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Studies & Degrees in Biological Engineering

Biological engineering applies the methods of engineering (mathematics, design, modelling and measurement) to living systems. The Ohio State University defines it as the engineering of living systems and the application of engineering principles to real-world problems.

The name covers two traditions, and a programme's content depends on which one a department follows. The first grew out of biology and medicine at the molecular scale. The Department of Biological Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) describes a curriculum of quantitative, engineering-based analysis, design and synthesis in the study of modern biology, from the molecular to the systems level. The second grew out of agricultural engineering. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) says these engineers help provide safe and plentiful food and water, clean fuel and energy sources, and a healthy environment. Departments in this tradition often use the names agricultural and biological engineering or biological systems engineering.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. This is the usual entry qualification. At MIT the curriculum leads to a Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering. It builds on first-year chemistry, physics, calculus and biology, adds subjects such as biochemistry, organic chemistry, differential equations, genetics, cell biology and programming, and ends with a senior design project. At Purdue University, the College of Engineering offers Biological Engineering and Agricultural Engineering as separate degrees within the same department. Ohio State combines biology, microbiology, molecular genetics and biochemistry with hands-on work with plants, animals, cells in tissue culture and microorganisms.
  • Master's degree. A master's deepens one area, for example bioprocessing, biomaterials or environmental systems. Outside the United States the subject is often taught at this level under a related name: the Biotechnology MSc of Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg lasts two years, is taught in English and works at the interface between chemistry, biology and medicine, with engineering as the common thread. The University of Florida offers a non-thesis master's in agricultural and biological engineering online.
  • PhD. Research careers require a doctorate. MIT's Department of Biological Engineering offers the PhD as its graduate degree.

In the United States, engineering degrees are accredited by ABET, which has specific programme criteria for biological engineering. The B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under those criteria. Accreditation is given degree by degree, so check it for the exact programme you are considering. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that employers may prefer graduates of accredited programmes.

Where to study it

This directory lists 18 active schools for biological engineering. Twelve are in the United States, and Sweden, Japan, Colombia, Ecuador, the United Kingdom and Canada have one each. Among the schools in the United States are MIT in Cambridge, The Ohio State University in Columbus, Purdue University in West Lafayette, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of California, Davis. Outside the United States, the list includes Chalmers Tekniska Högskola, The University of Tokyo, The University of Sheffield, the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral in Guayaquil.

Teaching is in English in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, and in Spanish in Colombia and Ecuador. When comparing programmes, look first at the tradition the department belongs to. A programme centred on molecular and cell biology leads towards biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical research; one centred on biological systems leads towards food, water, energy and the environment. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, for instance, describes its discipline as engineering with emphasis on the sustainable use of natural resources.

Careers

MIT states that its bachelor's degree prepares students for fields ranging from the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries to materials, devices, ecology and public health, as well as for graduate school. Ohio State lists outcomes such as agricultural engineer, biological or biomedical engineer and product developer, and notes that graduates have gone on to professional degrees in areas including biomedical engineering, veterinary medicine and human medicine.

The BLS publishes figures for the two nearest occupations in the United States. There were 23,800 jobs for bioengineers and biomedical engineers in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 8 percent from 2025 to 2035. Agricultural engineers held 1,500 jobs in 2025, with projected growth of 7 percent over the same period. Both occupations typically require a bachelor's degree in engineering, and some bioengineering positions require a graduate degree.

Frequently asked questions

Is biological engineering the same as biomedical engineering?

Not exactly. Biomedical engineering focuses on medicine and health care, while biological engineering also covers food, agriculture, energy and the environment. The two overlap: MIT's Department of Biological Engineering, for example, also offers a minor in biomedical engineering.

Which school subjects do I need?

Mathematics and science. The BLS says that college students in this field take courses in calculus, physics, biology and chemistry, and MIT's curriculum starts from first-year chemistry, physics, calculus and biology.

Do I need a licence to work as a biological engineer?

In the United States, licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an agricultural engineer, according to the BLS. Rules in other countries differ, so check with the professional body of the country where you plan to work.

Can I study biological engineering in Spanish?

The directory lists two schools in Spanish-speaking countries: the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral in Ecuador. Most of the listed schools teach in English.