Bioengineering professionals pursue careers in medical device companies, pharmaceutical firms, biotechnology start-ups, academic institutions, or government laboratories and agencies. They use fundamental engineering principles to tackle problems and design solutions for the life sciences industry, working alongside chemists, biologists, clinicians, computer scientists and other experts. Workforce needs articulated by employers focus on professionals who can work on miniaturization design problems in the medical device field 
, in production scale-up of biofuels , and systems aspects of imaging R&D programs. Consequently, bioengineers must be able to work at the evolving interfaces of the life sciences so as to translate discoveries into products that impact human health and nutrition. See websites at the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMB ) Society, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES ), the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health for insight into fundamental bioengineering programs.
Master of Science with Specialization in Biochemical Engineering
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Master of Science with Specialization in Bioengineering
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Master of Science with Specialization in Biomedical Engineering
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Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the principles and tools of traditional engineering fields, such as mechanical, materials, electrical, and chemical engineering, are applied to biomedical problems. Engineering plays an increasingly important role in medicine in projects that range from basic research in physiology to advances in biotechnology and the improvement of health care delivery. By its very nature, biomedical engineering is broad and requires a foundation in the engineering sciences as well as in physiology and other biological sciences. The program offers a four-year curriculum leading to a B.S. degree, which prepares students for careers in the biomedical industry or for further education in graduate school.
For more information contact: 805-756-6400 or visit the program website .
Joint PhD Program with a Concentration in Biomedical and Clinical Engineering
Ph.D. in Engineering and Industrial Applied Mathematics, offered jointly by the College of Engineering at California State University, Long Beach and The Claremont Graduate University, allows students to pursue doctoral programs in most areas of engineering and applied mathematics including biomedical and clinical engineering.
The College of Engineering at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) has the primary responsibility for the engineering portion of the program, and the Department of Mathematics at The Claremont Graduate University (CGU) has the primary responsibility for the applied mathematics portion. The program of study for each Ph.D. candidate is carefully integrated to ensure the interdisciplinary nature of each student's research.
For more information contact: Chris Druzgalski at (562) 985-5102 or druz@csulb.edu or visit the program website .
Master of Science with Specialization in Biomedical Engineering
This program affords an opportunity for engineers and others to advance their competency in analysis and design to better meet the high technology needs of local industry. Each student selects two core courses and three graduate courses in one area of emphasis, and the remaining courses must augment and support the area of emphasis. Some current examples of areas of emphasis are biomedical, communications, computer/communication networks and security, control systems and robotics, digital signal processing, digital and computer systems, electromagnetics and optics, electronics, engineering mathematics, networks and filters, power, and wireless communications. Students may create other areas of emphasis with the approval of the graduate advisor. Students will choose the thesis or non-thesis alternative. Successful completion of a thesis provides a unifying culmination to the program, and an enhanced resume for future industrial or academic endeavor. A limited number of laboratory and teaching assistantships are available to qualified graduate students.
For more information contact: Chris Druzgalski at (562) 985-5102 or druz@csulb.edu or visit the program website .
Master in Assistive Technology Engineering
Unlike traditional biomedical engineering programs, the master's degree in Assistive Technology Engineering enables students who are focused on the engineering, design and manufacture of assistive technology devices to study and collaborate with students whose focus is on assistive technology assessment, advocacy and counseling, ie the "human services" side of the equation. The focus of the program is the design of products to sustain and improve the quality of life for our aging population. The program involves industry advisors from Boston Scientific, Stellar Microelectronics, and other employers in the LA Basin. This program is designated as a Professional Science Master's (PSM) program.
For more information contact: Jesse Knepper, The Tseng College at (818) 677-3332 or visit the Assistive Technology Engineering Program website .
Master of Science in Chemical Engineering with Thesis in Biotechnology/Biochemical Engineering
The biochemical engineering programs blend traditional engineering and subjects in the biological sciences with specially developed biochemical engineering courses and labs.
For more information contact: Claire F. Komives at (408) 924-4002 or Claire.Komives@sjsu.edu or visit the program website .
Master of Science in Engineering with Biomedical Devices Concentration
The program has been designed to (a) educate students with background in engineering and the sciences and prepare them to enter the biomedical devices industry, and (b) provide engineers in the biomedical devices industry with continued education and professional development. Classes are scheduled for the late afternoon or early evening, to facilitate attendance by working professionals.
Current projections predict significant growth in the biotechnology industry sector worldwide, with the ensuing demand for a well-educated and trained workforce capable of fueling both basic research and product and process development.
Biomedical devices are a critical part of the improved health maintenance capabilities being developed. This is an inherently interdisciplinary field that encompasses several fields of engineering such as materials science and metallurgy, mechanical engineering and design, electrical engineering and signal processing, and ergonomics, in addition to biology and biochemistry.
For more information contact: Guna Selvaduray at (408) 924-3874 or gunas@email.sjsu.edu or visit the program website .
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with Biochemical Emphasis
The biochemical engineering programs blend traditional engineering and subjects in the biological sciences with specially developed biochemical engineering courses and labs.
For more information contact: Claire F. Komives at (408) 924-4002 or Claire.Komives@sjsu.edu or visit the program website .
Bachelor of Science in Engineering with Bioengineering Concentration
The concentration will provide engineering students with domain specific knowledge related to the bioengineering industry. This will enable them to utilize their engineering skills more effectively in technological areas where biology and engineering come together. This in-depth knowledge will make students more competitive in their search for employment in the biotechnology industry.
For more information contact: Maryam Mobed-Miremadi at (408) 924-4003 or
Maryam.MobedMiremadi@sjsu.edu or visit the program website .
Doctoral Degree in Bioengineering
A Ph. D in Engineering Science with concentration in Biongineering will be offered by the joint faculties of the College of Engineering at San Diego State University and the Department of Biongineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) as early as 2009-2010. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded jointly by the Trustees of the California State University and the Regents of the University of California in the names of both cooperating institutions. Graduates of this program are expected to establish skills necessary to recognize, understand and identify unique problems in his/her field of expertise to advance the state of art. They will be able to conduct basic and /or applied research in the field of their expertise, mentor graduate students and disseminate research results through research reports, publication in journals, monographs and conference presentations. Graduates of this program are competitive for a variety of faculty positions at various academic institutions and can also provide leadership for basic and applied research in government agencies and industrial organizations across the state and the nation.
For more information contact: Donovan Geiger at (619) 594-6079 or dgeiger@mail.sdsu.edu or visit the program website .
Master of Science in Bioengineering
The Masters of Science degree in Bioengineering, offered by the College of Engineering, provides both a terminal professional degree for students to enter the biotechnology and medical device industries as well as preparation for further study in bioengineering leading to the Doctor of Engineering or PhD degree. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field with a strong grounding in physics and mathematics. The degree program offers three tracks in biomechanics, biomaterials, and bioinstrumentation.
For more information contact: Karen May-Newman at
(619) 594-6067
or kmaynewm@mail.sdsu.edu or visit the program website .
Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts & Sciences with Emphasis in Bioengineering
The major in Biology with a Bachelors of Science degree in Applied Arts and Sciences with an Emphasis in Bioengineering, offered by the College of Sciences is designed to present a basic background in modern biology and engineering, and in the supportive disciplines of chemistry, mathematics and physics, and to provide specialized training in the interdisciplinary field of bioengineering.
Synthesis of knowledge will be attained through a research experience initiated during the junior year of undergraduate work, carrying over into the senior engineering design course project.
For more information contact: Karen May-Newman at
(619) 594-6067
or kmaynewm@mail.sdsu.edu or visit the program website .
