Courses of Study 2024-2025 
    
    Nov 23, 2024  
Courses of Study 2024-2025

Biological and Environmental Engineering, M.Eng.


Offered by the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering

Contact: 207 Riley-Robb Hall, bee-ugrad@cornell.edu

Educational Goals

The Master of Engineering degree builds on an engineering B.S. or quantitative science degree to prepare candidates for a professional career. The program integrates technical engineering with environmental science and/or with biological and life sciences to enable graduates to solve technical problems on a size scale ranging from molecular to whole organism to ecosystem, to global depending on their interests. Graduates gain positions in industry, consulting, government and/or public service sectors. The degree can also pave a path to advanced study in science, engineering, business, law, and/or medicine.

The program is flexible allowing students to choose courses and projects that meet their individual goals. Students may start in the fall or spring semester and although the program is usually completed in two semesters, students have up to four years to complete requirements so they can take advantage of industry internships, MBA programs, etc.  In addition to advanced courses in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, students have access to all courses in the College of Engineering and throughout Cornell University. The M.Eng. program is designed to foster a close student–faculty mentoring relationship. Cornell Engineering undergraduates may apply early if they have 8 or fewer credits remaining in their bachelor’s program.

Curriculum Requirements

A total of 30 credits* is required for the master of engineering degree.  All M.Eng. students must complete:

  • BEE 5951 BEE 5952 - Master of Engineering Design Project  (6 to 9 credits).
  • A total of 30 credits* approved by their M.Eng. faculty advisor (>= 28 credits for a letter grade).
  • All courses counting towards the 30 credits need to be at the 5XXX level or higher.
  • Any 5xxx level Independent Study course (e.g. BEE 6970 ) should not exceed 3 credits towards the required 30 credits.

Students work with their graduate faculty advisor to develop their individual or group design project and schedule appropriate courses in one of the following concentrations:

  • bioenergy and integrated energy systems
  • bioenvironmental engineering
  • biological engineering
  • bioprocess engineering
  • ecohydrology
  • environmental engineering
  • environmental management (M.P.S.[ALS] only)
  • food engineering
  • industrial biotechnology
  • nanobiotechnology
  • sustainable systems
  • synthetic biology

*Detailed requirements can be found on the BEE website.

To apply directly please visit the Graduate School admissions page.