DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering
A Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is offered through a joint graduate program with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). A matrix of academic tracks is offered based on segments of biomedical engineering and/or areas of clinical emphasis. Specifically, the program has emphases in the following areas: biomaterials, biomechanics, and bioimaging. The biological areas covered are orthopedics/dental tissues, cardiovascular systems, and neurological systems. The M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering will be awarded to candidates who have displayed an in-depth understanding of the concepts that are necessary for critically judging the scientific literature, for formulating novel hypotheses, designing experimental protocols to test the hypotheses, interpreting their results and demonstrating their ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in the biomedical field.
The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to Chapter 2, General Academic Regulations, and Chapter 4, Master’s Degree Regulations).
Admission Requirements. Students who hold an undergraduate degree may apply to the program. The minimum requirements for admission to the Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering program are described below. Note that admission is competitive and satisfying these requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework with a major in a recognized science or engineering discipline. All students should have had sufficient background in engineering, chemistry, biology, and physics prior to being admitted to the program. It is expected that these students will have B.S. degrees with emphasis in either engineering, physical science, or biological science disciplines. Students from nonengineering backgrounds are required to take selected fundamental engineering courses as a condition of acceptance.
- A satisfactory score, as specified by the Admissions Committee for Biomedical Engineering, is required on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students whose native language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; paper version). The applicant’s performance on a standardized test will be considered in addition to other criteria, for admission or competitive scholarship awards and will not be used as the sole criterion for consideration of an applicant.
- Letters of recommendation, preferably three, attesting to the applicant’s readiness for graduate study.
- A complete application includes the application form, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a résumé, a statement of the applicant’s research experience, interests, and goals. TOEFL scores are required for those applicants whose native language is not English.
Degree Requirements and Program of Study. Typically, a Master’s degree program of study will consist of at least 30.5 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate courses, general education courses, and prerequisites for graduate courses cannot be counted toward this total. For students with a Master’s degree from another program or institution, course credit allowed for transfer will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Biomedical Engineering Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS). If recommended by the COGS, the request will then be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. Since this is a joint graduate program, courses can also be taken at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). To enroll in UTHSCSA courses, students must register through the UTHSCSA Web site (http://www.uthscsa.edu/). Any questions concerning registration at UTHSCSA should be directed to the BME Program Office at UTHSCSA. The required curriculum for all students is as follows:
- Regardless of their area of specialization, all students are required to take a total of 15.5 semester credit hours of Required Core Courses. The core courses are:
Required Core Courses offered at UTSA:
BME 6033 BME Engineering Analysis BME 6703 Biomedical Image Processing (Same as RADI 5015 at UTHSCSA.) BME 6803 Biomechanics I BME 6903 Biomaterials
Required Core Courses at UTHSCSA:
INTD 6002 Ethics in Research ORTO 6004 Biology for Bioengineers RADI 5015 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging I (Same as BME 6703.)
Upon approval of the Supervising Professor and the Program Director, students may substitute EGR 5093 (Special Topics in Engineering Analysis) for BME 6033 (BME Engineering Analysis).
- Research seminar. Registration in BME 6011 (or ORTO 6090 at UTHSCSA) is required for three semesters, in order to satisfy the requirements for the Master’s degree program in Biomedical Engineering.
- A minimum of 6 semester credit hours of Elective Courses selected from the list below. Courses from this list may be taken with the approval of the Program Director, Supervising Professor, and course instructor.
UTSA Elective Courses:
BIO 5433 Neurophysiology BIO 5483 Computational Neuroscience BIO 5503 Sensory Physiology BME 6093 Topics in Biomedical Engineering BME 6203 Physiology for Engineers BME 6213 Cellular Engineering BME 6223 Transport and Reaction Processes in Biological Systems BME 6303 Computational Oncology and Cancer Treatment Simulations BME 6513 Mechanical Behavior of Living Tissues BME 6713 Biomedical Signal Processing BME 6723 Bioinstrumentations BME 6733 Fundamentals of Microfabrication and Application BME 6793 Topics in Image and Signal Processing BME 6823 Biomechanics II BME 6893 Topics in Biomechanics BME 6913 Biomaterials II BME 6923 Tissue Engineering BME 6933 Tissue-Biomaterials Interactions BME 6943 Biomaterials & Cell Signaling BME 6953 Biomaterials for Drug-Delivery/Pharmacology BME 6993 Topics in Biomaterials CHE 5263 Advanced Analytical Chemistry EE 5243 Topics in Systems and Control EE 5263 Topics in Digital Signal Processing and Digital Filtering EE 5353 Topics in Multimedia Signal Processing EE 5463 Artificial Neural Networks EE 6343 Advanced Topics in Systems and Control EE 6363 Advanced Topics in Signal Processing ME 5013 Topics in Mechanical Engineering ME 5243 Advanced Thermodynamics ME 5413 Advanced Solid Mechanics ME 5463 Fracture Mechanics ME 5473 Viscoelasticity ME 5483 Finite Element Methods ME 5613 Advanced Fluid Mechanics ME 5653 Computational Fluid Dynamics ME 5713 Mechanical Behavior of Materials ME 5743 Composite Materials MOT 5163 Management of Technology MOT 5243 Essentials of Project and Program Management MOT 5253 Starting the High-Tech Firm MOT 5313 Emerging Technologies MOT 5323 Biotechnology Industry STA 5103 Applied Statistics
UTHSCSA Elective Courses:
CSBL 5019 Gross Human Anatomy CSBL 5095 Experimental Design and Data Analysis INTD 5005 Biochemistry INTD 5006 Molecular Biology INTD 5041 Neuroscience – Medical MICR 5016 Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology MICR 5051 Introduction to Immunology ORTO 6005 Biomaterials Surface Science PHAR 5013 Principles of Pharmacology PHYL 5013 Physiology PHYL 5040 Cell and Neural Physiology PHYL 6091 Selected Topics in Physiology RADI 6014 Physics of Dental Imaging RADI 6016 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging II RADI 6017 Human Behavioral Imaging RADI 6019 Medical Image Processing RESD 6102 Advanced Dental Materials
- A minimum of 6 semester credit hours of biomedical engineering Master’s Thesis research is required.
The entire program of study must be recommended by the student’s Master’s Thesis Advisor, Master’s Thesis Committee, and the COGS and must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. The courses taken by students are intended to focus and support the individual’s mastery of his or her particular area of specialization.
Advancement to Candidacy. The student should seek recommendations from the COGS for advancement to candidacy. The COGS reserves the right to deny recommendation of the student’s admission to Master’s candidacy based on the student’s academics and proposed research. Upon recommendation from the COGS, all students are admitted to candidacy after successfully defending their proposed research, recommended by his/her Master’s Thesis Committee, and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. Students should also consult the University Master’s Degree Regulations in Chapter 4 of this catalog for the other pertinent requirements.
Thesis Defense. A thesis, which is an original contribution to scholarship, based on independent investigation (graduate research) in the major area, is required of every candidate. The Master’s thesis research will be conducted by the student under the guidance of the Supervising Professor and the advice of the Master’s Thesis Committee. Prior to starting the thesis research, each student will submit a research proposal to the COGS for approval. The thesis will be the responsibility of the student and the Supervising Professor. Registration for thesis credit hours must be for a period of more than one semester. During each semester that a student receives advice and/or assistance from a faculty member or supervision by the Master’s Thesis Committee or uses UTSA or UTHSCSA resources, he or she will be required to enroll for credit in the appropriate Master’s degree course. The form and format of the thesis should follow the guidelines and rules already in effect at UTSA or UTHSCSA.
Composition of the Master’s Thesis Committee. The Master’s Thesis Committee is made up of at least four members. The committee should consist of the Supervising Professor, one BME Graduate Faculty member from UTSA, one BME Graduate Faculty member from UTHSCSA, and one external member. The student’s thesis proposal and the proposed composition of the Master’s Thesis Committee will be evaluated and approved by the COGS.
Final Oral Examination (Defense of Thesis). A satisfactory final oral examination is required for the approval of a thesis. Acceptance of the thesis will be contingent upon approval of the respective Master’s Thesis Committee. The thesis defense consists of a seminar presentation by the candidate to the general public. A closed door examination by the Master’s Thesis Committee follows and covers the general field of the thesis, and other parts of the student’s program as determined by the respective committee. Members of the Master’s Thesis Committee must be satisfied that the student has:
- Completed the research approved by the Master’s Thesis Committee.
- Passed all examinations required by COGS, including the successful defense of the thesis.
- Completed the required coursework.
- Completed a thesis that is an independent investigation in the biomedical engineering field and constitutes a contribution to the respective discipline.
Upon successful completion of the aforementioned requirements, the Master’s Thesis Committee members will sign the approval forms for the Master’s Thesis and make an official recommendation to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the UTHSCSA or to the Graduate School at UTSA that the Master’s degree be awarded.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biomedical Engineering
A Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Engineering (BME) at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is offered through a joint graduate program with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). A matrix of academic tracks is offered based on segments of biomedical engineering and/or areas of clinical emphasis. Specifically, the program has emphases in the following areas: biomaterials, biomechanics, and bioimaging. The biological areas covered are orthopedics/dental tissues, cardiovascular systems, and neurological systems. The Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering will be awarded to candidates who have displayed an in-depth understanding of the concepts that are necessary for critically judging the scientific literature, for formulating novel hypotheses, designing experimental protocols to test the hypotheses, interpreting their results and demonstrating their ability to make an original contribution to knowledge in the biomedical field.
The regulations for this degree comply with the general University regulations (refer to Chapter 2, General Academic Regulations, and Chapter 5, Doctoral Degree Regulations).
Admission Requirements. Students who hold an undergraduate or Master’s degree may apply to the program. The minimum requirements for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering degree program are described below. Note that admission is competitive and satisfying these requirements does not guarantee admission.
- Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework with a major in a recognized science or engineering discipline. All students should have had sufficient background in engineering, chemistry, biology, and physics prior to being admitted to the program. It is expected that these students will have B.S. degrees with emphasis in either engineering, physical science, or biological science disciplines. Students from nonengineering backgrounds are required to take selected fundamental engineering courses as a condition of acceptance.
- Applicants with a Master’s degree must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in their Master’s degree program. Applicants with a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering or in a related field may apply a maximum of 30 semester credit hours of previously earned graduate credit toward their doctoral degree. The Doctoral Studies Committee will evaluate each student’s transcript and credit will be recommended for transfer on a course-by-course basis to satisfy the formal coursework requirements of the doctoral degree.
- A satisfactory score, as specified by the Admissions Committee for Biomedical Engineering, is required on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students whose native language is not English must achieve a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL; paper version). The applicant’s performance on a standardized test will be considered in addition to other criteria, for admission or competitive scholarship awards and will not be used as the sole criterion for consideration of an applicant.
- Letters of recommendation, preferably three, attesting to the applicant’s readiness for doctoral study.
- A complete application includes the application form, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, a résumé, a statement of the applicant’s research experience, interests, and goals. TOEFL scores are required for those applicants whose native language is not English.
Degree Requirements and Program of Study. Typically, a doctoral program of study will consist of at least 81 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Undergraduate courses, general education courses, and prerequisites for graduate courses cannot be counted toward this total. For students with a Master’s degree, course credit allowed for transfer will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Biomedical Engineering Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS). If recommended by the COGS, the request will then be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. Since this is a joint graduate program, courses can also be taken at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). To enroll in UTHSCSA courses, students must register through the UTHSCSA Web site (http://www.uthscsa.edu/). Any questions concerning registration at UTHSCSA should be directed to the BME Program Office at UTHSCSA. The required curriculum for all students is as follows:
- Regardless of their area of specialization, all students are required to take a minimum of 25.5 semester credit hours of Required Core Courses. The core courses are:
Required Core Courses offered at UTSA:
BME 6001 Laboratory Rotations (Same as ORTO 6002 at UTHSCSA.) BME 6033 BME Engineering Analysis BME 6703 Biomedical Image Processing (Same as RADI 5015 at UTHSCSA.) BME 6803 Biomechanics I BME 6903 Biomaterials
Required Core Courses at UTHSCSA:
CSBL 5019 Gross Human Anatomy or PHYL 5013 Physiology CSBL 5095 Experimental Design and Data Analysis INTD 6002 Ethics in Research ORTO 6002 Laboratory Rotation (Same as BME 6001.) ORTO 6003 Introduction to Clinical Practices ORTO 6004 Biology for Bioengineers RADI 5015 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging I (Same as BME 6703.)
Upon approval of the Supervising Professor and the Program Director, students may substitute EGR 5093 (Special Topics in Engineering Analysis) for BME 6033 (BME Engineering Analysis).
- Research seminar (BME 6011 or ORTO 6090 at UTHSCSA) is to be registered for during each Fall and Spring semester while in the BME Doctoral program.
- A minimum of 9 semester credit hours of Prescribed Elective Courses selected from the list below. Courses from this list may be taken with the approval of the Program Director, Supervising Professor, and course instructor.
UTSA Prescribed Elective Courses:
BIO 5433 Neurophysiology BIO 5483 Computational Neuroscience BIO 5503 Sensory Physiology BME 6043 Critical Thinking & Writing for BME BME 6093 Topics in Biomedical Engineering BME 6203 Physiology for Engineers BME 6213 Cellular Engineering BME 6223 Transport and Reaction Processes in Biological Systems BME 6303 Computational Oncology and Cancer Treatment Simulations BME 6513 Mechanical Behavior of Living Tissues BME 6713 Biomedical Signal Processing BME 6723 Bioinstrumentations BME 6733 Fundamentals of Microfabrication and Application BME 6793 Topics in Image and Signal Processing BME 6823 Biomechanics II BME 6893 Topics in Biomechanics BME 6913 Biomaterials II BME 6923 Tissue Engineering BME 6933 Tissue-Biomaterials Interactions BME 6943 Biomaterials & Cell Signaling BME 6953 Biomaterials for Drug-Delivery/Pharmacology BME 6993 Topics in Biomaterials CHE 5263 Advanced Analytical Chemistry EE 5243 Topics in Systems and Control EE 5263 Topics in Digital Signal Processing and Digital Filtering EE 5353 Topics in Multimedia Signal Processing EE 5463 Artificial Neural Networks EE 6343 Advanced Topics in Systems and Control EE 6363 Advanced Topics in Signal Processing ME 5013 Topics in Mechanical Engineering ME 5243 Advanced Thermodynamics ME 5413 Advanced Solid Mechanics ME 5463 Fracture Mechanics ME 5473 Viscoelasticity ME 5483 Finite Element Methods ME 5613 Advanced Fluid Mechanics ME 5653 Computational Fluid Dynamics ME 5713 Mechanical Behavior of Materials ME 5743 Composite Materials STA 5103 Applied Statistics
UTHSCSA Prescribed Elective Courses:
INTD 5005 Biochemistry INTD 5006 Molecular Biology INTD 5041 Neuroscience – Medical MICR 5016 Concepts and Techniques in Biotechnology MICR 5051 Introduction to Immunology ORTO 6005 Biomaterials Surface Science PHAR 5013 Principles of Pharmacology PHYL 5040 Cell and Neural Physiology PHYL 6091 Selected Topics in Physiology RADI 6014 Physics of Dental Imaging RADI 6016 Physics of Diagnostic Imaging II RADI 6017 Human Behavioral Imaging RADI 6019 Medical Image Processing RESD 6102 Advanced Dental Materials
- A minimum of 9 semester credit hours of Free Electives may be selected from any graduate course offered at either UTSA or UTHSCSA with the approval of the Program Director, Supervising Professor, and course instructor.
Students are encouraged to consider elective courses that not only prepare them with skills in engineering and science, but also with their overall career objectives. Several courses offered in the UTSA College of Business serve as an example:
MOT 5163 Management of Technology MOT 5243 Essentials of Project and Program Management MOT 5253 Starting the High-Tech Firm MOT 5313 Emerging Technologies MOT 5323 Biotechnology Industry
- A minimum of 15 semester credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation, Research and Supervised teaching is required.
The entire program of study must be recommended by the student’s Dissertation Advisor, Dissertation Committee, and doctoral studies committee and must be submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School for final approval. The courses taken by students are intended to focus and support the individual’s mastery of his or her particular area of specialization.
Advancement to Candidacy. All students seeking a doctoral degree must be admitted to candidacy after passing a doctoral qualifying examination. Students should consult the University Doctoral Degree Regulations in Chapter 5 of this catalog for the other pertinent requirements.
Satisfactory Performance on the Doctoral Qualifying Examination for Admission to Candidacy. The qualifying examination will be administered before the student commences the chosen dissertation research. This examination will be comprehensive in nature and may be written, oral, or both. Topics covered will include not only information provided in courses taken by the student but also basic knowledge necessary for research in the student’s chosen area of study. The Committee on Graduate Studies (COGS) will determine the format of the examination and the composition of the Qualifying Examination Committee (QEC), with the provision that BME faculty from both UTSA and UTHSCSA will be included. The QEC will administer the examination, evaluate the student’s performance, and report its judgment to the Committee on Graduate Studies. A student is allowed to take the QEC twice. Admission to candidacy will be contingent on passing the qualifying examination. Students who do not pass the qualifying examination may be accommodated with a terminal Master’s degree after completing additional prescribed courses and/or research approved by the Supervising Professor, Program Director and COGS.
Doctoral Dissertation. A dissertation, which is an original contribution to scholarship, based on independent investigation (doctoral research) in the major area, is required of every candidate. The doctoral research will be conducted by the student under the guidance of the Supervising Professor and the advice of the Dissertation Committee. Prior to starting the doctoral research, each student will submit a dissertation proposal to the COGS for approval. The doctoral dissertation will be the responsibility of the student and the Supervising Professor. Registration for dissertation credit hours must be for a period of more than one semester. During each semester that a student receives advice and/or assistance from a faculty member or supervision by the Dissertation Committee or uses UTSA or UTHSCSA resources, he or she will be required to enroll for credit in the appropriate dissertation course. The form and format of the dissertation should follow the guidelines and rules already in effect at UTSA or UTHSCSA.
Composition of the Dissertation Committee. The Dissertation Committee is made up of at least five members. The committee should consist of the Supervising Professor, one BME Graduate Faculty member from UTSA, one BME Graduate Faculty member from UTHSCSA, one member of the graduate faculty outside of the BME Graduate Faculty from either UTSA or UTHSCSA, and one member from outside both institutions. The student’s dissertation proposal and the proposed composition of the Dissertation Committee will be evaluated and approved by the COGS.
Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation). A satisfactory final oral examination is required for the approval of a dissertation. Acceptance of the dissertation will be contingent upon approval of the respective Dissertation Committee.
The dissertation defense will consist of a seminar presentation by the candidate to the general public. A closed door examination by the Dissertation Committee follows and covers the general field of the dissertation, and other parts of the student’s program as determined by the respective committee. Members of the Dissertation Committee must be satisfied that the student has:
- Completed the research approved by the Dissertation Committee.
- Passed all examinations required by COGS, including the successful defense of the dissertation.
- Completed the required coursework.
- Completed a dissertation that is an independent investigation in the biomedical engineering field and constitutes a contribution to the respective discipline.
- Submitted an abstract for publication in Dissertation Abstracts International that meets with the approval of University requirements.
Upon successful completion of the aforementioned requirements, the Dissertation Committee members will sign the approval forms for the doctoral dissertation and make an official recommendation to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the UTHSCSA or to the Graduate School at UTSA that the Doctoral degree be awarded.
Students should note that the above is a summary of the requirements for the Doctoral degree and are advised to consult the University (UTSA) Doctoral Degree Regulations as well as the BME Student Handbook which contains details specific to the UTSA/UTHSCSA Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering.
