Biomedical engineering is a discipline that integrates the engineering sciences with biology and medicine. The field of biomedical engineering has seen a dramatic escalation in activity over the past 20 years leading to the development of a wide variety of medical devices, medical procedures, and a basic understanding of biological processes. The University of Arizona established the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program to address the increasing importance of engineering approaches in modern biomedical research and new medical technologies.
The strength of our Biomedical Engineering program is derived from the breadth of research activities among our interdisciplinary faculty. Faculty from numerous departments within the Colleges of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences participate in this interdisciplinary graduate program. The major research areas are Biomedical Imaging and Spectroscopy, Bioinformatics, Bioinstrumentation and Devices, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics, Biosensors, Cardiovascular Biomedical Engineering, Neuroengineering, Nanomedicine, and all in-between.
UA Biomedical Engineering provides a rigorous education in the time-tested principles, technologies and tools of engineering combined with broad exposure to the ever-expanding modern practice of biomedicine.
BME is an inherently interdisciplinary department with a diverse and highly collaborative faculty. Research and educational connections throughout the university yield extensive opportunities for students to gain the knowledge and experience to pursue careers in industry, academia, medicine and government.
BME’s educational programs not only deliver a solid theoretical foundation in science and engineering, but also students gain the applied hands-on skills to design and build biomedical devices, instruments and systems.
Acquire the knowledge to contribute to improving health care. Learn how to create better and more cost-effective technologies for prevention, detection and treatment of health-related issues.
Be part of the revolution occurring in biomedicine!
College of Engineering
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Phoenix Campus - Phoenix
Admission to the BME MS program is a selective process. Our Admissions Committee does a holistic review of all of the following materials.
Application materials needed:
English Proficiency
Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language.
Please check our English Requirement list to verify your need to submit an English proficiency test.
Individual departments may require higher scores than the Graduate College and all tests must be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid. The University of Arizona's institution code for sending official electronic score reports from ETS is 4832.
Acceptable English Proficiency credentials:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
Pearson PTE Academic - minimum score of 60
Graduate English Language Endorsement from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
CEPT Full Academic test - offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.
Exemptions
Those exempt from submitting English proficiency scores are:
Financial assistance, such as assistantships, traineeships, fellowships and internships, is available according to merit and awarded on a competitive basis after review of the applicants admitted to our program.
International student requirement:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
Pearson PTE Academic - minimum score of 60
Graduate English Language Endorsement from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
CEPT Full Academic test - offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.
Funding for Masters students is handled on a case-by-case basis.
Students may also be supported by a variety of fellowships and awards, many of which are listed by the Graduate College. The University of Arizona Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid also provides financial aid information.
We currently admit students to begin our program in Fall and Spring.
Fall: All application materials must be submitted by February 1st of the entrance year for international applicants, and March 1st of the entrance year for domestic applicants.
Spring: All application materials must be submitted by August 1st of the entrance year for international applicants, and September 1st of the entrance year for domestic applicants.
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832
30
The courses will be established in consultation with the student’s mentor and Thesis committee. The courses chosen should be based on the student’s area of specialization. A high level of performance is expected of students who are enrolled in graduate programs at The University of Arizona. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 (letter grade of B) or better to continue enrollment in the degree-granting program, receive financial support, and to be awarded an M.S. or Ph.D. degree.
In some cases, certain degree requirements may be waived if equivalent course work has been completed previously. Please see Graduate College policies for transferring credits. Once Graduate College policies have been followed, the BME Graduate Studies Committee will review requests and make decisions about course acceptance. Please contact the BME Graduate Advisor for more information.
Course Requirements
BME 510 (3) – Biology for Biomedical Engineering
BME 511 (3) – Physiology for Biomedical Engineering
BME 517 (3) – Measurement and Data Analysis in Biomedical Engineering or BME 547 (3) – Sensors and Controls
Choose at least one focus areas (3 units total) of:
BME 516 (3) – Biomedical Imaging
BME 520 (3) – Biophotonics
BME 561 (3) – Biological and Synthetic Materials
BME 566 (3) – Biomechanical Engineering
BME 577 (3) – Intro to Biomedical Informatics
BME 581B (3) – Cell and Tissue Engineering
BME 586 (3) – Biomaterial-Tissue Interactions
BME 696A Seminar/696C Forum (1) (2 units required, up to 4 units can count toward total)
BME 592 Rotation (1)
Graduate Coursework (9 units) – List:
Level 500+ courses, dependent on approval of mentor and Graduate Studies Committee
Example:
BME 585 (3) - Nanotechnology for BME
BME 547 (3) - Sensors + Controls
BME 586 (3) - Biomaterial-Tissue Interactions
BME 910 Thesis (6 units) or BME 909 Master’s Report (3 units) and additional coursework (3 units)
Nine units in graduate engineering, life or physical sciences, or mathematics courses (which can include one additional unit of Research Methods in Biomedical Engineering, or up to two additional units of BME seminar/student forum); and six units of BME Thesis (or three units of MS Report and an additional 3 unit elective course. The units will focus on the student’s biomedical engineering research interests such that the courses complement and broaden the student’s undergraduate degree and provide the student with the skills necessary to complete the research. The courses will be established in consultation with the student’s mentor and Thesis committee. The courses chosen should be based on the student’s area of specialization.
N/A
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
Program-level Information | |
---|---|
Application Acceptance Rate | 58.67% |
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | 1.35 |
Department-level Information | |
Enrollment Percent Male | 55.41% |
Enrollment Percent Female | 44.59% |
Enrollment Percent International | 28.38% |
Enrollment Percent URM | 21.62% |