The Bioengineering faculty within the Department of Chemical, Bio, and Materials Engineering offer graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Bioengineering. Areas of study include biochemical engineering, bioelectrical engineering, biomechanical engineering, biosystems/biotransport engineering, bioinstrumentation, biomaterial engineering, and biocontrol engineering. Research topics include artificial organs, biocontrol systems, biomechanics, bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, biosystems engineering, biotechnology, cardiovascular engineering, cellular and tissue bioengineering, neural bioengineering, noninvasive imaging, and rehabilitation engineering.
Graduate Record Examination. Graduate Record Examination scores are required from all students.
Transition Program. Students applying to the Bioengineering M.S. or Ph.D. degree programs may have an undergraduate B.S. degree in a major field other than Bioengineering. The qualifications of transition students are reviewed by the department graduate committee and a special program of transition course work is designed for successful applicants. In general, transition students should have had, or be prepared to take, calculus through ordinary differential equations, physics, inorganic chemistry, and a number of undergraduate engineering courses in order to be prepared for graduate bioengineering courses. Other course work from the undergraduate program may be required depending upon the research topic selected by the student. Transition students should contact the graduate coordinator to evaluate the undergraduate transcript.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
See “Master’s Degrees” for information on the Master of Science degree.
Program of Study. All candidates pursuing a M.S. degree in Bioengineering are required to complete an approved program of study consisting of the minimum required semester hours, including research and thesis. Special course requirements for the different areas of study are established by the faculty and are available from the Department of Chemical, Bio, and Materials Engineering. Part-time students must successfully complete a research seminar course for at least three semesters during the course of study. Candidates whose undergraduate degree was in a field other than bioengineering may be required to complete more than 30 semester hours of credit on the program of study.
Research Seminar Requirements. In addition to the course work and thesis requirements, all full-time master’s degree students must successfully complete a research seminar course during each semester of attendance.
Thesis Requirements. A written thesis is required.
Final Examinations. A final oral examination in defense of the thesis is required.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The Ph.D. degree in Bioengineering is conferred upon evidence of excellence in research resulting in a scholarly dissertation that is a contribution to knowledge.
See “Doctor of Philosophy” for general requirements.
Program of Study. Upon admission of the applicant with regular or provisional status, a supervisory committee (program committee) is appointed. This committee is responsible for the guidance and direction of the student’s graduate program of study. The program committee is composed of a minimum of three faculty members, including a chair. Generally, the student’s graduate advisor serves as chair of the program committee. The program committee advises the student in developing a program of study and assumes primary responsibility in assessing the student’s progress in the program.
Research Seminar Requirements. In addition to the course work and dissertation requirements, all full-time doctoral students must successfully complete a research seminar course during each semester of attendance.
Qualifying Examination. A qualifying exam is administered to test the student’s mastery of basic engineering fundamentals. The examination is usually taken early in the student’s program of study (after two semesters of residence at ASU, and no later than three semesters). A student must express in writing the intention to take the exam to the department graduate committee through the graduate coordinator.
Foreign Language Requirements. None.
Comprehensive Examinations. When the Ph.D. student has essentially completed the course work in the approved program of study, the student is given a written comprehensive examination covering the field of study. The written examination is followed by an oral examination.
Admission to Candidacy and Appointment of Dissertation Committee. After the student passes the comprehensive examinations, a dissertation committee composed of at least five faculty members is appointed. The dissertation committee meets to approve the student’s dissertation prospectus. Generally, the prospectus should include a pertinent review of the literature, a statement of the proposed study, the hypothesis to be tested, a description of the research design, a discussion of the specific data to be collected, and a description of the means by which the data is to be analyzed. After the dissertation committee has approved the prospectus, the student applies to the Graduate College for admission to candidacy.
Dissertation Requirements. A dissertation based on original work demonstrating creativity in research and scholarly proficiency in the subject area is required. The dissertation is expected to reflect and contribute significantly to knowledge. It must clearly indicate mastery of research methods.
Final Examinations. A final oral examination in defense of the dissertation is required.
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
Biosystems Engineering/Biotransport. Medical device design and development, physiological transport phenomena, mathematical simulation of physiological processes, cardiac assistance, cardiovascular engineering, and immunomodulation.
Biomaterials. Hard tissue fixation, development of biocompatibility indices, blood/material interactions, and tissue/material interactions. Scanning probe characterizations.
Bioinstrumentation. Medical diagnostic and therapeutic instrumentation, noninvasive medical imaging, biosensors, bioelectric signal processing, cardiac electrophysiology, bioelectronic device design, bioelectronics, and neurostimulation.
Biomechanics and Biocontrol. Optimal strategies for human movement, head and neck coordination/movement, gait analysis, control of anthrorobotic and neuroprosthetic systems, and control strategies for patients with spinal cord injuries. Rehabilitation engineering, aids for the handicapped. Orthopedic replacement devices, orthotic devices, spinal biomechanics, and sport biomechanics.
Biotechnology. Hybrid biosensors, biological separations, tissue engineering, membrane separation processes, and optical biomolecular devices.
Neuroengineering. Neuromuscular stimulation, neuroprosthesis development, and neurocontrol.
Omnibus Graduate Courses: See omnibus graduate courses that may be offered.
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