Biomedical Engineering, MS
Chairperson: Frank A. Pintar, Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Programs website
Degree Offered
Master of Science
Mission Statement
The Marquette University (MU) and Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Department of Biomedical Engineering is dedicated to delivering an extraordinary educational experience designed to empower the next generation of biomedical engineers, scientists and physicians. If you have a passion for learning and a desire to translate ideas into action — particularly those involving medical devices and health care technologies — let our faculty, staff and industry partners guide you on your journey. We develop leaders and problem solvers skilled at applying engineering, science and design principles to improve health in the service of humanity by:
- Discovering and disseminating new knowledge;
- Promoting critical thinking and lifelong learning;
- Guiding students to meaningful and ethical professional and personal lives;
- Fostering interdisciplinary and collaborative research and education through academic and industrial alliances;
- Continuing innovative leadership in education, research and industrial relationships; and
- Inspiring faculty and students to serve others.
Program Descriptions
The MU-MCW biomedical engineering program is interdisciplinary in nature, involving the application of engineering and mathematics to the solution of problems related to medicine and biology. The faculty reflect this interdisciplinary nature in their courses and research. MU faculty are synergistically complemented by faculty from the MCW. The Department of Biomedical Engineering fosters collaborative interactions between the two institutions. Research can be characterized by the general areas of bioinstrumentation, biomechanics, biomedical imaging, cellular and molecular engineering, computational biology and bioinformatics, and rehabilitation bioengineering.
General Information
All admitted students are required to obtain and read the department’s Graduate Student Handbooks for each of the degree programs, which contains complete details about the biomedical engineering programs. The handbook for each degree is available through the Department of Biomedical Engineering website.
Biomedical Engineering Master of Science (M.S.)
Specializations: Bioinstrumentation, Biomechanics, Biomedical Imaging, Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Rehabilitation Bioengineering
Upon enrolling in the Joint Marquette University/Medical College of Wisconsin Department's master of science (M.S.) program in biomedical engineering, a student selects one of six specializations. Faculty will design a curriculum and research program to address the specific goals of each student. Programs will include course work in engineering, biology, mathematics and medicine, all of which will be integrated with research laboratory experience.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Academic requirements for the master of science are the following:
- A total of 30 graduate credit hours, consisting of 24 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of BIEN 6999 Master's Thesis.
- At least 9 credits of course work must be taken at the 6000-level or above (6 credits of which must be in BIEN, exclusive of BIEN 6995 Independent Study in Biomedical Engineering).
- A minimum of 12 hours of course work must be taken in biomedical engineering, exclusive of 3 credits of BIEN 6995 Independent Study in Biomedical Engineering).
- A minimum of 3 credits (up to 6 credits) in physiology. This requirement is waived for any student who has successfully completed BIEN 5700 Systems Physiology or equivalent.
- The remaining courses must be selected from among those that are eligible for graduate credit in science and engineering programs. Up to 3 credits from certain health care courses may be counted. They include HCTM 6200 Health Care Technology Assessment (3 credits), HCTM 6946 Medical College of Wisconsin/HCTM-Joint Degree (Biomedical Technology Standards and Regulations – 2 credits), HCTM 6400 Ethics of Technology Utilization (1.5 credits), HCTM 6500 Management of Medical Product Development (2 credits) and HEAL 6840 The Environment of Health Care Delivery (2 credits).
- Each master's degree student must submit an outline of the proposed thesis on an Outline for Dissertation, Thesis, Professional Project or Essay form for approval by the thesis director, the director of graduate studies, and the dean of the Graduate School. An acceptable master's degree thesis must meet each of the following four conditions:
- The thesis must reflect the student's originality, creativity, and imaginative work.
- The thesis must demonstrate the student's research ability. This includes (a) a critical analysis of the relevant literature and (b) an engineering contribution to the state of the art or originality in problem solving.
- The thesis must be well written and professionally presented.
- The format of the thesis must follow the Thesis Directives issued by the Graduate School.
- In addition to completing the thesis, students in the M.S. degree program are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination as part of their thesis defense.
- Students are also required to register for the Department seminar series each term for the duration of their study (BIEN 6953 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering).
SPECIALIZATIONS
Each student selects one the specializations offered and follows the recommended curriculum for that specialization. Students work with their advisers to choose their didactic course work and develop their tailored Master’s Program Planning Form, carefully following the academic requirements outlined above.
Code | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Specialization-specific course work as determined with adviser | 24 | |
BIEN 6953 | Seminar in Biomedical Engineering (Taken each term) | 0 |
BIEN 6999 | Master's Thesis | 6 |
Total Credit Hours: | 30 |
ACCELERATED BACHELOR’S-MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAM
This program allows Marquette University students to earn both their master of science degree in biomedical engineering and a bachelor of science degree in five years. Students currently enrolled in the undergraduate biomedical engineering program at Marquette University (with a GPA of 3.500 or above) may apply for admission to the five-year program during their junior year. Students must submit an application to the Graduate School, indicate their interest in the five-year program and meet all other admission criteria as stated in the Application Requirements section. (GRE test scores must be submitted before the start of the fifth year.)
Students may take master’s level courses in their senior undergraduate year. These graduate courses count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The remaining courses are taken during the students’ fifth year. Work on the students’ theses research begins the summer between the junior and senior years. Students will continue to gain research laboratory experience the summer between the senior and fifth year, continuing through the final year, culminating in preparation of a written thesis and defense. Upon completion of the first term as master’s candidates, students must petition the Graduate School to transfer courses taken as undergraduates to the master’s degree.
University Policies
- Academic Censure - Graduate School
- Academic Integrity
- Academic Misconduct
- Academic Program Definitions
- Accelerated Degree Programs
- Attendance - Graduate School
- Awarding Diplomas and Certificates
- Background Checks, Drug Testing
- Class Rank
- Commencement
- Conferral of Degrees and Certificates
- Course Levels
- Credit Hour
- Credit Load - Graduate School
- Faculty Grading
- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act-FERPA
- Grade Appeals
- Grading System - Graduate School and Graduate School of Management
- Graduation - Graduate School
- Immunization and Tuberculosis Screening Requirements
- Last Date of Attendance/Activity
- Military Call to Active Duty or Training
- Registration - Graduate School
- Repeated Courses - Graduate School
- Student Data Use and Privacy
- Transcripts-Official
- Transfer Course Credit - Graduate School
- Withdrawal - Graduate School
Graduate School Policies
- Academic Performance
- Academic Programs Overview
- Advising
- Assistantships and Fellowships
- Certificate Concurrent Enrollment
- Conduct
- Confidentiality of Proprietary Information
- Continuous Enrollment
- Courses and Prerequisites
- Cross-listed Courses
- Deadlines
- Graduate Credit
- Graduate School Policies
- Independent Study
- Intellectual Property
- Research Involving Humans, Animals, Radioisotopes or Recombinant DNA/Transgenic Organisms
- Temporary Withdrawal from Graduate Program
- Time Limitations
- Working with Minors