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Is it a smart idea to major in mechanical engineering and minor in biomedical engineering?
I want to focus more on biomedical engineering but i feel like pairing it with mechanical engineering will open more job opportunities for me.
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5 answers
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Asmaa regardless of your specialization, it safe to say engineers make the world a better, safer place. As our aging population grows, so too will the need for biomedical engineers who can develop artificial organs and limbs, such as hip prostheses. Mechanical engineers can also save lives, though perhaps less directly than their biomedical counterparts. Mechanical engineers will be needed to develop new technologies to help solve impending crises — electric cars that produce zero greenhouse gas emissions, for instance.
Professionals in either profession, as you know, will need to master engineering principles, although biomechanical engineers are also experts in chemistry and biology. Mechanical science is an essential component of either discipline — and all branches of engineering, for that matter. Thermodynamics, heat transfer and material properties are just some of the subjects engineers must be familiar with. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for mechanical engineers to dabble in the field of bioengineering. Many of the systems of the human body are mechanical, composed of biological joints, pumps, and supports, any of which can fail under stress. Mechanical engineers are needed to ensure medical devices, particularly prosthetic limbs, can withstand the rigors of everyday life.
All engineers must also have problem-solving skills. We’re talking about the out-of-the-box thinking that the best engineers are known for. However, it’s important to remember that most engineers work on interdisciplinary teams. Biomedical engineers routinely work with medical professionals, for example, and mechanical engineers often collaborate with architects. Communication, teamwork and emotional intelligence are some of the must-have soft skills shared by professionals in both disciplines.
I hope this will given you a better understanding of how these two disciplines overlap. Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with either career path, but you do have to choose one. If you want to apply your engineering skills to solve some of the most pressing problems of our time.
Professionals in either profession, as you know, will need to master engineering principles, although biomechanical engineers are also experts in chemistry and biology. Mechanical science is an essential component of either discipline — and all branches of engineering, for that matter. Thermodynamics, heat transfer and material properties are just some of the subjects engineers must be familiar with. Consequently, it’s not uncommon for mechanical engineers to dabble in the field of bioengineering. Many of the systems of the human body are mechanical, composed of biological joints, pumps, and supports, any of which can fail under stress. Mechanical engineers are needed to ensure medical devices, particularly prosthetic limbs, can withstand the rigors of everyday life.
All engineers must also have problem-solving skills. We’re talking about the out-of-the-box thinking that the best engineers are known for. However, it’s important to remember that most engineers work on interdisciplinary teams. Biomedical engineers routinely work with medical professionals, for example, and mechanical engineers often collaborate with architects. Communication, teamwork and emotional intelligence are some of the must-have soft skills shared by professionals in both disciplines.
I hope this will given you a better understanding of how these two disciplines overlap. Truthfully, you can’t go wrong with either career path, but you do have to choose one. If you want to apply your engineering skills to solve some of the most pressing problems of our time.
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
That is a great question that takes a lot of consideration!
As mentioned above, tackling a major and a minor in engineering can be difficult. It will require a lot of classes, labs, and study time. But some classes might overlap between these two or some electives might count towards both the major and minor. You will want to look at universities that offer both degrees and read through the curriculum requirements.
You might also look for universities that offer a Biomechanical Engineering program. This already combines the two together to focus on the bio-mechanics of the human body. Many top-tier universities offer this program, as do smaller universities. My university offered a biomedical engineering program with a focus on mechanical engineering at the time I attended, but it looks like they've solidified it into a biomechanical engineering degree now. It's worth looking into and considering if you really like both.
I think you will have a lot of options either way you go, but the course load may be extreme for a major/minor program. Keep that in mind as you review curriculum requirements for the universities you are considering, and good luck!
As mentioned above, tackling a major and a minor in engineering can be difficult. It will require a lot of classes, labs, and study time. But some classes might overlap between these two or some electives might count towards both the major and minor. You will want to look at universities that offer both degrees and read through the curriculum requirements.
You might also look for universities that offer a Biomechanical Engineering program. This already combines the two together to focus on the bio-mechanics of the human body. Many top-tier universities offer this program, as do smaller universities. My university offered a biomedical engineering program with a focus on mechanical engineering at the time I attended, but it looks like they've solidified it into a biomechanical engineering degree now. It's worth looking into and considering if you really like both.
I think you will have a lot of options either way you go, but the course load may be extreme for a major/minor program. Keep that in mind as you review curriculum requirements for the universities you are considering, and good luck!
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Asmaa:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career in Mechanical Engineering. Physics and chemistry will be the core science courses. For math, statistics and calculus will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail and observation skills; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration amongst team members, partner departments and clients occur on a daily basis. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills since analysis reports are generated and findings are presented to colleagues and other professionals who deal with Mechanical Engineering. Another recommendation is to seek the advice from your high school guidance counselor and teachers. They can help guide your educational pathway for Mechanical Engineering.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Mechanical Engineering:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- University of California (Berkeley)
- Purdue University (West Lafayette)
- University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
- California Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Texas (Austin)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate-mechanical
According to Niche.com, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Biomedical Engineering:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Dartmouth College
- Columbia University
- Brown University
- Rice University
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Duke University
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-bioengineering-and-biomedical-engineering/
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are some top careers in Mechanical Engineering:
- Aerospace Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Business Executive
- Construction Engineer
- Entrepreneur
- Intellectual Property Attorney
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Management Consultant
- Mechanical Engineer
- Patent Lawyer
- Production Engineer
- Project Lead
- Project Manager
- Petroleum Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Product Designer
- Quality Engineer
- Sales Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Technology Specialist
- Thermal Engineer
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/articles/what-you-can-do-with-a-mechanical-engineering-degree
Another recommendation is to look for Mechanical Engineering professionals on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). You can send the professional a message and let him or her know that you are interested in learning more about his or her professional background, work experience, education, etc. Also, reach out to Mechanical Engineering professors at the colleges and universities that you are interested in to ask for their advice, insights, etc.
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and career in Mechanical Engineering and/or Biomedical Engineering!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare for a career in Mechanical Engineering. Physics and chemistry will be the core science courses. For math, statistics and calculus will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail and observation skills; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration amongst team members, partner departments and clients occur on a daily basis. A college course in public speaking, communications and English will help with one's communication and writing skills since analysis reports are generated and findings are presented to colleagues and other professionals who deal with Mechanical Engineering. Another recommendation is to seek the advice from your high school guidance counselor and teachers. They can help guide your educational pathway for Mechanical Engineering.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Mechanical Engineering:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)
- University of California (Berkeley)
- Purdue University (West Lafayette)
- University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)
- California Institute of Technology
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Texas (Austin)
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/engineering-doctorate-mechanical
According to Niche.com, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Biomedical Engineering:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Dartmouth College
- Columbia University
- Brown University
- Rice University
- Vanderbilt University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Duke University
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-with-bioengineering-and-biomedical-engineering/
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and acceptance to the applied college of choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are some top careers in Mechanical Engineering:
- Aerospace Engineer
- Automotive Engineer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Business Executive
- Construction Engineer
- Entrepreneur
- Intellectual Property Attorney
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Management Consultant
- Mechanical Engineer
- Patent Lawyer
- Production Engineer
- Project Lead
- Project Manager
- Petroleum Engineer
- Process Engineer
- Product Designer
- Quality Engineer
- Sales Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Technology Specialist
- Thermal Engineer
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/articles/what-you-can-do-with-a-mechanical-engineering-degree
Another recommendation is to look for Mechanical Engineering professionals on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). You can send the professional a message and let him or her know that you are interested in learning more about his or her professional background, work experience, education, etc. Also, reach out to Mechanical Engineering professors at the colleges and universities that you are interested in to ask for their advice, insights, etc.
Hope this helps and best wishes for your education and career in Mechanical Engineering and/or Biomedical Engineering!
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Asmaa,
That sounds like a fantastic idea! Pairing a major in mechanical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering is a smart and strategic move. Mechanical engineering is a broad field with strong job prospects across industries, and combining it with biomedical engineering can position you uniquely for roles in the growing biomedical sector, like designing medical devices, prosthetics, or robotics for healthcare.
This approach gives you the versatility of mechanical engineering while still allowing you to specialize in the areas of biomedical engineering you're passionate about. Employers will appreciate the combination of your foundational mechanical knowledge and your specialized biomedical skills.
If your heart leans more toward biomedical engineering, you might also consider internships, research projects, or elective courses in biomedical topics to strengthen your expertise. That way, you can tailor your experience to your career goals while still benefiting from the broad opportunities that mechanical engineering offers.
You’re setting yourself up for exciting possibilities—keep going!
Best wishes!
That sounds like a fantastic idea! Pairing a major in mechanical engineering with a minor in biomedical engineering is a smart and strategic move. Mechanical engineering is a broad field with strong job prospects across industries, and combining it with biomedical engineering can position you uniquely for roles in the growing biomedical sector, like designing medical devices, prosthetics, or robotics for healthcare.
This approach gives you the versatility of mechanical engineering while still allowing you to specialize in the areas of biomedical engineering you're passionate about. Employers will appreciate the combination of your foundational mechanical knowledge and your specialized biomedical skills.
If your heart leans more toward biomedical engineering, you might also consider internships, research projects, or elective courses in biomedical topics to strengthen your expertise. That way, you can tailor your experience to your career goals while still benefiting from the broad opportunities that mechanical engineering offers.
You’re setting yourself up for exciting possibilities—keep going!
Best wishes!
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Wayne’s Answer
Hi Asmaa. A double major in mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering combines the design and building aspects of mechanical engineering with the study of living systems in biomedical engineering.
Think of it this way:
- Mechanical Engineering: Like building a car - understanding how things move, forces, and designing systems.
- Biomedical Engineering: Applying those engineering skills to the human body and healthcare - think prosthetic limbs, medical devices, or even new materials for surgery.
Why it’s powerful: You gain a unique skillset applicable in many fields like designing medical devices, developing new biomaterials, or working in robotics for healthcare.
Things to consider:
- Workload: It’s a challenging path with more courses and potentially longer study time.
- Interests: Make sure you enjoy BOTH fields, as you’ll be deeply involved in both disciplines.
This combination can lead to exciting careers, but it’s crucial to be prepared for the commitment and ensure it aligns with your passions.
Good luck!
Think of it this way:
- Mechanical Engineering: Like building a car - understanding how things move, forces, and designing systems.
- Biomedical Engineering: Applying those engineering skills to the human body and healthcare - think prosthetic limbs, medical devices, or even new materials for surgery.
Why it’s powerful: You gain a unique skillset applicable in many fields like designing medical devices, developing new biomaterials, or working in robotics for healthcare.
Things to consider:
- Workload: It’s a challenging path with more courses and potentially longer study time.
- Interests: Make sure you enjoy BOTH fields, as you’ll be deeply involved in both disciplines.
This combination can lead to exciting careers, but it’s crucial to be prepared for the commitment and ensure it aligns with your passions.
Good luck!