Editing Biomedical engineering (section)

===Education===
Biomedical engineers require considerable knowledge of both engineering and biology, and typically have a Bachelor's (B.Sc., B.S., B.Eng. or B.S.E.) or Master's (M.S., M.Sc., M.S.E., or M.Eng.) or a doctoral (Ph.D., or [[MD–PhD|MD-PhD]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=MD-PhD Program |url=https://www.bme.jhu.edu/academics/graduate/phd-program/md-phd-program/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Johns Hopkins Biomedical Engineering |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129065223/https://www.bme.jhu.edu/academics/graduate/phd-program/md-phd-program/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PhD+MD |url=https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/graduate/phd-md |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Dartmouth Engineering |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129065222/https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/graduate/phd-md |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Physician-Engineer Training Program |url=https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/Academics/Graduate/Degree_Certificate_Options/MDPhD/index_html |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering – Purdue University |language=en |archive-date=2022-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129065232/https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/Academics/Graduate/Degree_Certificate_Options/MDPhD/index_html |url-status=live }}</ref>) degree in BME (Biomedical Engineering) or another branch of engineering with considerable potential for BME overlap. As interest in BME increases, many engineering colleges now have a Biomedical Engineering Department or Program, with offerings ranging from the undergraduate (B.Sc., B.S., B.Eng. or B.S.E.) to doctoral levels. Biomedical engineering has only recently been emerging as ''its own discipline'' rather than a cross-disciplinary hybrid specialization of other disciplines; and BME programs at all levels are becoming more widespread, including the [[Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering]] which includes enough biological science content that many students use it as a "[[pre-med]]" major in preparation for [[medical school]]. The number of biomedical engineers is expected to rise as both a cause and effect of improvements in medical technology.<ref>[http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics] – Profile for Engineers {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219092732/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm |date=February 19, 2006 }}</ref>

In the U.S., an increasing number of [[undergraduate]] programs are also becoming recognized by [[ABET]] as accredited bioengineering/biomedical engineering programs. As of 2023, 155 programs are currently accredited by ABET.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://amspub.abet.org/aps/category-search?disciplines=9&disciplines=10&countries=US |title=Disciplines. Countries. USA |access-date=2023-02-20 |archive-date=2023-02-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220182349/https://amspub.abet.org/aps/category-search?disciplines=9&disciplines=10&countries=US |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In Canada and Australia, accredited graduate programs in biomedical engineering are common.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goyal |first=Megh R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zyhFDwAAQBAJ |title=Scientific and Technical Terms in Bioengineering and Biological Engineering |date=2018-01-03 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-351-36035-7 |language=en |access-date=2023-05-05 |archive-date=2024-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171640/https://books.google.com/books?id=zyhFDwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> For example, [[McMaster University]] offers an M.A.Sc, an MD/PhD, and a PhD in Biomedical engineering.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/msbe/programs/degree-options |title=Degree Options |website=McMaster School of Biomedical Engineering |publisher=eng.mcmaster.ca |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024195956/https://www.eng.mcmaster.ca/msbe/programs/degree-options |url-status=live }}</ref> The first Canadian [[undergraduate]] BME program was offered at [[University of Guelph]] as a four-year B.Eng. program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/2010-2011/c10/c10beng-bme.shtml |publisher=University of Guelph |date=2010-09-07 |access-date=2024-04-07 |title=2010–2011 Undergraduate Calendar – Biomedical Engineering |archive-date=2024-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171612/https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/2010-2011/c10/c10beng-bme.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The Polytechnique in Montreal is also offering a bachelors's degree in biomedical engineering<ref>{{cite web |title=Baccalauréat en Génie biomédical |url=https://www.polymtl.ca/programmes/programmes/baccalaureat-en-genie-biomedical |access-date=11 October 2020 |website=Polytechnique Montréal |date=15 January 2018 |archive-date=12 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012165619/https://www.polymtl.ca/programmes/programmes/baccalaureat-en-genie-biomedical |url-status=live }}</ref> as is Flinders University.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical) (Honours)|url=https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-engineering-biomedical-honours|access-date=24 October 2019|publisher=Flinders University|archive-date=26 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240726171618/https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-engineering-biomedical-honours|url-status=live}}</ref>

As with many degrees, the reputation and ranking of a program may factor into the desirability of a degree holder for either employment or graduate admission. The reputation of many undergraduate degrees is also linked to the institution's graduate or research programs, which have some tangible factors for rating, such as research funding and volume, publications and citations. With BME specifically, the ranking of a university's hospital and medical school can also be a significant factor in the perceived prestige of its BME department/program.

[[Graduate school|Graduate education]] is a particularly important aspect in BME. While many engineering fields (such as mechanical or electrical engineering) do not need graduate-level training to obtain an entry-level job in their field, the majority of BME positions do prefer or even require them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#outlook|work=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|title=Job Outlook for Engineers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219172748/http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm|archive-date=December 19, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since most BME-related professions involve scientific research, such as in [[pharmaceutical]] and [[medical device]] development, graduate education is almost a requirement (as undergraduate degrees typically do not involve sufficient research training and experience). This can be either a Masters or Doctoral level degree; while in certain specialties a Ph.D. is notably more common than in others, it is hardly ever the majority (except in academia). In fact, the perceived need for some kind of graduate credential is so strong that some undergraduate BME programs will actively discourage students from majoring in BME without an expressed intention to also obtain a master's degree or apply to medical school afterwards.

Graduate programs in BME, like in other scientific fields, are highly varied, and particular programs may emphasize certain aspects within the field. They may also feature extensive collaborative efforts with programs in other fields (such as the university's Medical School or other engineering divisions), owing again to the interdisciplinary nature of BME. M.S. and Ph.D. programs will typically require applicants to have an undergraduate degree in BME, or ''another engineering'' discipline (plus certain life science coursework), or ''life science'' (plus certain engineering coursework).

Education in BME also varies greatly around the world. By virtue of its extensive biotechnology sector, its numerous major universities, and relatively few internal barriers, the U.S. has progressed a great deal in its development of BME education and training opportunities. Europe, which also has a large biotechnology sector and an impressive education system, has encountered trouble in creating uniform standards as the European community attempts to supplant some of the national jurisdictional barriers that still exist. Recently, initiatives such as BIOMEDEA have sprung up to develop BME-related education and professional standards.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 2005|url=http://www.bmt.uni-stuttgart.de/biomedea/biomedea.htm|title=BIOMEDEA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506113817/http://www.bmt.uni-stuttgart.de/biomedea/biomedea.htm|archive-date=May 6, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other countries, such as Australia, are recognizing and moving to correct deficiencies in their BME education.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lithgow, B. J.|date=October 25, 2001|url=http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA410442|title=Biomedical Engineering Curriculum: A Comparison Between the USA, Europe and Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501063532/http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA410442|archive-date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Also, as high technology endeavors are usually marks of developed nations, some areas of the world are prone to slower development in education, including in BME.