M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering

The Cornell Master of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering curriculum is structured around three integrated pillars that support individualized academic pathways while maintaining a coherent professional foundation.

Graduate-Level Professional Development (PD) (9 credits):

This pillar prepares students for professional engineering practice in healthcare-related sectors. Coursework emphasizes communication, leadership, ethics, regulatory awareness, clinical exposure, and business fundamentals.

Students complete 9 credits, including BME 5010 – Biomedical Engineering Professional Development Seminar (2 required credits) and 7 credits of approved electives. Electives may include Clinical Preceptorship, Regulatory Affairs, Engineering Management, Business, or other graduate-level offerings aligned with the student’s background and career objectives, subject to advisor approval.

Graduate-Level STEM (ST) (12 credits):

This pillar provides technical depth and analytical rigor. Students complete 12 credits of graduate-level STEM coursework selected in consultation with an academic advisor.

Courses may be drawn from biomedical engineering or other Cornell graduate programs, provided they meet graduate-level standards and align with the students’ intended technical trajectory.

Experiential Learning (ExL – Design/Research)(9 credits):

Experiential learning anchors the curriculum in real-world application. Students engage in sponsored design projects drawn from clinical, industrial, and translational contexts, emphasizing systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, and execution within realistic constraints.

The required sequence includes BME 5500 – Innovative Design of Medical Technologies (3 credits), BME 5911 – Design Project Phase I (2 credits), and BME 5921 – Design Project Phase II (4 credits). A small subset of students elects an individual research-based project (BME 5910 / BME 5920 – 6 credits), typically conducted under the supervision of a faculty principal investigator.

• All courses must be 5000 level or higher
• Only 2 S/U credits are allowed
• Students are allowed to take up to 8 credits in Experiential Learning by adding 2 credits of BME 5930 under the STEM pilar
• Students are allowed to take elective courses that are not included in this list.
• Electives selection and segment (pillar) classification should be done and approved by advisor.

The M.Eng. preceptorship offers select Biomedical Engineering M.Eng. students firsthand exposure to clinical environments at Guthrie Hospital in Sayre, PA. This intensive experience includes clinician engagements, pre-hospital orientation, and weekly interactions throughout fall and spring semesters. It aims to familiarize students with healthcare practices and foster a short-term mentor-student relationship for tailored learning in clinical settings.

Students in BME 5100 utilize this approach to observe clinical routines, identify potential needs, and propose solutions through engineering principles. The instructor guides students on hospital protocols, professional conduct, and patient interactions, while managing student-preceptor teams. Faculty oversee student progress, assisting with assignments and reviewing experiences.

Preceptors provide deep insights into anatomy, physiology, and pathology specific to their specialty, allowing students to participate, observe, and complete weekly assignments. The institution values student-generated ideas and feedback, culminating in final reports and on-site poster presentations. Promising ideas may progress to sponsored design projects, reflecting the program’s integration of engineering expertise with healthcare challenges.