MD/MSBME Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering is designed to train graduates with professional skills enabling them to gain employment in the biomedical engineering industry or to enter competitive Biomedical Engineering PhD research programs. It also offers the option to UCF College of Medicine students to enrich education and professional careers by pursuing a tailored MD/MSBME program.

Graduates will have a command of the application of engineering principles to biological and health systems. They will gain skills in modern biomedical engineering tools, understanding of relevant physiology and biology, knowledge of contemporary topics in medical technology, and ability to engage in advanced engineering studies including elements of research, analysis, design and experimentation.

Career opportunities include research, design, analysis, testing and product development in the biomedical and rehabilitation industries, in clinical engineering, and in biomedical engineering.

The MSBME degree offers the following gateways into the program:

• MSBME for students with formal training in engineering or biomedical engineering who have earned a BS degree and are seeking post-baccalaureate education and training.
• MSBME along-the-way to engineering students who are admitted into the PhD program in MAE and engaged in BME research.
• MSBME to students in the BS-to-MS track.
• MSBME to recent BS graduates potentially interested in pursuing PhD research with preference for admission to the UCF doctoral graduate program upon completion.
• A combined MD/MSBME to UCF College of Medicine MD students with engineering background and interest who can pursue the degree with one additional year sandwiched between the end of the second and beginning of the third year of medical school. This program is aimed at MD students who wish to expand on their years one and two College of Medicine FIRE (Focused Individualized Research Experience) project into an MS thesis.

The program offers thesis and non-thesis options:

• Biofluids Track – Thesis and Non-thesis options
• Biomechanics Track – Thesis and Non-thesis options
• MD/MSBME Track – Thesis only

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CURRICULUM

The MSBME requires completion of 30 hours at the graduate level (a combination of 5000 and 6000 level classes) and will be offered with two options: (1) thesis (30 credit hours):  24 credit hours of coursework plus 6 credit hours of thesis with at least 15 credit hours at the 6000 level. (2) non-thesis options (30 credit hours): 30 credit hours of coursework with at least 15 credit hours at the 6000 level.

There are four tracks according to which the curriculum is structured within each option: Accelerated BS to MS, Biofluids, Biomechanics, and MD/MSBME.

All students must identify an adviser and file an official degree program of study prior to the completion of 9 credit hours of study. Students should consult with the MAE Graduate Program Director for assistance in filling out their program of study. The program of study must be met with departmental approval.

A student with an undergraduate degree outside of the selected departmental discipline may be required to satisfy an articulation program. Substitutions to the program of study must meet with the approval of the adviser and the department. More information is available from the MAE departmental website listed above.

For the Accelerated BS to MS track, the BS is awarded after completion of 128 university credit hours and 71 hours of engineering courses and all other university requirements, and the MS is awarded upon completion of the Master in Biomedical Engineering program. Courses designated in General Education Program and Common Program Prerequisites are usually completed in the first 60 hours (see engineering major requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog).

Thesis

The thesis option requires 30 credit hours, at least half of which must be at the 6000 level and will include 6 credit hours of thesis credit. A student pursuing the thesis program may not register for thesis credit hours until an advisory committee has been appointed and the committee has reviewed the program of study and the proposed thesis topic.

The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all thesis defense announcements be approved by the student’s adviser and posted on the college’s website (www.cecs.ucf.edu) and on the Events Calendar at the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date.

At least 24 credit hours of the program of study must be course work, exclusive of thesis and research.

Non-thesis

The non-thesis option is primarily designed to meet the needs of part-time students and requires 30 credit hours of course work, at least one-half of which must be at the 6000 level.

At least 24 credit hours of the program of study must be course work, exclusive of research and thesis credit hours.

Graduation

Graduation requirements for the MSBME program follow the standards of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the UCF College of Graduate Studies graduation requirements. For all tracks and options, students must maintain a minimum 3.0 graduate program GPA to be eligible to graduate. Students in the thesis option must complete 24 hours of coursework (at least half of which is at the 6000 level) and 6 hours of Thesis (6971), and present and successfully defend a thesis. Students in the non-thesis option must complete 30 hours of coursework (half of which is at the 6000 level).