Undergraduate Programs

"Sensing and Actuating Life"

 

Strategy

Setting Direction

Biomedical engineering (BME) seeks to leverage a wide range of traditional scientific and engineering practices to improve human life.  In order to become a top biomedical engineer, a student must also be thoroughly trained in a traditional engineering discipline.  Carnegie Mellon offers a unique additional major system which allows students to choose a major in a traditional engineering department in combination with a BME major curriculum track designed along one of the traditional engineering approaches.  In addition, a self-designed curriculum track is an option that allows highly motivated students to pursue a special direction of interest.  In order to graduate with an additional major in BME, a student must meet the major requirements of both the BME and the traditional engineering major.  Freshmen should determine which traditional engineering discipline is most appealing to them, e.g., electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, or materials science and engineering.  The easiest route would be to choose a traditional engineering major of interest and a matching BME track.  However, ambitious students may mix these choices to broaden their background, for example combining a major in Electric & Computer Engineering with a BME track in Biomechanics to lay a foundation for medical robotics (see FAQ).

Getting Advice

This web site contains detailed information about core requirements and tracks.  The course planning spreadsheet (new version for classes of 2015-) is particularly useful.  Faculty advising will likely be much more effective for students who have taken advantage of the posted information and tools on the web site.

Each student who declares BME as one of the majors will be assigned a BME faculty advisor, in addition to an advisor who may be assigned separately in the student’s other CIT department.  Faculty or staff members in other departments may also serve as consultants for students contemplating a BME additional major or minor.  Listed below are BME faculty members who are also closely associated with other departments.

In addition to faculty advisors, the BME Associate Department Head Prof. Conrad Zapanta and the BME Department Head Prof. Yu-li Wang will help with various aspects of advising, course selection, and coordination with other departments.  Students pursuing a BME minor can get help with their BME course selections from Prof. Conrad Zapanta.

Basic Strategies for Completing the Additional Major

  • Talk to the advisor(s) in BME and in the other CIT major department, particularly before course pre-registration.  Before meeting with the advisor, the student should become familiar with the major requirements, consider alternate schedules, and prepare any questions.  Suggested schedules for various combinations of majors are on the BME website.  Use the course planning spreadsheet (new version for classes of 2015-), and send the advisor a draft plan ahead of the meeting if possible.

  • Remember that a B.S. degree in BME requires also successful completion of a major in a traditional engineering department.  Students cannot be awarded a B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering without satisfactorily completing the degree requirements of the other CIT major department.

  • Take BME core courses without delay.   These courses are scheduled so as to minimize conflicts with other requirements for the year and semester they are most likely to be taken.  The likelihood of conflict increases in subsequent years, making it difficult to make up.

    • 42-101 should be taken in the freshman year and no later than the fall semester of the sophomore year.
    • 42-202 and 42-203 should be taken no later than the spring semester of the sophomore year.

  • Take advantage of BME courses that meet the requirements of multiple departments.

  • Watch the accumulated units against the minimal unit requirement for graduation for both majors.

  • Do not wait until the last minute before asking for help.   A question that seems simple on the surface may not be that easy to resolve.

  • Students in the Health Professions Program (HPP, aka pre-med) should read the Pre-Med page.

(Updated 07/09/11)

 

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

Campus Office for Student Affairs and Graduate Admissions
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
Doherty Hall 2100
5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Ph: (412) 268-3955
Fax: (412) 268-1173

Administrative Office
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University
PTC 4105
700 Technology Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Ph: (412) 268-6222
Fax: (412) 268-9807