Online Biomedical Engineering Master’s Degree: Is It Right for You?
Biomedical engineering mixes a few other fields. Basically, by mashing together principles from engineering and medical sciences, biomedical engineers design and create new equipment and devices, as well as the software and systems needed for those new technologies. These are generally put to use within the medical field, which greatly advances modern medicine.
If you go into biomedical engineering, you can work in a surprising number of different environments. Biomedical engineers are found everywhere from research facilities to hospitals to universities or manufacturing sites. While the work itself focuses on creating medical advancements, you can also choose to work in an environment outside of medicine.
As a biomedical engineer, you can expect to make an average salary of around $91,000 per year, with the actual number varying based on your level of education and years of experience in the field. This field is also expected to grow by about 4 percent by 2028, which is around the average growth rate for jobs in the United States. This means there will be plenty of jobs available once you have earned your master’s degree in biomedical engineering.
In this field, entry-level positions only require applicants to have a bachelor’s degree. This means you can land a job and then choose online studies to juggle your work and master’s degree courses to advance your career.
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In the field of biomedical engineering, an online master’s degree is almost always a good decision. Read on to find out why.
Biomedical Engineering Online Master’s Degree Benefits
Earning an online biomedical engineering master’s degree is one of the best decisions you can make if you decide to go into this field. Even though bachelor’s degree holders can secure many of the same job positions as someone with a master’s degree, those with their master’s in biomedical engineering are more likely to get hired and earn a higher income.
To earn a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering, you will need to first complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering or a similar field (assuming you haven’t already). To be accepted into most online master’s degree programs, you will need to have earned and maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher, depending on the program, and have at least a few years of work experience in the field.
Since biomedical engineering is such a hands-on, research-based job, you will most likely be required to complete a capstone research project before graduating with your master’s degree. This is always a good opportunity for graduate students to apply their newly-learned skills to the real world.
Online biomedical engineering master’s programs are a great option if you are looking to complete your degree at a quicker pace than those taking on-campus classes. Many programs offer accelerated options, meaning you can earn your degree in as little as 12 to 18 months. On the other hand, you could also go at a slower pace and take up to four or five years to complete your degree. With online learning, it’s up to you.
Earning an online master’s degree can be challenging if you have never taken online classes, but once you get the hang of it, you will likely find you prefer online courses over on-campus classes. While on-campus classes are great and can be the best option for a lot of people, when you are trying to maintain a full-time job and build up work experience, taking hours-long classes every day of the week can be impossible. Online classes, on the other hand, grant you plenty of time each week to complete your assignments around your existing schedule and responsibilities.
>Want more info about online degrees? Check out Best Online Master’s Degrees
Another perk of taking online classes is the ability to develop or further develop skills like time management and organization. If these are skills you already have, you can fine-tune them and make them even better. If you don’t have them, online classes will force you to pick them up, which benefits you tremendously.
After earning your online Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering, you can advance your career within the position who already have or possibly even transition to another role. Let’s explore some of the career prospects in biomedical engineering below.
Careers in Biomedical Engineering
Most of the jobs in biomedical engineering are available to professionals holding just a bachelor’s degree, but a master’s or doctorate differentiates you from hundreds of other applicants. It also allows you to earn a higher income than those holing only their bachelor’s degree and possibly transition into different roles or take on leadership positions.
Biomaterials Developer
If you decide to be a biomaterials developer, you will get the opportunity to study materials used in medical devices or implants that are both natural and created in laboratories. This is a great field if you wish to do research as well as engineering.
Biomaterials development is the field in which people carry out stem cell research. You would be able to do much more than that though, like working with biomaterials that help support the growth and use of new cells and tissue. This is especially important work for helping treat people who are burn victims or have suffered injuries that require skin grafts.
Medical Technology Developer
As a medical technology developer, you would work with a variety of experiment and laboratory test results to help organize data and create technology to process information. The technology you would be designing and creating would help those in the medical field more easily make diagnoses and come up with treatment plans.
A lot of the desired technology would be able to analyze things like blood samples and spinal fluids to see if any diseases or abnormalities are present. Developing medical technology is a unique way to save lives and you could be behind a lot of it if you went into this job.
>Want to work in healthcare technology? Check out Health Information Technology Degree Online
Rehabilitation Engineer
If you are interested in working with and helping those with disabilities, becoming a rehabilitation engineer may be a good fit for you. In this job, you would be assessing people’s disabilities and designing and building custom-made wheelchairs, robotic aids, and other necessary aids. You would also be in charge of testing the equipment for safety to ensure the product is helpful rather than harmful.
The devices and equipment you help design could help meet a lot of needs faced by those with disabilities. This includes everything from prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs that aid in mobility to developing equipment that can aid with hearing or vision.
Biomedical Scientist or Researcher
Want to focus on research? You should become a biomedical scientist or researcher. Working in one of these jobs allows you to conduct experiments to develop treatments and find cures for diseases like cancer and hepatitis.
You would also get to aid in the process of diagnosing diseases, which could potentially save a lot of lives. While having to diagnose a disease in someone can be hard work, being able to help catch deadly illnesses early-on and develop treatment plans is the best way to help save lives.
Doctor
While a degree in biomedical engineering will not let you become a doctor immediately, many biomedical engineering students go on to earn a medical degree. As a doctor who also holds a biomedical engineering degree, you will qualify for a wider range of job opportunities and can easily transition between fields.
>Rather be a nurse? Check out Best BSN Degree Programs
Conclusion
While deciding to pursue an online biomedical engineering master’s degree can be intimidating, it may very well be the best decision you make for your career.
You would be able to continue working while studying toward a higher degree to secure a higher salary and more interesting job opportunities. An online biomedical engineering degree is a great choice for you if you’re looking to advance your career.
