Many of our students seek additional experiences and training to meet their educational and career goals, such as preparation for medical school. You may choose a minor or a collection of liberal studies courses to strategically complement your engineering training and broaden your post-graduate career choices. Our major has built-in flexibility to accommodate four paths.
Paths with Course Schedules
Standard Path
A straightforward eight-semester progression that requires no prior college/AP credit or summer courses, and balances engineering and humanities courses throughout.
We recommend most biomedical engineering majors use this schedule as a starting point for planning their courses. Degree Total: 34+34+31+31 = 130 Credits
Standard Path: Freshman Year
| Fall (17 total credits) | Spring (17 total credits) |
|---|---|
| MATH 1910 (4) | MATH 1920 (4) |
| CHEM 2090 (4) | PHYS 1112 (4) |
| BIOMG 1350 (3) | BIOG 1500 (2) |
| ENGRI 1XXX (3) | CS 1112 (4) |
| Freshman Writing Seminar (3) | Freshman Writing Seminar (3) |
Standard Path: Sophomore Year
| Fall (18 total credits) | Spring (16 total credits) |
|---|---|
| MATH 2930 (4) | PHYS 2214 or CHEM 1570* (4) |
| PHYS 2213 (4) | BME 2010 Phys. Human Health/Disease (3) |
| BME 2000 (ENGRD 2202) Transport (4) | BME 2110 MCSE Cornerstone (3) |
| ENGRD 2020 (BMMB Cornerstone)# (3) | BME 2310 BMII Cornerstone (3) |
| Liberal Studies (3) | Liberal Studies (3) |
*Only one of these courses are required for a concentration, which in the case of CHEM 1570 can be waived by the completion of pre-medicine organic chemistry. CHEM 1570 is recommended for those interested in MCSE or BMDD; PHYS 2214 is recommended for those interested in BMII or BMMB.
Standard Path: Junior Year
| Fall (16 total credits) | Spring (15 total credits) |
|---|---|
| BTRY 3010 Biological Statistics (4) | MATH 2940 (3) |
| BME 3010 Cellular Engineering (3) | BME 3020 Molecular Engineering (3) |
| BME 2210 BMDD Cornerstone** (3) | BME 3×10 Concentration Course 1*** (3) |
| BME 3030 BME Instrumentation (3) | BME Concentration Course 2 (3) |
| Liberal Studies (3) | Liberal Studies (3) |
**There may become a BME owned BMMB cornerstone course in the future.
***Each concentration has one required concentration lecture in the spring of junior year. The other concentration courses are offered and can be taken in either the fall or spring semesters.
Standard Path: Senior Year
| Fall (16 total credits) | Spring (15 total credits) |
|---|---|
| BME 4010 B.A.M.S.S (3) | BME 4020 Elec/Chem Physiol (3) |
| BME 4080 BME Design Lab (3) | BME 4090 BME Design Lab (3) |
| BME 4×90 Concentration Lab (4) | BME Concentration Course 3 (3) |
| Approved Elective 1 (3) | Approved Elective 2 (3) |
| Liberal Studies (3) | Liberal Studies (3) |
Pre-Medicine Path
Students interested in matriculating to medical school need to take additional chemistry courses. This schedule sample minimizes the number of additional credits that the students accrue while also satisfying the pre-medicine course requirements.
This path sample also does not require prior college/AP credit, summer courses, or additional semesters to complete. It is recommended that pre-med students use this schedule as a starting point for planning their courses.
For pre-health advising, please visit the Health Professions Advising Center website.
Pre-Medicine: Freshman Year
| Fall (17 total credits) | Spring (17 total credits) |
|---|---|
| MATH 1910 (4) | MATH 1920 (4) |
| CHEM 2090 (4) | PHYS 1112 (4) |
| BIOMG 1350 (3) | BIOG 1500 (2) |
| ENGRI 1XXX (3) | CS 1112 (4) |
| Freshman Writing Seminar (3) | Freshman Writing Seminar (3) |
Pre-Medicine: Sophomore Year
| Fall (18 total credits) | Spring (16 total credits) |
|---|---|
| MATH 2930 (4) | MATH 2940 (3) |
| PHYS 2213 (4) | BME 2010 Phys. Human Health/Disease (3) |
| BME 2000 (ENGRD 2202) Transport (4) | BME 2110 MCSE Cornerstone (3) |
| ENGRD 2020 (BMMB Cornerstone)# (3) | CHEM 2080 (4) |
| Liberal Studies (3) | Liberal Studies (3) |
| None | BME 2080 Experiential Learning Seminar (0) |
Pre-Medicine: Junior Year
| Fall (18 total credits) | Spring (20 total credits) |
|---|---|
| BTRY 3010 Biological Statistics (4) | CHEM 2510 (Approved Elective 1) (2) |
| BME 3010 Cellular Engineering (3) | BME 3020 Molecular Engineering (3) |
| BME 2210 BMDD Cornerstone (3) | BME 3×10 Concentration Course 1*** (3) |
| BME 3030 BME Instrumentation (4) | Concentration Elective** (3) |
| CHEM 3570 (Instead of CHEM 1570)* (3) | CHEM 3580* (3) |
| BME 2081 Experiential Learning Seminar (1) | Liberal Studies (3) |
| None | Liberal Studies (3) |
*CHEM 2090 + CHEM 2080 + CHEM 3570 (OR CHEM 3530) + CHEM 3580 + CHEM 2510 satisfy the General and Organic chemistry requirements for most medical schools. Some schools require a full year of organic chemistry. See the Cornell Premed Guide for additional course options. CHEM 3530 is not required prior to affiliation to BME. These classes only needed to be taken before applying to Medical School.
**Concentration courses are offered and can be taken in either the Fall or Spring semesters.
Pre-Medicine: Senior Year
| Fall (17 total credits) | Spring (15 total credits) |
|---|---|
| BME 4010 Metabolic and Structural Systems (3) | BME 4020 Elec/Chem Physiol (3) |
| BME 4080 BME Design Lab (3) | BME 4090 BME Design Lab (3) |
| BME 4×90 Concentration Lab (4) | Concentration Elective** (3) |
| Liberal Studies (3) | Liberal Studies (3) |
| BIOMG 3300 (Approved Elective 2)* (4) | Advisor Approved Elective (3) |
*Satisfies the Premed Biochemistry requirement. See the Cornell Premed Guide for additional course options.
**Concentration courses are offered and can be taken in either the Fall or Spring semesters.
Liberal Studies Path
Cornell places a high value on a well-rounded education, and the B.S in biomedical engineering is no exception.
While many students pursue varied intellectual interests with their liberal arts electives, some students wish to complement their engineering and life science curriculum with a strategic set of additional courses to prepare them for specific career options. For examples, contact the undergraduate coordinator.
Study Abroad Path
Due to the evolving nature of the biomedical engineering curriculum, majors should not plan to study abroad during a fall/spring term. Summer study or research abroad opportunities are possible with the assistance of Cornell’s Office of Global Learning in consultation with the undergraduate coordinator.
Career Outlook
Biomedical engineers are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a career growth rate significantly above average. This surge is due to an aging population requiring more medical care and a greater awareness of the benefits of biomedical engineering.
With a biomedical engineering degree, you will be prepared for careers in industry and business in areas such as medical devices, biologics, and biomaterials. The major is also excellent preparation for further graduate study in engineering, medicine, and science. A number of our undergraduates continue on for a Cornell Engineering Master of Engineering (M.Eng.), which offers the option of early admission or early decision for Cornell undergraduates.
Positions Secured By Recent Graduates
-
General (Any Concentration)
- Consulting (Slalom Consulting, Accenture, IMS Health, Epic Software, Michael Allen)
- Patent Law (Riverside Law LLC, Merlo Kanofsky Ltd)
- Medical/Research Technician (UCSF Med Center, Mt. Sinai, Boston Children’s, Mass General, Broad Institute, Rockefeller)
-
Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Engineering
- Bio-pharmaceutical firms (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Talecris Biother., Genencor Int, Regeneron, Genentech, Merrimack)
- Medical and graduate school paths
- Biomedical engineering companies (Regeneron, Spectropath)
-
Biomaterials and Drug Delivery
- Drug delivery companies (product development track) – (Merck, Pfizer, Amgen, Genentech, Regeneron, J&J, Genzyme, Biogen, Idec, BMS, Novartis, startups)
- Medical Device Firms: Biomaterial Design (Medtronic, Edwards)
-
Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation
- Optical microscopy firms (Leica, Zeiss, Spectra Services, Technicians, Sales)
- Imaging technology engineer (GE Healthcare, Phillips, Siemens)
- Imaging specialists at other firms (Perkin-Elmer)
- Instrumentation software design (Epic)
- Sequencing technology firms (Agilent, BD, Illumina)
- Spectroscopy firms, technical/sales
-
Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
- Cardiovascular medical device design engineer (Medtronic, Atrium Medical, J&J, Boston Scientific)
- Computational analyst/modeling engineer (Heart Flow, Agilent)
- Medical device quality control (GE Healthcare, Phillips, Mettler-Toledo)
- Research engineer (Hospital for Special Surgery)
Career Search Support
Take advantage of the larger network at your fingertips. As an undergraduate, you’ll also have access to:
- Career guidance from faculty, career advisory staff, industrial practitioners and academic advisors
- Staff to help with resume creation and critiques
- Mock interviews
- Career fairs to connect you to recruiters
In addition, Cornell offers a variety of personalized career support and advising for each student.