Shape your electives around your goals
Beginning with students who entered in Fall 2026, biomedical engineering technical electives are organized around four focus areas. A focus area is a recommended path through your electives, built on the same required core that every BME student completes.
Four focus areas
Focus areas guide elective choice. They are not separate majors or tracks — you do not apply to a focus area, you are not locked into one, and you can change direction as your interests develop.
Data Sciences and Bioinformatics in Health Care
Machine learning and artificial intelligence, next-generation sequencing, data visualization, and the interoperability standards that let health systems exchange information. Students in this area work on precision medicine and genomics, drug discovery and development, medical imaging and diagnostics, predictive analytics and clinical decision support, and public health.
Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing
Genetic engineering, cell line development, and the bioreactor processes used to grow, extract and purify biological products. Students in this area work on pharmaceuticals, industrial and material alternatives, and food alternatives — the engineering behind how a therapy or a biological product is actually manufactured.
Clinical Instrumentation and Devices
Imaging, biological sample analysis, and the materials used with and inside the body. Students in this area work on diagnostic and measurement systems, clinical laboratory instruments, therapeutic devices, and implantables — the instrumentation clinicians use every day.
Clinical Career Preparation
The full biomedical engineering core, together with the coursework required for application to MD, DO and physician assistant programs. Students in this area build an engineering foundation for clinical practice, with preparation for several medical and osteopathic specialties and for clinical accreditation.
Note: medical and PA programs require prerequisite coursework beyond the BME curriculum, including organic chemistry and biochemistry. Plan this early with your faculty advisor.
Choosing a focus area
Choose by the work you want to do after graduation, not by the courses you would rather avoid. Discuss your direction with your faculty advisor, who can recommend the electives that fit it. Nothing is locked: students change focus areas, and the required core is identical across all four.
Coming soon
Detailed course pathways, recommended electives and career information for each focus area will be published on this site.
Get in touch
Email: bme_ug_program@stonybrook.edu
Department phone: (631) 632-8371