will begin with courses in basic science and mathematics to gain a firm understanding of the fundamentals and develop analytical techniques. Continue learning core biomedical engineering topics such as bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomaterials and quantitative physiology before choosing to specialize in one of two tracks: Cellular and Tissue Engineering or Medical Device Design.

Woven throughout are courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences that help students broaden their perspectives, develop effective communication skills and gain exposure to the concepts of values and ethics. 

You can also choose to complete the requirements for graduate education in one of the health professions, including medicine, dentistry, veterinary or physician’s assistant, with only a few additional courses. 

Visit the Academic Catalog for a complete course listing.

For students who entered fall 2019 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BMEN.1070Introduction to Biomedical Engineering2
BMEN.1200BME Application Programming3
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)3
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Lab1
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
MATH.1310Calculus I (MATH)4

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total16
BMEN.1020BME Seminar1
CHEM.1220Chemistry II (SCL)3
CHEM.1240LChemistry II Lab1
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)3
MATH.1320Calculus II4
PHYS.1410Physics I (STEM)3
PHYS.1410LPhysics I Lab1

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BMEN.2100Thermodynamics3
CHEM.2210Organic Chemistry3
CHEM.2290LOrganic Chemistry Lab1
MATH.2310Calculus III4
PHYS.1440Physics II3
PHYS.1440LPhysics II Lab1

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BIOL.2100Biology for Engineers3
BIOL.2120LBiology for Engineers Lab1
BMEN.2200Bioinstrumentation3
BMEN.2205LBioinstrumentation Lab2
ECON.2010Principles of Microeconomics3
MATH.2360Engineering Differential Equations3

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total17
BMEN.3100Transport Phenomena3
BMEN.3200Quantitative Physiology3
BMEN.3205LQuantitative Physiology Lab2
BMEN.4310Biomechanics3
ENTR.3000Entrepreneurship3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
BMEN.4020Biomaterials3
BMEN.xxxxTrack Course 13
MATH.2830Statistics3
PHIL.3340Engineering and Ethics (AH)3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
BMEN.xxxxTrack Course 23
BMEN.xxxxTrack Course 33
BMEN.4910Biomedical Capstone I3
BMEN.xxxxTechnical Elective3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)3
Total15

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
BMEN.xxxxTrack Course 43
BMEN.xxxxTrack Course 53
BMEN.xxxxTechnical Elective3
BMEN.4920Biomedical Capstone II3
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)3
Total15

Total Minimum Credits = 124

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Restriction on off-campus study:

Be advised that any course taken at another institution must be formally approved prior to enrollment. See the catalog policy for details.


The Program Educational Objectives of the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are that our alumni will:
  • Actively engage in and make contributions to post-graduate opportunities, whether they are in biomedical engineering practice or other advanced professional training 
  • Demonstrate depth, breadth, and creativity in biomedical engineering, its underlying sciences, and related technologies 
  • Utilize their multidisciplinary background to foster communication across professional and disciplinary boundaries 
  • Demonstrate professional and social responsibilities on health-related issues and the ability to deal knowledgeably and ethically with the impact of technology in our society. 

The Biomedical Engineering Program has adopted the ABET Criterion 3 student outcomes so that at graduation, students are expected to have:

  1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics 
  2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors 
  3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences 
  4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts 
  5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives 
  6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions 
  7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Why study biomedical engineering at UMass Lowell?

four researchers looking at computer screen

Research Opportunities

Our students have the opportunity work alongside renowned faculty who are conducting groundbreaking research. Students also participate in two senior capstone projects that synthesize course knowledge and experimental skills into a team-based, collaborative experimental study supervised by faculty, which may include participation from industry representatives.

First-year students can also be considered for the Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Collaborations Award, a merit-based scholarship awarded through the early action admission process.

BME student, Anthony Vo, and Graduate student, Jose Pacheco, testing the exoskeleton suit

Co-op Program

Explore potential career paths and apply your learning in the real world – all while earning money. As a biomedical engineering student, you can take advantage of our highly successful Professional Co-op Program, which integrates full-time work experience with relevant coursework. 

This three-phase academic program is coordinated and supervised by co-op staff in full partnership with faculty. Students who successfully complete the full Professional Co-op cycle may substitute the full cycle for one professional elective.

Fun Outside the Classroom

Solving problems is fun, and at UMass Lowell you can put your learning into practice. Students can connect in a variety of ways outside of the classroom, including: 


scientist doing research under microscope

Bachelor’s-to-Master's Program

Get on the fast track to an advanced degree with our combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program. 

  • Available to juniors and seniors with a grade point average of 3.000 or better
  • Offers a continuous, coordinated sequence of courses 
  • Reduced credit-hour requirements can save you time and money

What can you do with a degree in biomedical engineering?

UMass Lowell's biomedical engineering program offers a wide variety of career paths, and roles such as product development engineer, product manager, R&D test technician, biomedical engineering technologist and post-market clinical assistant.

The images shows a molecular structure made from plastic rings and toys

Alumni of our program have worked at:

  • Advantage Resourcing
  • Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  • Cynosure
  • Cytiva
  • Hemanext
  • NxStage Medical