M.S.

Masters Degree

The M.S. bioengineering degree program provides knowledge breadth in engineering and the biological sciences, and knowledge depth in a particular research area. The degree will prepare students for careers in private and public firms, and a university setting. A thesis is required.

The M.S. BIOE is evidence of an ability to work as an engineer and researcher, who is capable of some independent investigation, and who can present the results of that investigation cogently. The holder of the Master's degree will have completed significant course work, a thesis that describes an independent investigation, and will have passed a final examination on the research underlying the thesis.

The program is rigorous, and places high demands on the student. Students must demonstrate that they understand interdisciplinary concepts, are able to generate testable hypotheses, design experiments, and collect and analyze data, both independently and within team and interdisciplinary environments.

The degree aspirant works with an advisor from his or her selected track area to develop a formal Plan of Study. The track areas encompass the major research and educational themes within the BIOE degree program; each track has a director and affiliated faculty. The student selects from among track courses offered under the track areas to construct a comprehensive educational and research program that takes (a) advantage of the student’s background, (b) demonstrates academic and research skills, and (c) capitalizes on the strengths of the affiliated faculty.

The general goals and objectives for the BIOE Master's degree are to:

  1. Provide students with an in-depth understanding of mathematics, engineering principles, physics, chemistry, physiology, and modern biology;
  2. train students to apply basic sciences to biological problems, using engineering principles;
  3. train students to do bioengineering research; and,
  4. train students to apply bioengineering research to commercially viable problems.

The student’s Advisor will help the student develop his/her “Plan of Study”, which must be approved by the student’s Advisory Committee. The Plan of Study must consist of the following components: CORE, RESEARCH, DEPTH and BREADTH courses. Details regarding the list of approved courses are available on the Track Advising Sheets.

CORE (6 hours)

CPE 756 Introduction to Bioengineering (3).

BIOE 800 Bioengineering Colloquium (0.5 hrs/semester, 4 semesters required).

BIOE 801 Responsible Conduct in Engineering Research (1).

RESEARCH (6 hrs)

The student’s research will lead to the Master’s thesis, which demonstrates that its author has completed an original and independent investigation of a significant problem. The thesis provides evidence that the student can recognize an important problem, acquire the data to answer the questions posted within that problem, and extend the results of the answered questions to other problems of significance. Defense of the thesis is scheduled when the Advisory Committee listed on the Plan of Study agrees that the research is complete.

DEPTH and BREADTH Courses (18 hrs min)

Students must complete at least 18 approved hours in their selected track and 6 hours of thesis. A minimum of 30 total hours is needed to fulfill degree requirements. The detailed list of approved courses within each track is available from the bioengineering program director.