MS in Biomedical Engineering
The Master of Science (MS) Program in Biomedical Engineering is a thesis-based degree program designed to provide advanced training in biomedical engineering for students focusing on a research career. The program requires students to establish the necessary foundation in molecular- or systems-level biology/physiology and mathematics, in addition to advanced biomedical engineering coursework. The program requires students to develop a research focus, and requires that students carry out original research that culminates in a written thesis. The program is designed to be completed by full-time students in two academic years. Students who excel in the BME MS program are encouraged to apply to the BME post-MS PhD program.
Course Requirements
The MS program requires completion of a 36-credit-hour study program: a noncredit research seminar course, seven structured courses, and eight credits of research that culminate in a master’s research project and thesis. The course requirements are as follows:
- BE 505 Molecular Bioengineering I or BE 706 Quantitative Physiology for Engineers (4 credits)
- Two Biomedical Engineering elective courses (8 cr)
- A mathematics elective (4 cr) (from the approved list)
- Three graduate-level technical electives (12 cr)
- ENG BE 790 Biomedical Engineering Seminar Series (0 cr)
- ENG BE 900 Research (8 cr)
A program of study identifying the seven structured courses must be submitted prior to submission of the MS thesis proposal and must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the BME Graduate Committee.
Graduate students who do not satisfy the prerequisites for the courses above are expected to make up any and all deficiencies.
Grades
The department permits only four credits of C to be applied toward its degree. A grade point index of at least 3.0 (B) must be maintained.
Research Project Requirement
Each student is required to undertake a suitable research project supervised by a member of the department or by someone deemed acceptable by the Graduate Program Committee. Graduate students are expected to register for ENG BE 900 Research each semester they work on their project. However, only eight credits may be applied to the 36 required for the degree.
Thesis Proposal
The suitability of the research project is determined by the thesis advisor. The graduate student submits a short (three-to-five-page) written project proposal and a one-page abstract to the advisor for approval. The time frame for the proposal submission and thesis defense is structured so that criticisms offered by the thesis committee may be used constructively by the student. Therefore, the proposal may not be submitted for approval in the semester of expected graduation. Once the proposal is approved, the student and advisor will choose a minimum of two additional thesis readers. The thesis advisor and the additional readers constitute the graduate student’s defense committee. At least two members of the defense committee must be full-time members of the department, and at least one member of the committee must be from outside the department.
Thesis Requirement
The results of the research project must be communicated to the scientific and engineering community in a formal thesis. Editorial guidelines for the thesis are found in A Guide for the Writers of Dissertations and Theses, available in the Biomedical Department Office, the College’s Graduate Programs Office, and Mugar Library.
Thesis Defense
The final academic requirement for the MS degree is the successful defense of the thesis before the defense committee. The format of the defense is not rigid and is usually decided upon by the individual committee.
Students should be able to complete the MS program within two calendar years.
Deadlines
The graduate student is responsible for meeting the various deadlines for submission of the program planning sheet, the thesis proposal, and the final thesis document. See the Graduate Programs section in this site.
