MS Student Handbook | Relevant Resources | Administrative Information
Handbook for students a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Marquette University and Medical College of Wisconsin Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Biomedical Engineering (BME) is an interdisciplinary field that is based on the application of engineering principles and experimental and analytical techniques to the development of biologics, materials, devices, implants, processes, and systems that advance biology and medicine and improve medical practice and health care.
The Master of Science (MS) degree in BME is awarded in recognition of marked scholarly attainment in a major area of specialization in BME. In addition to didactic coursework, students are required to complete a thesis and pass an oral comprehensive examination as part of their thesis defense.
Graduates of accredited colleges or universities that have earned a bachelor's degree in various engineering, physical science or life science disciplines, or equivalent are eligible for admission to the MS degree program in BME. To qualify for admission, applicants must have, as a minimum, a "B" average (GPA of 3.0 out 4.0) in their total post-secondary school education. Students admitted into the MS degree program who do not have an engineering degree must complete prerequisite engineering coursework. Additional information on prerequisite coursework can be found in section V-2, Coursework, Pre-requisite Coursework.
All applicants, regardless of status sought, must submit the following documents to the MU Graduate School.
Priority deadlines for completed applications for fall and spring admission are June 1st and December 15th, respectively. Normally, no application is considered for admission until it is complete. The required documents are:
Admission is not official until the student is notified of acceptance by the MU Graduate School. Admission cannot be made final until an official transcript has been received indicating the conferral of an undergraduate degree. If a student fails to register for courses within two years after the date of application for admission, the student's file will be discarded.
Upon enrolling in the joint MU-MCW MS degree program in BME, a student should select one of the following specializations/tracks.
The student’s Academic Advisor and Thesis Director then work with the student to design the appropriate curriculum and research program. This will include courses in engineering, biology, mathematics, and medicine, all of which are integrated with research laboratory experience.
Learn more about current research in the Marquette-MCW Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
A maximum of 6 semester hours of approved graduate coursework in a Graduate Program from other institutions may be transferred into a student's MS degree Program with the consent of the MU Graduate School Dean and the BME Department Chairperson. Under special circumstances, when courses from other institutions are directly comparable in content to those at MU, up to 12 semester hours may be transferred. A course will be considered for transfer credit only if the grade is "B" or better and completed for graduate credit at the institution at which it was taken no more than five years before the start of the MU-MCW MS degree program in BME. Students applying for transfer credit must complete the appropriate form available from the MU Graduate School after completion of at least 6 semester hours at Marquette (9 semester hours if on probation).
A total of 30 graduate credit hours are required. A thesis is mandatory, and a student must register for 6 hours of thesis credit. The remaining 24 graduate credits didactic coursework should include formal courses as defined at the end of this Handbook, and consist of:
For the 24 graduate credits didactic coursework, the following also applies:
Students who have a non-engineering undergraduate degree in the sciences (biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, etc.) may be admitted into the joint MU-MCW MS degree program in BME on a conditional status contingent on successful completion (grade of B or better) of a sequence of leveling courses. These courses are intended to allow the student to successfully complete their MS research and to prepare them for technical challenges they will encounter during their careers.
The following is a list of pre-requisite leveling courses:
Equivalent courses completed prior to application to the MS degree program can be used to satisfy these pre-requisite courses.
To gain regular status, a student must complete these pre-requisite courses with grade of B or better. Cost effective online courses could be used to satisfy these pre-requisite courses. Approval from the Director/Co-Director of BME Graduate Studies is needed prior to enrolling in online courses. Graduate tuition waiver does not cover these pre-requisite courses.
The maximum load for a semester is 13 credits of coursework. However, for an MS student serving as a TA, the maximum load for a semester is 9 credits of coursework. For summer session and inter-session courses, the maximum load is the number of credit hours equal to the number of weeks in the session. The Dean of the MU Graduate School must approve all credit overloads.
Independent study courses (BIEN 6995) are offered for capable and highly motivated students. They are not intended as substitute courses for those offered through the joint BME Department. Rather, they are intended to provide a unique tutorial experience in which topics not covered in the existing curriculum may be explored in detail. Normally only one such course can be used for the MS degree requirements.
A maximum of 3 credits of BIEN 6995 course work can be credited toward the 24 non-thesis credit hours.
Satisfactory academic work is not solely determined by course grades. However, grades are an important factor in the evaluation process. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate, and students with a GPA under 3.0 are placed on probationary status. An "I" grade will be regarded as a "C" grade in evaluating academic progress in the BME MS Program. Incomplete grades must be cleared by the date specified in the academic calendar or they will automatically become the grade of IP (permanent incomplete).
The Thesis Director and/or Academic Advisor will submit an annual academic progress report to the Department regarding each graduate student. The Chairperson of the BME Department evaluates the academic progress of all graduate students at the end of each academic semester. If a student is not performing satisfactory work, the student and the Dean of the MU Graduate School will be notified in writing and copied to the MCW Graduate School. The student may be counseled to withdraw or placed on warning. The Dean of the MU Graduate School will be asked to drop the student counseled to withdraw.
Each MS degree student must submit an outline of the proposed thesis on an "Outline for Dissertation, Thesis, Professional Project or Essay" form for approval by the Thesis Director, the Chairperson of BME Department, and the Dean of the MU Graduate School. An acceptable MS degree thesis must meet each of the following four conditions:
The Thesis Committee is comprised of at least three members approved by the BME Department Chairperson. The Chairperson/Director of the Thesis Committee must have a primary or secondary/adjunct faculty appointment in the joint BME Department. In addition, the Chairperson/Director of the Thesis Committee must have competence in the proposed area of research, hold a terminal degree in their discipline, be an active scholar, and have an MCW Graduate School Faculty Member Appointment at the PhD level. At least one person on the Thesis Committee must be a primary faculty member in the joint BME Department. At least two of the committee members must have a regular (primary/secondary) appointment in the joint BME Department.
All candidates for the MS degree must defend their thesis work to the satisfaction of the Thesis Committee. Additionally, they must successfully pass an Oral Comprehensive Examination on the total MS program of studies. The Oral Comprehensive Examination is administered at the time of the Thesis Defense. If a student fails the examination, the Department will review the student's entire record, and, if warranted, a second (final) examination will be given.
Copies of the thesis must be submitted by the student to the Thesis Committee at least two weeks in advance of the thesis defense and oral comprehensive examination.
The Thesis Committee Director will inform the Chairperson of the joint BME Department of the outcome of the examination, who in turn files this information with the MU Graduate School in a "Master's Comprehensive Examination Report" form. It is the obligation of the student to arrange a time and place on campus for their Thesis Defense and Oral Comprehensive Examination that are suitable for all Thesis Committee members, and to meet all appropriate deadlines indicated in the MU Graduate School "Academic Calendar."
When the student prepares for their defense, it must be noted that the academic timeline and terms between the two institutions throughout the school year do not perfectly align. here are a few points in time during the year where Marquette’s calendar may be in one term, while MCW’s calendar is in another. When applying for graduation, the student would apply under (Current Term) Graduation at Marquette while also applying under (Current Term) Graduation at MCW. The student should work with the department administration as well as the graduate school to confirm dates and ensure that the correct applications for graduation have been submitted.
Additional information regarding graduation and graduation request processes can be found on the Marquette Graduate School Graduation Instructions page.
Go to MU Graduation Instructions page
The Learning Objectives of the joint BME MS degree program and their assessment provide tools that ensure continuous quality improvement. Graduates earning the MS degree will be able to:
Students are required to obtain the forms from the Graduate School to ensure that they are the latest versions. Most are available from their web site.
If you have questions concerning dates and deadlines, refer to the Marquette University Graduate School Academic Calendar published annually.
It is each student’s responsibility to satisfy all program requirements, ensure that all forms are completed and filed appropriately, and ensure that all deadlines are met. All Graduate Students must notify the MU BME Department Office of their intent to graduate at the same time they notify the MU Graduate School.
Note: A change from non-degree status to degree status requires a new “Application for Admission” be submitted to the Graduate School.
The advising system is designed to assist and guide the graduate student from the first day of admission into graduate school. The process includes an orientation meeting, distribution of the Graduate Student Handbook and assignment of an academic advisor.
When a student is admitted to the graduate program in BME, an advisor in the student’s area of interest is assigned by the Director/Co-Director of Graduate Studies (DGS/Co-DGS) of BME to assist with any problems and in course selection. The Academic Advisor will assist the student in preparing a coursework plan, and for MS program the Academic Advisor will also help the student identify an appropriate Thesis Director.
A student may have more than one Academic Advisor, with access to student electronic records. A student may request an addition or change of Academic Advisor by requesting the change in writing to the DGS/Co-DGS and providing the names of the current and proposed Academic Advisors. The DGS/Co-DGS will review the request. If the change is allowed, electronic access to the student’s records will be given to the new Academic Advisor(s).
The letter grades A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, W, SC/SNC, UC/UNC, I and X will be assigned for graduate course work at the end of each semester. Detailed explanations of these grades are given in the MU Graduate School Bulletin.
View Marquette Graduate School Grading System
Any student may consult their instructor about the grades received for work done. The exercise of this right neither requires a fixed procedure nor is subject to procedural conditions. Final graduate course grades assigned in the BME Department may be appealed following the procedures given below, provided that this action is initiated before the first day of class of the next regular semester following the issuance of the grade.
The Academic Advisor will submit annual academic progress reports to the BME Department regarding each graduate student. The BME Chairperson evaluates the academic progress of all graduate students at the end of the semester. If a student is not performing satisfactory work, the student and the Dean of MU Graduate School will be notified in writing.
The student may be counseled to withdraw. The Dean of MU Graduate School may be asked to place the student on probation, register a voluntary withdrawal, or administratively withdraw students so counseled.
Upon detection of academic dishonesty, the student involved will automatically receive an "F" grade in the course. Beyond this, additional credit for graduation may be required or expulsion from the school may result depending on the nature of the offense and the MU Graduate School Dean's decision according to the University policy. Refer to the MU Graduate Bulletin for “Definitions of Academic Dishonesty” and its consequences and to the University statement regarding “Research Misconduct”.
Once you have decided which courses you will be taking at MCW, you must inform the MU BME Department’s Administrative Assistant. Take for example the Human Physiology course at MCW – you would first contact the MU BME Department Administrative Assistant and provide her with the course number, professor, and number of credits. This procedure assures that you get MU credit for taking the class. The MU BME Department Administrative Assistant will grant consent for you to register. Next, you must register at MU for BIEN 6947. Choose the section that corresponds to the total number of credits you’re taking at MCW that semester. Furthermore, you MUST register at the MCW Graduate School. Your earned grade will show up on your MU transcript. NOTE: the MCW classes may start considerably earlier or later than the MU classes and the weekly meeting schedule may vary. It is your responsibility to register for BIEN 6947.
A non-exhaustive list of existing pertinent graduate courses has been provided by the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering.
View Pertinent Graduate Courses
You must request continuous enrollment when you are not registering for any specific course work at MU (when finished with coursework and thesis credits, but still doing your research work) or when you are not carrying sufficient course load so as to maintain full-time enrollment status. To request continuous enrollment, you must fill out the “Graduate School Continuous Enrollment Registration Form” and pay the appropriate fee. This completed form must be signed by your advisor and returned to the BME Department office, Olin Room 206. Consent will be provided for you to enroll. You must register for BIEN 9xxx according to the nature of your continuous enrollment. The details are explained on the form, which is included at the end of this handbook. The Bursar will bill you the appropriate fee for continuous enrollment.
Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant and Research Fellow Holidays and Leave
Nine-month (academic year) Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants are contracted to work from August to May. Full-time, twelve-month RA’s and Research Fellows work 12 months per year. For each week of the 9 or 12 month award, the TA or RA is expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week beyond the work that pertains to the thesis or to the laboratory course TA assignment. Exceptions include the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve. These holidays are the University’s Administrative holidays, not the Academic (or student) holidays. Twelve month Research Fellows and 12-month RA’s are allowed to take up to 2 weeks vacation per year.
You must discuss any deviations from the above with your thesis director.
Four major categories of financial aid are available to degree-status graduate students in BME: scholarships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and loans. Students admitted on probation are not eligible for financial aid, but may be considered once probation has been removed. The term of financial aid is normally for one academic year (10 months), but in some instances may be for one semester (5 months). Limited amounts of financial aid are available during the summer.
Students seeking financial aid other than loans are normally required to submit an "Application for Financial Aid" to the MU Graduate School no later than February 15 of the academic year prior to the one for which aid is being sought.
More information can be found on Marquette's Graduate School web page, Funding Your Education.
Visit Marquette's Graduate Financial Assistance page
DOWNLOAD MS HANDBOOK 2024 (PDF)
For your convenience, please find a links to resources referenced in the MU-MCW Joint Department of BME MS Handbook, 2024.
The digital version of this handbook was last updated Spring 2024, reviewed and approved by Drs. Said Audi and Ranjan Dash.
For questions or concerns regarding the included handbooks or any of the resources referenced herein, please contact BME Education Coordinator Denise Perea.
