Apply basic sciences and engineering to solve biomedical problems. Gain comprehensive research experience.

UW Bioengineering’s thesis-based Master of Science students bring diverse experience from a variety of academic disciplines to solve biomedical problems using basic science and engineering principles while gaining comprehensive research experience.

Master of Science program at a glance

  • Interdisciplinary approach: Students gain interdisciplinary knowledge of mathematics, engineering principles, physics, chemistry, physiology and modern biology.
  • Research experience: Students undertake a significant research project, and prepare a thesis documenting their work, which they must defend in a final oral examination.
  • Skills-building curriculum: Students complete a core curriculum focused on developing skills essential to professional growth and success in independent research.

Master of Science program features

A student can expect to complete the program in six to eight quarters (2 years). A student progressing on schedule can expect to follow this timeline:

  1. Prior to the first quarter identify which track to pursue (BPS: Bioengineering Professional Series or PTC: Program on Technology Commercialization).
  2. By the end of the second quarter, find a research adviser to collaborate on a plan of study and research, and who will supervise the thesis.
  3. By the end of Autumn Quarter of the second year in the program, form a Supervisory Committee (no less than 2 members).
  4. Within one quarter of establishing the Committee, the Supervisory Committee must review and approve the student’s academic plan.
  5. By the end of the second year, determine project status and prepare to write the thesis.
  6. During the final quarter, submit a M.S. request with the Graduate School and defend the thesis.

Thesis and final examination

The thesis must demonstrate the author’s ability to solve a problem independently and to describe the solution clearly and succinctly. Students must orally defend the thesis via the Final Examination. The thesis must show the way that the problem was posed, the methods used for its solution and the solution of the problem. The thesis should suggest the importance of the results and their application to other problems of the same kind. The thesis is based on work performed while taking at least nine credits of BIOEN 700.

MS requirements (Minimum 36 credits)

Core courses (4 credits minimum from either track):

  • Bioengineering Professional Series (BPS) Track: BIOEN 530: Literature Analysis (2 credits, CR/NC), BIOEN 531: Grant Writing (2 credits) or BIOEN 532: Professional Development (1 credit, CR/NC)
  • Program on Technology Commercialization (PTC) track: BIOEN 504: PTC I (4 credits) or BIOEN 505: PTC II (4 credits)

Statistics (3 credits minimum):

  • BIOSTAT 511, 517, 524; STAT 502, 504, 509, 512, or UCONJ 510 (2 cr, approved by petition when submitting the student plan)

Electives (19 credits minimum of bioengineering-related, PI-approved electives):

  • 6 credits must have a BIOEN prefix and be graded
  • 2 credits can be CR/NC

Additional MS requirements

  • Students will complete 1-2 laboratory rotations. The laboratory rotations occur during the first year of the MS degree.
  • 18 credits must be at the 500-level
  • 18 graded credits must be at the 400/500-level
  • 9 credits must have a BIOEN prefix
  • Students must complete 9 thesis research credits of BIOEN 700 prior to MS graduation
  • 36 total credits