What are the fields for higher education after a degree in biomedical engineering?

If you choose to continue your education after receiving a Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, you may have multiple options. Continuing on to obtain an MS or PhD in biomedical engineering is the most obvious option. Another common field to continue on to for further study is medicine for an MD degree, or possibly a combined MD/PhD. Depending on your undergraduate program, coursework, and other experiences, you may also be able to apply for graduate studies in other fields of engineering. These options will vary greatly by individual and the graduate program you are considering. For example, if you complete a biomechanics concentration or electives, you may be qualified to study for an MS or PhD in mechanical engineering, focusing on biomechanics. This situation has been the case for several graduate students in my own laboratory. Finally, other degrees such as the MPH, JD, and MBA may also be options, although these programs may require other prerequisites. I am less familiar with these options but do know of individuals who completed them.

Which of these potential next steps are truly options for you will depend on your grades during your undergraduate program and performance in other relevant experiences such as internships, REUs, summer jobs, and project work. Reference letters from professors, advisors, and mentors are a critical component of your application for further study. Historically GRE scores also contributed to your graduate school application, but that is less so these days. Increasingly programs and/or universities no longer require the GRE or de-emphasize it’s value in admissions.