Building on the momentum of their collaborative partnership and growing industry demand, the Western Colorado University's (WCU's) Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) will introduce a cutting-edge biomedical engineering (BME) degree at Western’s Gunnison campus this fall, 2025.
This innovative program merges the close-knit, personalized education of a rural university with the advanced resources and academic rigor of CU Boulder, a top-ranked engineering institution. Students will gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art labs while specializing in *functional biomechanics*—a discipline focused on designing solutions for physical trauma recovery, orthopedic innovation, sports science, and rehabilitation engineering.
A cornerstone of the program is its community-driven approach. Learners and faculty will collaborate with local hospitals, emergency medical services (EMS), and other organizations on real-world projects, integrating practical experience directly into the curriculum. The interdisciplinary degree combines engineering, biology, and medicine, preparing graduates to tackle challenges ranging from prosthetic development to medical device design. Students will also explore the unique physiological impacts of high-altitude environments, leveraging Western’s 8,000-foot elevation to study solutions for athletes and patients in mountainous regions.
Graduates will be equipped for diverse career paths in healthcare technology, research, or advanced studies in graduate or medical school. The program follows the proven model of Western and CU Boulder’s mechanical engineering partnership, established in 2019, which boasts a 95% employment rate for 2024 graduates, with average starting salaries of $78,000. Strong industry ties and community collaborations have been pivotal to this success, a tradition the new BME program aims to continue.
By combining academic excellence, experiential learning, and regional partnerships, the partnership positions Gunnison as a hub for nurturing the next generation of biomedical innovators.
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