BIOMEG:MS - Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering

Admissions Requirements for the Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering

The following is in addition to the University’s graduate admission requirements:

(1) A student seeking admission into the program must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, the physical/life sciences, computer science, or mathematics from an accredited institution, or in the case of foreign students, from an institution recognized in its own country as preparing students for further study at the graduate level.

(2) An applicant must have achieved a “B” average in upper level undergraduate work.

(3) Applicants who have not satisfied the above will be evaluated for probationary or waiver admission.

(4) In addition to the above criteria, International graduate student applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit a score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). A total score of 80 on the iBT TOEFL or 6.5 overall on the IELTS is required.

(5) The GPA and TOEFL scores specified above are to be considered minimum requirements for admission. Applicants from science and engineering areas other than biomedical engineering will be expected to complete undergraduate remedial courses selected to prepare them for graduate courses in their area of interest. Full admission into the graduate program requires the completion of these background courses with no grades below “C” and a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering: Professional Track

This track is tailored primarily for engineers currently practicing in the biomedical industry and students interested in pursuing a management career in the biomedical industry. A student shall complete 27 credit hours of course work and a 3 credit hour capstone project. The courses are organized into five core areas: Life Sciences, Mathematics, Biomedical Engineering Professional Core, Biomedical Engineering Professional Development, and Biomedical Engineering Electives. While the degree is structured as a non-thesis program, students will be required to conduct an industrial project (3 credit hours) through either an external internship or independent studies. The project will include contemporary topics and trends in biomedical engineering technology development and will require a formal report and presentation upon completion. Students receiving financial support from the department are not eligible for the Professional Track option.

Early in the program (before the end of the second term) the student and advisor will complete a study plan that specifies the courses that will comprise the program. A maximum of three credits of independent studies may be included in a study plan. If so, a syllabus of the independent study course must be provided by the course instructor to the graduate program director before the hold on the independent study course can be removed.

Professional track students are required to take an oral final examination dealing with the objectives of their study plan. The student will briefly summarize the project report (20 minutes) as a part of the exam. The examining committee will include a minimum of three faculty members, at least two of whom have appointments in the Department.

Admissions Requirements for the Combined Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biomedical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

To be considered for admission to the combined bachelor’s/master’s degree pathway, students must have completed 75 credits in the bachelor’s degree program at FIU, have earned at least a 3.25 GPA on both overall and upper division courses, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined degree program; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.

Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering: Research Track

The research track is geared to prepare the graduate for further graduate study or a career in biomedical research. A student shall complete a minimum of 30 credit hours. This includes a minimum of 24 hours of course work (15 credits of electives in specialty areas, 6 credits of mathematics core courses, 3 credits of life science elective), one semester of course (Biomed Eng Seminar) and 6 credit hours of course (Master's Thesis) or 3 credits of course (M.S. Research Project). Students electing course (M.S. Research Project) will need to take one additional biomedical engineering elective course. Early in the program (before the end of the second term) the student and advisor will complete a study plan that specifies the courses that will comprise the program. A maximum of three credits of independent studies other than the MS thesis may be included in a study plan. If so, a syllabus of the independent study course must be provided by the course instructor to the graduate program director before the hold on the independent study course can be removed. Students receiving support from the department are not permitted to choose the project option.

All students in the research track are required to complete a research project under the supervision of an advisor and a committee. When the research is completed, the student should schedule a defense with an examining committee consisting of a minimum of three graduate faculty members (at least two of whom have appointments in the Department). The candidate should prepare to summarize the thesis or the report in the manner of a technical paper using appropriate visual aids in 40 minutes or less. Following the presentation, the candidate will answer questions related to the work from the audience and/or the committee. At the conclusion of the defense, the committee will agree upon the outcome - pass or fail - and report the results to the Graduate School. Following the exam, student will implement the committee’s suggestions for improving the draft document. Each committee member must sign the approval form in the final document. Copies of the approved thesis must be provided to the advisor, Department, and the University Graduate School. Students should become familiar with the University Graduate School’s regulations and deadlines available online at http://gradschool.fiu.edu.

Admissions Requirements for the Combined BS in Electrical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

To be considered for admission to the combined bachelor’s/master’s degree pathway, students must have completed 75 credits in the bachelor’s degree program at FIU, have earned at least a 3.25 GPA on both overall and upper division courses, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined degree program; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.

Other Curricular Offering: Combined BS in Biomedical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

This five-year pathway seamlessly combines a baccalaureate degree in biomedical engineering with the Master’s in biomedical engineering. A student admitted to the combined degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships. Students enrolled in the pathway may count up to 9 hours of graduate level courses (i.e., 5000 level or higher) as credits for both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For each of the courses counted as credits for both BS and MS degree, a minimum grade of 'B' is required. Upon completion of the combined BS/MS pathway, students must have accumulated a minimum of 24 hours of credits at the graduate (5000+) level. Students enrolled in the pathway are encouraged to seek employment with a department faculty member to work as student assistants on sponsored research projects.

Other Curricular Offering: Combined BS in Electrical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

This five-year pathway seamlessly combines a baccalaureate degree in electrical engineering with the Master’s in biomedical engineering. A student admitted to the combined degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships. Students enrolled in the pathway may count up to 9 hours of graduate level courses (i.e., 5000 level or higher) as credits for both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For each of the courses counted as credits for both BS and MS degree, a minimum grade of 'B' is required. Upon completion of the combined BS/MS pathway, students must have accumulated a minimum of 24 hours of credits at the graduate (5000+) level. Students enrolled in the pathway are encouraged to seek employment with a department faculty member to work as student assistants on sponsored research projects.

Graduation Requirements

The degree will be conferred when the following conditions have been met:

(1) Recommendation of the advisor and faculty of the Department.

(2) Certification provided by the Department Chair, College Dean, and University Graduate School that all degree requirements have been met.

(3) Meet the undergraduate deficiencies, if any existed in the student’s program, as additional courses toward the degree.

(4) Complete the required semester hours of graduate level credit (not more than six graduate semester hours with a grade of “B” or higher can be transferred from other accredited institutions).

(5) Successful defense of an acceptable graduate thesis if required of the program.

(6) Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. No grade below a “C” will be accepted in a graduate program. In the event that a student is placed on probationary status, he or she must obtain a directed program from his or her advisor and approved by the Graduate Program Director prior to continuing further course work toward the degree. The student must satisfy the directed course of action within the prescribed time limit; otherwise he or she will be academically dismissed.

(7) Comply with all University policies and regulations.

There are no majors associated with this program.

Admissions Requirements for the Combined BS in Mechanical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

To be considered for admission to the combined bachelor’s/master’s degree pathway, students must have completed 75 credits in the bachelor’s degree program at FIU, have earned at least a 3.25 GPA on both overall and upper division courses, and meet the admissions criteria for the graduate degree program to which they are applying. Students need only apply once to the combined degree program; the application is submitted to Graduate Admissions typically before the student starts the last 30 credits of the bachelor’s degree program.

Other Curricular Offering: Combined BS in Mechanical Engineering to MS in Biomedical Engineering Accelerated Degree Pathway

This five-year pathway seamlessly combines a baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering with the Master’s in biomedical engineering. A student admitted to the combined degree pathway will be considered to have undergraduate status until the student applies for graduation from their bachelor’s degree program. Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, the student will be granted graduate status and be eligible for graduate assistantships. Students enrolled in the pathway may count up to 9 hours of graduate level courses (i.e., 5000 level or higher) as credits for both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs. For each of the courses counted as credits for both BS and MS degree, a minimum grade of 'B' is required. Upon completion of the combined BS/MS pathway, students must have accumulated a minimum of 24 hours of credits at the graduate (5000+) level. Students enrolled in the pathway are encouraged to seek employment with a department faculty member to work as student assistants on sponsored research projects.