What major is best for biomedical software engineering?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I’m entering UCSD as a freshman and was declared as a Computer Science major. However, one of my dream careers is becoming a biomedical software engineer/developer/programmer for biomedical applications. For example, I would design the software for the devices that a biomedical engineer would make. The reason why I chose not to be a bioengineer is because I’m not very good with hands-on appproaches like building hardware; however I’m very good at understanding and solving things through a computer.</p>

<p>As a computer science major, I have the option to specialize in bioinformatics, which sort of lumps biotech and computer science together. My question is if this is the right pathway to take in order to attain my goal? Thanks for reading.</p>

2

<p>Sounds great, actually. If you want more biomedical theory, you could look into a minor in biology, bioengineering, etc., but with a specialization in bioinformatics, you should already be more than qualified.</p>

<p>I would recommend taking a look at the minors offered, though, as they might have one that looks really interesting. Just in case, you know?</p>

3

<p>Sounds like you want to be in Controls Engineering.</p>

<p>CE is probably best for this.</p>

<p>I just told our controls engineer yesterday that I always thought they were worth their weight in gold.</p>

4

<p>Can you describe controls engineering a little more?</p>

<p>From what I’ve seen as a software engineer, most employers will seek out computer science majors for software engineering positions, irrespective of the application.</p>

<p>If japher means that you should have some knowledge of hardware/software interfaces, then in addition to CS courses, take the computer hardware courses your school offers - design logic, computer circuitry, etc.</p>

5

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<p>I’ve been looking at biomedical engineering curricula at several schools and looks to me like they offer some control systems courses. However, if that is all you want to do I would look more to CE or EE with a focus in biomedical?</p>

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<p>Exactly, the software put in the devices are going to be more along the lines of controls software that contain ladder logic and singal processing.</p>

<p>My advice; you seem to be interested in the medical industry from an engineering side, so take the intro courses and interview some seniors or people in the fields you wan to work and then make up your mind.</p>

6

<p>Isn’t bioinformatics specifically geared towards gene sequencing and trying to replicate biological processes with computer algorthims? I don’t think you actually do make software for biomedical devices unless someone else here knows better than me.</p>