The undergraduate program provides a flexible pathway for students to enter the medical technology and healthcare innovation workforce.
Arizona State University has graduated its first cohort from the online bachelor’s degree program in biomedical engineering through the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering.
Launched in the fall of 2023, the program was developed to provide access to engineering education for students managing careers, families, health challenges, and geographic constraints. The program has grown to include more than 250 students, and enrollment is expected to match on-campus levels in the coming years.
“Online education is not about lowering barriers to rigor; it’s about lowering barriers to access,” says David Brafman, associate director of academic excellence in the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, in a release. “This program allows students to pursue engineering at the highest level while continuing to work, care for families, or navigate major life transitions. That accessibility is transformative—not just for students, but for the future of the field.”
The curriculum features accelerated course formats and project-based learning. For their capstone project, the first graduating class developed patient-specific, 3D-printed meshes for hernia repair. This project aimed to improve patient fit and reduce material waste compared to standard surgical meshes that often fail to match individual patient anatomy.
“This project has shown me how engineering directly impacts real patients,” says Alaa Alothman, an online biomedical engineering graduate, in a release. “It’s not just theory. You’re balancing design, materials, safety, and real-world feasibility.”
The flexibility of the online format allowed students to gain industry experience during their studies. India Zappia, a graduate of the program, completed a co-op in Indiana focused on medical device solutions while finishing her degree.
“The online format gave me the opportunity to take a co-op in Indiana and work on real medical device solutions,” says Zappia in a release. “That experience has been invaluable for my growth as an engineer.”
Other graduates from the initial cohort of six were Theodore Cavender, Theresa Salcedo-Garcia, Tran Finn, and Andrew Veazie.
According to a press release from the university, the program mirrors the academic requirements of the on-campus experience while introducing flexible delivery and real-world application.
“Programs like this are redefining what it means to deliver high-quality engineering education,” says Brafman in a release. “We’re creating pathways that meet students where they are while ensuring they graduate with the skills, experiences, and mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving field.”
Photo caption: Arizona State University has graduated the first cohort from its online bachelor’s degree program in biomedical engineering through the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering. The inaugural graduates are Alaa Alothman, Theodore Cavender, Tran Finn, Theresa Salcedo-Garcia, Andrew Veazie, and India Zappia.
Photo credit: Arizona State University
