Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering (BME) utilizes engineering expertise to analyze and solve problems in biology and medicine, with an eye towards improvement in health care. New and innovative solutions to today's health challenges is increasingly requiring advanced and more in-depth study that graduate education can provide. The students in the MS in BME program will advance their technical knowledge in the discipline of BME through four required core courses. The MS in BME program allows students to take elective courses in their areas of interest from defined concentrations or coursework across different concentrations. Students will also develop their ability and skills for performing independent research and development of communication skills through the completion of a thesis.
The overall academic objectives of the MS in BME program are to ensure that students have:
- The technical knowledge in the discipline of biomedical engineering and the professional skills to secure employment
- The knowledge and academic background necessary to be accepted into advanced degree programs
- The ability to communicate effectively via technical papers and presentations
Admission Requirements
The minimum admission requirements to the MS in BME program include:
- A bachelor's degree in a discipline relevant to BME
- Transcript from each institution attended
- Minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.000
- Statement of purpose including a section on research interests
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) not required
- Three letters of recommendation
- English proficiency examination for international applicants who have not studied at an English speaking University: TOEFL or other University approved examination
Applicants may request a waiver of some of the above requirements for admission if sufficient evidence is provided to the BME Graduate Admissions Committee for review. Students entering the MS in BME program are expected to have already completed the following courses or their equivalents: Biology I, Anatomy and Physiology, General Chemistry (Chemistry I and II), Physics I, Math (Calculus I and II, Differential Equations), Circuits, Thermodynamics, Statics, Statistics, and programming. If prior coursework deficiencies exist, a student may be admitted on a conditional basis. It is recommended that as much of the deficient coursework as possible be completed prior to beginning graduate study.
For further information regarding admissions to the MS in Biomedical Engineering program, contact the BME Department Graduate Coordinator.
Program Requirements
1. Degree Options
Students must select one of the following options for completion of MS BME program 1) thesis or 2) directed/independent project.
Thesis Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BME Courses | ||
| Select 9 credit hours of 700-level or above graduate level BME courses (excluding BME 890, Independent Study) | 9 | |
| BME 877 | BME Graduate Seminar | 0 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| In consultation with an advisor, select 15 credit hours of elective courses from the following subjects: BME, ME, ECE, CS, IME, AE, BIOL, CHEM, HPS and PSY. | 15 | |
| Research | ||
| BME 876 | Thesis | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
Directed/Independent Project Option
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BME Courses | ||
| Select 21 credit hours of 700-level or above graduate level BME courses (excluding BME 890, Independent Study) | 21 | |
| BME 877 | BME Graduate Seminar | 0 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| In consultation with an advisor, select 9 credit hours of elective courses from the following subjects: BME, ME, ECE, CS, IME, AE, BIOL, CHEM, HPS and PSY. | 9 | |
| Directed/Independent Project | ||
| BME 878 | MS Project in BME (Must include a written report and an oral presentation) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 33 | |
2. Elective Courses
In consultation with an advisor, select 15 credit hours of elective courses from the following subjects: BME, ME, ECE, CS, IME, AE, BIOL, CHEM, HPS and PSY. If a student desires to have expertise in a specific concentration, a minimum of two courses for the selected concentration must be completed. Elective courses can be selected from within a chosen concentration or across concentrations (see concentrations below).
| Concentration | Courses |
|---|---|
| Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering |
BME 779 Tissue Engineering |
| Molecular & Cell Bioengineering |
BME 743 Mechanobiology of Cells and Tissue |
| Biomechanics & Rehabilitation Engineering | BME 757 Clinical Biomechanics Instrumentation ME 709 Injury Biomechanics IME 549 Industrial Ergonomics IME 749 Ergonomics Assessment Methods IME 759 Ergonomics Interventions EE 782 Digital Signal Processing IME 724 Statistical Methods for Engineers HPS 790 Applied Exercise Physiology HPS 795 Physiology of Athletic Performance PT 858 Prosthetics and Orthotics |
| Bio-Computational Modeling & Devices | BME 735 Bio-computational Modeling ME 729 Computer-Aided Analysis of Mech Systems ME 859 Introduction to Molecular Simulations IME 877 Foundations of Neural Networks AE 719 Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics EE 782 Digital Signal Processing |
| Innovation & Translational Biomedical Engineering | ENTR 868 Business Plan Development ENTR 805 Technology Entrepreneurship ENTR 806 New Product Development IME 740 Analysis of Decision Processes IME 767 Lean Manufacturing IME 854 Quality Engineering IME 780V Rapid Prototyping & Product Development MKT 601 International Marketing |
3. Plan of Study
The Plan of Study (POS) is a tailored schedule of academic work, which must be approved by the students advisor and the Graduate School. The POS must be submitted during the first semester of enrollment, where at least 60% of the credit hours must be from 700-level courses or higher.
4. Professional and Scholarly Integrity Training
As required by the Wichita State University Graduate School, students must successfully complete the Professional and Scholarly Integrity Training (PSIT), preferably during the first semester in the program. To satisfy the Graduate School PSIT requirement, students in the BME MS program must complete the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) online training. More information on registering and completing the CITI training can be found here.
Application, Tuition and Fees
Interested individuals are invited to contact the WSU Graduate School for the application process and materials. All applications for the MS in BME program must be made directly to the Graduate School. Current tuition and fees for graduate study at Wichita State University can be found here.