Master of Engineering Engineering with a Concentration in Biomedical Engineering (ME)

The Biomedical Engineering graduate degree programs are available to full-time and part-time students seeking to improve their research and professional skills in biomedical engineering.  The programs strive to provide the highest quality engineering education at the graduate level, to engage in scholarly research at the forefront of biomedical engineering, and to serve the biomedical engineering profession.  While the biomedical engineering program is administered by the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, the program is highly interdisciplinary, and students are admitted from broad areas of engineering, science, and healthcare.  Cutting-edge research opportunities and instruction are offered in:

•    Bioelectrics and Pulsed Power    
•    Cellular & Molecular Bioengineering
•    Cardiovascular Engineering
•    Musculoskeletal Biomechanics
•    Plasma Medicine
•    Computer-Assisted Medicine & Computational Bioengineering

For additional information, please request a departmental handbook from the Graduate Program Director (maudette@odu.edu).

Program Overview

The Master of Engineering in Engineering with a Concentration in Biomedical Engineering requires 30 credits, including a 3-credit project. Prospective students are encouraged to speak with the Graduate Program Director (or a faculty advisor) with any question about the program.

Additional Information

Graduate Student Program Handbook: For additional information, please request a departmental handbook from the Graduate Program Director (maudette@odu.edu).

Additional Graduate Student Resources (Graduate School): The Graduate School has extensive additional resources for graduate students at https://www.odu.edu/graduateschool/graduate-student-resources  

Program Financial Aid: Our programs offer graduate assistantships with stipends that are awarded to students after a competitive review process.  The level of award is determined on the basis of previous experience and performance as a graduate assistant and on the student’s academic achievement and potential in the field. In addition, a number of teaching and research positions are available for financial support of graduate assistants during the summer months (June and July).

Accelerated Study (Dual Dominion Program): Undergraduate students in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology can apply for entry into the Dual Dominion Program, which permits students to begin pursuit of a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering while they are still pursuing their undergraduate degree in a complementary discipline. Subject to the approval of the undergraduate and graduate program directors, a student enrolled in the Dual Dominion program can count up to six credit hours of course work towards both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees. Full-time students may be able to complete the requirements for the bachelor's degree in four years and the master's degree in one additional year.  Students who are matriculated in an undergraduate major in the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology with a GPA of at least 3.00 overall and 3.00 in the major are eligible to apply for admission to a Dual Dominion Bachelor's/Master's program.  Additional Undergraduate Catalog information on the Dual Dominion program can be found at https://catalog.odu.edu/undergraduate/registrationrequirementsandprocedures/linked_programs/.

Admission Information

Application Process

Summary: Applications for graduate study in the Master's of Engineering Program (Biomedical Engineering Concentration) should be made through the general ODU Application Portal.  Additional materials supporting your application (outlined below) will be required. Once complete, your application package will be reviewed and forwarded to the Biomedical Engineering Program's Graduate Program Director for consideration.  Questions regarding the general application process can be directed to admissions@odu.edu (on-campus) or globaladmissions@odu.edu (online).

Application Deadlines:  The Master's in Engineering Program uses a rolling admission process and does not have a formal application deadline.  Entrance into the program and commencement of studies will be timed to begin with the start of the next academic term following admission.

General ODU Requirements

General ODU Requirements: General requirements for graduate admission to the Master's of Engineering Program (Biomedical Engineering Concentration) can be found on the ODU Graduate Admissions website.   Additional details can be found in the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog.

Additional Program Requirements:

Prior Degrees: Biomedical Engineering Master's of Engineering degree applicants normally will have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in electrical, computer, modeling & simulation, or mechanical engineering with a strong background in mathematics and physical sciences, or alternately, in computer science, biology, chemistry, health sciences, or related areas.  Provisional admission (see below) may also be possible for applicants with prior degrees in a related fields other than the applicant’s intended graduate program. 

Undergraduate GPA:  A minimum GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.0) is required of most students. A student with a lower GPA meeting ODU’s graduate admission requirements and with evidence of a high level of professional capability may be eligible for admission to the program upon submission of a petition to the graduate program director.

Transcripts: Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are required.

Examination/Test Scores: Submission of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores is currently not required.   

Language Proficiency Requirements: TOEFL (or IELTS) scores are required for all applicants whose native language is not English unless their BS degrees are from USA institutions.  These applicants must meet University admission requirements (IELTS: 6.5 or TOEFL iBT: 79); please refer to the website: https://www.odu.edu/admissions/proficiency for additional details.

Résumé: A résumé or CV detailing relevant experience is required.

Personal Statement: Each applicant must submit an essay of 500 words or less describing personal and academic goals, professional objectives, preparation for graduate study, and how the chosen program will help the applicant achieve these goals and objectives.

Recommendation Letters: Two letters of recommendation must be submitted.  At least one must be from former or current professors, and one could alternatively be from an employment supervisors. 

Provisional Admission: Students not meeting the above requirements may be admitted provisionally.  Only the Graduate Program Director (GPD) can waive an admission requirement.  Please reach out directly to the GPD if you think you are eligible for a waiver from a requirement.  The GPD may request additional information, including GRE scores.  Provisionally admitted students may be required to complete additional prerequisite course requirements to prepare them for the graduate curriculum in the discipline.

Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Engineering program requires completion of 30 course credits, including 15 core: 9 CH Common Core course credits, a 3 credit Core Project BME 698, and one 3 credit Methods Core course (BME 720 for Computer-Assisted Medicine specialization path) OR BME 792 (for Biomechanics path) OR BME 726 (for Diagnostics and Therapies path). In addition, there is a requirement of 15 credits of technical elective course credits, which entail 9 credits of BME technical electives and 6 credits of approved technical electives.  The ME program culminates in a comprehensive exam, with written and oral components, the contents of which are based on the student's Core Project.  

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
BME Core		15
Complete the following Common Core courses (9 credits):
BME 711	Biological Mechanisms for Biomedical Engineers
BME 712	Engineering Fundamentals in Biomedicine
BME 740	Regenerative Medicine
Complete a 3 credit Core ME Project
BME 698	Master’s Project
Complete one Methods Core Course (3 credits) from the following:
BME 720	Modern Biomedical Instrumentation
BME 726	Biomaterials
BME 792	Biomechanics
BME Technical Electives 1		9
Complete 9 credits of coursework from the following BME options:
BME 530	Therapy and Function Models for Medical Simulation
BME 554	Introduction to Bioelectrics
BME 562	Introduction to Medical Image Analysis
BME 564	Biomedical Applications of Low Temperature Plasmas
BME 612	Digital Signal Processing I
BME 695	Topics in Biomedical Engineering
BME 698	Master’s Project
BME 700	Cardiovascular Physiology
BME 702	Biomedical Sciences Journal Club
BME 710	Advanced Cell Biology
BME 714	Biomedical Sciences Laboratory
BME 721	Mathematical Modeling in Physiology
BME 730	Predoctoral Fellowship Grant Writing
BME 731	Finite Element Analysis
BME 741	Principles of Visualization
BME 747	Responsible Conduct of Research
BME 751	Computational and Statistical Methods in Biomedical Engineering
BME 754	Advanced Bioelectrics
BME 755	Biomembranes and Ion Channels
BME 760	Autonomous and Robotic Systems Analysis and Control
BME 762	Applied Medical Image Analysis
BME 770	Advanced Study in Biology
BME 775	Grant Writing in Biology
BME 783	Digital Image Processing
BME 785	Advanced Manufacturing Technology
BME 794	Cellular Biomechanics
BME 795	Special Topics in Biomedical Engineering
BME 797	Independent Study
Approved Technical Electives 1		6
Complete 6 credits of coursework from electives not necessarily listed above.
Total Credit Hours		30

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A total of 15 credits of technical elective courses can be selected from the biomedical engineering technical electives (9 credits) or a wide variety of appropriate graduate courses (6 credits) in engineering, biology, chemistry, psychology, computer science, modeling and simulation, mathematics, statistics, or other programs.  Technical electives without the BME prefix must be approved by the graduate program director.