Biomedical Engineering, M.S. | NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Biomedical Engineering, M.S.

Biomedical Engineering
Master of Science
On Campus
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Biomedical engineering, a multi-disciplinary field, is behind some of the most important medical breakthroughs today. Working closely together, engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and physicians have developed artificial organs, internal and external prosthetics, multiple imaging modalities, and diagnostic and therapeutic devices. Biomedical engineering has significantly contributed to improved health care and quality of life.

The MS program in Biomedical Engineering merges coursework from Tandon’s engineering departments along with research opportunities with biomedical engineering faculty from across NYU to create a degree path that matches a student’s BME career objectives.

About the Program

The goal of the MS in Biomedical Engineering program is to give students an in-depth, advanced education that provides them with the analytical tools to perform fundamental and applied research in biomedical engineering.  Specific objectives include the following:

•   Enrolling students who come from many disciplines and bring different skill sets to solve a broad range of biomedical engineering problems. The program accommodates students with a BS/BA or a more advanced degree in biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, physics, chemistry, or biology.

•   Providing students with a cutting-edge program that integrates quantitative-engineering skills with medical sciences. Students acquire the skills to engage in technological innovations that give people longer, healthier and more productive lives.

•   Giving students an opportunity to focus on a wide range of contemporary topics critical to biomedical engineering. Core courses covering broad aspects of biomedical engineering will be followed by a choice of elective courses in such areas as biomedical imaging, tissue engineering and repair, biomedical devices, rehabilitation engineering, and capped by experiential learning in research laboratories or project courses.

•   Merging the coursework, leadership and talents found at NYU Tandon's engineering departments with research opportunities led by biomedical engineering faculty across NYU. The collaboration between NYU Tandon and NYU School of Medicine is leading to a new model of biomedical education and to developing students with practical and fundamental knowledge. Students engage in independent study and research projects in collaboration with biomedical researchers and clinicians, on problems of immediate importance and application.

The BME MS program will consider applications for admission from students with a BS/BA or a more advanced degree in biomedical, chemical, mechanical, or electrical engineering; computer engineering or science; physics; mathematics, chemistry; or biological sciences. We also consider applications from students with medical, dental, nursing and legal degrees.

The program requires that all applicants must have taken two semesters of college-level calculus and two semesters of calculus-based physics. It further highly recommends that each student’s undergraduate preparation include the following sequence of math and science courses:

•   1 semester of linear algebra

•   1 semester of ordinary differential equations

•   1 semester of multivariable calculus

•   2 semesters of biology with labs

•   2 semesters of general chemistry with labs

For those feeling interests in the biomaterials and tissue engineering studies, additional background in organic chemistry and biochemistry is desirable. For those feeling interests in the bioinstrumentation of medical imaging studies, additional advanced mathematics courses, e.g. complex variables, partial differential equations are recommended. Though not required, exposure to CAD/FEA, Matlab, C++ /Python computer programming experience is highly desirable.

 

For International Students:

Applications can only be considered from international students who have completed all of the undergraduate math and science courses listed above.

 

For Domestic Students:

Applicants pursuing a career change and lacking some of the undergraduate courses listed above may be admitted conditionally if they present a strong record of achievement in their undergraduate field of study and agree to enroll in the missing undergraduate courses to raise their level of knowledge so that they are better prepared for the analytically rigorous coursework that is part of the BME MS program. Such undergraduate courses do not count toward the MS degree’s credit requirements.

Find out more about Admission Requirements.

Curriculum

The 30-credit curriculum offers a set of three core required courses (9 credits), and five or four elective courses (15 or 12 credits). Experiential learning is an additional important part of the program, with two options. The first option specifies research with submission of a 6-9 credit master's thesis. Students who choose the master’s thesis option must register for 6-9 credits of BE-GY 997X and then write and defend a master’s thesis according to Tandon School guidelines. The second option specifies research performed as 6 credits of guided studies, project-based research courses, and/or internships. To meet graduation requirements, students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0 in all courses (including MS thesis, guided studies or research courses) and must not have more than two grades of C+ or lower.

Listed below are required courses that fulfill the requirements for an MS in Biomedical Engineering.

BE-GY 871X Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 873X Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 997X Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CP-GY 9911 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
CP-GY 9921 Please refer to the bulletin for more information

More specifically, there are two options for fulfilling the requirements of those research credit courses:

Option 1 - MS Thesis: BME MS students can choose BE-GY 997X MS Thesis in Biomedical Engineering for at least 6 credits, at maximum 9 credits in total, which requires the pass of an oral defense in front of the MS thesis committee, and a formal written thesis submitted to the MS thesis committee, BME academic advisor, and NYU Tandon.

Option 2 - Guided studies or Research: Instead of MS thesis, students can select BE-GY 871X Guided Studies in Biomedical Engineering or BE-GY 873X Research in Biomedical Engineering for exactly 6 credits in total, which requires a less formal written report submitted to research advisor and BME academic advisor for each semester. Out of the 6 credits of those experiential learning course, up to 3 credits can be taken as the internship courses, i.e. CP-GY 9911 Internship for MS I and CP-GY 9921 Internship for MS II.

15 credits of elective courses if 6 credits of research/experiential learning (Guided Studies, Research, or MS Thesis) are taken, OR 12 credits of elective courses if 9 credits of MS Thesis are taken.

Out of those elective courses, up to 6 credits may be offered by other departments and eligible to count towards BME MS degree requirements, based on the approval from the BME Department. Typically, those 6 credits of outside electives should have close connection with BME field, or beneficial to the student’s academic, research, or professional development.

The remaining 9 credits (if 6 credits of research/experiential learning are taken) or 6 credits (if 9 credits of MS Thesis are taken) must be BE-GY courses offered by BME Dept. The list for eligible BE-GY electives is shown below:

BE-GY 6113 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6803 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6723 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6763 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 9443 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 9453 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6303 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6513 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6523 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6403 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
ECE-GY 6113 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6453 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
ECE-GY 6303 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6203 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
ECE-GY 6813 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 9753 Please refer to the bulletin for more information
BE-GY 6353 Please refer to the bulletin for more information

 

Biomedical Engineering MS students must register for BE-GY 9730 Colloquium in Biomedical Engineering, 0 credit, every semester. Prestigious scientists and engineers from academia and industry are invited to this colloquium course for presenting their scientific discoveries and technology developments in biomedical engineering fields.

Biomedical engineering MS students must register for BE-GY 9740 Seminar in Biomedical Engineering, 0 credits, for a minimum of two semesters. Students gain the opportunity in this seminar course to develop presentation and communication skills, and present their own research findings, progress or relevant literature review.

All students must either demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of at least one computer programming language (C, C++, VB, Python, Matlab, or R, etc.), or register for an appropriate computer programming course as an elective.