BME Minor - The Generic Guide for Freshman and Sophomores

What Courses Should You Take in Freshman and Sophomore Years to be on Track?

The BME Minor Degree has 3 types of subject requirements:

1. Science & Engineering Core (4 subjects: 5.12; 5.07 or 7.05; 18.03 (or 3.016); and one engineering subject)
2. BME Core (2 subjects from a choice of 8)
3. Electives (2 subjects from a restricted list of BME and Biology subjects)

Student typically will complete the Science & Engineering Core by the end of the Sophomore year and will take the BME Core and Elective subjects in the Junior and Senior years.

A typical plan for the first two years is:

Freshman year: 5.12
Sophomore Year: 18.03 (fall term, since 18.03 is a prereq for the engineering subject); 5.07 or 7.05 (either is acceptable and there is no preference; 5.07 is offered in the fall and 7.05 is offered in the spring); and an Engineering Subject (Spring term).

BME Core subjects and Electives are generally taken in the Junior and Senior years (see below). A limited number of subjects that satisfy the BME Core or Elective requirements are appropriate to take in the Freshman or Sophomore years. These include: 20.110, 20.104, 20.109, 7.02, 7.03, and 7.06. Many students will find that a substantial fraction of the BME requirements also fulfill departmental requirements. You should check with the minor advisor in your home department for details.

How do I choose a Major that is compatible with my interests in Bioengineering?

Several options are available for freshmen looking for more information on departmental degree options in Bio/Medical Engineering. The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Student Chapter hosts monthly events on topics related to Biomedical Engineering, and these meetings provide an opportunity to meet upperclassmen and discuss majors. Most departments host open houses in the spring term to provide information about their departmental programs, and these are also a good opportunity to learn about the options in bioengineering.

At What Point Do You Really Need to Talk to a BME Minor Advisor?

If you are enrolled in an engineering major, you will be on track for the BME minor through the end of your sophomore year if you are on track for your Major and take the Science Core (i.e. the Engineering Core will be naturally fulfilled). You should see a BME Minor advisor before fall term of your junior year - preferably during IAP or spring term of your sophomore year.

If you are not enrolled in an engineering major, you need to see your departmental advisor or Prof. Schauer some time before or during fall term of your sophomore year to discuss options for fulfilling the Engineering Subject requirement. You should take the Engineering Subject Requirement by the end of your sophomore year. You may also get advice as a freshman by contacting Prof. Schauer or by attending beginning of term Advising Seminars.

What Courses Should You Take in Junior and Senior Years?

Students are strongly encouraged to wait until Junior and Senior years to take the BME Core subjects and BME Elective subjects. These subjects are intended to be upper level subjects that require a fair degree of comfort in solving engineering problems, and generally also require the entire Engineering and Science cores as prerequisites. Our feedback from students who have taken BME subjects early is that they did not have enough preparation. If you have questions about fitting everything in, please meet with a BME advisor early in the sophomore year to discuss your plan of study. There are also several advising seminars throughout the year where you can ask questions about course offerings. If you are thinking about taking BME subjects during your freshman or sophomore years(other than those indicated above), PLEASE discuss your reasoning with you BME Minor advisor or with Prof. Schauer.

The exceptions to the rule “take only the Science and Engineering Core subjects during Freshman and Sophomore years” mostly relate to the Elective subject requirements. One of the electives must be a BME subject, but the other elective may be either a BME subject or a bioscience subject. Among the bioscience subjects, 20.104, 20.109, 7.02, 7.03, and 7.06 can be taken in the Freshman or Sophomore years. In addition, 20.110, which satisfies a BME Core subject requirement, is also appropriate to take before the Junior and Senior years.

Why Enroll in the BME Minor Degree Officially?

The Academic Office of Biological Engineering (56-651) maintains a list of students enrolled in the minor (i.e. students who have filled out the Minor Application Form with their BME advisor and made sure all the forms get turned in). This list is used to keep students informed of special BME opportunities - UROPs, fellowships, seminars, updates on new subjects, changes in subjects and subject scheduling. Those enrolled in the BME Minor are given preference for Bioengineering Undergraduate Research Awards. These awards provide generous support for research in bioengineering conducted via a UROP agreement. Applications are reviewed on a competitive basis each term. Students are thus strongly encouraged to enroll in the Minor formally (fill out the Minor Application Form) early in the program so they do not miss out on these opportunities. An appropriate time to fill out the application is the spring term of your Sophomore year. You can make changes in your proposed plan of study for the Minor once enrolled, provided the changes are approved by your BME Minor Advisor. Typically, there are advising seminars in beginning each term.

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