Student working in a bioengineering lab on campus

Entrance Requirements

Graduate Entrance Requirements

Admissions to the KU BioE Graduate Program is granted to students who have a superior record of achievement in their previous studies and demonstrate a strong potential for success in advanced level studies. Applicants normally have a Bachelors of Science degree or a Masters of Science degree in an engineering discipline, physical sciences (e.g. Chemistry, Physics, etc.), the life sciences (e.g. Biology, Biochemistry, etc.), or a closely related field. Successful applicants will have strong academic credentials, some formal research experience, and demonstrated potential for advanced study by performance at the baccalaureate level. Highly qualified undergraduate students may apply for admission directly into our Ph.D. program if they will complete their B.S. degree before starting their Ph.D. program at KU.

General Coursework Prerequisites

  1. Mathematics: all courses below must be taken
    • Calculus I, MATH 121 (4 credits) or equivalent AND
    • Calculus II, MATH 126 (4 credits) or equivalent AND
    • Applied Differential Equations, MATH 220 (3 credits) or equivalent AND
    • Elementary Linear Algebra, MATH 290 (2 credits) or equivalent
  2. Physics: One year of physics:
    • General Physics I, PHSX 211 (4 credits) or equivalent AND
    • General Physics II, PHSX 212 (4 credits) or equivalent
  3. Chemistry: One course in general chemistry
    • Chemistry for Engineers, CHEM 150 (5 credits), OR
    • Foundations of Chemistry, CHEM 130 (5 credits) or equivalent
  4. Biology: One course in molecular/cell/human biology:
    • Principles of Biology, BIOL 100 (3 credits), OR
    • Principles of Molecular and Cellular Biology, BIOL 150 (3 credits), or equivalent

Track-Specific Coursework Prerequisites

It is recommended that prospective students have completed the following Track-Specific Prerequisites prior to entering the program. However, some of these courses can be taken either at the graduate level as part of the graduate program, or at the undergraduate level during the course of the graduate program. Please keep in mind that only courses numbered 500 or above can be counted toward the minimum hours of graduate credit required for the degree.

Computational Bioengineering Track

  1. Programming Language: EECS 268 or equivalent (3)
  2. One of the following four options:
    1. Data Structures: EECS 560 or equivalent (3)
    2. Statistics: MATH 365 or equivalent (3)
    3. Numerical Methods/Scientific Computing: MATH 581, EECS 639 or equivalent (3)
    4. Applied PDEs: MATH 647 or equivalent (3)

Biomechanics & Neural Engineering Track

    1.    Statistics: MATH 365/465 (or equivalent) (3)

    2.    All of the following a-c or d:

                             a. Statics: ME 211 (or equivalent)

                             b. Dynamics: ME 320 (or equivalent)

                             c. Mechanics of Materials: ME 311/CE 310 (or equivalent) (3)

                             d. or ME 633 Basic Biomechanics (as part of the graduate program)

    3.    Science of Materials: ME 306 (or equivalent) (3); or ME 765 Biomaterials (can be as part of the graduate program) (3)

    4.    Computer Programming: ME 208/EECS 138/CPE 121 (or equivalent) (3).

    5.    Circuits/Electronics: EECS 316 & EECS 318 (or equivalent) (3) or Instrumentation: ME 455 (or equivalent) (3)

 

Biomedical Product Design & Development Track

  1. Science of Materials: ME 306 (or equivalent) (3); or ME 765 Biomaterials (can be as part of the graduate program) (3).
  2. Computer Programming: ME 208/EECS 138/CPE 121 (or equivalent) (3).
  3. Engineering Design: ME 501, CPE 613, EECS 501 (or equivalent) (3).
  4. One of the following three options:
    • Statics, Dynamics and Mechanics of Materials: ME 211, CE 201, ME 320, ME 311, CE 310 (or equiv.) or ME 633 (as part of grad program)
    • Circuits/Electronics Lab:  EECS 316, EECS 318 or equiv. (3) 
    • Fluids: ME 510, CPE 511, or equiv. (3) OR ME 756 (as part of grad program) 

 

Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Track

One of the following three options:

  1. Science of Materials: ME 306 or equivalent (3) OR ME 765 (as part of the graduate program)
  2. Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry: CHEM 310/330, or equivalent (5)*.
  3. Cell Biology: BIOL 150 or equivalent*

*BIOL 807 (as part of the graduate program) can satisfy both criterion 2 & criterion 3

Biomolecular Engineering Track

Students with deficiencies in areas critical to the program may be required to complete additional courses in preparation for the qualifying exam. These include deficiencies in any of the program prerequisites for admission. Depending on the research project and the student’s background, the advisor may also recommend additional remedial courses.

Bioimaging Track

Students with deficiencies in areas critical to the program may be required to complete additional courses in preparation for the qualifying exam. These include deficiencies in any of the program prerequisites for admission. Depending on the research project and the student’s background, the advisor may also recommend additional remedial courses.