Graduate Program: MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering

Purpose and Objectives of the Program:

The Biomedical Engineering discipline combines elements of biological and life sciences, engineering sciences, design, manufacturing and operation of biomedical processes and devices. The graduate degree programs (MS and PhD) will:

1. Prepare graduates of the program to meet the growing demands for advanced level research, development, and entrepreneurial positions in the biomedical industry.
2. Respond to the rapidly growing national demand for new biomedical technologies and the supporting industry, and to provide opportunities for economic development and entrepreneurial growth for the State of South Carolina
3. Meet the goals of the University of South Carolina in its emphasis area of biomedical sciences.

The MS degree will serve three student populations. First, traditional chemical and mechanical engineers who wish to obtain advance training in biological areas prior to entering industry will be attracted to the MS. Second, science majors who wish to receive quantitative training will use the MS to enhance their qualifications for industry. Third, the MS will also be ideal for students who wish post-baccalaureate training before entering medical school. Thus, we expect that the MS will ultimately lead to careers in industry or in medical practice.

The PhD, as well as the MS, will support the economic development in SC by providing a trained workforce for existing or entrepreneurial start-up companies. Advanced research for the PhD may lead to intellectual property for the region and the state. The PhD is also required for individuals who wish to enter academia or government research.

Description of the Program:

The MS and PhD degree programs in Biomedical Engineering are a joint effort between the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), the School of Medicine (SOM), and the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). Graduate degrees in Biomedical Engineering will focus on the quantitative methods characteristic of engineering that are not a primary focus of traditional medical or biological education. CEC will house the students and administration of the program. The curriculum calls for four core lecture courses, two of which will be taught primarily by engineering faculty and two that will be taught primarily by School of Medicine faculty. Engineering, Medicine, and Arts & Sciences will also develop elective courses. Faculty from all three colleges and schools will collaborate in research. In addition, USC faculty will collaborate on research with the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Clemson University through several federally-funded initiatives.

Admission Criteria Specific to the Program:

The admission criteria will generally conform to those currently required by the University of South Carolina Graduate School. Admissions will be based on the quality of the applicant’s prior college work, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and appropriate coursework in preparation for study in the biomedical field. In general, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree in biomedical, chemical or mechanical engineering or its equivalent from an accredited college or university. Undergraduate preparation should include two semesters of each of biology, physics, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry, two semesters of materials science and/or solid mechanics, as well as four semesters of calculus, including differential equations. For otherwise exceptionally qualified students, admission may be granted with the proviso that the student undertake coursework in areas not fully covered during undergraduate preparation. Typically, additional coursework would be required in differential equations, dynamics, stoichiometry and material balances, solid mechanics, or organic chemistry.

Curriculum:

The table below gives the required curriculum for both the MS and PhD degree programs. All hours listed are beyond the BS degree. Students may be admitted directly to the PhD program.

Program Element		MS		PhD
No. of Required BMEN core courses and credits		4 (BMEN 710, 720, 713, 723), 12 credits		4 (BMEN 710, 720, 713, 723), 12 credits
No. of Required BMEN 798 seminars and credits		3 times enrolled in BMEN 798 for 1.0 credit ea, 3 credits total		3 times enrolled in BMEN 798 for 1.0 credit ea, 3 credits total
No. of Required BMEN elective courses		2 BMEN courses, 6 credits		3 BMEN courses, 9 credits
No. of other electives required		1 course, BMEN or from approved list, 3 credits		2 courses, BMEN or from approved list, 6 credits
SUBTOTAL Lecture and seminar credits		24 credits		30 credits
Required Thesis or Dissertation Prep (EMCH or ECHE designation determined by the primary appointment of the student’s major advisor)		ECHE 799 or EMCH 799, 6 credits		ECHE 899 or EMCH 899, 12 credits
Required Research (EMCH or ECHE designation determined by the primary appointment of the student’s major advisor)		Fulfilled by ECHE 799 or EMCH 799		ECHE 797 or EMCH 797, 18 credits
SUBTOTAL Lecture, seminar, and research credits		30 credits		60 credits
Admission to Candidacy Exam		No		Yes
Comprehensive Exam		Yes (oral)		Yes (written and oral)
Written thesis or dissertation		Yes		Yes
Final oral defense		Yes		Yes

Credit Hour Requirements for MS in Biomedical Engineering:

A total of 30 credit hours are required for the MS in Biomedical Engineering. This includes 12 hours in core BMEN courses, 6 hours in BMEN electives, 3 hours in BMEN or other approved electives, 3 hours in BMEN 798 seminar, and 6 hours of thesis preparation.

Credit Hour Requirements for PhD in Biomedical Engineering:

A total of 60 credit hours are required for the PhD in Biomedical Engineering. This includes 12 hours in core BMEN courses, 9 hours in BMEN electives, 6 hours in BMEN or other approved electives, 3 hours in BMEN 798 seminar, 18 hours in research (797), and 12 hours in dissertation preparation (899).

The following are brief catalog course descriptions of the five required biomedical engineering core courses in the graduate curriculum.

• BMEN 710: Modeling and Simulation of Biomedical Systems
  Catalog Course Description: BMEN 710 – Modeling and Simulation of Biomedical Systems. Analytical and quantitative techniques applied to engineering problems in biomedical transport, tissue mechanics, cellular and organ physiology, and control of medical devices.
• BMEN 713 Human Cell and Molecular Biology for Biomedical Engineers
  Catalog Course Description: BMEN 713- Human Cell and Molecular Biology for Biomedical Engineers. (3) Advanced examination of the organization and function of the cell with emphasis on the biophysical and quantitative aspects of cellular function. Emphasis will be on the biomedical engineering applications of regulation of cell division, protein transcription and translation within the cell, cellular energetics, and intracellular networks for cell signaling and cell function.
• BMEN 720: Transport Phenomena in Biomedical Systems
  Catalog Course Description: BMEN 720 –Transport Phenomena in Biomedical Systems. (3) Conservation of momentum, energy, and mass, physico-chemical properties of biofluids, blood rheology, circulation models and cardiovascular regulation, solute and oxygen transport in tissues, gas transport in lungs and respiratory gas exchange models, kinetics and compartmental modeling, modeling of artificial organs.
• BMEN 723: Anatomy and Physiology for Biomedical Engineers
  Catalog Course Description: BMEN 723- Anatomy and Physiology for Biomedical Engineers. (3) An examination of human biological structure and function from an engineering perspective. Engineering principles will be used to analyze anatomical structures and physiological functions at the tissue, organ, and systems levels.
• BMEN 798: Graduate Seminar in Biomedical Engineering
  Catalog Course Description: BMEN 798 - Biomedical Engineering Seminar. (1) Seminar on current biomedical engineering topics and students presentations. May be repeated for credit.