Programs

The biomedical engineering faculty has established research programs in (1) biomaterials and tissue engineering; (2) biomechanics and rehabilitation; (3) computational bioengineering and biomedical imaging; (4) molecular, cellular, and nanosystems bioengineering; (5) neuroengineering; and (6) physiological systems and bioinstrumentation. Biomedical engineering offers three degree programs: master of science (M.S.) (thesis); master of engineering (M.Eng.); and doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.). The minimum requirement for the M.S. is 27 credits of coursework, 6 credits of research, and a thesis for a total of 33 credits. The minimum requirement for the M.Eng. is 30 credits of coursework, 3 credits of nonthesis study, and a committee-approved paper/essay for a total of 33 credits. The minimum requirement for the Ph.D. is 35 credits of coursework and 37 credits of research for an acceptable research dissertation. Students should consult the BME Graduate Student Handbook for up-to-date information on requirements and policies.

Students who are interested in the M.D./Ph.D. program will take their medical training at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Ph.D. curriculum at Rutgers. The program provides three years of graduate training and four years of medical training. Graduate training begins in the third year. For more information on this program, please visit  http://rwjms.rutgers.edu/education/gsbs/md_phd_program/index.html.

The first part of the Ph.D. qualifying procedure is written and oral examinations that are administered during the month of June, at the conclusion of the first year of study, along with core course grades accumulated during the first three semesters. The examination is comprised of a written literature review and research proposal (along the lines of a National Institutes of Health proposal) presented to and evaluated by a panel of faculty examiners. The outcomes of the research examination in combination with core course-based performance (students receiving fewer than two Cs in core courses are considered qualified and eligible) will be used to determine the first step of qualification for Ph.D. candidacy.

The second part of the Ph.D. qualifying exam involves a satisfactory defense of a thesis proposal as early as six months after passing the qualifying exam and no later than the end of the fall semester of year three in the Ph.D. program. 

A concentration within the professional science master's program is also offered, leading to the degree of master of business and science (M.B.S.), more fully described under Business and Science 137. Rutgers' location in close proximity to biomedical device, imaging, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies makes the M.B.S. degree highly attractive to students interested in these areas. An M.B.S. degree with a concentration in biomedical engineering will provide an ideal combination for individuals interested in both the specialized field and its practical applications in the context of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

In addition to the general requirements of the professional science master's, students in the BME concentration must take one BME core course, one physiology course (for students that do not have an undergraduate course in physiology), one advanced engineering mathematics course, one cellular or molecular biology course, and two technical professional courses. The remaining credits are electives.

BME Core Courses  (One of the five courses listed [others can be taken as electives])

16:125:561  Bioimaging Methods (3)
16:125:571  Biosignal Processing and Biomedical Imaging (3)
16:125:572  Biocontrol, Modeling, and Computation (3)
16:125:573  Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Transport in Biomedicine (3)
16:125:574  Biomechanics and Biomaterials (3)

Physiology

Students must have taken an undergraduate-level physiology course previously or one semester of the following must be taken:

16:125:581  Mammalian Physiology (3)

Professional Development Courses  (Select three of the following)

16:125:601  (F) Engineering Ethics and Seminar (1)
16:125:602  (S) Engineering Writing and Seminar (1) 
16:125:607  (F) Preparing Future Faculty I (1) (Ph.D. students only)
16:125:608  (S) Preparing Future Faculty II (1) (Ph.D. students only)
16:125:628  (S) Clinical Practicum (1)

Core Mathematics Course

16:125:501  Mathematical Modeling for Biomedical Engineering (3)

Cellular/Molecular Biology

16:125:586  Structure and Dynamics in Adult Stem Cell Biology (3)

Full course descriptions can be found under the respective graduate program entries in this catalog.