Biomedical Engineering MS

RIT’s biomedical engineering MS produces professionals who can innovate solutions for today’s most pressing health care challenges.

Overview for Biomedical Engineering MS

Why Pursue a Biomedical Engineering MS?

STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.
Develop and Improve Technologies: Design equipment, devices, and processes such as artificial internal organs and prosthetics, pharmaceutical development and manufacturing processes, and machines for performing robotic-assisted surgery.
Pathway to Advanced Education: Use your degree as a pipeline to graduate study or an immediate gateway to a dynamic biomedical engineering career.

The biomedical engineering master’s program produces nimble professionals who can leverage the power of technology, design, and engineering to make positive, powerful impacts on human health and patient care.

Biomedical Engineering Is Critical to the Future of Health Care

Biomedical engineering applies the principles and theories of engineering to solve problems in the wide-ranging fields of medicine and health care. Biomedical engineers can be found working alongside scientists, other engineering professionals, and medical practitioners to evaluate the complex, interdependent systems of the human body in order to develop and research effective solutions to improve or enhance a patient’s quality of life. These solutions can range from life-saving devices such as pacemakers and artificial organs; to life-enhancing mechanisms like prosthetics, artificial joints, and wearable medical devices; to medical instrumentation, such as next-generation MRI, CT, that enable more efficient medical procedures; to manufacturing processes involving live cells.

Biomedical Engineering Master's Requirements

Through core courses and electives, RIT’s biomedical engineering master’s program will provide the knowledge you need to develop and define your knowledge of biomedical engineering principles and practices to prepare you to design biomedical engineering systems that result in applications that improve and enhance the health and well-being of patients. The biomedical engineering master's program culminates in a two-course sequence in a biodesign project and presentation. You will conduct an assessment of a medical problem or challenge and develop a solution taking into account stakeholder and market analysis, and regulatory and intellectual property considerations. In the second course, you will use the knowledge gained in the first course to inform an advanced biodesign strategy that includes the design and fabrication of product concepts using rapid prototyping tools.

Careers in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is a rapidly growing field with a variety of career opportunities for students with an interest in combining engineering with medicine. It’s a branch of engineering that uniquely leverages the vast knowledge base of biology and medicine to solve problems focused on health care and the human body. Biomedical engineers combine their knowledge of engineering with biology, anatomy, and physiology to create devices and systems for a variety of healthcare issues. The need for sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, as well as manufacturing processes that use cell culture and tissue culture techniques, has fueled the demand for biomedical engineers who commonly work in multidisciplinary teams to develop devices, equipment, and processes for a number of applications.

Biomedical engineers can be found working in a variety of settings to improve the health and well-being of others, including biocompatibility testing, engineering artificial organs and tissues, developing new drug delivery systems, creating or modifying innovative medical devices, enhancing medical imaging techniques, or designing procedures to meet regulatory requirements: Positions are available in academia, hospitals and clinics, laboratories, manufacturing settings, and more. Biomedical engineers will find dynamic careers in which they are uniquely qualified to:

Design systems and products, such as artificial internal organs, artificial devices that replace body parts, and machines for diagnosing medical problems
Work with life scientists, chemists, and medical scientists to research the engineering aspects of biological systems of humans and animals
Collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to develop new drug therapies
Evaluate the safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of biomedical equipment

Biomedical Engineering: MS A Pathway to an Immediate Career or Advanced Study

The biomedical engineering master's program equips you to launch a career immediately after earning the degree or to pursue advanced study in any number of graduate or professional programs, including engineering, science, medicine, and healthcare professions.

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Careers and Cooperative Education

Cooperative Education

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the opportunity to complete relevant, hands-on engineering co-ops and internships with top companies in every single industry. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart. Learn more about graduate co-op and how it provides you with the career experience employers look for in their next top hires.

Cooperative education is optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the biomedical engineering master’s program.

Featured Work and Profiles

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Curriculum for 2024-2025 for Biomedical Engineering MS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

View Printable Curriculum

Biomedical Engineering, MS degree, typical source sequence

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
First Year
BIME-607	Graduate Biodesign	3
This course is a graduate-level introduction to the biodesign process used for innovating medical technologies. Student teams will apply a needs-based assessment strategy to identify opportunities in a biomedical related field such as assistive technologies and rehabilitation engineering. Incorporating CAD will culminate in a virtual medical device prototype. Concepts of intellectual property, regulatory considerations, and reimbursement and business models will be introduced. (This course is restricted to Graduate students.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
Choose one of the following:		3
BIME-750	Statistical Analysis and Modeling of Biomedical Data
This course will expose student to the basic properties of data collected from biological systems and issues involved in the statistical analysis of such data. Specifically, this course will review the motivations and rationale behind conventional regression models, issues that arise in applying these methods to biological data, and specific extensions of these methods required to obtain meaningful results. Specific examples of these approaches and their application will be given at different levels of biology. The analysis of such problems will require the use of advanced regression techniques directed at resolving the partial confounding that is typical of living (closed loop regulated) systems, applied under statistical software packages (e.g., spreadsheets, graphing, Matlab, SPSS, Simca). (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lab 3 (Biannual).
ISEE-760	Design of Experiments
This course presents an in-depth study of the primary concepts of experimental design. Its applied approach uses theoretical tools acquired in other mathematics and statistics courses. Emphasis is placed on the role of replication and randomization in experimentation. Numerous designs and design strategies are reviewed and implications on data analysis are discussed. Topics include: consideration of type 1 and type 2 errors in experimentation, sample size determination, completely randomized designs, randomized complete block designs, blocking and confounding in experiments, Latin square and Graeco Latin square designs, general factorial designs, the 2k factorial design system, the 3k factorial design system, fractional factorial designs, Taguchi experimentation. (Prerequisites: ISEE-325 or STAT-257 or MATH-252 or MCEE-205 or STAT-205 or equivalent course or students in ISEE-MS, ENGMGT-MS, or MIE-PHD programs.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
MATH-655	Biostatistics
This course is an introduction to the probabilistic models and statistical techniques used in the analysis of biological and medical data. Topics include univariate and multivariate summary techniques, one and two sample parametric and nonparametric inference, censoring, one and two way analysis of variance, and multiple and logistic regression analysis. (This class is restricted to graduate students in COS, KGCOE, GCCIS, CHST or CLA.) Lecture 3 (Spring).
STAT-614	Applied Statistics
Statistical tools for modern data analysis can be used across a range of industries to help you guide organizational, societal and scientific advances. This course is designed to provide an introduction to the tools and techniques to accomplish this. Topics covered will include continuous and discrete distributions, descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, power, estimation, confidence intervals, regression, one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests. (This class is restricted to degree-seeking graduate students or those with permission from instructor.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
STAT-670	Design of Experiments
How to design and analyze experiments, with an emphasis on applications in engineering and the physical sciences. Topics include the role of statistics in scientific experimentation; general principles of design, including randomization, replication, and blocking; replicated and unreplicated two-level factorial designs; two-level fractional-factorial designs; response surface designs. Lecture 3 (Fall, Spring).
BIME-791	Graduate Biomedical Laboratory	4
This course provides students with a variety of lab experiences across many specialties of biomedical engineering. Experiments emphasize proper data collection and analysis as well as critical reading and scientific writing. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking graduate students.) Lab 6, Lecture 2 (Fall).
BIME-792	Project with Paper	6
This course is used by students in the Biomedical Engineering MS degree program as a capstone experience following completion of BIME 607 Graduate Biodesign. Students will learn and apply advanced Biodesign strategies related to intellectual property, regulatory approval, and potential commercialization, completing a series of modules with specific learning goals. The course will include the design and fabrication of product concepts using rapid prototyping tools. Students completing an internship may use that experience as motivation for their project in this course. Students must work with a faculty advisor who will approve their topic and review their progress throughout the completion of this capstone experience. A written paper and presentation of the work as well as a prototype are required. (Prerequisites: BIME-607 or BIME-608 or equivalent course.) Ind Study 6 (Fall, Spring, Summer).
BCEP-795	Graduate Seminar*	2
This seminar course presents topics of contemporary interest to graduate students enrolled in the program. Presentations include off campus speakers, and assistance with progressing on your research. Selected students and faculty may make presentations on current research under way in the department. (This course is available to RIT degree-seeking graduate students.) Lecture 1 (Fall, Spring).
CHME-709	Advanced Engineering Mathematics	3
The course begins with a pertinent review of linear and nonlinear ordinary differential equations and Laplace transforms and their applications to solving engineering problems. It then continues with an in-depth study of vector calculus, complex analysis/integration, and partial differential equations; and their applications in analyzing and solving a variety of engineering problems. Topics include: ordinary and partial differential equations, Laplace transforms, vector calculus, complex functions/analysis, complex integration. Chemical engineering applications will be discussed throughout the course. (Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Chemical Engineering.) Lecture 3 (Fall).
	BME Grad Elective	6
	KGCOE Engineering Elective	3
Total Semester Credit Hours		30

* Students take BCEP-795 twice.

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Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

Offered	Admit Term(s)	Application Deadline	STEM Designated
Full‑time	Fall	February 15 priority deadline; rolling thereafter	Yes

Full-time study is 9+ semester credit hours. International students requiring a visa to study at the RIT Rochester campus must study full‑time.

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Biomedical Engineering MS program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

Complete an online graduate application.
Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college in engineering (or a related scientific or technical field). A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
Submit two letters of recommendation.
Entrance exam requirements: GRE optional but recommended. No minimum score requirement.
Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required. Details are below.

English Language Test Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of the following official English language test scores. Some international applicants may be considered for an English test requirement waiver.

TOEFL	IELTS	PTE Academic
88	6.5	60

International students below the minimum requirement may be considered for conditional admission. Deaf and hard-of-hearing test takers with significant hearing loss do not need to take the listening and speaking sections for the TOEFL and IELTS. Each program requires balanced sub-scores when determining an applicant’s need for additional English language courses.

How to Apply Start or Manage Your Application

Cost and Financial Aid

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September 13, 2024

Gaborski named department head for RIT Biomedical Engineering Department

For the fall 2024 academic year, Gaborski has been appointed department head and will oversee a program that has expanded since it began to include more than 300 students in undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs.
August 27, 2024

RIT offers new master’s degrees in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, and project management

The new engineering master’s degrees will serve to meet demands in increasing renewable energies, personalized healthcare technologies, and diagnostic system improvements. The project management MS allows students the ability to better specialize to their specific interests, giving them a competitive edge in their field of interest and making them more valuable to an employer.
April 1, 2024

RIT faculty member becomes fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering

Becoming an AIMBE Fellow is one of the organization's most prestigious honors, representing the most accomplished individuals across academia, industry, education, clinical practice, and government.