Home

MS in Bioimaging

The Master of Science in Bioimaging is designed to fulfill a rapidly growing need for individuals who possess advanced and broad knowledge of the imaging methodologies used in medicine and medical research. Graduates of this program qualify for positions in the healthcare and biomedical instrumentation industries, academia, and in a wide variety of private and government research centers.

The program requires a minimum of 36 unit hours of graduate coursework. It is designed so that it can be completed in as little as one calendar year (September through August) or as many as five years, depending upon the needs and desires of the individual student. Many of the courses are given in the late afternoon or early evening hours to accommodate students who are working.

The Bioimaging program’s mission is to prepare students to practice as professionals in the diverse aspects of biomedical imaging and its implications on the health and medical services delivery systems. Bioimaging is an evolving field: currently, students graduating with a Master of Science in Bioimaging are expected to demonstrate:

  • Advanced knowledge in the fundamental scientific and technological concepts at the foundations of currently known medical imaging modalities. Presently, this includes the medical imaging modalities based on the following radiation experiments: a) x-ray transmission (projectional XR and tomographic CT), b) y-ray emission (SPECT and PET), c) radiowave resonant absorption (MRI), and d) ultrasound reflection (US imaging).
  • Advanced knowledge in the safety and ethical issues associated with exposing biological systems to the radiations and fields used for imaging.
  • Proficiency in recognizing biomedical images. Specifically, when presented with a medical image, MBI graduates will be able to identify the imaging modality used for its generation, identify the body part that it represents, the imaging plane it represents, and assess the quality of the image according to objective scientific measures.
  • Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking the scientific language of medical imaging. This interdisciplinary language is at the interfaces between physics, basic mathematics and computer science, and medicine (basic anatomy and pathology).
  • Ability to conduct scientific research in an advanced subfield of medical imaging as evidenced by the successful completion of a research thesis (Research track) and/or demonstrate ability to perform independently clinical MR imaging examinations with patients (Clinical track).

Program Highlights

  • Students will have the opportunity to learn about all aspects of imaging, from theory underlying pulse sequencing and image acquisition to post-acquisition processing of images.
  • Students are provided foundational knowledge in a wide range of imaging modalities such as CT, PET, and SPECT. In addition, students enrolled in the clinical track will complete clinical internship training in 1.5T and 3.0T MRI scanners.
  • Courses are taught using a combination of lecture and laboratory formats.
  • Students can choose from two pathways to complete the degree:
    • The Clinical Path provides students with the didactic and ethics course requirements necessary to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologies (ARRT) advanced certification exam. This certification allows an individual to enter the bioimaging field as a Registered MRI Technologist.
    • The Research Path provides students with a research-based focus, culminating in a thesis project that prepares the individual for entry into the broader fields of academia and industry.

Curriculum

Clinical Path

Fall Term

  • Bioimaging Foundations (4 units)
  • Magnetic Resonance: Principles, Methods, and Applications (4 units)
  • Radiation, Protection, Safety, and Ethics (2 units)
  • Statistical Analysis of Neuroimaging Data (2 units)
  • Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Professionals (2 units)
  • Thesis Practicum and Design (2 units)

Spring Term

  • Bioimaging Theory & Image Processing (4 units)
  • Methods of Functional Imaging of the Brain (2 units)
  • Clinical & MR Pathophysiology (4 units)
  • Clinical Internship (4 units)

Summer 1 Term

  • Clinical Internship (4 units)

Summer 2 Term

  • Bioimaging Practicum (2 units)

Research Path

Fall Term

  • Bioimaging Foundations (4 units)
  • Magnetic Resonance: Principles, Methods, and Applications (4 units)
  • Radiation, Protection, Safety, and Ethics (2 units)
  • Statistical Analysis of Neuroimaging Data (2 units)
  • Sectional Anatomy for Imaging Professionals (2 units)
  • Thesis and Practicum Design (2 units)

Spring Term

  • Bioimaging Theory & Image Processing (4 units)
  • Methods of Functional Imaging of the Brain (2 units)
  • Special Topics in Bioimaging (2 units)
  • Professional Skills in Bioimaging (2 units)
  • Directed Studies in Bioimaging (2 units)
  • Thesis Research (2 units)

Summer 1 Term

  • Thesis Research (2 units)
  • Directed Studies in Bioimaging (2 units)

Summer 2 Term

  • Thesis Research (2 units)

Related Bulletin Pages

Beyond the Bulletin