Academics
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Graduate Study
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Biomedical Engineering (MS)
Curriculum & Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide. For more information on BME requirements, please see the BME MS Program Handbook:

BME MS Program Handbook

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MS

MS Degree without Thesis

Courses Units
BMD ENG 512-1, 2, 3 Graduate Research Seminar in Biomedical Engineering (3 quarters) 0
Two of the three listed below*: 2
BMD ENG 304 Quantitative Systems Physiology
BMD ENG 305 Quantitative Systems Physiology
BMD ENG 306 Quantitative Systems Physiology
Quantitative science and engineering courses from the approved list or by permission 2
Advanced statistics course from the approved list or by permission 1
Other engineering, math, and science courses** 5
Restricted Electives*** 2
Total required units: 12

*Students who have taken similar physiology courses may petition to take advanced life sciences courses as replacements.  
** Courses in the following areas may not count: research for credit (BMD ENG 499), global health (except BMD ENG 380), business, design, NUvention (except for 1 quarter of NUvention Medical), seminar, or survey courses.  
***Students may take design, global health, and business classes to fulfill this category. Students taking a basic statistics course may count it towards this category. Students may opt to take additional math/science/engineering courses to fulfill this category as well.

Other Requirements:

  • Examinations: none specified
  • Research/Projects: either (1) approved project (one quarter minimum of BMD ENG 499 Projects) or (2) three courses with significant project components from the approved list.
  • Course Requirements: All courses must be part of the Graduate School course career unless approved by the Director of the MS Program. 7 of the 12 courses must be engineering courses. Restricted electives courses do not count as engineering courses.

MS Degree with Thesis

Courses Units
BMD_ENG 512-1, 2, 3 Graduate Research Seminar in Biomedical Engineering (3 quarters) 0
Two of the three listed below: 2
BMD ENG 304 Quantitative Systems Physiology
BMD ENG 305 Quantitative Systems Physiology
BMD ENG 306 Quantitative Systems Physiology
Quantitative science and engineering courses from the approved list or by permission 2
Advanced statistics course from the approved list 1
Other engineering, math, and sciences courses** 3
Restricted elective*** 1
Total required units: 9

*Students who have taken similar physiology courses may petition to take advanced life sciences courses as replacements.
** Courses in the following areas may not count: research for credit (BMD ENG 499), global health (except BMD ENG 380), business, design, NUVention (except for 1 quarter of NUvention Medical), seminar, or survey courses.
***Students may take design, global health, and business classes to fulfill this category. Students taking a basic statistics course may count it towards this category. Students may opt to take additional math/science/engineering courses to fulfill this category as well.

Other Requirements:

  • Signed copy of MS Mentor/Mentee Agreement
  • Examinations: defend master's thesis
  • Research/Projects: 4 quarters of full-time research toward master's thesis
  • Master's Thesis: required
  • Signed copy of Thesis Approval Form
  • Courses: All courses must be part of the Graduate School course career. 5 out of 9 courses must be engineering.  Restricted elective courses do not count as engineering courses.

BS/MS

BS/MS Degree without Thesis

  • These requirements are the same as “MS without Thesis”. BS/MS students who have taken the BME 304/305/306 sequence will take two advanced life science courses instead of the two advanced systems physiology courses.

BS/MS Degree with Thesis

  • These requirements are the same as the “MS with Thesis” unless the student participates in an accelerated, thesis-based program for outstanding undergraduates who have established research relationships with BME faculty members as outlined below. BS/MS students who have taken the BME 304/305/306 sequence will take two advanced life science courses instead of the two advanced systems physiology courses.

Accelerated BS/MS Degree with Thesis

Admission requirements (no exceptions):

  • NU BME Undergraduate
  • 3.5 grade point average or higher in undergraduate studies
  • Have conducted at least two quarters of undergraduate research (399 or paid research) with chosen advisor
  • Approval by Director of the MS Program
Courses Units
Research for Credit (BMD ENG 499) 3
Quantitative science and engineering courses from the approved list or by permission 2
Advanced statistics course from the approved list or by permission 1
Engineering, math, and sciences courses* 2
Restricted electives** 1
BMD ENG 512-1, 2, 3 Graduate Research Seminar in Biomedical Engineering (3 quarters) 0
Total required units: 9

* Courses in the following areas may not count: research for credit (BMD ENG 499), global health (except BMD ENG 380), business, design, NUVention (except for 1 quarter of NUvention Medical), seminar, or survey courses.
**Students may take design, global health, and business classes to fulfill this category. Students taking a basic statistics course may count it towards this category. Students may opt to take additional math/science/engineering courses to fulfill this category as well.

Other Requirements:

  • Examinations: defend Master's thesis
  • Research/Projects: see Master's thesis
  • Master's Thesis: required
  • Signed copy of Thesis Approval Form
  • Course Requirements: All courses must be part of the Graduate School course career.

Concentrations

Students may consider taking three courses which are thematically-related to meet existing degree requirements. Students are not required to complete a concentration. Please see below for suggested concentrations.

Graduation

Students must review the MS Handbook for graduation requirements. For a quick overview on requirements, please review the BME MS Graduation Checklist.