George Mason University - Bioengineering Department
Master of Science in Bioengineering
Fairfax, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Transform Research Knowledge Into Life-changing Devices and Technologies
Some of today's most important medical breakthroughs are developed by bioengineers. Our teams of engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and healthcare providers have developed engineered tissues, internal and external prosthetics, multiple imaging modalities, and diagnostic and therapeutic devices.
As the field of bioengineering evolves, the master’s degree is becoming increasingly important for advancement in the profession. There is a need for individuals to lead efforts in more specialized roles, especially in the design, development, and operationalization of bioengineering technologies and devices. Master's-level graduates can fill this need.
As a master's student in our program you will:
- Prepare for research and professional practice in bioengineering and related fields.
- Learn the fundamentals and apply them to advanced work in engineering techniques to solve problems in biology and medicine.
- Study with nationally recognized experts the areas of Biomedical Imaging and Devices, Computational Biomedical Engineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, and Neurotechnology and Computational Neuroscience.
- Prepare for a career in higher education, industry, or government.
- Discover entrepreneurial considerations that determine whether a diagnostic or therapeutic approach is a practical investment and beneficial to patients and society.
Increasing numbers of technologies and applications to medical equipment and devices, along with the medical needs of a growing aging population, will require the services of bioengineers, also known as biomedical engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in this field will grow at an annual rate of 4% seven percent from 2018 to 2028. The current median annual salary is $91,400 per year.
“The MS program in bioengineering is a key element in our educational strategy since it provides depth and breadth to our formal education in bioengineering disciplines and an opportunity to gain practical experience in industry or a research project in academia. Students from our new MS program will be ready for direct employment in industry or to continue in advanced degree programs such as a PhD or MD.”
— Michael Buschmann, Bioengineering Department Chair
Degree Requirements
Students complete the Core Bioengineering requirements, and requirements within one selected option: thesis, practicum or coursework.
Core Bioengineering
- BENG 520 Biomedical Data Analytics
- BENG 521 Cell and Tissue Engineering
or BENG 541 Biomaterials - BENG 526 Neural Engineering
- BENG 537 Medical Image Processing
or BENG 538 Medical Imaging - Choose two courses from the following:
- BENG 501 Bioengineering Research Methods
- BENG 514 Pathophysiology and the Role of New Technologies in Human Diseases
- BENG 575 Intellectual Property, Regulatory Concepts and Product Development
- BENG 501 Bioengineering Research Methods
- BENG 514 Pathophysiology and the Role of New Technologies in Human Diseases
- BENG 575 Intellectual Property, Regulatory Concepts and Product Development
Thesis Option
Research Thesis
- BENG 799 Master's Thesis
Students are expected to complete 6 credits of BENG 799 Master's Thesis towards their degree. Students cannot enroll in BENG 799 Master's Thesis until the completion of their second semester of coursework. Once enrolled students must maintain continuous registration in thesis research until graduation, excluding summers. Students who defend in the summer must be registered for at least 1 credit of thesis research during that summer term.
Students choose from a restricted list of technical specialization courses to increase technical depth in an area of their interest, under the guidance and with the approval of the student's advisor. Students must choose six credits from these courses. At least half of the selected classes must be at the 600 or 700 level.
Practicum Option
Internship/Co-Op
- BENG 798 Independent Reading and Research in Bioengineering
Students are expected to complete 6 credits of BENG 798 Independent Reading and Research in Bioengineering towards their degree. Students cannot enroll in BENG 798 Independent Reading and Research in Bioengineering until the completion of their second semester of coursework. These credits must be taken along with an internship/co-op opportunity. Therefore, a letter from the specific employer must be provided on behalf of the student.
Students choose from a restricted list of technical specialization courses to increase technical depth in an area of their interest, under the guidance and with the approval of the student's advisor. Students must choose six credits from these courses. At least half of the selected classes must be at the 600 or 700 level.
Coursework Option
Students choose from a restricted list of technical specialization courses to increase technical depth in an area of their interest, under the guidance and with the approval of the student's advisor. Students must choose 15 credits from these courses. At least half of the selected classes must be at the 600 or 700 level.
Technical Specialization
For the Thesis and Practicum options, students select 6 credits of technical electives from the list below.
| Bioengineering | Electrical, Computer & Mechanical Engineering | Bioinformatics | Biology and Chemistry |
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| Physics | Mathematics and Statistics | Neuroscience | |
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Note: Students who elect to the coursework option will complete a minimum of 33 credit hours.
Additional Training Requirement
Bioengineering Seminar
All MS students are required to attend a minimum of two departmental seminars per semester. Students will sign an attendance sheet available at the end of each seminar.
The MS in Bioengineering prepares students for research and professional practice in bioengineering and related fields. The program includes both fundamentals and advanced work to apply engineering techniques to solve problems in biology and medicine. A major distinguishing feature of the curriculum is that it is designed to educate leaders who understand and appreciate how biomedical technology is translated from bench to bedside. Graduates from this program will eventually work in universities, industry or government in a variety of roles due to the breadth of this program and its content specific clinical translation of new technologies.