Biomedical Engineering

Affiliated with both the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the University of Rochester graduate program in biomedical engineering emphasizes the application of engineering skills to biomedical problem-solving at both the master’s and doctoral level. In addition, the Center for Medical Technology & Innovation offers a one-year MS degree in Biomedical Engineering through the Department of Biomedical Engineering with specialized training in medical device design.

With access to over 40 laboratories on the River Campus, Medical Center, and Strong Memorial Hospital, students can tailor their own interdisciplinary research experience.

The program offers state-of-the-art dedicated training laboratories, close individual attention and faculty mentoring, and a welcoming learning community where you will find great friends and future colleagues. Students who are interested in becoming more involved in the department can also participate in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Council.

Plan A

Requirements
BME 502: Analytic Foundations in BME (4 credits)
IND 501: Ethics and Prof Integrity in Research (1 credit)
14 credits from:

• BME intensives: 4 credits minimum
• Approved engineering courses: 4 credits minimum
• Approved biology courses: 4 credits minimum 

Research: 6-11 credits
Total of 30 credit hours   

Plan B

Requirements
BME 502: Analytic Foundations in BME (4 credits)
14 credits from:

• BME intensives: 4 credits minimum
• Approved engineering courses: 4 credits minimum
• Approved biology courses: 4 credits minimum 

6-12 additional credits (maximum 6 research credits )
Total of 30 credit hour  

MS Course List

BME Intensives: Minimum 4 Credits

• BME 404: Computational Methods Applied to Biological System (4 credits)
• BME 412: Viscoelasticity In Bio Tissues (4 credits)
• BME 418: Introduction to Neuroengineering (4 credits)
• BME 420: Biomedical Nanotech (2 credits)
• BME 428: Physiological Control Systems (4 credits)
• BME 432: Controlled Release Systems (2 credits)
• BME 442: Microbiomechanics (2 credits)
• BME 445: Biomaterials Science and Engineering (2 credits)
• BME 451: Biomedical Ultrasound (4 credits)
• BME 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• BME 453: Ultrasound Imaging (4 credits)
• BME 454: Principles of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (4 credits)
• BME 455: Translational Biomedical Opt (4 credits)
• BME 460: Quantitative Physiology (4 credits)
• BME 462: Cell and Tissue Engineering (4 credits)
• BME 465: Cell Adhesion (4 credits)
• BME 467: Models and Simulations of BME Systems (4 credits)
• BME 470: Biomedical Microscopy (4 credits)
• BME 474: Biomedical Sensors, Circuits and Instrumentation (4 credits)
• BME 483: Biosolid Mechanics (4 credits)
• BME 485: Cell and Membrane Mechanics (2 credits)
• BME 486: Finite Elements (4 credits)
• BME 513: Introduction to FMRI (3 credits)
• BME 515: Neural Control of Movement (2 credits)
• OPT 448: Vision and The Eye (4 credits)
• BCS 521: Auditory Perception (3 credits)

Approved Engineering Courses: Minimum 4 Credits

Chemical Engineering

• CHE 411: Prob for Chemical Engineers (4 credits)
• CHE 413: Engineering of Soft Matter (4 credits)
• CHE 421: Thin Film Processing (4 credits)
• CHE 441: Advanced Transport Phenomenon (4 credits)
• CHE 447: Liquid-Crystal Materials and Optical Applications (4 credits)
• CHE 454: Interfacial Engineering (4 credits)
• CHE 460: Solar Cells (4 credits)
• CHE 465: Biomass Conversion to Fuels and Chemicals
• CHE 480: Chemistry of Advanced Materials (4 credits)
• CHE 482: Processing Microelectronic Devices (2 credits)
• CHE 486: Polymer Science and Engineering (4 credits)
• CHE 492  Biointerfaces

Mechanical Engineering

• ME 401: Mathematical Methods (4 credits)
• ME 402: Partial Differential Equations (4 credits)
• ME 406: Dynamical Systems (4 credits)
• ME 411: Mechanical Properties of Polymers (4 credits)
• ME 424: Introduction to Robust Design and Quality Engine (4 credits)
• ME 437: Incompressible Flow (4 credits)
• ME 440: Mechanics of Structures (4 credits)
• ME 441: Finite Elements (4 credits)
• ME 443: Applied Vibration Analysis (4 credits)
• ME 444: Continuum Mechanics (4 credits)
• ME 449: Elasticity (4 credits)
• ME 458: Nonlinear Finite Elem Analys (4 credits)
• ME 459: Applied Finite Elements (4 credits)
• ME 461: Fracture and Adhesion (4 credits)
• ME 463: Microstructures (4 credits)
• ME 481: Mechanical Properties (4 credits)

Optics

• OPT 421: Optical Properties of Materials (4 credits)
• OPT 425: Radiation and Detectors (4 credits)
• OPT 428: Optical Communication Systems (4 credits)
• OPT 441: Geometrical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 442: Instrumental Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 443: Foundations of Modern Optical Systems (4 credits)
• OPT 444: Lens Design (4 credits)
• OPT 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• OPT 461: Fourier Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 462: Electromag Waves (4 credits)
• OPT 463: Wave Optics and Imaging
• OPT 465: Principles of Lasers (4 credits)
• OPT 476: Biomedical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 492: Special Topics in Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 551: Introduction to Quantum Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 552: Quant. Opt. of Electromag. Field (4 credits)
• OPT 553: Quantum Optics Atom Fld Int (4 credits)
• OPT 563: Statistical Optics (4 credits)
• OPT 564: Theory of Electronc Imag'G Sys (4 credits)
• OPT 568: Waveguide Optoelectr Devices (4 credits)
• OPT 592: Modern Coherence Theory (4 credits)

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• ECE 401: Advanced Computer Architecture (4 credits)
• ECE 404: Multiprocessor Architecture (4 credits)
• ECE 405: Adv Digital Design Using Fpga (4 credits)
• ECE 423: Semiconductor Devices (4 credits)
• ECE 425: Superconductivity and Josephson Effect (4 credits)
• ECE 431: Microwaves and Wireless (4 credits)
• ECE 432: Acoustical Waves (4 credits)
• ECE 434: Microelectromechanical Systems (4 credits)
• ECE 435: Introduction to Optoelectronics (4 credits)
• ECE 437: Wireless Communications (4 credits)
• ECE 440: Introduction to Random Processes (4 credits)
• ECE 441: Detection and Estimation Theory (4 creditsECE 444: Digital Communications (4 credits)
• ECE 446: Digital Signal Processing (4 credits)
• ECE 447: Digital Image Proccessing (4 credits)
• ECE 450: Information Theory (4 credits)
• ECE 452: Medical Imaging-Theory and Implementation (4 credits)
• ECE 461: Introduction to VLSI (4 credits)
• ECE 462: Advanced CMOS VLSI Design (4 credits)
• ECE 465: Performance Issues VLSI/IC Design and Analysis (4 credits)
• ECE 466: Rf and Microwave Integrated Circuits (4 credits)
• ECE 472 Audio signal Processing

Approved Biology Courses: Minimum 4 Credits 

Basic Courses:

• BME 411: Appl Cell and Molec Biology (4 credits)BME 459: Applied Human Anatomy (4 credits)
• IND 408: Advanced Biochemistry (5 credits)
• IND 409: Cell Biology (4 credits)
• IND 410: Molecular Biology and Genetics (4 credits)
• MBI 414: Microbial Pathogenesis (3 credits) and MBI 514: Microbial Pathogene Seminar (1 credit)
• PHP 403: Human Cell Physiology (4 credits)
• PHP 404: Principles of Pharmacology (4 credits)
• PTH 507: Cancer Biology (3 credits)
• PTH 509: Pathways of Human Disease (4 credits)
• PTH 510: Pathways to Human Disease (4 credits)

Advanced Courses:

• ANA 531: Integrative Neuroscience (6 credits)
• BIO 419: Nuc Structure and Function (4 credits)
• BIO 422: Biology of Aging (4 credits)
• BIO 426: Developmental Biology (4 credits)
• BIO 428: Lab in Cell and Dev Biology (4 credits)
• CVS 401: Cardiovascular Bio and Disease (3 credits)
• GEN 506: Principles in Stem Cell Bio (4 credits)
• GEN 507: Advanced Genetics and Genomics (4 credits)
• GEN 508: Systems Biology (4 credits)
• IND 407: Cytoplasmic Structures and Functions (4 credits)
• IND 411: Methods in Structural Biology (4 credits)
• IND 443: Eukaryotic Gene Regulation (4 credits)
• IND 447: Signal Transduction (4 credits)
• IND 520: Mitochondrial Medicine (2 credits)
• IND 525: Cell and Membrane Biophysics (4 credits)
• MBI 473: Immunology (3 credits)
• NSC 512: Cellular Neuroscience (5 credits)
• PHP 440: Topics in Vascular Biology (2 credits)
• PTH 571: Molecular Basis of Disease (3 credits)
• PTH 593: Nuclear Hormone Receptors (2 credits)
• TOX 521: Toxicology I (4 credits)

Requirements

• Three letters of recommendation (uploaded to the application per instructions)
• Official transcripts (minimum GPA is 3.0)
• Curriculum vitae
• Official GRE and TOEFL (or IELTS) test scores should be uploaded to the application and official copies should be mailed to the University for verification
• Other than the test scores, documents that are uploaded do not need to be mailed to the department
• The GRE General Test is required and should be taken in time for the admissions committee to receive score results by the January 1 deadline. We look for applicants to score at least a 145 on the Verbal, a 158 on the Quantitative, and a 3.0 on the Analytical Writing. The institution code is 2928 and the department code is 1603.
• All foreign applicants whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL and achieve a minimum score of 250 for the computer-based test (CBT), 600 for the paper-based test (PBT), or 100 for the Internet-based test (IBT), unless they are graduates of a US undergraduate program. IELTS scores can be accepted in place of the TOEFL with a minimum score of 7.0. 

Scholarships

No stipend support is available for MS degree candidates but a limited number of partial tuition scholarships are available.

Full-time MS students who also work as teaching assistants are eligible for a competitive tuition discount (typically around 35%). Federal work-study program funds, government or personal loans, or part-time employment may sometimes be used to meet expenses.