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Director: Bruce C. Wheeler
3120 Digital Computer Laboratory
1304 West Sprinfield Avenue
(217) 333-1867
E-mail: bioen@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Bioengineering offers studies leading to the Master of Science in Bioengineering and the Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering.
Admission
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in a natural science, computer science or engineering. They should show evidence of strong quantitative skills and of serious interest in the life sciences. Applicants with a grade point average of greater than 3.0 may be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program. In addition, applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit results from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. International students whose native language is not English are required to have a minimum paper-based TOEFL score of 600 (250 on the computer-based test).
Advising
Entering graduate students are assigned an individual Diagnostic Committee that prescribes coursework to assure breadth of knowledge in both the life and engineering sciences as well as sufficient depth to pursue appropriate research or career goals. The Bioengineering Graduate Committee appoints the Diagnostic Committee and each student’s Qualifying Examination Committee. The Bioengineering Graduate Committee must approve all course schedules.
Master of Science
The M.S. Degree is offered as either a thesis option or a non-thesis/coursework only option.
The M.S. degree (thesis option) requires the completion of a minimum of nine units of graduate level credit in the following categories: (a) Bioen 400 (graduate seminar), ½ unit; Bioen 401 (journal reading), ¼ unit; Bioen 402 (professionalism), ¼ unit; (b) two units of Bioen 499 (thesis); and (c) six units of formal, graded, graduate course work. Of the formal coursework, two units of 400-level credit must be completed in a focus area in either engineering or the life sciences; if the focus area is engineering, an additional 400 unit must be taken in a life science area; if the focus area is in the life sciences, an additional 400 level unit must be taken in engineering. All coursework must be approved by the Bioengineering Graduate Committee. Students must complete a thesis that is approved by the department head or his/her delegate.
The M.S. degree (non-thesis / coursework only option) requires the completion of a minimum of ten units of graduate level credit in the following categories: (a) Bioen 400 (graduate seminar), ½ unit; Bioen 401 (journal reading), ¼ unit; Bioen 402 (professionalism), ¼ unit; (b) seven units of formal, graded, graduate course work; and (c) one unit which may be any graduate level course. Of the formal coursework, two units of 400-level credit must be completed in a focus area in either engineering or the life sciences; if the focus area is engineering, an additional 400 unit must be taken in a life science area; if the focus area is the life sciences, an additional 400 level unit must be taken in engineering. All coursework must be approved by the Bioengineering Graduate Committee.
Doctor of Philosophy
Admission to Ph.D. candidacy is based on the faculty's evaluation of the student's research potential, scholastic competence as evidenced by grades and class rank, and satisfactory performance on the Ph.D. qualifying examination. The qualifying examination consists of both oral and written parts, and is usually taken in the third term of residence. The minimum requirements for the Ph.D. degree are twenty four units of course credit; consisting of an M.S. degree (typically 9 units) or equivalent and seven units of course credit beyond the M.S. degree; successful completion of the preliminary examination; eight units of thesis research; a satisfactory thesis embodying an original research contribution; and a satisfactory defense of the thesis in a final examination. All course schedules must be approved by the Bioengineering Graduate Committee. The preliminary examination is an individual oral examination that focuses on the student's proposed thesis research. Students are also required to attend a departmental seminar during every semester of study. Up to 1 unit of seminar course credit can be counted towards the Ph.D. course work requirement. This can be used to achieve the twenty- four units for the Ph.D. if, for example, a student entered the program with an eight unit M.S. degree instead of a nine unit M.S degree.
Financial Aid
Qualified students may apply for financial aid in the form of fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, and waivers of tuition and service fees.
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