Biomedical Engineering (MS)

Overview

The Mechanical Engineering Department offers a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering. The 30-hour program has a thesis option and a non-thesis option. Coursework is offered in areas of Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Biomedical Manufacturing and Instrumentation. Potential research opportunities exist in orthopedic biomechanics, biomaterials, nanotechnology, polymers, biomedical microdevices, additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Students on the thesis option complete 12 hours of required courses, 12 hours of electives and 6 hours of thesis. Students on the non-thesis option complete 12 hours of required courses, 18 hours of electives and both an oral and written comprehensive exams.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the graduate program in biomedical engineering, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other program requirements listed below:

  1. An awarded baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, or from a health professions professional degree program from a US accredited institution or an international institution evaluated as equivalent by an institutionally approved recognized credentialing service.
  2. Two letters of recommendation. At least one of the letters must be an academic reference; the second letter of recommendation may be an academic or professional reference.
  3. Letter of intent detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
  4. Resume.
  5. GRE General Test with a minimum Quantitative score of 161 for clear admission. GRE test scores are valid for 5 years. A waiver of the GRE will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing an undergraduate degree in engineering, biology, chemistry, physics, or in the health professions with an undergraduate GPA above a 3.0. A waiver of the GRE requirement will be granted to applicants who show proof of completing a graduate degree (master’s or doctoral). GRE School Code: 6570.

Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.

Program Requirements

Leveling Courses

Students whose undergraduate major is not engineering may be required to take leveling courses based on review of the student’s transcript by the Program Coordinator.

MATH 2413Calculus I

4

MATH 2414Calculus II

4

PHYS 1401General Physics I

4

PHYS 1402General Physics II

4

BMEE 6420Engineering Mechanics I: Statics, Solids, and Dynamics

4

BMEE 6422Engineering Mechanics II: Statics, Solids, and Materials

4

BMEE 6424Engineering Mechanics III: Statics, Solids, and Manufacturing Processes

4

Required Courses - 12 Hours

All students are required to take BMEE 6310, BMEE 6314, and EECE 6312. Students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering are required to take BMEE 6316. Students without a bachelor’s degree in engineering are required to take BMEE 6318.

BMEE 6310Experimental Orthopedic Biomechanics

3

BMEE 6314Introduction to Biomaterials

3

BMEE 6316Physiology for Biomedical Engineers

3

Or

BMEE 6318Biomedical Engineering Analysis

3

EECE 6312Biomedical Instrumentation

3

Non-thesis Option

Prescribed Electives - 18 Hours

Choose from the following:

Biomechanics Electives
BMEE 6320Introduction to Computational Biomechanics

3

BMEE 6322Cardiovascular Biomechanics

3

MECE 6334Modeling MEMS and NEMS

3

MECE 6335Orthopedic Biomechanics

3

Biomaterials Electives
BMEE 6330Tissue Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6326Polymer Engineering

3

MECE 6327Intermediate Nanotechnology

3

Biomedical Manufacturing and Instrumentation Electives
EECE 6340Biomedical Microdevices

3

MANE 6313Design of Experiments

3

MANE 6355Design for Manufacturing

3

MANE 6367Principles of Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing

3

General Electives
BIET 6314Ethics in Biomedical Research

3

BMEE 6350Topics in Biomedical Engineering

3

BMEE 6351Independent Study

3

BMEE 6352Introduction to Biochemistry and Microbiology

3

BMEE 6353Biology for Biomedical Engineers

3

BMEE 6354Electrokinetics for Microsystems

3

BMEE 6361Composite Nanofibers

3

EECE 6356Biomedical Signal Processing

3

MANE 6319Quality Management Systems

3

MANE 6357Ergonomics

3

MANE 6375Human Factors

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

In lieu of the electives identified above, students may complete up to six credit hours from any department in the CECS or COS. To apply additional courses, students must seek approval through the standard course substitution process.

Thesis Option

Prescribed Electives - 12 Hours

Choose from the following:

Biomechanics Electives
BMEE 6320Introduction to Computational Biomechanics

3

BMEE 6322Cardiovascular Biomechanics

3

MECE 6334Modeling MEMS and NEMS

3

MECE 6335Orthopedic Biomechanics

3

Biomaterials Electives
BMEE 6330Tissue Engineering

3

MECE 6318Intermediate Biomaterials

3

MECE 6326Polymer Engineering

3

MECE 6327Intermediate Nanotechnology

3

Biomedical Manufacturing and Instrumentation Electives
EECE 6340Biomedical Microdevices

3

MANE 6313Design of Experiments

3

MANE 6355Design for Manufacturing

3

MANE 6367Principles of Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing

3

General Electives
BIET 6314Ethics in Biomedical Research

3

BMEE 6350Topics in Biomedical Engineering

3

BMEE 6351Independent Study

3

BMEE 6352Introduction to Biochemistry and Microbiology

3

BMEE 6353Biology for Biomedical Engineers

3

BMEE 6354Electrokinetics for Microsystems

3

BMEE 6361Composite Nanofibers

3

EECE 6356Biomedical Signal Processing

3

MANE 6319Quality Management Systems

3

MANE 6357Ergonomics

3

MANE 6375Human Factors

3

MECE 6323Polymer Processing

3

MECE 6360Advanced Mechanics of Materials

3

In lieu of the electives identified above, students may complete up to six credit hours from any department in the CECS or COS. To apply additional courses, students must seek approval through the standard course substitution process.

Thesis - 6 Hours

BMEE 7300Thesis I

3

BMEE 7301Thesis II

3

Total Credit Hours: 30