Bioengineering
Interim Head : Bruce C. Wheeler
Graduate Program Director: Michael F. Insana
Program Coordinator: Sam Smucker
3120 Digital Computer Laboratory
1304 West Springfield 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. All applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL score of at least 590 (paper-based), 243 (computer-based), or 97 (iBT). Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL if certain criteria are met. TOEFL scores below 610 (paper-based), 253 (computer-based), or 102 (iBT) indicate the need for further English study. This consists of enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses based on an ESL Placement Test (EPT) taken upon arrival at the University.
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 36 graduate hours of credit in the following categories: (a) BIOE 500 (graduate seminar), two hours; BIOE 501 (seminar discussion), one hour; BIOE 502 (professionalism), one hour; (b) one hour of BIOE 599 (thesis); and (c) 24 hours of formal, graded, graduate course work. Of the formal coursework, eight hours of 500-level credit must be completed in a focus area in either engineering or the life sciences; if the focus area is engineering, an additional four hours of 500-level credit must be taken in a life science area; if the focus area is in the life sciences, an additional four hours of 500-level credit 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 40 graduate hours of credit in the following categories: (a) BIOE 500 (graduate seminar), two hours; BIOE 501 (seminar discussion), one hour; BIOE 502 (professionalism), one hour; (b) 28 hours of formal, graded, graduate course work; and (c) four credit hours which may be any graduate level course. Of the formal coursework, eight hours of 500-level credit must be completed in a focus area in either engineering or the life sciences; if the focus area is engineering, an additional four hours of 500-level credit must be taken in a life science area; if the focus area is the life sciences, an additional four hours of 500-level credit 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 96 graduate hours of course credit; consisting of an M.S. degree (typically 36 hours) or equivalent and 28 hours of course credit beyond the M.S. degree; successful completion of the preliminary examination; 32 hours 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 four hours of seminar course credit can be counted towards the Ph.D. course work requirement. This can be used to achieve the 96 hours for the Ph.D. if, for example, a student entered the program with a 32-hour M.S. degree instead of a 36-hour 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. All applicants, regardless of U.S. citizenship, whose native language is not English and who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships must take the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and achieve a score of 50.