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Bioengineering

  1. Majors
  2. Academic Schools
  3. Jacobs School of Engineering
  4. Bioengineering

 

UC San Diego’s Bioengineering major integrates engineering, biology, and medicine to prepare students to design technologies that improve human health. The program emphasizes hands‑on problem‑solving, quantitative analysis, and interdisciplinary research with access to world‑class laboratories and faculty. Students study biomechanics, cellular engineering, systems biology, and medical device design while gaining practical experience through project-based courses and research opportunities. As one of the nation’s top bioengineering programs, it offers strong preparation for careers in biotech, medical technology, healthcare innovation, or further study in engineering, medicine, or graduate research.

Bioengineering Major Options

  • Bioengineering
  • Bioinformatics
  • Biotechnology
  • Biosystems

Program Highlights

  • UC San Diego's Jacobs School of Engineering ranks #4 in the nation based on US News rankings.
  • Bioengineering is ranked among the top 5 programs in the nation for the last 20 years.

Bioengineering

This page is intended to give some highlights about the program. If you are interested in learning more about the major and its curriculum, visit the department website.

Bioengineering Website

Experiential Learning

Co-curricular Programs

Learn how to make the most of your experience at UC San Diego within the context of your major.

Research

 Conduct research in your field of student with one of the many research programs available. Research opportunities in this major include, but are not limited to:

BUMMP Research Apprenticeship Program

  • Available Fall, Winter and Spring quarters.
  • Open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors.
  • Stipend available.

Cancer Research and Education to Advance Health Excellence (CREATE) Scholars Program

  • Available during Summer.
  • Open to sophomores, juniors and seniors.
  • Stipend available. 

Guided Engineering Apprenticeship in Research (GEAR)

  • Available fall, winter, and spring quarters (3 quarter commitment).
  • Open to first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
  • 2 units of ENG 20; possible 199 and/or co-curricular credits.

Internships

UC San Diego offers strong internship pathways for undergraduates through the Academic Internship Program (AIP) and the Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal. AIP enables students to earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in fields across all majors, supported by faculty mentorship and an academic component. The REAL Portal serves as a centralized hub for finding research, internships, service learning, and other hands‑on opportunities on and off campus. Together, these resources help students explore career interests, build professional skills, and connect academic learning with real‑world experience.

Find a Program

Study Abroad

Students are encouraged to explore study abroad opportunities which allow students to experience the culture and history of another country and gain a global perspective,  all while earning academic credit toward their degree.

Learn more about study abroad opportunities for Bioengineering.

Student Organizations

With over 600 student organizations, students are able to connect with other students who share similar interests. And, if you can't find something that interests you, it's easy to create a new one with just a few other students. Explore UC San Diego student organizations. 

Be sure to check out these organizations related to your major:

  • Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
  • Undergraduate Bioinformatics Club (UBIC)
  • Triton Engineering Student Council (TESC)

What can I do with this major?

Learn about how you can apply your major to various opportunities after you graduate. The information below is based on recent surveys from alumni in this (or similar) majors and is not an exhaustive list. 

  • Recent Employers - Top 10 employers alumni reported working for. 
  • Job Types - Industries and types of jobs that alumni reported. 
  • Skills - Common skills and skills specific to the major that alumni reported gaining from this major. 
  • Graduate Programs - The types of graduate programs alumni reported going to (if applicable)

Recent Employers

  • University of California
  • Illumina
  • Stanford University
  • BD
  • The Salk Institute For Biological Studies
  • NuVasive
  • Johns Hopkins
  • Dexcom
  • Amazon
  • Biolegend
  • Aspen Neuroscience

Job Types

  • Research Assistants
  • Software Developers and QA Testers
  • Industrial Engineers
  • Scientific Research Managers
  • Product and Marketing Specialists
  • Mechanical Engineers
  • Management Consultants and Business Analysts
  • Teaching Assistants
  • Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers
  • Product Managers
  • Software Systems Engineers

Graduate Programs

  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
  • Vision Science
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Bioinformatics

Skills

Common

  • Research
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Leadership
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Customer Service
  • Communications
  • Teaching
  • Teamwork

Specific

  • MATLAB
  • Python
  • Data Analysis
  • Cell Cultures
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Biological Engineering
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Medical Devices
  • Ribonucleic Acid Sequencing