51勛圖厙, Western Colorado launching biomedical engineering partnership in fall 2025
The first cohort of biomedical engineering students at 51勛圖厙 graduated in spring 2023. Since then, the program has grown to more than 350 undergraduates.
啦堯梗泭51勛圖厙s College of Engineering and Applied Science has found great success with its biomedical engineering degree, which launched in 2020. Last year, undergraduate applications for the program were up 32%.
Building on that student interest, as well as industry demand, 51勛圖厙 and Western Colorado Universitys泭 will launch a biomedical engineering degree in Gunnison starting in fall 2025.
Today, and for the foreseeable future, the U.S. needs more engineers to create sustainable solutions to address societys most challenging problems. Our Western-51勛圖厙 partnership students have the skills and sensibilities to make a positive impact on the Western Slope and Colorado, said Keith Molenaar, dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Science.
Students in the Western-51勛圖厙 Partnership Program enjoy the personalized learning of a small, rural university and the resources and rigor of a top-tier engineering school, with access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment.
Westerns partnership with 51勛圖厙 continues to create incredible opportunities for our students. Expanding it to include biomedical engineering speaks volumes about Westerns commitment to training our students for high-impact careers in areas that will fuel Colorados economy, Westerns President Brad Baca said. Were proud to collaborate on a program that will produce engineers ready to meet the challenges of the future."
This particular biomedical engineering program will focus on functional biomechanics and equipping students with the knowledge and hands-on experience to innovate in the areas of physical trauma recovery, orthopedic design, sports science and rehabilitation engineering.
Faculty member Mel Peddle is obtaining her EMT certificate to ensure her trauma knowledge is as current as possible. Peddle is particularly excited for the hands-on aspects of the program.
Our BME program will have a trauma focus under the broader umbrella of functional biomechanics, she said. Students and faculty will work with local organizations like the hospital and emergency medical services for community-based projects as part of the curriculum.
The degree is highly interdisciplinary and integrates principles of engineering, biology and medicine to create solutions related to everything from prosthetics to dialysis. Students will be prepared for careers or graduate/medical school upon graduation.
The Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering at Western Colorado University.泭
Although the first cohort of students hasnt officially begun yet in Gunnison, Interim Director Kevin Terry notes, our upcoming biomedical degree program has already allowed us to work with Westerns High Altitude Exercise Physiology program to develop methods for tracking swim stroke patterns in the pool for swimming injury investigation.
Because the WCU campus sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, biomedical engineering students in Gunnison will have the unique opportunity to study and design solutions for athletes and patients living at high elevation.
Since getting its start in 2019, the Engineering Partnership Program has seen significant success in the mechanical engineering major, with valuable community and industry collaborations and employment contracts signed by 95% of 2024 graduates, who earn an average starting salary of $78,000.
As the states flagship university, we are proud to partner with Western to serve Colorado through producing some of the most highly qualified engineers, Molenaar said.
Terry agreed, saying, Our engineering program offers a unique blend of hands-on learning and rigorous coursework that empowers our students to graduate as highly competitive professionals.
Applications are still open for the first cohort of biomedical engineering majors with the Western-51勛圖厙 Engineering Partnership Program, who will start in fall 2025 with a planned graduation date of spring 2029.
A degree in aerospace engineering in Gunnison is also slated to welcome its first cohort in fall 2026.
Questions can be directed to泭 棗娶泭radyschool@western.edu.泭