I am considering a dual degree in Biomedical and Aeronautical Engineering. I’d like some info on whether we have to apply directly to the engineering school or just undeclared into the university? Do you know of any universities that offer both biomedical and aeronautical engineering majors? How do you apply to both degrees at once?
not like you will ever want to go to Mississippi but the University of Mississippi offers a great program for both at the Center for Manufacturing Excellence and if you make the program you get an extra 8,000 a year onto any scholarships you might already have, without a cap (aka you can MAKE money going here) http://www.cme.ms
Why that combination?
In terms of whether you need to apply to the major, apply to the engineering division, or apply to the school, it depends on the school.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/1947599-faq-does-intended-major-make-it-easier-or-more-difficult-to-get-into-a-college.html may be of interest. At some schools (particularly popular state flagships), engineering majors are commonly oversubscribed, so frosh admission standards are higher, and changing into them after enrolling at the school in another major or undeclared is difficult or competitive.
This site: http://main.abet.org/aps/Accreditedprogramsearch.aspx will allow you to search for all schools that offer accredited degrees in different engineering disciplines. Aeronautical is pretty specialized - that will probably be your short list to start from and cross-reference against schools with biomedical.
There’s a big difference between aeronautical and biomedical - it’s hard to obtain an engineering degree in 4 years, and having such engineering majors with such different requirements will likely lead to additional semester(s). What is your end goal with these degrees?
Some schools may offer these programs as specializations of a Mechanical Engineering degree program.
Once you find schools that offer both degrees, visit their web sites to find out their application requirements. Many schools require you apply to the school of engineering and specify your major going in. Other schools gave you submit a general application to the university. And at some schools you can’t even get admitted directly into an engineering major as a freshman and/or you aren’t guaranteed acceptance into the engineering discipline of your choice.
How you apply varies by university. You’ll have to do that research on your own.
There are relatively few schools with each of those engineering varieties, so if you want to see where you could do both, go to the ABET website and get the lists of schools with each of them and then cross check them.
Don’t do both. There’s no reason to do a dual degree, especially one like that. It won’t help your job prospects and you won’t have time to enjoy college.
It makes more sense to earn your BS in one, and then your masters in the other (or the same field). Mechanical is a more natural pairing with Bio, but Aero is very similar to Mechanical.
In fact, if you go into biomedical, you’ll want a master’s degree or better (unlike Mechanical/Aero, where a BS is more standard). Your time will be better spent earning your BS in Bio or Mechanical (or even Aero) and then a Masters in Bio or Mechanical, than in spending the effort to earn two BS degrees.
You may also want to look into undergraduate research, especially if you want to go into Biomedical engineering. Earning one BS, and working in a lab, is also better than spending your time trying to complete two BS degrees in engineering.
Oh, I forgot. It’s far more common to earn your BS in one field, and then earn additional minors and certificates. For example, you could earn your BS in mechanical, and then minor in biomechanics and chemistry. Then go on to earn your masters in Biomedical Engineering.
Lots of options, all better than spending your time earning two BS degrees. 
Thanks everyone! @Gator88NE @boneh3ad @InigioMontoya
Thanks @ucbalumnus
You would be making a really horrible life choice in trying to do them as a double major, but my alma mater UC Davis does offer both a BME and an Aeronautical Engineering major. 
Is there a reason you want to do both? Is there a career path you’re envisioning that requires knowledge in both of those fields? If its because you feel passionate about both fields, I suggest you apply as one of the two majors and look into minoring in the other. Either way, you aren’t going to be able to apply as a double major right off the bat so you’re going to have to pick one eventually.
Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it! I wanted to get a degree in both so that if I don’t get a job in one, I have a back-up plan for the other.
@hisllama
That’s not a good reason to take on a double major like that, and might legitimately hurt your job prospects that way.
Biomedical engineering does not seem to have great job prospects at the bachelor’s degree level, and aerospace engineering may be seen as too specialized to one industry (as opposed to mechanical engineering with aerospace electives).
You can do quite a few biomedical and Aerospace jobs with a mechanical degree, so that is a good option if you are unsure. I think most people will tell you that it is ill-advised to double major. Good luck!
Thank you so much for the positive help! I really appreciate it! @r77r77
@collegegeek03 Always glad to help. Let us know if you have any more questions.
One more thought on the whole single vs. double major debate. Our society places alot of value on specialization and the division of labor (hence the reason for degrees in one specific major, mastering one subject etc.) So usually it pays to focus in one field and then either specialize, although getting too specialized can hurt the number of jobs available to you. Eventually people end up going down one path or another, or one path becomes a hobby which is funded by the other path.
I’ve heard people throw around the word “Engineering T” before, where the vertical portion of the T represents your depth of knowledge, and the horizontal portion is the breath of your knowledge. So you want to maintain a good ratio of depth and breath in order to maximize employment opportunities. (It’s something like that, I could be slightly off though)
Most engineers in the aero industry do not have an aero degree (mechanical is significantly more common). The vast, vast, overwhelming majority (read: nearly all) of engineers in the BME industry do not have a BME degree–rather, they tend to have degrees in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, or computer science.
I never knew that! Thanks! @AuraObscura
Check these out for discussions:
Aerospace engineering at: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/aerospace-engineering,
and
Biomedical engineering at: https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/biomedical-engineering.
This school’s job placement report for these and other majors may be found in a report for the class of 2015 at :
https://www.wpi.edu/sites/default/files/…/post-grad-report-2015.pdf
These programs are available in many schools. If you are well prepared in a respected engineering program job placement does not appear to be an issue.
Both of these concentrations crossover to ME, ChE and EE. BM mixes all of them. You don’t need two degrees at the BS level. You can prep for a further concentration at the graduate school level.
WPI does not admit to a specific department. Like WPI these decisions tend to be made in the second year at many, BUT NOT ALL schools. Good idea to check into the timing of that decision process. You need a good environment and helpful selection process after you arrive at the college…
Thanks! @retiredfarmer