Graduate Coursework Policies

I. Purpose of coursework

The program considers the masters degree in biomedical engineering to indicate an understanding of key engineering concepts and the ability to perform directed research in an area of biomedical engineering. Therefore, the coursework undertaken by students will serve two purposes:

1. To allow the student to achieve proficiency in the key areas.
2. To provide a foundation that will be needed for the student’s research project.

It is expected that students entering the program have an undergraduate-level understanding of the 5 key areas below.

1. Chemistry (8 Hours, 6 Hours of lecture + 2 hours of lab).
2. Calculus-Based Physics (3 semester hours of mechanics and 3 semester hours of electricity & magnetism)
3. Engineering (Statics, Circuits, and Thermodynamics; 3 semester hours of each, i.e. 45 50 minute lectures).
4. Calculus, through Differential Equations
5. Introductory Biology

Proficiency in these areas will be assessed by an entrance exam. In addition, it is expected that students who graduate will have a graduate-level understanding of systems physiology, bioinstrumentation, partial differential equations and physiological modeling, along with other concepts relevant to their research area.

II. Entrance Exam

An entrance exam that covers the key undergraduate areas will be given to all graduate students prior to their first quarter of study. Students who are found to lack fundamental knowledge in these areas will be directed to appropriate undergraduate courses. Students who are required to take up to three undergraduate courses will be placed on conditional admission status until they have completed the required courses. Students who are required to take more than three such courses will be placed on post-baccalauriate status until they have completed all but 3 courses, at which time they will be placed on conditional status until all undergraduate requirements are fulfilled.

III. Plan of Study

The plan of study (download doc) is a list of all courses the student will be required to take to fulfill degree requirements. The courses will be selected by the student and his committee, with the following guidelines being followed.

1) For the MS degree, the plan must include the three core courses:

Course Number	Course Name	Semester Hours
BIEN 500	Systems Physiology	4
BIEN 510	Biomedical Instrumentation	4
BIEN 501	Physiological Modeling I	4

2) For the Ph.D. degree, the plan must include five core courses:

Course Number	Course Name	Semester Hours
BIEN 500	Systems Physiology	4
BIEN 510	Biomedical Instrumentation	4
BIEN 501	Physiological Modeling I	4
Statistics	Graduate Statistics Courses	3

3) Additional graduate courses will be selected from Engineering (including Biomedical Engineering, other Engineering disciplines), Science (including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology), and Mathematics. Graduate courses outside of these specified Science, Engineering and Mathematics (SEM) areas may be considered only if they are determined to be necessary to the student’s research project. For the MS degree (thesis or practicum) only one non-SEM graduate course will be allowed. For the Ph.D. degree, up to two non-SEM courses will be allowed. At least two thirds of the coursework on the plan of study (not counting BIEN 551, 555 and 651) must be in engineering disciplines.

The makeup of the plan of study for Thesis MS, Practicum MS and Ph.D. are summarized below.

IV. Independent Study

A limited number of independent study courses (BIEN 550) can be taken by the student and applied toward their degree coursework requirements. Students who wish to take an independent study must consult with the instructor for the material that they wish to learn, and must complete an “Offering of Independent Study” form (download doc). The form must be signed by both the student and the instructor, and a copy must be sent to the program chair. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that this form has been received by the program chair. In the case of an independent study, the instructor serves as a consultant to the student and is not obligated to remind the student of his/her responsibilities, beyond establishing deliverables and clarifying them when necessary. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the necessary reading matter and other materials and to ensure that all of the deliverables are received by the instructor before the end of the quarter.

V. Changes to the Plan of Study

It is recognized that a plan of study may need to be changed in response to changing conditions within the college (such as the offering of a new course, or the discontinuation of an existing course) and changing needs of the student. If the student must substitute a course for one that is not listed on the current plan of study, a new plan of study must be filed before the last day of classes of the quarter in which the substitute course is being taught. If the new plan is not filed within the deadline, it will not be possible to retroactively use the course as a substitute on the plan of study