Master of Science in Bioengineering
The Master of Science in Bioengineering program is a two-year program open to students who have completed their BS degree in science or engineering. The Master of Science in Bioengineering (MS BMEN) emphasizes advanced study in two specialization areas: (i) biomaterials and biomechanics, and (ii) bioimaging, biosignals and biosensors. The program provides graduate level education designed to prepare the graduate for Ph.D. level studies or for advanced bioengineering practice in industry, consulting, or government service.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), in partnership with University of Pittsburgh and University of Cincinnati, currently has been awarded an NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC) on metallic biomaterials. The strategic plan of N.C. A&T’s college of engineering to develop programs in Bioengineering is consistent with the research and educational activities proposed in the ERC. The ERC will be instrumental in providing the bioengineering program with intramural internships involving the research efforts related to the ERC, in particular in the three Engineered Systems (ESs), namely Craniofacial and Orthopedic Applications; Cardiovascular Devices; and Responsive Biosensors for Implants. Bioengineering students will have the opportunity to work in the laboratories of the faculty members associated with the ERC at the three lead academic institutions. Additionally, the electives in bioengineering will be developed based on the knowledge base required to perform state-of-the art R&D related to the ESs; for example, Biomaterials and Biocompatibility; Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine; and Nanoscience and Nanofabrication. Courses will be developed by the participating ERC faculty and taught either on the N.C. A&T campus or online using internet technology and originating from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Cincinnati.
The program offers exciting industrial internships and co-operative programs in collaboration with the ERC industrial partners. Additionally, students who choose to practice biomedical engineering at the interface between bioengineered technologies and patients and their care givers would be invited to perform a “clinical rotation” at the Pitt Clinical Artificial Heart Program, where ventricular assist devices are used to support both adult and pediatric patients in refractory heart failure. Thus, we envision a very innovative and unique program that capitalizes on the faculty expertise at N.C. A&T, the University of Pittsburgh and University of Cincinnati; provides both breadth and in-depth coursework that will allow our students to develop the underlying skills required to participate in the type of R&D proposed in the ERC; and, exposes the students to the translational aspects of bioengineered technologies - from bench-to-bedside. Furthermore, this program will provide study abroad opportunities at Hannover Medical School and at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. We envision that this new program of study will be received very favorably by N.C. A&T students, and be very well subscribed from the beginning.
The educational objectives of the M.S. in Bioengineering program are to produce M.S. graduates in bioengineering who will:- be prepared to work in teams to solve engineering problems
- demonstrate a sound knowledge of bioengineering topics
- perform research in an area of bioengineering
- be competent in contemporary issues and be able to conduct interdisciplinary projects in bioengineering
- be prepared to join the workforce and contribute to economic development
Admissions
Applicants may be admitted to the MS BMEN Program under Unconditional or Provisional Admission:
Unconditional Admission:
An applicant may be given unconditional admission to the MS BMEN Program if he/she possesses a BS degree in biomedical engineering or a related engineering specialty with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
Applicants may be granted provisional admission if they do not qualify for unconditional admission.
In particular, students entering from disciplines other than engineering may find it necessary to take preparatory undergraduate and/or graduate level courses that serve as prerequisites. Students admitted to the MS BMEN program are expected to have undergraduate preparation in:
- calculus through differential equations
- physics
- chemistry
- biology and physiology
In addition, based on the specific research area, students may be asked to take additional courses in:
- organic chemistry
- genetics
- biochemistry
- linear systems
- computer programming
- analog and digital electronics
- solid mechanics
- fluid mechanics
- thermodynamics
It should be noted that preparatory courses that are for undergraduate credit only may not be applied toward credit hours required for a graduate degree.
Application forms must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies with an official transcript of all previous undergraduate and graduate studies, and three letters of recommendation
- BS transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- TOEFL scores for international applicants
Degree requirements:
Total hours required 30 credit hours including six (6) hours for a thesis. At least fifty (50) percent of the required credits must be through courses that are open only to graduate students. Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate course work with a grade of "B" or better may be transferred from another graduate program at North Carolina A&T State University or from another university providing these courses, in the opinion of the advisor, can be part of a reasonable and cohesive graduate program. Up to six (6) credit hours of graduate course work with a grade of "B" or better taken at North Carolina A&T State University as a undergraduate student may be transferred to the MS BMEN program provided it was not counted to fulfill undergraduate requirements, and these courses, in the opinion of the advisor, can be part of a reasonable and cohesive graduate program. No graduate credit will be allowed for excess credits completed in an undergraduate classification at another institution.
Thesis
The MS BMEN degree requires all students to complete a thesis as part of the degree requirements. The thesis involves six (6) credit hours of masters thesis (BMEN 797) in addition to course work. An original research topic must be chosen in conjunction with the student's advisor culminating in the preparation of a scholarly thesis. The student must pass an oral examination which is scheduled by the advisor. The oral exam on the thesis is scheduled after the thesis has been reviewed by each member of the committee and approved with recommended changes. The exam is a public meeting; the committee deliberation following the meeting is open only to committee members. At the deliberation the committee will decide to pass or fail the student, or to continue the oral defense at another date. Three copies of the MS thesis must be submitted following the format specified by the School of Graduate Studies. Students will need to consult the calendar of the School of Graduate Studies for submission deadlines.
Advisory Committee
All graduate students must select an Academic Advisor during their first semester. The Advisory Committee consists of at least three members, with the Academic Advisor serving as the chair. The Academic Advisor and the majority of the Committee members must be MEEN graduate faculty members. The Committee assists the student to define the thesis or project topic area and reviews the quality of the student's work. The Committee also conducts the student's oral defense of the student's project or thesis work.
Plan of Graduate Study
All graduate students must prepare a Plan of Graduate Study during their first semester for approval by the Department and the Graduate School. The plan of course work must be unified, and all constituent parts must contribute to an organized program of study and research. The plan outlines courses, the program option, and the anticipated graduation date, among others. These plans should be updated every semester. The graduate program must be completed within six (6) consecutive calendar years. Programs remaining incomplete after this time interval are subject to cancellation, revision, or special examination for outdated work. In the event that studies are interrupted for the duty in the armed services, the time limit shall be extended for the length of time the student shall have been on active duty providing the candidate resumes graduate work no later than one year following release from military service. The curriculum requirements will be structured to be consistent with the prominent national M.S. Bioengineering programs, and with other M.S. engineering programs at NCAT. The M.S. program will require 24 course credits and 6 credits of thesis. Course requirements will have nine (9) credit hours of common core courses, nine (9) credit hours of engineering electives, and six (6) credit hours of life sciences electives in consultation with the advisor.
