The master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required each semester. There are three culminating experiences from which to choose from to earn the Master of Science degree: thesis, project, and comprehensive exam. Students only complete one culminating experience.
The following conditions must be met for each of the culminating experience options:
Students completing the all-course (comprehensive exam) option must complete at least six (6) Biomedical Engineering (BE) courses, including required courses: BE 501 Human Biology for Biomedical Engineers (3 credit hours) and BE 502 Quantitative Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (3 credit hours). A student may, upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, take additional courses – outside the required six BE courses - that are not BE courses and apply them toward their degree requirements. Any courses to be taken from outside of BE must be requested in writing using the Outside BME Course Approval Form.
Students completing a project must complete at least five (5) Biomedical Engineering (BE) courses, including required courses: BE 501 Human Biology for Biomedical Engineers (3 credit hours) and BE 502 Quantitative Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (3 credit hours). A student may, upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, take additional courses – outside the required five BE courses - that are not BE courses and apply them toward their degree requirements. Any courses to be taken from outside of BE must be requested in writing using the Outside BME Course Approval Form.
Students completing a master’s project must complete three (3) credit hours of BE 597 Engineering Project. No more than 3 credit hours of BE 597 will be counted toward degree requirements.
View Course Descriptions for graduate courses offered within the Biomedical Engineering department.
Fall Admission
January 15: Full consideration for funding/fellowships
April 1: International applicants who require a visa
August 1: Domestic applicants
Spring Admission
September 1: International applicants who require a visa
December 15: Domestic applicants
We accept applications on a rolling basis throughout the year.
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Learn how to apply or view our Frequently Asked Questions about the application process.
Students completing a thesis must complete at least four (4) Biomedical Engineering (BE) courses, including required courses: BE 501 Human Biology for Biomedical Engineers (3 credit hours) and BE 502 Quantitative Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (3 credit hours). A student may, upon approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, take additional courses – outside the required four BE courses - that are not BE courses and apply them toward their degree requirements. Any courses to be taken from outside of BE must be requested in writing using the Outside BME Course Approval Form.
Students completing a master’s thesis must complete a minimum of three to six (3-6) credit hours of BE 599 Master's Research.
View Course Descriptions for graduate courses offered within the Biomedical Engineering department.
MS TRACKS
| LECTURE
|
| RESEARCH
| TOTAL
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
All-Course
| 24 credits 6 BE Graduate courses required = 18 cr. (Including BE 501
| 6 Credits (max) BE 598 Individual Problems
and/or
BE 596 Graduate Internship | 0 Credit
| 30
|
Project
| 21 Credits 5 BE courses required = 15 cr. (Including BE 501
| 6 Credits (max) BE 598 Individual Problems
and/or
BE 596 Graduate Internship | 3 Credits BE 597 Engineering Project
| 30
|
Thesis
| 18 Credits 4 BE courses required = 12 cr. (Including BE 501
| 6 Credits (max) BE 598 Individual Problems
and/or
BE 596 Graduate Internship | 6 Credits (max) BE 599 Master’s Thesis
| 30
|
You can complete our master's program in as little as one full year with the Comprehensive Exam option, but many students will take additional time to allow for in-depth research for their thesis or project, or to take additional coursework.
We require full-time enrollment (12 credits in Fall and Spring) for students throughout the study period until less than 12 credits remain, at this point the student should have completed all coursework and only have thesis credit remaining in their study plan.
Students are not required to enroll in coursework in the Summer* or Winter intersessions, but students will not be able to conduct research in laboratories during those periods if they are not enrolled in courses or master's research. To maximize your research opportunities we suggest enrollment minimally during the Summer intersession, but students may consider the Winter intersession for enrollment if they will be in the area during early January.
*Per ISS policy, International students are required to register during their final summer session if they are working toward the September conferral date.
Listed below is an example of ways that students can choose to complete the program within a specified time period.
Fall Year 1 | Spring Year 1 | Summer Year 1 | Fall Year 2 | Spring Year 2 | |
THESIS- | 12 cr. courses | 6 cr. courses+ + 3 cr. BE 596/598 + 3 cr. BE 599 | 3 cr. BE 596/598 + 3 cr. BE 599 | - | - |
THESIS- | 12 cr. courses | 9 cr. courses+ + 3 cr. BE 596/598 | 3 cr. BE 599
| 3 cr. BE 599
| - |
THESIS- | 12 cr. courses | 6 cr. courses+ + 6 cr. BE 596/598 | 2 cr. BE 599 | 2 cr. BE 599 | 2 cr. BE 599 |
PROJECT- | 15 cr. courses | 6 cr. courses+ + 6 cr. BE 596/598 | 3 cr. BE 597 | - | - |
PROJECT- | 12 cr. courses | 6 cr. courses+ + 6 cr. BE 596/598 | 2 cr. BE 597
| 1 cr. BE 597
| - |
PROJECT- | 12 cr. courses | 6 cr. courses+ + 6 cr. BE 596/598 | 1 cr. BE 597
| 1 cr. BE 597
| 1 cr. BE 597
|
C. Exam- | 15 cr. courses | 9 cr. courses+ + 6 cr. BE 596/598 + Exam | - | - | - |
C. Exam- | 12 cr. courses | 12 cr. courses | 3 cr. BE 596/598 | 3 cr. BE 596/598 + Exam | - |
C. Exam- | 12 cr. courses | 12 cr. courses | - | 3 cr. BE 596/598 | 3 cr. BE 596/598 + Exam |
*This is not a guarantee that a student choosing one of the listed paths will finish their degree in that time, but rather serves as general guidance for student registration. Each student will work with the department and their Faculty Advisor to determine an appropriate course path after the first semester of study.
For Biomedical Engineering specific information see Information for Current Students.
For guidelines from The Graduate School please visit the Policies & Procedures section of their website.
