These degree requirements apply to students matriculating in the fall semester of 2022 or later.

A student earning a Bachelor of Science degree in the Biological Engineering Program must complete the following academic requirements. A minimum of 128 credit hours of courses is required.

Additional Requirements

• Engineering Technical Communications course
• Capstone Design course
• Physical Education course
• Lab Safety Training

Roadmap

Program Progress Form (PPF)

Sample Curriculum

Handbook Fa22/Sp23

BE_UGHandbook_2023_2024

Notes

• All courses must be taken for letter grade (i.e., not S/U grade) except for Liberal Studies and Approved Electives
• Only 1 D allowed in categories 2-4, 7 and 8.  If you receive more than 1 D, you will have to take one of the courses over or add a different course in the category passed with a grade better than D+.
• Courses numbered 10XX, such as PHYS 1012 or ENGRG 1091, 1092, do not count toward graduation requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Do I follow the previous curriculum or the current?
A1: Students matriculating in Fall 2022 or later have to follow the new curriculum.
Q2: Is this curriculum for College of Engineering enrolled students or for students enrolled in College of Agriculture and Life Sciences?
A2: The university has only one undergraduate curriculum in Biological Engineering. The curriculum above is that one; it is jointly administered by the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Q3: Is this curriculum accredited?
A3: Yes, this curriculum is accredited by ABET.
Q4: Is this curriculum the same as Biomedical Engineering?
A4: No.
Q5: I entered BEE through CALS. Do I have to take a course satisfying the diversity requirement?
A5: No, you’re not held to that requirement, but we encourage you to seek out courses with the (D) label as you plan your liberal studies.  The diversity courses will open your eyes to new ways of learning and new human experiences. Just by being born on Earth, you’re a member of a huge human family — and as an educated member of that family, you should know more about the history, culture, struggles, and aspirations of your brothers and sisters in other places, life styles and circumstances.
Q6: I’m now majoring in another program at Cornell and I think I’d rather study Biological Engineering. What’s my next move?
A6: You’re already at the right website.  Start by making some notes on why you want to be in Biological Engineering and your main questions about the program and what you want to do after graduation. Draft a list of the courses you’re missing and the ones you might want to take in your first semester of the program. Then send an email to the BE student services group: Prof. John March, Director of Undergraduate Studies, or Ms. Brenda Marchewka, Student Services Coordinator.  Be aware that unless you’ve been taking courses closely compatible with our program, joining after your third term may make it difficult to complete all the graduation requirements in 4 or even 4.5 years.

If you will have to transfer into CALS to join our program, see CALS Student Services to access the online application and instructions on completing it.  If you are thinking of transferring from another Engineering major, check with Engineering Advising.
Q7: I need to drop a course and would like to take it in the summer to catch up with my classmates. Is there financial aid for this?
A7: Yes, there is limited financial aid for courses taken in Cornell summer session. Consult Financial Aid or the DPE Office if you are in the Engineering College. Beware, the application deadlines are early (late February, early March), and your advisor may have to approve your application.  There is no financial aid for courses taken elsewhere and transferred in to Cornell.
Q8. Do I need to satisfy CALS graduation requirements if I double major in CALS?
A8. Yes. A double major requires you to satisfy all of the degree requirements for both of your majors. So a second major in CALS will require you to take a Diversity course (typically in your liberal studies distribution or as an approved elective) and to complete 55 credits of CALS courses (which may overlap with your BE core requirements).
Q9. I need to submit a petition for my engineering class. Do I submit it to CALS Student Services, Engineering Advising, or the BEE Department?
A9. Petitions are submitted to the administrative unit which created the requirement you are trying to modify through your petition. Some examples:

• BE premeds using PHYS 2208 instead of PHYS 2213: College of Engineering
• Petition to use a liberal studies as a Cornell course not on the approved list: College of Engineering
• Petition to remain a full time student at less than 12 credits, add or drop a course after the deadline, or take a health leave or voluntary leave from Cornell: either CALS or CoE depending on which you are officially enrolled in
• Petition to satisfy the BE engineering lab requirement by documented practical experience or by a transfer or study abroad course: BEE department
• Petition to substitute a non-Engineering statistics course plus extra Engineering credits for the Engineering Statistics requirement: College of Engineering
• Petition to use a course not now listed in a concentration (old curriculum), to count toward that concentration: BEE department.
• Petition to add a course to the focus area list: BEE department.
• Petition to use ENGL 2880, ENGL 2890, or anticipated transfer credit to fulfill the requirement for one Freshman Writing Seminar: The Knight Institute
• Petitions concerning substitutions for BE program core courses: BEE department

Q10. Does the change in curriculum affect the degree we receive? 
A10.  No, it does not.
Q11. What is the typical number of credit hours a student has at graduation?
A11. Although a minimum of 128 credit hours of courses is required, a student typically ends up taking a few more credits. For example, see here the total credits at graduation for the BEE class of 2015.