MS with Major in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical Engineering is a broad and emerging field that impacts drug delivery, surgery, diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Students successfully completing the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBioMedE) degree program will be prepared for professional careers in businesses related to medical diagnostics, prosthetic devices, and neural and other implants; the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries; and consulting in health-related fields, as well as other positions in industry, commerce, education, and government. Students will also be prepared to continue their formal education at the PhD level in a variety of science and engineering disciplines and at the MD level in certain cases.

The Biomedical Engineering program is unique by allowing a vast choice of electives including biological sciences, biomedical sciences, complex systems and brain sciences, and nursing in addition to three core courses.

Program Information

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MS Biomedical Engineering - admission requirements

All applicants must submit official transcripts from all previous postsecondary institutions attended. Applicants for admission will be evaluated on an individual basis and must satisfy the following requirements: 

  • A baccalaureate degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science or Engineering with a mathematics background through Calculus 2 or calculus with basic differential equations. Students whose backgrounds are not in the disciplines will be considered.
  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 (of a possible 4.0 maximum) in Science, Mathematics and Engineering courses. 
  • The GRE is not required for this program.
  • International students from non-English-speaking countries must be proficient in written and spoken English as evidenced by a score of at least 500 (paper-based test) or 213 (computer-based test) or 79 (Internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of at least 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). 

MS in Biomedical Engineering

Degree Requirements

Prospective students should consult the university catalog with respect to prerequisite requirements, admission requirements, admission to candidacy requirements and deficiency requirements. The Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (MSBioMedE) degree is awarded to students who:

  1. Meet all University general degree requirements (see the university catalog).
  2. Satisfy the specific degree requirements of the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
  3. MS Worksheet (pdf)

MSBioMedE Thesis Option (30 credits)

  1. Requires six credits of orally defended thesis. The MS committee is chaired by the student's thesis advisor. The chair of the committee must be a graduate faculty member from any department within the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
  2. Requires 24 credits of approved course work of which twelve credits are program core courses and the remaining 12 credits are approved elective courses listed in MS worksheet.
  3. Every thesis student must take CGS 5937/Graduate Seminar/ A seminar series with distinguished speakers. Students must attend at least five seminar presentations. (Grading: S/U, 0 credits.)

Note: A maximum of 3 credits of directed independent study may be applied toward the master's degree.

MSBioMedE Non-Thesis Option (30 credits)

  1. Requires 30 credits of approved course work of which 12 credits are program core courses and the remaining 18 credits are approved elective courses listed in MS worksheet.
  2. Every non-thesis student must take CGS 5937/Graduate Seminar/ A seminar series with distinguished speakers. Students must attend at least five seminar presentations. (Grading: S/U, 0 credits.)

Note: A maximum of 3 credits of directed independent study may be applied toward the master's degree.

Submission of Plan of Study

Graduate students are required to submit a Plan of Study when they have completed between 9 and 15 credits of coursework with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. A student may not register for thesis credits prior to submitting a Plan of Study.

Program Core Courses (12 Credits, 4 courses out of 8*)

  1. BME 5313 Biomedical engineering Cell Biology and Physiology (3)
  2. CAP 5768 Introduction to Data Science or STA 5195, Introduction to Biostatistics
  3. BME 5052L Biomedical Engineering Lab (3) or Microfabrication LAB
  4. BME 5537 Bioimaging (3)
  5. BME 6105 Biomaterials (3)
  6. BME 5937 Bio-signal Processing (3)
  7. BME 5742 Biosystems Modeling and Control (3)
  8. BME 6858 BioMEMS (3)

*: *: All these courses are part of technical elective group A as well. If four courses are taken as the core, the other four can be taken as technical electives. Please refer to worksheet for technical elective courses.

MS in Biomedical Engineering Distinctive Program Characteristics

  • Builds on the highly successful Bioengineering Graduate Certificate Program that was approved and started in Fall 2003, currently has 56 applicants, and has awarded 14 Certificates of Completion.
     
  • Faculty members teach courses and supervise graduate research assistants are drawn from departments and centers within the College of Engineering & Computer Science and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and, at this time, include a number of distinguished adjunct faculty, several of whom hold Ph.D. and MD degrees, Drs. Carlos Aparicio, Jeffrey Weiss, and Ilker Yaylali. Additional faculty and adjunct faculty members will be added.
     
  • Opportunities for graduate students to conduct research in centers, institutes, and facilities with which faculty have association, College of Engineering & Computer Science Robotics, Applied Stochastics Research, Imaging Technology, and Ocean & Systems Engineering Centers; Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Centers for Complex Systems & Brain Sciences and Molecular Biology & Biotechnology; Scripps Florida; Beckman Coulter Inc.; Northwest Medical Center; North Broward Medical Center; and Miami Children's Hospital, Brain Institute & Neuroscience Center. A number of opportunities also exist for students in small, highly specialized companies.
     
  • Responds to the many inquiries from prospective graduate degree-seeking national and international students interested in the Bioengineering area.
     
  • Responds to the State of Florida and national workforce needs of industries, hospitals, and agencies comprising the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Healthcare sectors of the economy. Is an integral part of the Enterprise Florida Life Sciences Roadmap.
     
  • Contains a Program Core that introduces students to the breadth of Bioengineering research topics.
     

In the second phase of implementation, Program Tracks are planned in the areas of Biomedical and Biosystems Engineering, Bioinformatics Engineering and Computer Science, Biotechnology Robotics and Automation, Biomechanics, and Neuroscience and Neurological Engineering. A General Bioengineering Studies track will remain.

Bioengineering Graduate Certificate

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) offers a graduate Certificate Program in Bioengineering that is associated with the Florida Center for Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology. EECS administers the program in consultation with an Industry-Medical Advisory Board. This certificate program is a practice-oriented, part-time graduate program designed to assist engineers, scientists, technical professionals, and qualified senior undergraduates in the launch and/or development of their careers and to provide the technical expertise needed in the rapidly changing business, government, and industrial environments.

Admission Requirements

Admission to, and completion of, this program is handled by the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. For admission, the applicant must satisfy the following criteria:

  1. A bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering with a mathematics background through differential equations. Courses in computer programming, databases, probability and statistics, and molecular biology and/or physiology are desirable. Qualified senior undergraduates may be accepted in the graduate certificate program with appropriate committee recommendation.
  2. GPA of 3.0 in science, mathematics, and engineering courses.
  3. No GRE scores are necessary. Student transcripts should demonstrate competency in science, mathematics, and engineering course work.

Interested individuals should complete an application form and email or fax it to Dr. Zvi Roth, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, email: rothz@fau.edu, fax: 561.297.2800.

Completion Requirements and Distinctive Program Characteristics

The program is a 15-credit graduate certificate program focused on the application of engineering and computer science principles to biotechnology, bioinformatics, and biosystems. It is designed for engineers and scientists working in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, health care, drug discovery, biomedical, medical instrumentation and allied sectors. Faculty members from a variety of departments in both the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science teach the certificate courses. These courses cover human physiological system modeling, bioinformatics, molecular genetics, biotechnology, biosystems, biosignal processing, genomics, drug discovery, and nanotechnology in engineering and biology. Prior to taking courses to satisfy the 15-credit certificate requirement, students must obtain the approval of the Academic Programs Coordinator. Students will have the opportunity to become acquainted with the FAU Core Biotechnology and Proteomics Facilities.

Program Frequently Asked Questions

Taking the PCB 4522 Molecular Genetics is like learning how to swim while jumping into the deep water. It is not easy, but many students like you have already done it, and managed to survive. As you take the Molecular Genetics course, keep a college level Biology textbook handy, so you can do some additional reading as necessary.

Yes.

Differential Equations is an "optional deficiency". Some of the engineering courses, like Introduction to Bioengineering and Bio-systems Modeling and Control do require some familiarity with differential equations. Other courses, such as Nanotechnology or Bioinformatics - the Bioengineering Perspective, do not need mathematics beyond the level of Calculus. As you sign up to some of the more mathematical engineering courses, we can recommend some supplementary reading.

No.

In general - yes. Consult with your graduate advisor. In some of the engineering non-thesis option graduate programs most of the courses are electives. You may easily fit in the Bioengineering courses.

In general, and this is true for all FAU graduate programs. With the approval of your graduate advisor, you may transfer no more than three courses taken as non-degree-seeking into the graduate program.

For the moment there are no plans to offer Science courses through the Engineering Distance Education office. Some "wet lab" courses such as the Biotechnology Lab must be taken on campus (this course is offered both on the Boca Raton and the Davie campuses). Some hands-on computer lab courses such as Bioinformatics must also be taken on campus. The Molecular Genetics course is typically a high-enrollment course offered during the day in a large auditorium (course is offered both on the Boca Raton and Davie campuses). Be aware that when taking such science courses, you will have to make special accommodations in your workplace.

Not yet. Possibly in the future

Not necessarily. We do however expect graduation within two years.

All of the advising can be done by phone or email. All advising related email messages will be printed and placed in your personal folder. It is recommended to periodically update your advising sheet information. All copies of your advising sheet will be kept in your folder.

Photocopies of transcripts can help expedite the initial advising. However your formal admittance in the program may be deferred until the official transcripts are received.

You may be admitted based on your last year or last two years GPA. Transcript figures will determine admittance.

No.

The Bioengineering Certificate program cannot initiate student visas. However, international students can have a student visa issued by the FAU International Students and Scholar Services office based on prior acceptance to one of the FAU graduate programs. After the student has met all other requirements for receiving a student visa, and is pursuing one of the regular graduate degree programs then they may also join the Bioengineering Certificate program.

Review of translated transcripts is done by the FAU Graduate College and by the department coordinating the graduate degree to which you are enrolling. The Bioengineering Certificate program relies on this transcript review.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

The College of Engineering and Computer Science offers majors in areas of national priority such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, transportation and supply chain management.

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