SUMMARY OF RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE MS PROGRAM in BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Transcription

1 UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING SUMMARY OF RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE MS PROGRAM in BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AREAS OF STUDY.. 4. THESIS AND NON THESIS OPTIONS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTERS DEGREE CURRICULUM MS THESIS MS PROJECT DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM: 5 YEAR BS/MS TRANSFER FROM MS TO PhD PROGRAM IN BME STUDENT ADVISING AND MENTORING ASSISTANTSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRADUATE STUDENTS CODE OF ETHICS AWARD OF ACADEMIC MERIT. 16. READMISSION UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI UNDERGRADUATES TAKING GRADUATE COURSEWORK GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES GRADUATION APPENDIX (Forms)... 1

2 1. INTRODUCTION This manual summarizes the rules and guidelines for students enrolled in the MS program at the University of Miami Department of Biomedical Engineering. Students must also familiarize themselves with the relevant sections of the University of Miami Graduate Bulletin which describes the general requirements of the College of Engineering and the Graduate School ( and includes the Graduate Student Code of Ethics. In case of conflict, the University and College rules override the following guidelines. It is the responsibility of the student to be informed of all regulations and procedures required by the Graduate School ( and/or the University of Miami College of Engineering ( In no case will a regulation be waived or an exception be granted because a student pleads ignorance of the regulation or asserts that he/she was not informed of it by an advisor or other authority. The student should become familiar with all relevant sections of the Graduate Bulletin, including the Graduate Student Honor Code. Further information on the admission process, admission requirements, and BS/MS dualdegree program can be obtained by contacting David T. Poole, Director of Admissions, College of Engineering at dtpoole@miami.edu or PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The goal of the MS program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami is to prepare students for successful careers in the biomedical industry, academia, or government (FDA, US Patent Office), or for further study in doctoral or health-related programs. The educational objective of the program is to provide students with the technical and intellectual skills required to solve complex technical or scientific problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology. 3. AREAS OF STUDY Master's students at the University of Miami Department of Biomedical Engineering may specialize in one or several of the following areas of graduate study: - Biomedical instrumentation and devices - Applications of medical imaging systems - Diagnostic and therapeutic systems - Biomechanics, biofluid dynamics - Biomimetic scaffolds and hybrid biomaterials - Fluidic microsystems, microfluidics, and nanofluidics - Cell and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine - Biomedical signal and image processing - Rehabilitation, brain-computer-interface, and neural engineering - Biomedical optics and lasers - Medical physics and engineering - Nanotechnology and drug delivery - Immunoengineering 4. THESIS AND NON-THESIS OPTIONS There are three different paths to earn a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering: 2

3 1. The MS with Thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the BS degree. The student must complete a minimum of 6 credits of thesis research, submit a written thesis and complete an oral defense of the thesis research project. The thesis research must be approved by a formal MS thesis committee. The thesis option is typically selected by students who are oriented towards a career in academic or industrial research and development, or students who want to acquire an initial independent biomedical research experience before seeking admission to doctoral programs. 2. The MS Non-Thesis option requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the BS degree. The student must complete an independent design or research project, for a total of 3 credits. The non-thesis option is intended for students with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering or related disciplines who seek advanced training or specialization in a specific area of biomedical engineering; for professional engineers with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines who want to enter the field of biomedical engineering; and for students who want to prepare for admission to advanced healthrelated or other professional programs. 3. The 5-year BS/MS dual degree option is intended to give qualified undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami the opportunity to acquire both a baccalaureate degree (BSBE) and a Master of Science (MSBE) degree in five years rather than the 4 plus 2 years (approximately) that is traditionally expected. Students who are not enrolled in the BS/MS program must select either the non-thesis or thesis track before they register for their second semester of full-time study. 5. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 5.1. General requirements The Department of Biomedical Engineering admits four types of students to its MS program: 1. Graduates of BS programs in Biomedical Engineering or related engineering disciplines. 2. Graduates of BS or MS programs in other engineering disciplines. 3. Graduates of BS or MS programs in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Biology or other fields of natural or health science. 4. Graduates of medical schools or other health-related professional schools. Students in the last two groups are generally given conditional admission and required to take additional undergraduate courses in engineering, physics, and/or mathematics depending on their previous course work, as specified in the admission letter. The requisite courses will be prescribed by the Department Chair or Graduate Program Director during the first advising session. A list of the qualifications and documentation required for admission to the MS program in Biomedical Engineering can be found in the Graduate Bulletin. The typical minimum GPA and GRE requirements for admission are: - a GPA of a combined GRE score (Quantitative + Verbal) of 300 or higher on the revised GRE scale (1000 on the previous GRE scale) Exceptions to these minimum requirements are made only with the approval of the Department's Graduate Admission Committee, Department Chairperson and the College of Engineering Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. 3

4 5.2. English proficiency requirements for foreign students General English proficiency requirements: Foreign students will be required to provide evidence of adequate knowledge of English through a TOEFL or IELTS test score. Typically requirements are a TOEFL PBT score of 550 or higher, or a TOEFL ibt score of 80 or higher, or an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher. Special programs: International students seeking admission to the MS program in Biomedical Engineering, but who are unable to demonstrate required levels of English proficiency at the time of their application for admission may be eligible to participate in the University of Miami's Intensive English Program (IEP), or in the College of Engineering's Customized Engineering Master's program (CEM) for non-native speakers of English. For more information about these special programs, contact David T. Poole, Director of Admission, College of Engineering at dtpoole@miami.edu or GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTERS DEGREE 6.1. General requirements: The general requirements for the Master of Science Degree are (See also Table 1): For the MS with Thesis Option: - An approved integrated program with a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduatelevel work with an average grade of B or better and no grade below C. - At least six (6) course credits must be at the 700-level. - Six credits of the required 30 must be earned in thesis work (BME 810). - Submission of a written thesis and oral examination in defense of the thesis. For the MS Non-Thesis Option: - An approved integrated program with a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduatelevel work with an average grade of B or better and no grade below C. - At least twelve (12) credits must be at the 700 level. - Completion of a 3-credit MS non-thesis project (BME 706), which counts towards the 700-level course requirements. The project can be a design-oriented or researchoriented For the 5-year BS/MS Option: - An approved integrated program with a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduatelevel work with an average grade of B or better and no grade below C. - At least twelve (12) credits must be at the 600 level. - Completion of 6-credits of BS/MS design project (BME 705/706), which satisfy the requirements for the undergraduate senior design and for the MS project. These 6 credits count towards the 700-level credit requirements. An average of B (3.0) is required for a graduate degree, and no D credit may be counted toward the degree. A C- is the lowest passing grade for graduate students. A student may repeat a course in which a failing grade was earned, but the repetition of the course will not eliminate the previous grade from the record. A course may be repeated only once unless written authorization is provided by the Dean of the Graduate School. 4

5 Table 1: General credit requirements for the MS degree. Students admitted with non-engineering degrees must generally complete one or two semesters of undergraduate courses in mathematics, physics, and/or engineering before gaining full admission into the MS program.. MS with Thesis a) 24 graduate-level (600 and above) course credits including: - At least two of the following three classes*: BME Unified Medical Sciences I (Cellular/Molecular) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences II (Human physiology) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences III (Neuroscience) - 3 credits - A minimum of 6 course credits at the 700 level c) 6 credits of thesis work (BME 810) MS Non-Thesis a) 27 graduate-level (600 and above) course credits including: - At least two of the following three classes*: BME Unified Medical Sciences I (Cellular/Molecular) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences II (Human physiology) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences III (Neuroscience) - 3 credits - A minimum of 9 course credits at the 700 level b) 3 credit MS project (BME 706) 5 year BS/MS a) 24 graduate-level (600 and above) course credits including: - Exactly two of the following three classes*: BME Unified Medical Sciences I (Cellular/Molecular) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences II (Human physiology) - 3 credits BME Unified Medical Sciences III (Neuroscience) - 3 credits - A minimum of 6 course credits at the 700 level c) 6 credit BS/MS design project (BME 705/706) * BME 601/602/603: a. Students with a background in an engineering or scientific field with no prior exposure to biology/medicine are required to complete all three courses. b. Other students in the MS program must take at least 2 of these classes, but can choose to take all three. c. Students in the BS/MS program must take exactly 2 of these classes, no more and no less. d. Students with an MD from a medical school accredited by the World Health Organization are exempted from taking these courses. Students holding advanced degrees in the life sciences, or equivalent experience in the field, may also be exempt. Each such exception requires the approval of the Department Chairperson and Faculty member responsible for the course of concern. 5

6 6.2. Full-time study - Maximum number of credits: The categories of full-time students include: 1. Graduate students taking 18 or more graduate credits during the calendar year (9 credits in a regular semester, or 3 credits in a summer session). 2. Graduate students enrolled in BME 810 (Master's Thesis), BME 820 (Research in Residence) or BME725 (Continuous Registration - Master's Study), i.e., any 800-level course required for the completion of the MS degree. Full-time MS students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering can take a maximum of 12 credits per semester. Exceptions to this policy require the signed approval of the Graduate Program Director or Department Chairman 6.3. Graduate levels of study All work taken by a graduate student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, or transferred from another institution shall be at the graduate level (600 or above at the University of Miami) Transfer of credits Upon recommendation of the Department Chairman and the approval of the Graduate School, a maximum of six semester hours of graduate credit, with grades of B or above, may be transferred from another accredited graduate institution, in partial satisfaction of the MS degree in Biomedical Engineering. Work taken more than six years prior to transfer will not be accepted. Work taken by extension, correspondence or online is not acceptable. All work transferred is subject to examination by the Department. An official transcript of work to be transferred must be on file in the College of Engineering's Graduate Office before any requests for transfer of credits can be considered. In no case will credit be transferred until the student has completed acceptably an equivalent number of credits at the University of Miami. The satisfaction of the requirements of another university does not relieve the student from the University of Miami s requirements. Credits that pertain to or have been counted toward another degree cannot be transferred. No transferred credits are calculated into the University of Miami G.P.A Time of completion and recency/validation for over-aged credits Students studying for the master s degree must complete all work within six years of the time of admission to graduate work. Exceptions may be granted by the Dean of the Graduate School at the request of the Graduate Program Director Second Master's degree A student enrolled in a University of Miami master s degree program or holding a University of Miami master s degree may earn a second master s degree in a related area at the University by completing a minimum of 21 hours toward the second degree, as long as all program and admission requirements for the degree are met. Each degree must have a separate thesis if two thesis options are elected. The second program decides if the areas are related enough to qualify for the reduced number of credits. The student must contact the second program during the application process for the second program to determine if the areas are related enough to qualify for the reduced number of credits. 6

7 7. CURRICULUM 7.1. Objectives The Master's curriculum in BME was designed to provide students with the technical and intellectual skills required to solve complex scientific or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology. The curriculum combines advanced coursework which provides depth in a specific area of concentration and advanced problem-solving skills, with supervised research or design in one of the laboratories of the faculty from the Department of Biomedical Engineering or the School of Medicine, or in the local biomedical industry Course selection Except for the Medical Physics program (See Section 7.4), there are no formalized graduate curricular tracks in the MS program. Master's students select a course of study together with the graduate advisor and/or with their mentor and the thesis committee (for the thesis option) based on their own needs or interests. Students can choose from any of the graduate course offerings, as long as they satisfy the general course requirements and the course prerequisites Required core courses All students enrolled in the MS program in Biomedical Engineering are required to complete at least two of the following core graduate courses: Unified Medical Sciences I/II/III (BME 601/602/603, 3 credits each). Students enrolled in the BS/MS program must take exactly two of these three courses, no more and no less. Other students can choose to complete all three courses. The three courses of the Unified Medical Sciences sequence are designed to provide a basic understanding of human physiology and anatomy and cellular and molecular biology. Students with an MD from a medical school accredited by the World Health Organization are exempted from taking these courses. Students holding advanced degrees in the life sciences, or equivalent experience in the field, may also be exempt. Each such exception requires the approval of the Department Chairperson and Faculty member responsible for the course of concern. Students with a background in an engineering or scientific field with no prior exposure to biology/medicine are required to complete all three courses Medical Physics Program The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami offers a special MS program in Medical Physics. The objective of the Medical Physics program is to provide advanced knowledge in the field of therapeutic medical physics, and to provide the training required for students to become licensed medical physicists. This program is coordinated by the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Radiation Oncology at the School of Medicine. The program is opened to students enrolled in the regular MS program, as well as the dual degree (BS/MS) program. Candidates are required to have completed a 3 credit course in Modern Physics (PHY360 or equivalent) and a 3 credit course covering the physical foundations of medical imaging (BME330 or equivalent) before they start their course work in the Medical Physics program. 7

8 Students in the Medical Physics Program must complete Unified Medical Sciences II (BME602) and one of the remaining two courses from the Unified Medical Sciences (BME601 or BME603) course series, and the following 22-credit core curriculum in the area of medical physics: BME620 - Medical Imaging Systems (3 cr) BME681 - Radiobiology and Physics (3 cr) BME682 - Radiation Therapy (3 cr) BME683 - Radiation Protection (3 cr) BME729 - Advanced Medical Imaging (3 cr) BME781 - Radiation Dosimetry and Physics (3 cr) BME783 - Radiation Therapy Clinical Rotation (3 cr) BME784 Medical Physics Journal Club (1 cr) Any remaining credits required to complete the degree must satisfy the general requirements of the MS program. Students enrolled in the MS program in Medical Physics may require a total of 31 credits (non-thesis option) or 34 credits (BS/MS and thesis option) to complete the program requirements. The topic of the BS/MS project (BME 705/706), MS project (BME 706, non-thesis option), or MS thesis must be related to medical physics. In general, the project is co-supervised by Faculty from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Radiation Oncology Typical curricula Typical MS curricula for each of the options are included in the following tables. The course sequence and timeline can be adjusted based on individual needs. The minimum residence requirement for the MS degree is two semesters in full-time study or the equivalent in parttime work. 8

9 MS without Thesis SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 12 course credits Identify mentor Submit project abstract 6 course credits BME 706 MS Project (3 cr) 9 course credits MS with Thesis* SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 12 course credits Identify mentor and project 9 course credits BME 810 MS Thesis (3 cr) 3 course credits BME 810 MS Thesis (3 cr) *Students who are not able to complete their thesis during the 3rd semester and have completed all 30 required credits of graduate work, must enroll in 0 credits of Research in Residence (BME720) to maintain full-time student status. BS/MS (1) (Sample curricula for each concentration are provided in Section 10) YEAR 4 (2) Fall Same as BS degree except: a) BME 402 Senior Design Project II (2 cr) is not required. b) 1 Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 cr) is replaced with 1 Graduate Technical elective (3) (3 cr) c) Students are advised to take one additional 3 credit Graduate Technical Elective*** (3 cr) YEAR 5 (4) Fall BME 706 MS Design Project II 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Spring Same as BS degree except: a) BME 403 Senior Design Project II (1 cr) is not required. b) 1 Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 cr) is replaced with BME705 (3 cr, Graduate) c) Students are advised to take one additional 3 credit Graduate Technical Elective*** (3 cr) Spring Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 Graduate Technical Elective (3) 3 (1) (2) (3) (4) The first three years follow the standard undergraduate curriculum. In the senior year, students register for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 graduate credits of Technical Electives per semester, which must be chosen from the BME graduate course offerings, with the approval of their academic advisor. These 6 to 12 credits are counted toward the 30 credits required for the MS degree. In Year 4, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits of undergraduate courses to maintain full-time undergraduate status. Graduate Technical Electives are chosen from the BME course offerings (600 level and above) with the approval of the graduate advisor. Students must complete a total of 30 graduate credits. Students who take 6 credits per semester in the senior year only need to register for 9 credits per semester in the fifth year. 9

10 TYPICAL CURRICULA FOR THE MS PROGRAM IN MEDICAL PHYSICS MS without Thesis SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 BME602 Physio II (3 cr) BME620 Med Imag Sys (3 cr) BME682 Radiat Therapy (3 cr) SEMESTER 4 BME601/603 Physio I/III (3 cr) BME781 Rad Dosim Phys (3 cr) BME729 Adv Medical Imag (3 cr) Identify co-mentors Submit project abstract BME681 Radiobiology (3 cr) BME706 MS Project (3 cr) BME683 Radiat Protect (3 cr) BME783 Clinical Rotatn (3 cr) BME784 Med Phy Journal Club (1 cr) MS with Thesis* SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2 SEMESTER 3 BME602 Physio II (3 cr) BME620 Med Imag Sys (3 cr) BME682 Radiat Therapy (3 cr) SEMESTER 4 BME601/603 Physio I/III (3 cr) BME781 Rad Dosim Phys (3 cr) BME729 Adv Medical Imag (3 cr) Identify co-advisors and project BME681 Radiobiology (3 cr) BME810 MS Thesis (3 cr) BME683 Radiat Protect (3 cr) BME783 Clinical Rotatn (3 cr) BME810 MS Thesis (3 cr) BME784 Med Phy Journal Club (1 cr) *Students who are not able to complete their thesis during the 3rd semester and have completed all 30 required credits of graduate work, must enroll in 0 credits of Research in Residence (BME820) to maintain full-time student status. 10

11 BS/MS - Medical Physics Program BS/MS (1) (Sample curricula for each concentration are provided in Section 10) YEAR 4 (2) Fall Spring Same as BS degree except: a) BME 402 Senior Design Project II (2 cr) is not required. b) 1 Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 cr) is replaced with BME681 (3 cr, Graduate) c) Students are advised to take BME620 as a Graduate Technical Elective (3) (3 cr) Same as BS degree except: a) BME 403 Senior Design Project II (1 cr) is not required. b) 1 Undergraduate Technical Elective (3 cr) is replaced with BME705 (3 cr, Graduate) c) Students are advised to take BME729 as a credit Graduate Technical Elective (3) (3 cr) YEAR 5 (4) Fall BME706 MS Design Project II 3 BME602 Systems Physio I/II 3 BME683 Radiation Protection 3 BME682 Radiation Therapy 3 Spring BME601/603 Systems Physio III 3 BME781 Rad Dosimetry Phys 3 BME783 Rad Therapy Clin Rotation 3 BME784 Med Phy Journal Club 1 (1) (2) (3) (4) The first three years follow the standard undergraduate curriculum. In the senior year, students register for a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 graduate credits of Technical Electives per semester. These technical electives must include BME681. The other technical electives must be chosen from the BME Medical Physics graduate course offerings, with the approval of the academic advisor. These 6 to 12 credits are counted toward the 34 credits required for the BS/MS degree. In Year 4, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 credits of undergraduate courses to maintain full-time undergraduate status. Graduate Technical Electives are chosen from the BME Medical Physics course offerings (600 level and above) with the approval of the graduate advisor. Students must complete a total of 34 graduate credits in the BS/MS program in Medical Physics. Students who take 6 credits per semester in the senior year only need to register for 22 credits in the fifth year. 11

12 8. MS THESIS (FOR THESIS OPTION ONLY) 8.1. General description The Master's thesis is a research monograph which describes the significance of the research and summarizes the research activities completed as part of the MS degree requirements. The objective of the thesis is to evaluate the candidate s competence in the area of the MS research. The thesis must demonstrate that the research is original and that the candidate has the ability to solve complex scientific and/or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology Thesis Mentor Students who select the MS thesis track must identify a thesis mentor before they register for their second semester of full-time study. The thesis mentor must hold a primary or secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Exceptions can be made only with approval of the Graduate Program Director and Department Chairman. The thesis mentor supervises the research work of the student and provides training and guidance in the relevant research topics, including design of experiments, experimental techniques, and scholarship activities. The mentor helps the student select a thesis topic and develop a plan, and chairs or co-chairs the thesis committee. The mentor works closely with the student to ensure that there is satisfactory progress towards the thesis goals Thesis Committee The thesis must be approved by a thesis committee. The duties of the thesis committee are: a. to consult with and to advise students on their research; b. to meet, at intervals, to review progress and expected results; c. to read and comment upon the draft thesis; d. to meet, when the thesis is completed, to conduct the final oral examination and to satisfy itself that the thesis work is original; that it demonstrates the candidate's ability to solve complex scientific and/or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology; that it is written in lucid and correct English; and that it is submitted in approved form. The thesis committee will consist of not less than three members, with the following requirements: a. The committee chair shall be a Primary Faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, as well as a regular member of the Graduate Faculty. The Committee Chair is generally also the thesis mentor. b. A thesis mentor who is not a member of the Primary Faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, can serve as Co-Chair of the Thesis Committee, together with a second Co-Chair who shall be a member of the primary faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. c. It is an additional requirement of the Department of Biomedical Engineering that at least two committee members should be primary Faculty members from the Department. d. One committee member must be from outside the Department. Outside members of the thesis committee can include part-time faculty that teach within the Department. e At least one committee member must be a regular member of the Graduate Faculty of the University of Miami. The committee is nominated by the Graduate Program Director. Usually, the student consults with his/her research mentor and with the Chairperson or Graduate Program Director to select the Committee members. 12

13 8.4. Thesis format and deadlines It is the duty of the student to ensure that the thesis defense is scheduled and that a final version of the thesis approved by the Dissertation Editor is submitted to the Dissertation Editor by the required deadlines set by the Graduate School. All information pertaining to the formatting and electronic guidelines for electronic thesis submission can be found at (click on "Electronic Theses and Dissertations" tab). The thesis candidate is well advised to have a final, acceptable typescript of the thesis in the hands of each member of his/her committee at a time reasonably in advance of the final defense of the work, typically a minimum of two weeks prior to the defense. Each thesis must be accompanied by two certificates of approval of oral defense of thesis signed by all members of the Committee. Forms should be obtained in the Graduate School Office or downloaded from the Graduate School Website ( (See Appendix). The Graduate School also encourages M.S. Thesis students to make an appointment with the Dissertation Editor at the Graduate School as soon as their thesis topic has been approved by the Thesis Committee, and they start preparing their thesis. The Dissertation Editor will provide information on the guidelines and deadlines that will become critical in the final months of the degree process. To make an appointment with the Dissertation Editor, contact the Graduate School at (305) or grad.dissertation@miami.edu. Information can also be downloaded from (click on "Electronic Theses and Dissertations" tab) Thesis defense A final public oral defense of the thesis is required. None but the members of the thesis committee may interrogate the candidate. The defense must be held before the deadline specified by the graduate school on the University of Miami Academic Calendar Evaluation forms The candidate is responsible for distributing thesis evaluation forms to the members of the Thesis Committee (See Appendix). The evaluation forms are used to assess the overall quality of the graduate program at the Department, College, and University level. The evaluation forms are available in the Department Office and online at the Graduate School website ( click on "Forms" tab, click on "Assessment" menu). The forms must be completed by the Committee members after the thesis defense. The completed original forms must be forwarded by the Committee Chair to the Office Manager of the Department of Biomedical Engineering for inclusion in the student file Research in residence - Maintenance of full-time status Once a student has completed all required course and research credits, he or she must enroll in Research in Residence (BME 720) status until the degree has been granted. Research in Residence status is considered full-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment is required during the semester or summer session in which a candidate defends the thesis Transfer to MS non-thesis program Students enrolled in the MS thesis program who do not wish to complete their thesis can transfer to the MS non-thesis program and graduate from the MS program under the following conditions: a. The transfer must be approved by the Department Chair or Graduate Program Director. 13

14 b. All requirements of the MS non-thesis option must be satisfied, including completion of a 3 credit MS project (BME 706), submission a project report, and oral defense of project. Completed thesis credits may count towards the three credit MS project requirement. 9. MASTER'S PROJECT (FOR NON-THESIS OPTION ONLY) 9.1. General description All students enrolled in the MS non-thesis program must complete a 3 credit Master's project (BME 706), under the supervision of a project mentor and departmental project coordinator. The project must demonstrate the candidate s ability to solve complex scientific or technical problems at the interface of engineering and medicine or biology. The MS project can be a research or design project. The project must include a significant research or design component contributed by the M.S. student, including, but not limited to, the design of an experiment or process; the development of a device, instrument, or system; the development of a computer program; the analysis of experimental data. Projects cannot be limited solely to the review of literature, the development of research or design proposals, or the collection of experimental data. At the completion of their project, students must submit a written project report and complete a public oral defense of their project Project mentor Students who select the MS non-thesis track must identify a project mentor and select a project before they register for their second semester of full-time study. The project mentor is generally a primary faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The role of the project mentor is to help the student identify a suitable project, to monitor the progress of the student, to provide guidance and training in the relevant topics, and to review the final report and presentation. Students may complete their project under the supervision of a faculty member from another Department at the University of Miami, or from the local biomedical industry, under the following conditions: - The student must receive the approval of the Department Chairman and Graduate Program Director. - The student must identify a co-mentor who must be a primary faculty member of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The co-mentor must be familiar with the topic of the proposed project. The role of the co-mentor will be to monitor the student progress and ensure that the Master's project report and presentation satisfy all of the relevant requirements Master's project coordinator The project coordinator is a member of the primary faculty of the Department of Biomedical Engineering who is responsible for teaching the BME706 course. The role of the project coordinator is to: - Help students identify a project and mentor. - Ensure that the projects satisfy the program objectives. - Provide general guidance and graduate scholarship training. - Ensure that the students are making suitable progress towards the project goals. 14

15 9.4. Master's project requirements Project abstract: Non-Thesis MS students must submit a one-page project abstract to the Department Chairman or Graduate Program Director and to the MS Project Coordinator at the time when they register for BME 706. The abstract must include the name of the project mentor (and co-mentor, if any), the title of the proposed project, and a brief description of the goals of the project and proposed methods. The abstract must be approved by the mentor, MS Project Coordinator, and Department Chairman or Graduate Program Director before the student can start work on the project. (See template in Appendix). Project report: Non-thesis MS students must submit a detailed report describing the work completed during the project. The report must describe the objectives and significance of the work, and summarize the activities completed by the student as part of the MS project. The report must demonstrate that the work performed by the student satisfies the general project criteria (see Section 9.1). The typical length of non-thesis M.S. project reports is 20 to 30 pages. If the project resulted in the submission of a full-length peer-reviewed scientific article, the article can be submitted in lieu of a report, as long as the following conditions are satisfied: a. The student must be the first author of the article. b. The article must reflect the work performed by the student as part of the project. c. The article must be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or conference proceedings volume. d. A one to two page introduction must be submitted to summarize the project goals and main outcomes. The report must be reviewed and approved by the project mentor (and co-mentor, if any). Once the report is approved by the mentor(s), one printed copy and one electronic version in PDF format must be submitted to the Project Coordinator by the specified deadline. The final report must be approved and signed by the Project Mentor(s), Project Coordinator and Graduate Program Director or Department Chairman. (See template signature page in Appendix) Project presentation: Non-thesis MS students must give an oral presentation of their project. The oral presentation is generally scheduled during the scheduled final examination time of BME 706 in the semester of graduation. Project grade: The final grade for the project is given by the Project Coordinator. The final grade is a combination of a grade submitted by the Project Mentor(s) assessing the overall performance of the student on the project, and a grade given by the Project Coordinator assessing the quality of the oral presentation and report. 10. DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAM: 5 YEAR BS/MS General description The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a dual-degree program that culminates with students receiving both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (BS/MS) in Biomedical Engineering concurrently. This program is available only to qualified students enrolled in the undergraduate program in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Miami. This program is intended to give qualified Biomedical Engineering students the opportunity to acquire both a baccalaureate degree (BSBE) and a Master of Science (MSBE) degree in 15

16 five years rather than the 4 plus 2 years (approximately) that is traditionally expected. The two degrees are awarded simultaneously when the combined requirements have been met for both degrees Admission requirements The dual BS/MS program is available only to qualified undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in any of the four Concentrations (Electrical, Mechanical, Biomaterials and Tissue, PreMed). Typically, students must have undergraduate student status and a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 3.0 at the time of application. Undergraduate students must take the GRE Examination before the end of their classification as a senior and attain a combined score of more than 300 (new scale) or 1000 (previous scale) on the verbal and quantitative portions. Students must meet all other pertinent graduate school and College of Engineering requirements Application process Qualified students must apply prior to the beginning of final exams in the second semester of their junior year. Students are strongly advised to apply to the BS/MS program as early as possible in their junior year to facilitate academic advising and course selection in the second semester of their junior year. Before submitting an application, interested students should discuss the program and the possibility of entering the program with an academic advisor. Application forms are available at, and must be submitted to, the College of Engineering Office of Admissions. All applications must be submitted on paper. Electronic or online application forms are not accepted for the BS/MS program. The application fee is waived for enrolled students. Note that the application form is different for domestic and international students. The College of Engineering Office of Admission will carefully review academic credentials for admission into the program and will notify students of their acceptance into the program. All admitted students will have a special advising appointment with Dr. Narasimhan, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, to discuss academic issues specific to the BS/MS program Partial merit scholarships are available to BS/MS students (See Section 13) Financial Implications Many financial aid programs, including those offered by the University and the federal and state governments are restricted to coursework required to complete an undergraduate degree. Students are eligible for undergraduate aid only as long as they are undergraduates. Students enrolled in the dual degree program are permitted undergraduate federal and University aid for a maximum of four academic years or to the point at which the number of graduate hours in a term exceeds the number of undergraduate hours, whichever comes first. During that time frame the student's undergraduate enrollment status will be determined using only undergraduate level courses in which the student enrolls. Graduate level courses in which the student enrolls during such semesters will not be used to determine the student's undergraduate enrollment status. Once a student is registered at the graduate level for financial assistance his/her status is considered graduate for all subsequent semesters. Once registered as a graduate student, a student cannot revert to undergraduate status. 16

17 For further information on implications for financial aid, please contact the College of Engineering Office of Admissions, or the Office of Financial Assistance at call (305) (Rhodes House, Building 37) Curriculum In the dual-degree BS/MS program in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the first four years of the curriculum are altered as follows: - The 3 credits of Senior Design Project II/III (BME402/BME403) are eliminated. - In Semester I of the senior year, one 3 credit Undergraduate Technical Elective is replaced with one 3-credit Graduate Technical Elective. - In Semester II of the senior year, one 3 credit Undergraduate Technical Elective is replaced with BME 705 (MS Design Project I), or alternatively, one 3-credit Graduate Technical Elective. Graduate Technical Electives taken in the senior year must be chosen from the BME graduate course offerings, with the approval of their academic advisor. The credits of Graduate Technical Electives completed in the fourth year are counted toward the 30 credits required for the MS degree. Students admitted in the dual degree BS/MS program can take a maximum of six (6) graduate credits per semester in their senior year, for a maximum of twelve (12) graduate credits per year, without incurring additional costs if they are full-time undergraduate students during this period. Students should register for courses towards their graduate degree as "G" credits and not as "U" credits. These registrations must be completed prior to taking courses. Retroactive add/drops will not be processed. To register for graduate credits during their senior year, students must be in senior status and must complete and submit the Graduate School s "Application for Undergraduates to Take Graduate Coursework" form which is available at (See Appendix). This form must accompany the Add/Drop and/or Course Request form to ensure that students are registered with the correct registration status. In the Senior year, students must be registered for a minimum of 12 undergraduate credits each semester to maintain full-time status as undergraduate student status. After completing the senior year, students must register as graduate students. The curriculum for the fifth year is shown in Section 7.5. Typical BS/MS curricula for each of the concentration are provided below. 17

18 BS/MS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Electrical Concentration ( ) BME 111 Introduction to Engineering I 3 ENG 105 English Composition I 3 MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5 PHY 205 University Physics I 3 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 17 BIL 150 General Biology 4 BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1 CHM 112 Principles of Chemistry II 3 CHM 114 Chemistry Laboratory II 1 EEN 201 Electrical Circuit Theory 3 MTH 311 Ordinary Differential Equations 3 PHY 207 University Physics III 3 18 BME 311 Matlab for Biomedical Engineers 1 BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics 3 BME 470 Biomedical Signal Analysis 3 EEN 304 Logic Design 3 EEN 305 Electronics I 3 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective)* 3 16 BME 450 Biomedical Transport Phenomena 3 BME 480 Biomedical Instrumentation 3 BME 507 LabView Applications for Biomedical Engineering 1 Technical Elective Lab (2) 1 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective)* 3 Undergraduate elective (4) 1 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 18 BME 706 M.S. Design Project II 3 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (3) 3 9 FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR FIFTH YEAR (GRADUATE) BME 112 Introduction to Engineering II 2 CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 3 CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1 ENG 107 Writing about Science 3 MTH 162 Calculus II 4 PHY 206 University Physics II 3 PHY 208 University Physics II Lab 1 17 BME 265 Medical Systems Physiology 3 BME 310 Mathematical Analysis in BME 3 EEN 118 Introduction to Programming 3 EEN 204 Electrical Circuits Laboratory 1 IEN 311 Applied Probability & Statistics 3 PHY 209 University Physics III Lab 1 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 330 Foundations of Medical Imaging 3 BME 335 Biomaterials 3 BME 401 Senior Project 1 BME 440 Biomedical Measurements 4 EEN 315 Digital Design Laboratory 1 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 15 BME 540 Computer Based medical Instrumentation 3 BME 541 Medical Electronics Systems Laboratory 2 BME 570 Biomedical Signal Processing 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective)* 3 Undergraduate elective (4) 1 BME 705 M.S. Design Project (Graduate) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 18 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (3) 3 9 (1) You must complete a minimum of 1 PS cognate and 1 HA cognate to be selected from the list of available cognates. Each cognate should be a minimum of 3 courses (9 credits). (2) Technical Elective Labs are selected from BME506, BME566 or BME395. (3) All Technical Electives are taken as graduate courses. They are graduate-level courses (600 level and above) chosen from the BME course offerings with the approval of the advisor. A minimum of 6 credits of technical electives must be taken at the 700 level. Non-BME courses need to be approved by the advisor and the chairperson. (4) The undergraduate elective is any undergraduate level course with a number of credits sufficient to ensure that the student is enrolled for a total of 12 undergraduate credits during each semester of the senior year. The undergraduate elective can be any undergraduate class, but students are encouraged to select an engineering or science course. 18

19 BS/MS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Mechanical Concentration BME 111 Introduction to Engineering I 3 ENG 105 English Composition I 3 MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5 PHY 205 University Physics I 3 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 17 BIL 150 General Biology 4 BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1 CHM 112 Principles of Chemistry II 3 CHM 114 Chemistry Laboratory II 1 EEN 201 Electrical Circuit Theory 3 MTH 311 Ordinary Differential Equations 3 PHY 207 University Physics III 3 18 BME 311 Matlab for Biomedical Engineers 1 BME 330 Foundations of Medical Imaging 3 BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics 3 BME 470 Biomedical Signal Analysis 3 MAE 202 Dynamics 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 16 BME 480 Biomedical Instrumentation 3 BME 506 Computer-Aided Design for Biomedical Engineers 1 BME 575 Tissue Mechanics 3 Technical Elective Lab (2) 1 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 Undergraduate elective (4) 1 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 18 BME 706 M.S. Design Project II 3 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (3) 3 9 FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR FIFTH YEAR (GRADUATE) BME 112 Introduction to Engineering II 2 CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 3 CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1 ENG 107 Writing about Science 3 MTH 162 Calculus II 4 PHY 206 University Physics II 3 PHY 208 University Physics II Lab 1 17 BME 265 Medical Systems Physiology 3 BME 310 Mathematical Analysis in BME 3 CAE 210 Mechanics of Solids I 3 EEN 118 Introduction to Programming 3 EEN 204 Electrical Circuits Laboratory 1 PHY 209 University Physics III Lab 1 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 335 Biomaterials 3 BME 401 Senior Project I 1 BME 440 Biomedical Measurements 4 BME 450 Biomedical Transport Phenomena 3 IEN 311 Applied Probability & Statistics 3 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 460 Physiological fluid mechanics 3 BME 587 Finite Element Analysis for Engineers 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 Undergraduate elective (4) 3 BME 705 M.S. Design Project (Graduate) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (3) 3 18 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (3) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (3) 3 9 (1) You must complete a minimum of 1 PS cognate and 1 HA cognate to be selected from the list of available cognates. Each cognate should be a minimum of 3 courses (9 credits). (2) Technical Elective Labs are selected from BME507, BME566 or BME395. (3) All Technical Electives are taken as graduate courses. They are graduate-level courses (600 level and above) chosen from the BME course offerings with the approval of the advisor. A minimum of 6 credits of technical electives must be taken at the 700 level. Non-BME courses need to be approved by the advisor and the chairperson. (4) The undergraduate elective is any undergraduate level course with a number of credits sufficient to ensure that the student is enrolled for a total of 12 undergraduate credits during each semester of the senior year. The undergraduate elective can be any undergraduate class, but students are encouraged to select an engineering or science course. 19

20 BS/MS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Biomaterials and Tissue Concentration BME 111 Introduction to Engineering I 3 ENG 105 English Composition I 3 MTH 151 Calculus I for Engineers 5 PHY 205 University Physics I 3 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 17 BIL 150 General Biology 4 BIL 151 General Biology Laboratory 1 CHM 112 Principles of Chemistry II 3 CHM 114 Chemistry Laboratory II 1 EEN 201 Electrical Circuit Theory 3 MTH 311 Ordinary Differential Equations 3 PHY 207 University Physics III 3 18 BME 311 Matlab for Biomedical Engineers 1 BME 330 Foundations of Medical Imaging 3 BME 335 Biomaterials 3 CHM 201 Organic Chemistry I (Lecture) 3 CHM 205 Organic Chemistry Lab I 1 IEN 311 Applied Probability & Statistics 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 450 Biomedical Transport Phenomena 3 BME 565 Tissue Engineering 3 BME 566 Cell and Tissue Engineering Lab 1 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective)* 3 Undergraduate elective (3) 2 Technical Elective (Graduate) (2) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (2) 3 18 BME 706 M.S. Design Project II 3 Technical Elective (2) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (2) 3 9 FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR JUNIOR YEAR SENIOR YEAR FIFTH YEAR (GRADUATE) BME 112 Introduction to Engineering II 2 CHM 111 Principles of Chemistry I 3 CHM 113 Chemistry Laboratory I 1 ENG 107 Writing about Science 3 MTH 162 Calculus II 4 PHY 206 University Physics II 3 PHY 208 University Physics II Lab 1 17 BME 302 Cellular Engineering 3 BME 265 Medical Systems Physiology 3 BME 310 Mathematical Analysis in BME 3 EEN 118 Introduction to Programming 3 EEN 204 Electrical Circuits Laboratory 1 PHY 209 University Physics Lab III 1 People and Society Cognate (P&S Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 375 Fundamentals of Biomechanics 3 BME 401 Senior Project I 1 BME 440 Biomedical Measurements 4 BME 470 Biomedical Signal Analysis 3 CHM 202 Organic Chemistry II (Lecture) 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 17 BME 480 Biomedical Instrumentation 3 BME 535 Advanced Biomaterials 3 Humanities and Arts Cognate (H&A Elective) (1) 3 Undergraduate elective (3) 3 BME 705 M.S. Design Project (Graduate) 3 Technical Elective (Graduate) (2) 3 18 Technical Elective (2) 3 Technical Elective (2) 3 Technical Elective (700 level) (2) 3 9 (1) You must complete a minimum of 1 PS cognate and 1 HA cognate to be selected from the list of available cognates. Each cognate should be a minimum of 3 courses (9 credits). (2) All Technical Electives are taken as graduate courses. They are graduate-level courses (600 level and above) chosen from the BME course offerings with the approval of the advisor. A minimum of 6 credits of technical electives must be taken at the 700 level. Non-BME courses need to be approved by the advisor and the chairperson. (3) The undergraduate elective is any undergraduate level course with a number of credits sufficient to ensure that the student is enrolled for a total of 12 undergraduate credits during each semester of the senior year. The undergraduate elective can be any undergraduate class, but students are encouraged to select an engineering or science course. 20