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 pre-requisite engineering coursework (see section d.ii).
All applicants, regardless of status sought, must submit the following documents with the Marquette University (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.
Medical devices are at the heart of biomedical engineering, and faculty in the MU-MCW Department of Biomedical Engineering have proficiency in instrumentation, biomaterials, medical device testing and design, and clinical and regulatory expertise. This broad base of skills and expertise positions our department at the forefront of medical device innovation.
Research theme: Medical Devices & Bioinstrumentation
Simply put, Biomechanics is the study of the structure, function and motion of the mechanical aspects of biological systems. When applied to the human body, biomechanics describes how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together to produce movement under neuromuscular control.
Research theme: Biomechanics & Rehabilitation Bioengineering
The Biomedical Imaging Engineering research groups in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering focus on developing new techniques to noninvasively visualize the structure and function of living objects for clinical analysis and medical intervention.
Research theme: Biomedical Imaging
Tissues may become damaged due to injury or disease. Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering is a research specialization in Biomedical Engineering which seeks to repair or replace damaged tissues, such as heart valves, blood vessels, skin, cartilage, or bone by gaining understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the damage and regeneration.
Research theme: Molecular, Cellular & Tissue Engineering
Computational Modeling is the practice of using computer models and systems to simulate complex biological processes. Computational modeling has many applications in medicine, which include improving our understanding of human physiology, visualizing and interpreting experimental data, and designing novel therapies.
Research theme: Computational Systems Biology & Medicine
The Neural Engineering and Neurorehabilitation research groups in the MU-MCW Department of Biomedical Engineering focus on the brain, the nervous system, and motor control. Researchers use a variety of engineering tools to analyze neurological function and provide engineering solutions for problems associated with neurological pathologies, disabilities, limitations, and dysfunction.
Research theme: Neural Engineering & Neurorehabilitation
These tracks correspond to the BME Department’s research themes, as indicated above. To learn more about the research themes, please visit the BME Department research website.
A maximum of 6 credit 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 Dean of the MU Graduate School and the Chairperson of the BME Department. Under special circumstances, when courses from other institutions are directly comparable in content to those at MU/MCW, up to 12 credit 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 credit hours at Marquette (9 credit 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 (BIEN 6999). 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 a 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 Teaching Assistant (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 coursework can be credited toward the 24 graduate credits of didactic coursework.
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 probation. 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/Proposal for Thesis, Essay, Professional Project/Publication" form for approval by the Thesis Director, the Chairperson of the 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 Chairperson of the BME Department. 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. The student should email all committee members a list of completed didactic courses prior to the Oral Comprehensive Examination. 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, along with a list of completed didactic courses, 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 Chairperson/Director of the Thesis Committee will inform the Chairperson of the 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. There 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.
Prior to the deadline posted in the MU Graduate Bulletin, each student planning to graduate must apply for graduation with the MU Graduate School Office.
A student must complete all of the requirements for a MS degree within six years. If courses from other universities are transferred into the BME MS degree program and if those courses were taken prior to work at MU and MCW, the beginning date of the first course will be used to establish the beginning of the student’s time period.
The Learning Objectives of the Joint MU-MCW MS degree program in BME 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 that all deadlines are met. All Graduate Students must notify the MU/MCW 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.
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.
See here for the MCW 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 Chairperson of the BME Department 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 the MU Graduate School will be notified in writing.
The student may be counseled to withdraw. The Dean of the 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 Dean of the MU Graduate School'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 the student has decided which courses they will be taking at MCW, the student must inform the MU/MCW BME Department’s Administrative Assistant. Take for example the Human Physiology course at MCW – the student would first contact the MU/MCW BME Department Administrative Assistant and provide them with the course number, instructor, and number of credits. This procedure assures that the student receives MU credit for taking the class. The MU/MCW BME Department Administrative Assistant will grant consent for the student to register. Next, the student must register at MU for BIEN 6947. Choose the section that corresponds to the total number of credits being taking at MCW that semester. Furthermore, the student MUST register at the MCW Graduate School. The earned grade will appear up on the student’s 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 the student’s responsibility to register for BIEN 6947.
Students must request continuous enrollment when not registering for any specific course work at MU (i.e. when finished with coursework and thesis credits, but still performing research work) or when not carrying sufficient course load so as to maintain full-time enrollment status. To request continuous enrollment, the student must fill out the “Graduate School Continuous Enrollment Registration Form” and pay the appropriate fee. This completed form must be signed by the student’s Academic Advisor and returned to the MU/MCW BME Department office, Olin Room 289. Consent will be provided to enroll. Students must register for BIEN 9xxx according to the nature of their continuous enrollment. The details are explained on the form. The Bursar will bill for the appropriate fee for continuous enrollment.
Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant and Research Fellow Holidays and Leave
Nine-month (academic year) Teaching Assistants (TA) and Research Assistants (RA) 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 of vacation per year.
Students must discuss any deviations from the above with their 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. For more information see the MU Graduate School website.
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, 2025.
The digital version of this handbook was last updated Fall 2025, 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.
