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 design a curriculum and research program to address the specific goals of each student. The program includes course work in engineering, biology, mathematics and medicine, all of which are integrated with research laboratory experience.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Students complete the following:

• A total of 30 graduate credit hours, consisting of 24 graduate-level credit hours of didactic course work and 6 credit hours of BIEN 6999 Master's Thesis.
• Course work (24 credit hours)
  • Core course requirements (12 credits): All master of science students must complete courses that satisfy the following competencies:
    • Biomedical sciences (3 credits); e.g., cellular and systems physiology, neurophysiology, microbiology.
    • Biostatistical methods (3 credits); e.g., statistical methods, biostatistical methods and models, linear models.
    • Applied mathematics (3 credits); e.g., applied mathematical models, fluid mechanics, finite element methods.
    • Computational and modeling methods (3 credits); e.g., numerical methods of solving mathematical models of physical and biological phenomena, data science and machine learning.
  • Specialization-specific courses (12 credits): These are selected in consultation with the student's thesis director.
  • For the 24 graduate credits didactic course work, the following also applies:
    • A minimum of 12 credits of engineering courses must be taken (exclusive of BIEN 6995 Independent Study in Biomedical Engineering).
    • The remaining courses must be selected from among those that are eligible for graduate credit in science and engineering programs. 
    • Courses numbered at the 6000 level and above are strictly graduate-level courses. Upper-division courses at the 5000 level may also be taken for graduate credit. For these 5000-level courses to count toward a graduate degree, a grade of B or better is required. Furthermore, it is expected that graduate students in these courses do extra work beyond that required for undergraduate credit as per university policy.
    • A maximum of 3 credit hours of BIEN 6995 Independent Study in Biomedical Engineering may be taken with proper approvals and required forms.
• Master's Thesis (6 credit hours)
  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:
  1. The thesis must reflect the student's originality, creativity and imaginative work.
  2. 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. 
  3. The thesis must be well-written and professionally presented.
  4. The format of the thesis must follow the Thesis Directives issued by the Graduate School.
• In addition to completing the thesis, students in the master of science degree program are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination as part of their thesis defense.
• All master of science students are required to register for BIEN 6953 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, the 0-credit department seminar series, each term for the duration of their study . 

SPECIALIZATIONS

Each student selects one of 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 program of study, carefully following the academic requirements outlined above. 

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 on the Graduate School's ADP webpage.

Students may take up to 9 credits of master’s level courses in their senior undergraduate year. These graduate courses (maximum of 9 credits) 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.