What is Bioengineering?

If you ask three different people, "What is bioengineering?" you might get three different answers! You may have also heard about biological engineering and biomedical engineering, and wondered how they differ from bioengineering. We're here to help you sort it all out!

How do bioengineering (BioE), biomedical engineering (BME), and other similar programs compare?

Bioengineering programs are often broad in scope, covering a variety of biological topics that are investigated with engineering principles. Biomedical engineering programs tend to emphasize topics related directly to human health, and thus may be seen as a subset of bioengineering. As our program aims to merge the principles and applications embedded in engineering with the sciences of biology, medicine, and health, we are best described as a bioengineering program.

What are the career paths for a UMD BioE major?

The undergraduate program in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our students, the region, the health care market, and the world around us. Our graduates are prepared to design products, processes, and solutions at all levels and scales, in many contexts. Our curriculum is broad enough to let students explore a variety of major fields of research, presenting them with a full range of career opportunities and paths, including medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, dentistry, and ecology. Many bioengineering graduates go on to medical school, biotechnology companies, and Federal research agencies.

Is it possible for me to major both in BioE and another discipline?

Yes. The challenge is fitting all of your requirements into four years. AP credits could help make it possible. You should work with your faculty advisors from each major when selecting a double major. Many of our students go on to careers in healthcare, and choose to participate in a pre-med, pre-dental, pre-veterinary or pre-therapy program. Our undergraduate program is designed to satisfy almost all requirements for a pre-professional program. See www.prehealth.umd.edu for more detailed information.