Academics

The Department of Bioengineering at UC Berkeley grants the Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in bioengineering, and jointly grants the Ph.D. in bioengineering and Master of Translational Medicine degrees with the University of California, San Francisco.

The BioE graduate and undergraduate programs are continually ranked in the top 10 in the nation, according to US News & World Report, while the College of Engineering, is one of the top three overall engineering schools in the U.S., and UC Berkeley as a whole has been ranked as the top public university in the world.

UC Berkeley offers two professional masters programs in bioengineering:

The Master of Translational Medicine Program

The Master of Translational Medicine program draws on the unique expertise and resources available at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco to provide trainees with the tools they need to solve real-world problems in a creative, interdisciplinary, team setting. The unique one-year program is designed for engineers, scientists, and clinicians who seek to bring innovative treatments and devices into clinical use. Coursework includes the fundamentals of bioengineering, physiology and disease, engineering design, core medical principles, clinical research methods, and clinical trials design, as well as the basics of business and management. The program culminates in a capstone design project in which students work in interdisciplinary teams co-advised by engineering and clinical faculty.

The Master of Engineering

The Bioengineering Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree is a new and rapidly growing program at UC Berkeley. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on engineering and entrepreneurship, designed for students planning to move directly into industry after completing the program. Graduates of this one-year professional program have a combination of technical and economic understanding that allows them to quickly assume leadership roles in their engineering careers.

Student Outcomes

At UC Berkeley, the bioengineering undergraduate major sends the third largest number of graduates to medical school (behind only Molecular and Cell Biology and Integrative Biology), and many of our graduates go on to pursue PhD and master’s degrees. Our undergraduates are increasingly finding success in the thriving Bay Area biotech industry. In addition to starting companies or joining companies, our undergraduates are being recognized with prestigious awards, including Rhodes Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship, University Medal, etc.

With the exception of some students who go on to complete their medical residency requirements, our master’s students primarily find careers in the biotech, biopharma, and consulting industries, starting at mid-level rather than entry-level positions.

From our current data, 20% of our PhD alumni hold tenure-track positions at major universities, and have been honored with awards that include the Ford Fellowship, AAAS Policy Fellowship, Kauffman Foundation Fellowship, PECASE, and National Academy of Engineering. Those of our alumni employed in biotech and related industries generally start in positions of significant authority, and many of those are engaged in running their own startups.

Berkeley offers a wealth of opportunity for the motivated student, from academic minors and entrepreneurial endeavors to work in global health and welfare, our busy students find ways to make time for their passions.