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Minor in Biomedical Engineering

The minor in Biomedical Engineering trains students in designing and analyzing biomedical systems and devices, focusing on a quantitative approach to biology and human health. This program stands out for its emphasis on multiscale biological system analysis, distinguishing it from traditional biology and engineering disciplines.

Important information

Format

In-Person

Page Contents

Eligibility and Academic Standards

Open to all Cornell undergraduates. Pre-approval of minor plan is required.

Students may participate in either the Biological Engineering minor or the Biomedical Engineering minor, but not both.

Students must earn a grade of C- or better in each course in the minor. GPA ≥2.0 for all courses in the minor.

Course Requirements

To earn the minor, students must complete six courses from the five categories listed below.

  • Two courses must be in Category 1 and/or Category 2 with no more than one listing from Category 1.
  • Four courses must come from Category 3, Category 4, and Category 5, with courses from at least two of these categories represented.
  • Up to two courses can be a specifically required major degree course or cross listing.
  • A course chosen from a list of major electives is acceptable.

Note: Students interested in professional practice as biomedical engineers should consider the M.Eng. degree in Biomedical Engineering. The recommended sequence for admission is as follows, two courses from Category 1 and Category 2, BME 3010, 3020, 4010, and 4020. The program requires that students have knowledge of molecular and cellular biomedical engineering and of biomedical engineering analysis of physiological systems.

Category 1: Introductory Biology

  • A score of 5 on CEEB Advanced Placement Biology

  • ENGRI 1310

    Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

  • BIOMG 1350

    Principles of Cell and Developmental Biology

  • BIOG 1440 or 1445

    Introductory Biology: Comparative Physiology, or Introduction to Comparative Anatomy and Physiology, Individualized Instruction

  • BME 2010

    Human Physiology of Health and Disease

  • CHEME 2880

    Biomolecular Engineering: Fundamentals and Applications

Category 2: Advanced Biology

  • BIOAP 3160/BIOMS 3160

    Cellular Physiology

  • BIOAP/BIOMS 4130

    Histology

  • BIOMG 3300 or 3310-3320

    Principles of Biochemistry

  • BIOMG 3330 or 3350

    Principles of Biochemistry, Proteins, Metabolism, and Molecular Biology

  • BIOMG 2800

    Genetics and Genomics

  • BIOMI 2900

    General Microbiology Lectures

  • BIONB 2220

    Neurobiology and Behavior II: Introduction to Neurobiology

  • NS 3410

    Human Anatomy and Physiology

Category 3: Molecular and Cellular Biomedical Engineering

  • BEE 3600

    Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering

  • BME 3010

    Cellular Principles of Biomedical Engineering

  • BME 3020/CHEME 4020

    Molecular Principles of Biomedical Engineering

  • BME 5830

    Cell-Biomaterials Interactions

  • BME 5850

    Current Practice in Tissue Engineering

  • BTRY 4840/CS 4775

    Computational Genetics and Genomics

Category 4: Biomedical Engineering Analysis of Physiological Systems

  • BIONB/BIOAP/BIOMS 4140

    Principles of Pharmacology

  • BIONB/BME/COGST/PSYCH 3300

    Introduction to Computational Neuroscience

  • BIONB/BME 4910

    Principles of Neurophysiology

  • BME 3410

    Systems Mechanobiology

  • BME 4010/MAE 4660

    Biomedical Engineering Analysis of Metabolic and Structural
    Systems

  • BME 4020

    Electrical and Chemical Physiology

  • MAE/BME 4640

    Orthopaedic Tissue Mechanics

Category 5: Biomedical Engineering Applications

  • AEP 4700/BIONB 4700/BME 5700

    Biophysical Methods

  • BEE 4500

    Bioinstrumentation

  • BEE/MAE 4530

    Computer-Aided Engineering: Applications to Biomedical Proce

  • BME 3210

    Multiscale Biomaterial Analysis

  • BME 3310

    Medical and Preclinical Imaging

  • BME/ECE 5040

    Introduction to Neural Engineering

  • BME/ECE 5780

    Computer Analysis of Biomed Images

  • BME 5810/MAE 5680

    Soft Tissue Biomechanics

  • BME 6210

    Engineering Principles for Drug Delivery

  • CHEME 5430

    Bioprocess Engineering

  • MSE 4610

    Biomedical Materials and their Applications