Swanson School of Engineering—Department of Bioengineering
Contact Information
- Department Chair: Harvey Borovetz
- Main Office: 306 Center for Bioengineering
- 412-624-4705
- Fax: 412-383-8788
- E-mail: borovetzhs@upmc.edu
- http:www.engineering.pitt.edu/bioengineering/
Additional information concerning the department's graduate program may be obtained from the Department of Bioengineering, 306 Center for Bioengineering; 412-624-4705; e-mail: borovetzhs@upmc.edu; http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Bioengineering/Graduate/Default/.
The Graduate Handbook, which is maintained by the Bioengineering Graduate Committee, describes the requirements of the program. This may be downloaded from www.engineering.pitt.edu/Bioengineering/Graduate/Information/
The Department of Bioengineering offers the degrees of Master of Science in Bioengineering (MSBENG) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and a certificate program in clinical cardiovascular engineering, and participates in the MD/PhD program with the School of Medicine and the MBA/MS program with the Katz Graduate School of Business.
The graduate program in bioengineering incorporates five programmatic tracks:
- Cellular and Organ Engineering
- Biomechanics
of Organs, Tissues and Cells
- Biosignals and Imaging
- Physiology and Biophysics
-
- Neural Engineering
The department has an active, interdisciplinary graduate bioengineering program in conjunction with faculty from the School of Medicine, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, the School of Dental Medicine, the clinical staffs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospitals, and other departments at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
The graduate program is directed toward engineering and life science education and research, with particular emphasis on the PhD. Its scope is broadly defined to incorporate the application of engineering principles, methods, and technology in two broad areas: (1) scientific queries into fundamental biological phenomena and (2) the development of instrumentation, materials, devices, and systems relative to application in the biological sciences and medicine. Thus, the bioengineering faculty is applying various forms of engineering principles, mathematics, computation, technology, and methodology to a broad variety of medical and life sciences problems.
Applicants for admission are expected to have a minimum GPA of
3.5 from an accredited BS program. They must submit transcripts
of all college-level work, three letters of recommendation, a statement
of purpose, and scores on the verbal, quantitative, and writing
assessment-analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination.
International applicants whose first language is not English are
required to submit the TOEFL, administered by the Educational Testing
Service, with a minimum score of 550 (213 computer-based, 80 internet-based). In addition to these basic requirements, evidence of significant research and/or industrial experience is very important as further evidence of ability to perform well at the graduate level.
Students with a non-engineering
background are admitted on a case-by-case basis, but are required
to take engineering and math courses considered prerequisite for
graduate course work. Likewise, an undergraduate knowledge of physiology and basic biology is assumed. In addition to the above basic requirements,
evidence of significant research and/or industrial experience is
very important as further evidence of ability to perform well at
the graduate level. These experiences should be detailed clearly
in recommendation letters, as well as in the student's statement
of purpose. Please note that incomplete applications will not be
considered.
Financial Assistance
All doctoral students in the Department of Bioengineering are currently supported either by research or departmental funds. Financial assistance is typically arranged between a student and a faculty advisor. Students with exceptional qualifications will be considered for additional departmental support and fellowships.
The Research MS program requires a total of 36 credits, which includes:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Biostatistics—3 credits
- Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering—3 credits
- Life Sciences—6 credits
- Track Courses—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- MS Thesis—8 credits
- Teaching Practicum—1 credit
- Bioengineering Seminar—3 credits
Typically, completion of the Research MS program requires two years. Within the first year of enrollment (preferably within the first semester), the MS candidate is expected to finalize the general area in which he/she will write a thesis and an advisor who will guide the work. By the third semester of enrollment, the student is to prepare a Master’s Proposal, following NIH R01 format. The student (under the guidance of his/her advisor) selects a thesis committee of three or more persons. The committee should consist of the student’s advisor (who will act as the Chairman of this committee), at least one additional faculty member from within the Department of Bioengineering and at least one faculty member from outside the department. The committee meets at least once a year.
The 30-credit, non-thesis, professional MS degree program is available for qualified students who are employed in industry. For detailed information, interested students should contact the Chair of the Bioengineering Graduate Committee. The student in the Professional MS program must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good standing within the program. Students who are accepted and enroll in the Professional MS program and who subsequently wish to enter the PhD program must complete the entire PhD application process.
- Biostatistics – 3 credits
- Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering – 3 credits
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics – 3 credits
- Life Science – 3 credits
- Track Courses – 9 credits
- Bioengineering Seminar (2 total) – 0 credits
- Electives – 6 credits
The course requirements for the PhD in bioengineering include the following:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Biostatistics—3 credits
- Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering—3 credits
- Life Sciences—9 credits
- Doctoral Dissertation Research—26 credits
- Teaching Practicum—2 credits
- Bioengineering Seminar—8 credits
- Track Courses—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- Graduate Electives—9 credits
Total number of credit hours: 72 credits (plus the credits associated with the remedial courses, as applicable.) A PhD proposal (comprehensive examination) is presented generally at the end of the second year. A final public PhD defense is made by each PhD candidate based on the student's research work.
The University MD/PhD program supports well-integrated basic and clinical sciences pre-doctoral training program. The training program links 30 PhD programs in twelve graduate schools within the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. For more information on this MD/PhD Program, visit the following web site: http://www.engineering.pitt.edu/Graduate/MD/PhD_Program_Description/
The course requirements for the MD/PhD in bioengineering include the following:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Statistics for Bioengineers—3 credits
- Track Courses—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- Graduate Electives—9 credits
- Doctoral Dissertation Research—40 credits
- Teaching Practicum—2 credits
- Bioengineering Seminar—6 credits
Total number of credit hours: 72 credits (plus the credits associated with the remedial courses, as applicable).
Dual MBA/MS in Engineering
The Department of Bioengineering and the Katz Graduate School of Business offer a dual MBA/MS program, with the following requirements:
Foundation Course
- BQOM 2401 – Statistical Analysis: Uncertainty, Prediction & Quality Improvement (3 credits)
- BIOE 2241 – Societal, Political, Ethical Issues in Biotechnology (3 credits)
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics (3 credits)
- Life Sciences (6 credits)
Bioengineering Track Courses
- Primary Track* - 9 credits from one of six tracks
- Secondary Track – 3 credits from one other track
Bioengineering Seminar
- All students must register for one-credit of seminar each term they are enrolled full-time.
Projects Course
- Joint with KIGSB (3 credits)
*The requirement of track courses implies that students would choose a specialty focus or “track” within Bioengineering which currently consists of Biomechanics, Biosignals and Imaging, Cellular and Organ Engineering, Rehabilitation and Human Movement, Neural Engineering, Biophysics and Physiology. The the advisor’s approval, students could take courses from multiple tracks that either logically fit together or helped fulfill the student’s educational objectives.
Certificate Program
Clinical Cardiovascular Engineering
The certificate in clinical cardiovascular engineering provides a curriculum for students who desire an advanced education in bioengineering and cardiovascular sciences so that they can become professional practitioners at the interface between cardiovascular technology and medical practice. The certificate requires the completion of a minimum of 24 credits.
|
