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

Program Contact

Scott Misture

misture@alfred.edu

607-871-2438

  • 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
Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng. 24 25 32 30 31 33 34
Ceramic Engineering 35 39 44 61 68 68 63
Electrical Engineering N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Glass Engineering Science 11 11 19 23 24 15 15
Materials Sci and Engineering 19 31 38 36 48 48 48
Mechanical Engineering 119 145 167 194 168 182 185
Renewable Energy Engineering 19 27 40 44 29 30 44
Undecided Engineering 18 17 34 22 26 26 37
Non-Degree 0   0 0 2 4 4
Unduplicated Headcount 245 295 374 410 394 402 426
B.S. Graduates (August Through May)
Major 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021 2019-2020 2018-2019 2017-2018 2016-2017
Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng. 3 4 12 7 4 8 7
Ceramic Engineering 8 15 8 21 16 12 19
Electrical Engineering 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Glass Engineering Science 2 2 7 3 3 0 4
Materials Sci and Engineering 7 15 8 9 16 7 10
Mechanical Engineering 28 58 35 53 36 51 37
Renewable Energy Engineering 13 11 14 6 10 10 12
Total Degrees 61 105 84 99 85 88 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

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Professor of Biology

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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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