Biomedical Engineering

Degrees Offered:
 Program Title 

 Ph.D. 

 Ed.D. 

 M.S. 

 M.A. 

Master 
of 

 M.Ed. 

 MFA 
Biomedical Engineering 

 Y 

   

 Y 

   

   

   

   

GRADUATE FACULTY

N. L. Allbritton, Department Head

Distinguished University Research Professor:  D. L. Bitzer
INVISTA Professor of Fiber and Polymer Chemistry:  A. E. Tonelli
William Neal Reynolds Professor:  J. Cavanagh

Professors: C. F. Abrams, N. L. Allbritton, A. J. Banes, M. Chow, R. P. Gardner, E. Grant, R. M. Grossfeld, S. A. Hale, H. Hsiao, C. Kleinstreuer, S. B. Knisley, H. Krim, A. V. Kuznetsov, G. Lazzi, W. Lin, S. R. Lubkin, D. J. Marcellin, N. Monteiro, H. T. Nagle, R. J. Narayan, E. D. Pisano, M. K. Ramasubramanian, S. C. Roe, W. E. Snyder, L. F. Stikeleather, M. K. Stoskopf, D. E. Thrall, M. A. Vouk; Research Professors: W. C. Holton; Adjunct Professors: R. D. Black, S. L. Cooper, B. J. Oberhardt; Emeritus Professors: C. N. Lucas, S. A. Rajala; Associate Professors: G. D. Buckner, P. A. Dayton, R. G. Dennis, M. Gamcsik, R. E. Gorga, M. A. Haider, O. A. Harrysson, D. S. Lalush, E. G. Loboa-Polefka, J. M. Macdonald, M. G. McCord, P. L. Mente, J. F. Muth, M. Olufsen, A. Rabiei, S. Seelecke, C. E. Smith, A. M. Stomp, M. A. Tommerdahl; Research Associate Professors: O. V. Favorov, R. L. Goldberg, S. R. Quint; Adjunct Associate Professors: D. R. Cormier, C. C. Finley; Assistant Professors: C. M. Gallippi, S. M. Gomez, G. S. McCarty, G. S. Sawicki, B. N. Steele, G. M. Walker; Teaching Associate Professors: J. J. Brickley, L. A. Cartee, H. O. Ozturk

Fields of Graduate Instruction - Biomedical Engineering

The Joint Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program is administered by the combined biomedical engineering graduate faculty from both North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  The joint program also has close working relations with the Research Triangle Institute and industry within the Research Triangle area. These associations enable students to obtain research training in a wide variety of fields and facilitate the selection and performance of dissertation research. The department, thus, provides students with excellent opportunities to realize the goal of enhancing medical care through the application of modern technology.

Biomedical engineering is a dynamic field stressing the application of engineering techniques and mathematical analysis to biomedical problems. Faculty research programs are key to the program, and they include bioinformatics and functional genomics; biomechanics and modeling; imaging and biophotonics; neural systems engineering; medical devices and rehabilitation; molecular, cellular, and tissue engineering; biomaterials and medical textiles. Facilities include a biomedical sensors laboratory, a tissue engineering laboratory, tissue and cell mechanics laboratories, and an array of cell culturing and computing resources.

Students enter this program with backgrounds in engineering, physical science, mathematics or biological science.  Curricula are tailored to fit the needs and develop the potential of individual students. In addition, courses in statistics, mathematics, life sciences and engineering sciences provide a well-rounded background of knowledge and skills.

Admission Requirements: Students must satisfy all entrance requirements for the Graduate Schools of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or North Carolina State University and must demonstrate interest and capability commensurate with the quality of the biomedical engineering program. Prospective students may apply to the graduate school at either UNC-CH or NC State. Generally, applications should be submitted by January 1 for consideration for admission in the coming fall semester. Applicants are expected to present Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores; scores for verbal should be at or above the 50th percentile and quantitative should be at or above the 50th percentile to be competitive. The program requires that a one-to-three page personal statement about research interest and background be submitted.

Students should have a good working knowledge of mathematics at least through differential equations, plus two years of physical or engineering science and basic courses in biological science. Deficiencies in preparation can be made up in the first year of graduate training

Master’s Degree Requirements: For students with a strong engineering background a minimum of 31 semester hours of graduate study is required for the M.S. Degree. Three hours must be in thesis and three hours must be in a course intended for graduate students only (the 700 level at NC State or the 700-800 level at UNC-CH). Further information on the BME Master's program can be found on the department website.

Doctoral Degree Requirements: A minimum of 52 semester hours of graduate work is required (beyond the Bachelor's degree). Degree candidates in this program are expected to obtain experience working in a research laboratory during their residence and to demonstrate proficiency in both teaching and research. The Ph.D. dissertation should be judged by the graduate committee to be of publishable quality. The student must meet the Graduate School’s residency requirement at UNC-CH or NC State as appropriate. Further information on the BME Ph.D. program can be found on the department website. 

Required and highly recommended courses: Students are required to take Introduction to Biomedical Engineering Seminar (BMME 400) offered at both UNC-CH and NC State and at least one credit of research experience in the first year of study.  Students must also complete nine credits of graduate engineering topics, eight credits of graduate life science topics, six credits of engineering mathematics, and three credits of statistics. Students may choose from a number of courses to meet these requirements. Such choices are made in consultation with the student's academic advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs/Studies.

Comprehensive and Qualifying Examinations:  Master's students are required to take a Comprehensive examination, encompassing coursework and thesis research.  The Master's Comprehensive exam may be either written or oral, and is administered by the students advisory committee.  Doctoral students qualify for the Ph.D. degree by meeting grade requirements in their core courses, and then advance on to written and oral preliminary exams before admission to candidacy. Details can be found on the department website.

Click on Graduate Courses for more current course information.

For UNC courses, see http://www.bme.ncsu.edu/academics/syllabi.php

NCSU Graduate Catalog