About

Are you interested in a 21st-century career in a growing and cutting edge field? Do you want to make improvements in the quality of life for many people by helping find solutions to complex scientific and medical problems?

The master of science in biomedical engineering provides a foundation for a highly trained work force to become leaders who support economic development, industry, and academia.

Biomedical engineering integrates science with biology and medicine to solve clinical problems. Biomedical engineers are involved in the development of many types of medical procedures and devices such as prosthesis, pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, dialysis machines, and MRI imaging systems. They also take part in biomedical research and the development of biomaterials, bioelectronics, and biomechanics, including tissue generation and bioengineering blood vessels and organs.

ECU Advantage

East Carolina offers academic programs in engineering, medicine, dentistry, nursing, allied health, and business all on one campus. Students will be engaged in multidisciplinary research focused on device/equipment design and the application of innovative, advanced technologies to solve complex problems in the life sciences, medicine, and health-care industry. The small program provides high faculty interaction in courses and in research.

As an ECU student, you can research your future career in Steppingblocks. Explore real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with data-powered career exploration tools designed for doers like you.

What You Will Study

Program Coordinator: Bryan Sylcott (208 Slay Hall; 252-737-4652; sylcottb15@ecu.edu)

The goal of the Biomedical Engineering, MS program is to provide a foundation in biomedical engineering expertise and a trained workforce of leaders to support economic development, industry, and academia. ECU offers academic programs in engineering, medicine, dentistry, nursing, allied health, and business on one campus. Students will be engaged in multidisciplinary research focused on device and equipment design, and the application of innovative, advanced technologies to solve complex problems in the life sciences, medicine, and health care industry.

I. Admission

Application for admission to the graduate program in biomedical engineering must meet the general requirements of admission set forth by the Graduate School. Advanced, highly motivated, undergraduate students, may apply to the Engineering, BS/Biomedical Engineering, MS .

    A. Requirements for admission

    Applicants for study in biomedical engineering are expected to have a bachelor's degree in engineering with a minimum 3.0-4.0 grade point average in the last two years of undergraduate study. The following preparatory courses are recommended:

    • Mathematics - calculus through differential equations, probability and statistics
    • Physics - one semester
    • Chemistry - one semester
    • Biology - one semester
    • Engineering - one course in basic electrical engineering
    • Engineering - one course in three of the following five areas: biomaterials, fluid mechanics, heat and/or mass transfer, instrumentation, systems physiology
    • Engineering research or design experience
      B. Conditional admission

      Applicants may be granted conditional admission if they do not qualify for regular admission. Students entering from disciplines other than engineering may find it necessary to take preparatory undergraduate and/or graduate level courses that serve as prerequisites. Preparatory courses that are for undergraduate credit only may not be applied toward credit hours required for a graduate degree.     

      II. Degree Requirements

      The university confers the Biomedical Engineering, MS when the candidate has earned at least 32 s.h. of graduate credit. Students choosing the nonthesis option complete an approved selection of coursework. Students choosing the thesis option must complete a research-based thesis, a comprehensive defense of thesis proposal, a seminar based on thesis research, and a thesis defense in addition to their coursework.

      The degree requires a minimum of 32 s.h. as follows:

        A. Core courses - 9 s.h.
        • BIME 5100 - Numerical Methods in Engineering
        • BIME 5600 - Experimental Methods in Engineering
        • BIME 6100 - Finite Element Analysis of Solids and Fluids
        B. Advanced mathematics course - 3 s.h.

        All students must complete one 3 semester hour graduate level course in advanced mathematics. Contact the program director for a list of approved mathematics courses.

          C. Area of focus courses - at least 9 s.h.

          Choose one course from each of the following three categories related to the major area of study and/or intended research in consultation with the program coordinator.

            1. Biomedical engineering courses (3 s.h.)
            • BIME 5400 - Biomaterials
            • BIME 6200 - Biomedical Instrumentation and Measurements
            • BIME 6250 - Biomedical Signal Processing
            • BIME 6300 - Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
            • BIME 6350 - Cardiovascular Mechanics
            • BIME 6450 - Biomolecular Engineering
            • BIME 6500 - Introduction to Tissue Engineering
            • BIME 6700 - Selected Topics in Biomedical Engineering
            2. Life science course (at least 3 s.h.)

            Select one of the following approved courses:

            • BIOL 6071 - Human Gross Anatomy
            • BIOL 6300 - Neurophysiology
            • PHLY 6330 - Human Physiology
            • PHLY 7701 - Graduate Physiology I
            3. Biostatistics course (3 s.h.)

            Select one of the following approved courses:

            • BIOS 7021 - Biostatistics for Health Professionals I
            • BIOS 7501 - Experimental Design
            • MATH 5031 - Applied Regression Analysis
            • MATH 5801 - Probability Theory
            • PHAR 7777 - Practical Problems in Biometry
          D. Options - at least 11 s.h.
            1. Thesis option - 11 s.h.
              a. Research skills (2 s.h.)
              • BIME 6000 - Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Research
              b. Thesis (6 s.h.)

              Students must pass the thesis defense and complete the thesis. BIME 7000 may be repeated as needed, but only a maximum of 6 s.h. may count towards the degree.

              • BIME 7000 - Thesis
              c. Electives (3 s.h.)

              Electives must be at the 5000-level or higher and must be approved by the program coordinator. Electives should be in an academic, professional, or geographic field related to the thesis. Courses used as a required course may not be used to fulfill this elective requirement.

              2. Nonthesis option - 11 s.h.

              Students complete 11 s.h. of program coordinator approved coursework at the 6000 or higher level in an academic, professional, or geographic area of study. Students are encouraged to ask the program coordinator about the possibility of completing a graduate certificate in the chosen area of study or in a related field of study. Courses used to fulfill the core, advanced mathematics, or area of focus requirements may not be used to fulfill this requirement.     

            Comprehensive Assessment Requirement

            All ECU graduate programs require students to successfully complete a comprehensive assessment. The assessment for the thesis option is the successful completion of a research-based thesis and thesis defense. The assessment for the nonthesis option is a curated portfolio submitted by students that showcases their work over the course of their degree program. Portfolio items may include key coursework from multiple courses as well as other items of evidence (posters, reports, projects) that demonstrate synthesis resulting from the program of study. Please contact the graduate program director for more information.

              For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.
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