Biomaterials Engineering

A challenging program for the rapidly developing biomaterials industry

Want to explore leading edge technologies in the bio/medical field, where tech and life meet? The Biomaterials Engineering program at Alfred University creates engineers as leaders, addressing complex issues that arise from the interface between non-living materials and biological systems and their place in modern medicine. Enter the workforce as a Biomaterials Engineer, or further your educational and career in healthcare professions by advancing to graduate, medical or law school.

School/Division

Campus Locations

Main Campus - Alfred, NY

Major

Biomaterials Engineering (BS)

Double Major

Double Major option(s) offered.
Learn More

Minor

Biomaterials Engineering
  • BIOL 150 Biological Foundations
  • BIOL 211 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • BIOL 402 Immunology
  • CEMS 214 Structure and Properties of Materials
  • CEMS 215 Microscopy and Microstructural Characterization
  • CEMS 216 Bonding and Structure of Materials
  • CEMS 235 Thermodynamics of Materials
  • CEMS 251 Mechanics of Materials
  • CEMS 334 Introduction to Polymers
  • CEMS 336 Physical Metallurgy I
  • CEMS 347 Spectroscopy
  • CEMS 349 X-ray Characterization
  • CEMS 368 Introduction to Bioengineering
  • CEMS 465 Biocompatibility
  • CEMS 466 Skeletal Tissue (or BIOL 307 Anatomy and Physiology)
  • CEMS 468 Biomedical Materials
  • CHEM 105 General Chemistry I
  • CHEM 106 General Chemistry II
  • CHEM 310 Basic Organic Chemistry
  • ENGR 101 Introduction to Engineering
  • ENGR 102 Computer Aided Design
  • ENGR 104 Computer Aided Engineering
  • ENGR 110 Technical Communication
  • ENGR 11x Exploration Labs (select 2, 1 credit each)
  • ENGR 305 Engineering Statistics (or BIOL 226)
  • ENGR 306 Engineering Economics
  • ENGR 395 Engineering Design
  • ENGR 480 Senior Capstone Project
  • MATH 151 Calculus I
  • MATH 152 Calculus II
  • MATH 253 Calculus III
  • MATH 271 Differential Equations
  • PHYS 125 Physics I
  • Biology Electives
  • Technical Electives
  • Humanities, Social Science and Arts electives

For more information, please review the School of Engineering Curriculum by Semester Worksheets by degree program.

Biomaterials Engineering is available as a double major to any Inamori School of Engineering undergraduate. Students earning a double major in Biomaterials Engineering will complete all required courses for Biomaterials Engineering along with courses required for their primary Engineering major.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DOUBLE MAJORS

School of Engineering minors are available to all students pursuing an undergraduate degree at Alfred University, but they are generally intended for students majoring in engineering, math, and the physical sciences. Students must meet the prerequisites for the specified courses. An average of “C” or better must be attained in courses submitted for the minor. Some minors have restrictions which prevent them from being taken by certain engineering minors, i.e. the Materials Science minor is not available to students majoring in Biomaterials Engineering, Ceramic Engineering or Glass Engineering Science.

Courses:

  • BIOL 211 Biochemistry and Cell Biology
  • CEMS 214 Materials Structure and Properties
  • CEMS 368 Introduction to Bioengineering
  • CEMS 468 Biomedical Materials (or CEMS 465 Biocompatibility)
  • CHEM 310 Basic Organic Chemistry (or CHEM 315)

Plus 2 courses from the following list:

  • BIOL 302 General Microbiology
  • BIOL 307 Anatomy and Physiology: Nerves, Muscles and Skelton
  • BIOL 308 Anatomy and Physiology: Viscera
  • BIOL 375 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
  • BIOL 376 Animal Physiology
  • BIOL 402 Immunology
  • BIOL 420 Biochemistry: Proteins and Metabolism
  • BIOL 422 Biochemistry: Nucleic Acids
  • CEMS 466 Skeletal Tissue

If you have varied interests in engineering but are unsure which you excel at or enjoy working with the most, consider exploring our Undecided Engineering pathway. The Inamori School of Engineering provides this option to students who are undecided as first-year students and allows them to discover the field of engineering that's the best fit for them.

Undergraduate Full-Time Enrollment (from Fall Census)
Major 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Major

Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.

2022

24

2021

25

2020

32

2019

30

2018

31

2017

33

2016

34

Major

Ceramic Engineering

2022

35

2021

39

2020

44

2019

61

2018

68

2017

68

2016

63

Major

Electrical Engineering

2022

N/A

2021

N/A

2020

N/A

2019

N/A

2018

N/A

2017

N/A

2016

N/A

Major

Glass Engineering Science

2022

11

2021

11

2020

19

2019

23

2018

24

2017

15

2016

15

Major

Materials Sci and Engineering

2022

19

2021

31

2020

38

2019

36

2018

48

2017

48

2016

48

Major

Mechanical Engineering

2022

119

2021

145

2020

167

2019

194

2018

168

2017

182

2016

185

Major

Renewable Energy Engineering

2022

19

2021

27

2020

40

2019

44

2018

29

2017

30

2016

44

Major

Undecided Engineering

2022

18

2021

17

2020

34

2019

22

2018

26

2017

26

2016

37

Major

Non-Degree

2022

0

2021

 

2020

0

2019

0

2018

2

2017

4

2016

4

Major

Unduplicated Headcount

2022

245

2021

295

2020

374

2019

410

2018

394

2017

402

2016

426
B.S. Graduates (August Through May)
Major 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017

Major

Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.

2022-2023

3

2021-2022

4

2020-2021

12

2019-2020

7

2018-2019

4

2017-2018

8

2016-2017

7

Major

Ceramic Engineering

2022-2023

8

2021-2022

15

2020-2021

8

2019-2020

21

2018-2019

16

2017-2018

12

2016-2017

19

Major

Electrical Engineering

2022-2023

0

2021-2022

0

2020-2021

0

2019-2020

0

2018-2019

0

2017-2018

0

2016-2017

0

Major

Glass Engineering Science

2022-2023

2

2021-2022

2

2020-2021

7

2019-2020

3

2018-2019

3

2017-2018

0

2016-2017

4

Major

Materials Sci and Engineering

2022-2023

7

2021-2022

15

2020-2021

8

2019-2020

9

2018-2019

16

2017-2018

7

2016-2017

10

Major

Mechanical Engineering

2022-2023

28

2021-2022

58

2020-2021

35

2019-2020

53

2018-2019

36

2017-2018

51

2016-2017

37

Major

Renewable Energy Engineering

2022-2023

13

2021-2022

11

2020-2021

14

2019-2020

6

2018-2019

10

2017-2018

10

2016-2017

12

Major

Total Degrees

2022-2023

61

2021-2022

105

2020-2021

84

2019-2020

99

2018-2019

85

2017-2018

88

2016-2017

89

What Will You Do?

Within the past few years, graduates have obtained jobs as:

  • Bioenvironmental Engineer - United States Air Force
  • Surgical Technologist - Albany Medical Center
  • Laboratory Technician - Stryker
  • Business Support Specialist - Synergy Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Biomaterials Engineering majors study the interaction between non-living materials and biological systems. Our graduates will develop next generation biomaterials devices for applications such as:

  • New diagnostic instruments (including bimolecular materials hybrid devices such as gene chips).
  • Novel therapeutic strategies such as tissue engineering and implants for biosensors and targeted/controlled drug delivery systems
  • New biomaterials for classic applications such as orthopedic devices.

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

Program educational objectives (or PEOs) are broad statements that describe what we expect graduates of AU's biomaterials engineering program to attain 3-5 years after graduation. PEOs are reviewed and revised regularly to ensure that the program educational objectives are relevant to the needs of today's employers.

During the first few years after graduation:

  1. Graduates will be qualified for careers in the medical device industry alongside related, and general, materials fields. Graduates will occupy positions with high technical skill requirements and managerial responsibility.
  2. Graduates will be prepared to continue their educational endeavors in both technical and non-technical fields including graduate studies in Biomedical Engineering, Tissue Engineering, medical Devices, general materials and other science and engineering majors; MBA programs, medical and veterinary schools, law school or short course/workshops applicable to growth within a chosen technical field.
  3. Graduates will be prepared to lead in the development of their professions including society activities, scholarly publications and student recruiting and mentoring.

Program Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes)

Graduates of the Biomaterials Engineering program at Alfred University will 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.

Nationally, about a third of biomedical materials undergraduates go straight on to the job market, a third to graduate school (law, business, etc.), and a third to medical school.

Alfred Stories

Jean with a student

Professor of Biology

"This is the message I hope my students take to heart… Find your passion: find the thing, job, activity, or career that you enjoy and that you do well and work hard to make that happen."

Jean Cardinale
Find out more about Jean

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Students entering the Biomaterials Engineering program often double major or minor in other closely related fields, such as:

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