Biomedical Engineering Integrated BS/MS

The Biomedical Engineering Integrated BS/MS at Columbia University gives students many opportunities to turn classroom knowledge into practical experience through laboratory work, research, engineering design, and internships. Students can work with biomedical equipment, develop prototypes, conduct experiments, and take part in research projects across Columbia's engineering and medical facilities. The program also gives students opportunities to explore graduate-level research and gain experience working on real biomedical engineering challenges.

Students can gain practical experience through:

• Hands-on biomedical laboratories: Students can carry out experiments involving cell and tissue culture, microscopy, quantitative measurements, and other biomedical techniques in dedicated teaching laboratories.

• Advanced laboratory equipment: Students have access to equipment such as confocal laser scanning microscopes, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, materials testing systems, centrifuges, flow chambers, signal-conditioning equipment, and data-acquisition systems.

• Biomedical imaging: Students can gain experience with biomedical imaging technologies, including research MRI and 2D and 3D cardiac ultrasound equipment available through Columbia's medical facilities.

• Biomedical design projects: The two-semester senior design sequence allows students to work in teams and develop solutions to open-ended biomedical engineering problems, giving them experience with collaboration, design, and problem-solving.

• Prototyping and fabrication: Students can use engineering fabrication resources, including milling machines, lathes, drill presses, CNC equipment, electronic components, oscilloscopes, and waveform generators, to develop and test biomedical engineering prototypes.

• Undergraduate research: Students can join biomedical engineering research laboratories and contribute to active research projects through research assistantships and other opportunities.

• Summer research opportunities: Students can gain additional experience through summer research positions, internships, research assistantships, work-study opportunities, and undergraduate research programs.

• Research for academic credit: Students in the integrated BS/MS pathway may undertake approved research for academic credit during the summer following their senior year, providing an opportunity to work more closely with faculty on research.

• Internships: Biomedical Engineering students can take part in internships during the academic year or summer, allowing them to gain practical experience in professional biomedical engineering environments.

• Computational learning: Graduate-level study introduces students to quantitative and computational approaches, including the modeling and analysis of physiological systems.

• Interdisciplinary research: Students can benefit from Columbia's connections across engineering, medicine, dentistry, and public health, giving them opportunities to approach biomedical challenges from multiple perspectives.

The Biomedical Engineering Integrated BS/MS at Columbia University gives students a strong foundation for building careers in biomedical engineering while allowing them to gain master's-level knowledge and experience. Graduates can explore opportunities in medical technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, research, consulting, and other technology-driven fields.

Typical career roles include: Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Researcher, Biotechnology Engineer

Students can strengthen their career prospects through:

• Career support: Columbia BME provides resources for internships and employment, including career guidance, résumé support, interview preparation, job-search resources, recruiting activities, and professional development opportunities.

• Industry connections: Students can connect with employers through career events and professional activities. Organizations involved in Columbia BME career activities include Medtronic, Brainlab, FDA ORISE, Life Sci NYC, and Avalere Health.

• Industry opportunities: Columbia BME graduates have gone on to work with organizations such as Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Stryker, AbbVie, Regeneron, Amgen, Cresilon, Globus Medical, and Brainlab.

• Employment outcomes: Columbia BME's published placement data for its December 2020 M.S. class reported 56.4% entering industry, 25.6% entering research, and 18% entering graduate school. These figures relate specifically to that M.S. cohort and should not be considered a placement rate for the Integrated BS/MS.

• Salary information: Columbia BME does not publish a specific average salary for graduates of the Integrated BS/MS, so a program-specific salary figure is not available.

• Professional development: Columbia Engineering provides resources covering résumé development, business writing, communication, presentations, ethics, job searching, and other professional skills that can help students prepare for the workplace.

• Long-term accreditation value: The Biomedical Engineering B.S. at Columbia is accredited by ABET, giving students an accredited engineering foundation. The integrated master's degree adds advanced technical knowledge and research experience, further strengthening the academic profile of graduates.

• Graduation outcomes: Graduates can move into careers and further study across areas such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical imaging, biotechnology, healthcare, biomedical research, and government-related organizations.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the Integrated BS/MS, students can continue to doctoral-level study, including a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering or a related discipline. Students interested in medicine or other professional careers can also pursue appropriate professional degrees, while those interested in research can use their advanced coursework, research experience, and master's qualification as a foundation for further academic and scientific work.