Master of Science in Bioengineering
KU Bioengineering Program
The Master of Science in Bioengineering degree prepares students to become leading researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs. The program provides knowledge breadth in engineering and the biological sciences and knowledge depth in the student’s area of research interest. The M.S. is offered by the KU Bioengineering Program within the School of Engineering. The program offers the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in bioengineering and the M.D./Ph.D. combined degree in conjunction with the KU School of Medicine. Students have access to innovative research and educational facilities on KU’s Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses. The student selects a concentration from the following:
- Bioimaging
- Computational bioengineering
- Biomaterials and tissue engineering
- Biomechanics and neural engineering
- Biomedical product design and development
- Biomolecular engineering
The student, in consultation with his or her advisor and advisory committee, develops a Plan of Study and a research program to satisfy degree requirements.
The program’s goals are:
- To give students an in-depth understanding of mathematics, engineering principles, physics, chemistry, physiology, and modern biology.
- To train students to apply basic sciences to biological problems using engineering principles.
- To train students to do bioengineering research and solve problems related to the design and development of diagnostic and therapeutic technologies that improve human health.
- To train students to apply bioengineering research to commercially viable technologies.
Bioengineering research projects typically focus on 1 of 2 broad categories:
- The development of fundamental scientific knowledge.
- The development and application of materials, devices, and systems with the goal of improving biological processes, systems, and health care.
Bioengineering students are often involved in measurements, analysis, modeling, computations, design, and development. The program prepares students for careers in industry, academia, health care settings, or government.
Financial Aid
Once admitted, students become eligible for financial aid. Graduate students in the bioengineering program are often supported through research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships (e.g., the Madison and Lila Self Fellowship). Research assistantships are arranged by the student and faculty advisor with assistance from the Bioengineering Director if needed. Teaching assistantships are assigned by the Bioengineering Director. Highly qualified applicants are considered for additional support and fellowships. For more information about external and other KU funding options, please visit https://graduate.ku.edu/funding.
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Admission to the Bioengineering Graduate Program
All applicants are expected to have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. The appropriate academic preparation includes both general and concentration prerequisites. General prerequisites include calculus I and II, differential equations, linear algebra, general physics I and II, chemistry, and biology. Concentration prerequisites depend on the student’s intended concentration. More complete details about academic preparation can be found on the program's website.
Applicants normally have a B.S. and/or an M.S. degree in an engineering discipline, physical sciences, the life sciences, or a closely related field. Depending on their preparation, students may be required to take additional courses that may or may not count toward the graduate degree. A student may be admitted to the Bioengineering Program without meeting all the prerequisites if approved by the Admissions Committee. This student must plan to complete the prerequisites in addition to the graduate degree requirements and consultation with the program is required to determine which courses satisfy these requirements. Course credits from prerequisites generally do not apply toward the graduate degree and must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
A highly qualified applicant may apply for admission directly into the Ph.D. program after completing the B.S. degree. Generally, a student who does not have an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline must complete the M.S. before entering the Ph.D. program. A strong applicant should have outstanding academic credentials, some formal research experience, research interests that fit one of the tracks of study, and a strong potential for advanced study.
Submit your graduate application online.
Application Information & Deadlines
In order to receive full consideration, a complete application package should be submitted by the following deadlines:
Fall Admission: December 1
Spring Admission: October 1
APPLICATION MATERIALS INCLUDE:
- Official Transcripts
- One official transcript from each degree granting institution that the student has attended is REQUIRED for admission. If courses from another university or junior college appear on the degree granting institution’s transcript, we do not need transcripts from the other university or junior college. A scanned copy of the official transcript IS acceptable but it MUST be an official copy. Printouts from student portals or websites will NOT be accepted. A final degree conferred transcript sent directly from the degree granting university will be required before the second semester of enrollment should the applicant be admitted and enroll in a program at KU.
- Letters of Recommendation
- Request 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your academic and research preparedness. Include the correct e-mail addresses of your recommenders on your online application. An e-mail request with instructions on how to complete the required Recommendation Form and upload their letter to your application electronically will be sent to these recommenders.
- A Statement of Your Academic Objectives
- Your statement is a very important part of your application. Please write a 1-2 page essay describing your academic and career objectives as they relate to bioengineering. It should indicate how and why you have decided to pursue graduate studies in your chosen field. Please discuss the particular areas of focus within the concentration(s) you wish to study and why you feel KU specifically is a good fit for your particular interests and goals. If you are interested in the research of particular KU faculty members, please identify and discuss. You may also include relevant information about your academic background, research experience, leadership skills, related work and/or volunteer experiences that you feel have prepared you for graduate study. This statement of objectives will be read and used by faculty in the track to evaluate your academic, research and leadership potential as well as to select graduate teaching and/or research assistants. It also plays a role in determining scholarship/fellowship nominations. Please make sure that it is of high quality and demonstrates your readiness for graduate level study and research at KU.
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
- English Proficiency Scores (if English is NOT your native language)
- TOEFL, iBT (or IELTS) Scores (sent to us directly from the testing agency).
- The institution code for the University of Kansas is 6871.
- The program/department code is 1603.
- The department code is 69 for iBT.
- NOTES:
- For REGULAR admission: All section scores must be at least 20 on the internet-based and computer based TOEFL.
- Admission will NOT be granted if you do not meet the above standard of English Proficiency. Due to a change in policy, we are no longer able to issue an I-20 for these instances.
- To qualify for a GTA offer, you must score at least a 24 on the SPEAKING portion of the iBT and/or score a 50 on the SPEAK test (administered at KU after you arrive).
- For more information regarding English Proficiency Requirements, see the graduate studies website.
- TOEFL, iBT (or IELTS) Scores (sent to us directly from the testing agency).
- Proof of Financial Support (International Applicants ONLY)
- Obtain the proper Financial Documentation. Scan the document and save it as a pdf file. KEEP THE PAPER COPIES. Be prepared to send the paper copies to the program office at the address below if requested! Although the financial statement is not required for making admission decisions, the U.S. Department of State mandates that evidence of financial resources, such as an official bank statement, be provided in order to issue an I-20 and student visa. It should have the name of the student on the account, not the parent’s name or any other name. See the International Support Services website for more information.
Funding
Scholarships/Fellowships - The Bioengineering graduate admissions committee nominates applicants for University and School of Engineering scholarships and fellowships based on academic merit and other selection criteria, as specified by the fellowship selection committees.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) - Teaching Assistantships are available and are awarded competitively based on academic qualifications. You do not need a separate application to be considered.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) - Students work with their potential academic advisor/mentor to obtain a funded position on a research project at the time of matriculation or within the first year. It is NOT required for prospective students to have KU faculty pledge a GRA position prior to your admission.
Visit Us
The graduate program staff are happy to work with all prospective students in determining the fit between the student and the program. We feel that visiting our campus in Lawrence is a very important step. In order to facilitate your visit to KU, there are two main options:
The first, and most preferred, option entails simply applying for admission to the program. All prospective students are welcome to attend our Open House in October or mid-March. Eligible admitted students may be invited to participate in Campus Sneak Peek in late February (prior to the fall semester of your intended matriculation). These organized campus visit opportunities will allow you to gather a great deal of first-hand information which we hope will help you in making a final decision about whether to attend KU.
The second option is making arrangements to visit us on your own, outside of organized events. With early notification, we will do our best to work with you to provide information and schedule appointments with faculty when possible. Please contact us if you feel that this is the best option for you.
Contact Information
Please contact the KU Bioengineering Program at bioe@ku.edu or (785) 864-5258 to schedule a visit or with questions about the bioengineering application process.
Master of Science in Bioengineering Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bioengineering Core | ||
| BIOE 800 | Bioengineering Colloquium (Complete 2 credits total of BIOE colloquium) | 2 |
| BIOE 801 | Responsible Conduct of Research in Engineering | 1 |
| C&PE 756 | Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 3 |
| Bioengineering Concentration Depth | ||
| The BIOE concentration is determined with the faculty advisor and based on the student's interest. Students complete a Plan of Study outlining coursework that meets their concentration requirements. Each M.S. concentration has minimum hours required. | 9 | |
| Thesis Defense | ||
| BIOE 899 | Independent Investigation (Thesis) | 6 |
| Bioengineering Concentration Breadth | ||
| The remaining 9 credits of Bioengineering Breadth are determined with the faculty advisor and selected from the Bioengineering Breadth Courses Master List below. Required courses in a student's concentration may not fulfill additional breadth requirements. | 9 | |
| Each concentration requires the following, at a minimum: | ||
Math, Statistics, or Numerical Methods: 1 course minimum | ||
Advanced Sciences: 1 course minimum | ||
Advanced Engineering: 1 course minimum | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Bioimaging Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Multivariate Data Analysis | ||
| Applied Optimization Methods | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Antennas | ||
| Parallel Scientific Computing | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Digital Signal Processing Implementation in Programmable Logic Devices | ||
| Numerical Analysis I | ||
| Numerical Analysis II | ||
| Mathematical Optimization with Applications | ||
| Error Control Coding | ||
| Acoustics | ||
| Medical Imaging | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Advanced Engineering (2 courses minimum) | ||
| Drug Delivery | ||
| Basic Rheology | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Polymer Science and Technology | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Molecular Biomimetics | ||
| Special Topics: _____ (Biomedical Microdevices) | ||
| Continuum Mechanics for Soft Tissues | ||
| Special Topics: _____ (Advanced Biomaterials) | ||
| Advanced Biological Sciences (1 course minimum) | ||
| Graduate Histology | ||
or BIOL 560 | Histology | |
| Mammalian Physiology | ||
| Fundamentals of Microbiology | ||
| Cell Biology | ||
| Immunology | ||
or BIOL 503 | Immunology | |
| Fundamentals of Immunology | ||
| Virology | ||
or BIOL 512 | General Virology | |
| Principles and Practice of Chemical Biology | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Biomechanics & Neural Engineering Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Mechanics (2 courses minimum) | ||
| Basic Rheology | ||
| Basic Biomechanics | ||
| Modeling Dynamics of Mechanical Systems | ||
| Biomechanics of Human Motion | ||
| Experimental Methods in Biomechanics | ||
| Bone Biomechanics | ||
| Computer Simulation in Biomechanics | ||
| Biomechanical Systems | ||
| Biomedical Product Development | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Continuum Mechanics for Soft Tissues | ||
| Physiology/Computing/Signal Processing (1 course maximum) | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Parallel Scientific Computing | ||
| Digital Signal Processing Implementation in Programmable Logic Devices | ||
| Random Signals and Noise | ||
| Mathematical Optimization with Applications | ||
| Advanced Exercise Science Seminar | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Biomedical Product Design & Development Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| ME 760 | Biomedical Product Development | 3 |
| ME 765 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| Bioengineering Design | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Topics in Design: _____ (Approved Biomedical Project) | ||
| Advanced Human Factors in Interaction Design | ||
| Structural Composites | ||
| Drug Delivery | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Polymer Science and Technology | ||
| Structural Mechanics | ||
| Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | ||
| Antennas | ||
| Fiber-optic Measurement and Sensors | ||
| Parallel Scientific Computing | ||
| Design for Manufacturability | ||
| Mechatronics | ||
| Molecular Biomimetics | ||
| Special Topics: _____ (Bioadditive Manufacturing) | ||
| Special Topics: _____ (Biomedical Microdevices) | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Biomolecular Engineering Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Advanced Engineering (1 course minimum) | ||
| Drug Delivery | ||
| Convective Heat and Momentum Transfer | ||
| Advanced Transport Phenomena II | ||
| Basic Rheology | ||
| Polymer Science and Technology | ||
| Molecular Biomimetics | ||
| Special Topics: _____ (Biomedical Microdevices) | ||
| Biopharmaceutics&Pharmacokinetics | ||
| Physical Chemistry of Solutions, Solids and Surfaces | ||
| Advanced Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | ||
| Advanced Biological Sciences | ||
| Graduate Histology | ||
or BIOL 560 | Histology | |
| Cell Biology | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Pharmaceutics | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry in Biology | ||
| Advanced Medicinal Biochemistry I | ||
| Immunology | ||
or BIOL 503 | Immunology | |
| Fundamentals of Immunology | ||
| Virology | ||
or BIOL 512 | General Virology | |
| Principles and Practice of Chemical Biology | ||
| Additional Bioengineering Breadth Course | ||
| Additional course from the Breadth Courses Master List. | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Computational Bioengineering Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Depth | ||
| Select 9 credits from the following: | 9 | |
| Fundamentals Course (1 course minimum) | ||
| Computational Biology I (Cannot count with EECS 730) | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| Introduction to Bioinformatics | ||
| Elective Courses (1 course minimum) | ||
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | ||
| Introduction to Molecular Modeling | ||
| Computational Biology II | ||
| Applied Linear Regression | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Genomics | ||
| Introduction to Programming and Applied Statistics in R | ||
| Finite Element Methods for Solid Mechanics | ||
| Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms | ||
| Machine Learning | ||
| Parallel Scientific Computing | ||
| Digital Image Processing | ||
| Mathematical Optimization with Applications | ||
or C&PE 778 | Applied Optimization Methods | |
| Experimental Methods in Biomechanics | ||
| Computer Simulation in Biomechanics | ||
| Continuum Mechanics for Soft Tissues | ||
| Theory of the Finite Element Method | ||
| Biomedical Informatics Driven Clinical Research | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Bioengineering Breadth Courses Master List
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Math, Statistics & Numerical Methods | ||
| Math | ||
| MATH 590 | Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 596 | Special Topics: _____ (Math in Biomedical Research) | 3 |
| MATH 611 | Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 646 | Complex Variable and Applications | 3 |
| MATH 647 | Applied Partial Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 648 | Calculus of Variations and Integral Equations | 3 |
| MATH 724 | Combinatorial Mathematics | 3 |
| MATH 725 | Graph Theory | 3 |
| MATH 750 | Stochastic Adaptive Control | 3 |
| MATH 765 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 |
| MATH 766 | Mathematical Analysis II | 3 |
| MATH 790 | Linear Algebra II | 3 |
| MATH 791 | Modern Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 865 | Stochastic Processes I | 3 |
| PHSX 718 | Mathematical Methods in Physical Sciences | 3 |
| PHSX 721 | Chaotic Dynamics | 3 |
| Statistics | ||
| BIOL 841 | Biometry I | 5 |
| BIOS 714 | Fundamentals of Biostatistics I | 3 |
| BIOS 717 | Fundamentals of Biostatistics II | 3 |
| BIOS 720 | Analysis of Variance | 3 |
| BIOS 730 | Applied Linear Regression | 3 |
| BIOS 740 | Applied Multivariate Methods | 3 |
| BIOS 810 | Clinical Trials | 3 |
| BIOS 823 | Introduction to Programming and Applied Statistics in R | 3 |
| BIOS 830 | Experimental Design | 3 |
| BIOS 835 | Categorical Data Analysis | 3 |
| BIOS 840 | Linear Regression | 3 |
| BIOS 871 | Mathematical Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 605 | Applied Regression Analysis | 3 |
| MATH 627 | Probability | 3 |
| MATH 628 | Mathematical Theory of Statistics | 3 |
| MATH 727 | Probability Theory | 3 |
| MATH 728 | Statistical Theory | 3 |
| STAT 823 | Introduction to Programming and Applied Statistics in R | 3 |
| DATA 824 | Data Visualization and Acquisition | 3 |
| Numerical Methods | ||
| AE 725 | Numerical Optimization and Structural Design | 3 |
| AE 746 | Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 |
| BINF 701 | Computational Biology I | 5 |
| BINF 702 | Computational Biology II | 5 |
| CE 861 | Finite Element Methods for Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| C&PE 701 | Methods of Chemical and Petroleum Calculations | 3 |
| C&PE 778 | Applied Optimization Methods | 3 |
| EECS 639 | Introduction to Scientific Computing | 3 |
| EECS 739 | Parallel Scientific Computing | 3 |
| EECS 781 | Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| EECS 782 | Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| EECS 868 | Mathematical Optimization with Applications | 3 |
| MATH 591 | Applied Numerical Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 882 | Topics in Advanced Numerical Differential Equations: _____ | 3 |
| ME 702 | Mechanical Engineering Analysis | 3 |
| ME 788 | Optimal Estimation | 3 |
| ME 861 | Theory of the Finite Element Method | 3 |
| ME 862 | Finite Element Method for Transient Analysis | 3 |
| Biological Sciences | ||
| ANAT 832 | Electron Microscopy Techniques | 3 |
| ANAT 845 | Graduate Histology | 3 |
| BIOL 503 | Immunology | 3 |
| BIOL 546 | Mammalian Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 560 | Histology | 3 |
| BIOL 600 | Introductory Biochemistry, Lectures | 3 |
| BIOL 636 | Biochemistry I | 4 |
| BIOL 637 | Introductory Biochemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| BIOL 638 | Biochemistry II | 4 |
| BIOL 639 | Advanced Biochemistry Laboratory | 3 |
| BIOL 650 | Advanced Neurobiology | 3 |
| BIOL 688 | The Molecular Biology of Cancer | 3 |
| BIOL 750 | Advanced Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOL 752 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 755 | Mechanisms of Development | 3 |
| BIOL 757 | Carcinogenesis and Cancer Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 772 | Gene Expression | 4 |
| BIOL 841 | Biometry I | 5 |
| BIOL 918 | Modern Biochemical and Biophysical Methods | 4 |
| BIOL 943 | Multivariate Data Analysis | 3 |
| MICR 808 | Immunology | 3 |
| MICR 809 | Tumor Immunology | 3 |
| MICR 810 | Fundamentals of Immunology | 2 |
| MICR 820 | Bacterial Genetics and Pathogenesis | 3 |
| MICR 825 | Virology | 3 |
| Advanced Engineering | ||
| All 700-level or above ENGR courses may fulfill this requirement. Suggest courses include: | ||
| ADS 560 | Topics in Design: _____ (Must be approved Biomedical Project) | 4 |
| ADS 710 | Advanced Human Factors in Interaction Design | 3 |
| AE 709 | Structural Composites | 3 |
| BIOE 860 | Advanced Bioengineering Problems | 1-3 |
| BIOE 890 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| CE 710 | Structural Mechanics | 3 |
| CE 767 | Introduction to Fracture Mechanics | 3 |
| C&PE 715 | Topics in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering: _____ | 3 |
| C&PE 732 | Advanced Transport Phenomena II | 3 |
| C&PE 751 | Basic Rheology | 3 |
| C&PE 752 | Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| C&PE 778 | Applied Optimization Methods | 3 |
| EECS 644 | Introduction to Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| EECS 730 | Introduction to Bioinformatics | 3 |
| EECS 739 | Parallel Scientific Computing | 3 |
| EECS 836 | Machine Learning | 3 |
| EECS 861 | Random Signals and Noise | 3 |
| ME 633 | Basic Biomechanics | 3 |
| ME 708 | Mechatronics | 3 |
| ME 722 | Modeling Dynamics of Mechanical Systems | 3 |
| ME 750 | Biomechanics of Human Motion | 3 |
| ME 751 | Experimental Methods in Biomechanics | 3 |
| ME 753 | Bone Biomechanics | 3 |
| ME 755 | Computer Simulation in Biomechanics | 3 |
| ME 757 | Biomechanical Systems | 3 |
| ME 760 | Biomedical Product Development | 3 |
| ME 765 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| ME 767 | Molecular Biomimetics | 3 |
| ME 790 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| ME 854 | Continuum Mechanics for Soft Tissues | 3 |
| ME 860 | Advanced Mechanical Engineering Problems | 1-3 |
| ME 890 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| ME 990 | Special Topics: _____ | 1-5 |
| Advanced Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 510 | Biological Physical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 635 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis | 2 |
| CHEM 718 | Mathematical Methods in Physical Sciences | 3 |
| CHEM 720 | Fundamentals and Methods of Analytical Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 740 | Principles of Organic Reactions | 3 |
| CHEM 742 | Spectroscopic Identification of Organic Compounds | 3 |
| CHEM 750 | Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| CHEM 760 | Introduction to Chemistry in Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 820 | Analytical Separations | 3 |
| CHEM 824 | Spectrochemical Methods of Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 828 | Bioanalysis | 3 |
| CHEM 840 | Physical Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 852 | Statistical Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHEM 856 | Molecular Spectroscopy | 3 |
| C&PE 725 | Cellular and Molecular Pharmaceutics | 3 |
| MDCM 701 | Advanced Medicinal Biochemistry I | 3 |
| MDCM 790 | Chemistry of Drug Action II | 3 |
| PHCH 718 | Physical-Chemical Principles of Solution Dosage Forms | 3 |
| PHCH 725 | Cellular and Molecular Pharmaceutics | 3 |
| PHCH 730 | Biopharmaceutics&Pharmacokinetics | 3 |
| PHCH 860 | Principles and Practice of Chemical Biology | 3 |
| PHCH 862 | Physical Chemistry of Solutions, Solids and Surfaces | 3 |
| PHCH 870 | Advanced Pharmaceutical Biotechnology | 4 |
| PHCH 920 | Chemical Kinetics | 2 |
| PHCH 972 | Mechanisms of Drug Deterioration and Stabilization | 3 |
| PHCH 974 | Advanced Special Topics in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (FTIR) | 1-3 |
| PHCH 974 | Advanced Special Topics in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Vaccines) | 1-3 |
| Graduate Wrtiting/Elective Courses | ||
| ENTR 701 | Building Entrepreneurial Competency | 3 |
| ENTR 702 | Entrepreneurial Finance | 3 |
| ENTR 703 | Entrepreneurial Marketing | 3 |
| ENTR 704 | Launching Your Own Business | 3 |
| ENTR 850 | Advanced Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ME 790 | Special Topics: _____ | 3 |
| PHCH 705 | Writing and Communicating Science for Graduate Students | 3 |
| PRVM 868 | Biomedical Informatics Driven Clinical Research | 3 |
| Education/Pedagogy/Teaching Courses | ||
| CE 895 | Advanced Special Topics: _____ (Engineering Education I) | 3 |
| CE 895 | Advanced Special Topics: _____ (Engineering Education II) | 3 |
| EPSY 896 | Seminar in: _____ (Research & Practice College Teaching) | 3 |
| JMC 806 | College Teaching | 3 |
| Life Sciences | ||
| GSMC 840 | CLINICAL OBSERVATION IN HEALTH CARE FOR BIOENGINEERS | 3 |
| HSES 805 | Laboratory Experiments and Analysis--Exercise Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 810 | Advanced Exercise Science Seminar | 3 |
| HSES 825 | Skeletal Muscle Physiology | 3 |
| HSES 872 | Exercise and the Cardiovascular System | 3 |
| HSES 910 | Biochemistry of Exercise | 3 |
| PHSL 835 | Integrative Physiology of Exercise | 3 |
| PHSL 838 | Advanced Topics (Fundamentals of Imaging) | 3 |
| PHSL 844 | Neurophysiology | 3 |
| PHSL 846 | Advanced Neuroscience | 4 |
| PHSL 848 | Molecular Mechanisms of Neurological Disorders | 3 |
| REHS 862 | Cellular and Molecular Basis of Rehabilitation | 2 |
| REHS 887 | Neurorehabilitation | 3 |
| REHS 970 | Instrumented Analysis of Human Biomechanical Function | 3 |
In addition to rules and regulations set by KU Graduate Studies and the School of Engineering, the student must meet the program’s M.S. requirements. Requirements for the M.S. include course work, a thesis, and a final oral examination.
Plan of Study
In the first semester, the student selects a concentration, an advisor, and a thesis committee. The thesis committee guides the student’s development through the Plan of Study in the chosen concentration, helps the student select a topic for research leading to the thesis, and participates in the final oral examination. Should the student’s interests change, the thesis committee membership may be changed accordingly, with the approval of the program’s Graduate Studies Director.
The student’s advisory committee consists of a minimum of 3 graduate faculty members and is chaired by the student’s advisor. Additional requirements are listed in the Bioengineering Graduate Program Handbook.
Students are expected to complete a Plan of Study before beginning the second semester of graduate study. To complete a Plan of Study, a student should have identified a research advisor and thesis committee. Students should work with their research advisors to identify an appropriate list of courses that fulfill degree requirements and support the student’s educational and research objectives. A Plan of Study can be completed online. The advisor, committee members, and graduate studies director must approve the Plan of Study. The Plan of Study can be modified later, if needed, with approval of the advisor, committee members, and Graduate Studies Director. Students are required to complete their masters degree within 7 years from initial enrollment in the program, but typically finish within 2-3 years. A timeline is available here.
Curriculum Notes
The M.S. requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the B.S. to meet degree requirements.
-
Core courses (6 hours)
-
Students must complete the depth, breadth, and elective courses required in the chosen concentration. (18 hours)
-
Research (6 hours minimum)
Note: No more than 9 credits may be taken at the 500-600 level for this degree.
Note: No course graded CR or NC (credit/no-credit) can count toward the satisfaction of the degree requirements.
Thesis Defense and Final Examination
The M.S. student is expected to conduct original research, prepare a written thesis detailing the results, and defend the thesis in a final oral examination. The student must demonstrate that the research conducted is original work in an independent investigation of a significant problem. The thesis provides evidence that the student can recognize an important problem, acquire the data to answer the questions posted within that problem, and extend the results of the answered questions to other problems of significance. The research generally is expected to be of sufficient quality to permit publication in reputable scientific journals. The final oral examination is scheduled when the advisory committee agrees that the research is complete.
Sample Degree Plan
Below is a sample completion plan for students in the M.S. program. The sample semester enrollment below is not reflective of all possible paths to the M.S. in Bioengineering degree.
M.S. in Bioengineering
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOE 800 | 0.5 | BIOE 800 | 0.5 |
| BIOE 801 | 1 | BIOE Depth Area Course #2 | 3 |
| C&PE 756 | 3 | BIOE Depth Area Course #3 or Additional BIOE Breadth Area Course | 3 |
| BIOE Depth Area Course #1 | 3 | BIOE Breadth Area Course #1 | 3 |
| 7.5 | 9.5 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| BIOE 800 | 0.5 | BIOE 800 | 0.5 |
| BIOE Breadth Area Course #2 | 3 | BIOE 899 (Thesis) | 6 |
| BIOE Breadth Area Course #3 | 3 | ||
| 6.5 | 6.5 | ||
| Total Hours 30 | |||
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Read, comprehend, process and communicate (written and orally) scientific literature in the bioengineering field.
- Execute scientific research aims including developing methods to achieve the aims. This includes an ability to conduct appropriate physical and/or numerical experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Demonstrate a depth of knowledge of fundamental topics in the student’s track of study (biomechanics and neural engineering, biomaterials and tissue engineering, bioimaging, bioinformatics, biomolecular, or biomedical product design and development). Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Complete original, publishable, and impactful research in a bioengineering area.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities and make decisions or take actions that are appropriate.