Frequently Asked Questions

Biomedical engineering is a unique field that develops engineering skills from a variety of disciplines and applies them to problems related to human health and disease. Biomedical engineering at Cornell has been designed to prepare students to deal with the variability of the human body and to engineer robust solutions in an uncertain environment.

Yes! We accept affiliation applications during the fourth semester. Please note, that the 2024 engineering undergraduate handbook (pg. 35-36) outlines additional affiliation requirements that need to be met if you apply for affiliation with biomedical engineering in the fourth semester or beyond including BME 2010, BME 2110, ENGRD 2020 and MATH 2940.

Biomedical engineering (like any other major) have a maximum capacity in terms of faculty and classroom/lab space. It is possible, but unlikely, that a number of students all want to affiliate to biomedical engineering but we cannot accommodate them all. To date, we have not denied anyone that qualified for affiliation.

For biomedical engineering majors, a score of 5 on the Biology AP exam is required in order to place out of BIOMG 1350. We do accept credit for other math and science courses. It all depends on what you view as the quality of your preparation. Many students wish they hadn’t passed out of courses because 1) they can solidify the material much better in a new setting, and 2) getting good grades in classes builds confidence for more difficult classes and should help your GPA. Reasons to take the AP credit are 1) to have lesser course loads each semester, and by extension more free time, or 2) to be able to minor or otherwise diversify your educational experience.

Biomedical engineering accepts a limited number of students from other colleges at Cornell who wish to transfer to the Cornell  Engineering and the biomedical engineering major. Please contact Engineering Advising to inquire about this process. We also accept a few students from colleges and universities outside of Cornell. Cornell Engineering Admissions has more information about this opportunity.

There are a number of ways to gain a background in biomedical engineering outside the major. We have a minor, a one-year masters of engineering (M.Eng.) and many faculty research labs that take in students from various science and engineering disciplines.

Contact the undergraduate coordinator, bmeugrad@cornell.edu.

All undergraduates in the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are eligible to participate in the biomedical engineering minor. However, students may participate in only one of the bioengineering options: the biological engineering minor ↗, or the biomedical engineering minor.

For the the full list visit the minor degree requirements.

Seniors usually submit a minor certification form a month or so before commencement. In order to receive credit for the biomedical engineering minor you must do the following:

• Pick up the biomedical engineering minor certification form in Engineering Advising Office in 167 Olin Hall.
• Request a copy of your transcript.
• Underline or circle the minor courses on the transcript.
• Remember to include the required 501 seminar.
• Print out any communication (email) or petitions concerning specially approved minor courses.
• Complete the form, sign and date it. Submit the completed certification form, transcript and any special approvals/petitions to front desk in 120 Olin Hall.
• Receive your major degree.

Certification forms with pending grades will be held until the grades are posted. Certification of the minor begins after commencement and major degrees have been awarded. Once the major degree has been posted to your academic record the minor can be noted on the transcript. This notation is usually entered by the registrar.

Students must take BIOMG 1350.

For an example of a pre-med course path (and other paths), see our paths to careers. The example allows students to graduate in four years with an undergraduate degree while satisfying pre-med requirements. Additional paths are possible depending on AP credit and if the student wants to take the full sequence of organic chemistry. Pre-med advising is available through the major, at the college level, and at the university level to help students create a plan that works best for them.

CHEM 1570 can be satisfied by the pre-medicine sequence, so those students who take organic chemistry and biochemistry do not need to take CHEM 1570.

Yes, a large percentage of our students complete at least one semester or summer of research! If you are interested in getting involved in some innovative research, we will encourage and support you to do just that. Students will find openings for research opportunities with our core faculty as well as with field faculty members in other departments whose research involves biomedical engineering-related applications. To get started, visit  Cornell Engineering undergraduate research.

Visit the M.Eng. program  or contact the M.Eng. Program Coordinator or visit the Ph.D. program or the Ph.D. Program Coordinator.

A completed graduation checklist will be reviewed by the student and undergraduate coordinator in the student’s second-to-last semester and again in the student’s final semester. Graduation dates are January, May, and August. Outstanding graduation-related paperwork is to be completed and submitted prior to graduation. All credits (including AP credits and petitioned credit) need to appear on transcripts or credit to be applied.

Following is a sampling of companies and institutions that hired our graduates to illustrate the types of positions where our graduates have successfully contributed their talents. Position (Employer).

• Safety and Crashworthiness Engineer (Toyota)
• Regulatory Affairs Specialist (Stryker)
• Associate Consultant (Chartwell Consulting)
• Associate Scientist (Merck)
• Product Marketing Engineer (Agilent Technologies)
• Technical Development Cell Culture Engineer (Biogen)

See also paths to careers for more information.