School of Engineering—Department of Bioengineering
Contact Information
- Department Chair: Harvey Borovetz
- Main Office: 749 Benedum Hall
- 412-624-4705
- Fax: 412-383-8788
- E-mail: borovetz@engr.pitt.edu
- www.engr.pitt.edu/bioengineering/main
Additional information concerning the department's graduate program may be obtained from the Department of Bioengineering, 749 Benedum Hall; 412-624-4705; e-mail: bio@engr.pitt.edu; www.engr.pitt.edu/bioengineering/main/graduate.
The Graduate Handbook, which is maintained by the graduate committee, describes the requirements of the program.
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Bioengineering offers the degrees of Master of Science in Bioengineering (MSBENG) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), certificate programs in rehabilitation engineering and clinical cardiovascular engineering, and participates in the MD/PhD program with the School of Medicine and the MBA/MS program with the Katz Graduate School of Business.
The graduate program in bioengineering incorporates four fields:
- Cellular and Organ Engineering
- Biomechanics
- Biosignals and Imaging
- Biosystems and Physiology
The department has an active, interdisciplinary graduate bioengineering program in conjunction with faculty from the School of Medicine, the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, the clinical staffs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospitals, and other departments at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
The graduate program is directed toward engineering and life science education and research, with particular emphasis on the PhD. Its scope is broadly defined to incorporate the application of engineering principles, methods, and technology in two broad areas: (1) scientific queries into fundamental biological phenomena and (2) the development of instrumentation, materials, devices, and systems relative to application in the biological sciences and medicine. Thus, the bioengineering faculty is applying various forms of engineering principles, mathematics, computation, technology, and methodology to a broad variety of medical and life sciences problems.
Applicants for admission are expected to have a minimum QPA of
3.3 from an accredited BS program. They must submit transcripts
of all college-level work, three letters of recommendation, a statement
of purpose, and scores on the verbal, quantitative, and writing
assessment-analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination.
International applicants whose first language is not English are
required to submit the TOEFL, administered by the Educational Testing
Service, with a minimum score of 600. Students with a non-engineering
background are admitted on a case-by-case basis, but are required
to take engineering and math courses considered prerequisite for
graduate course work. In addition to the above basic requirements,
evidence of significant research and/or industrial experience is
very important as further evidence of ability to perform well at
the graduate level. These experiences should be detailed clearly
in recommendation letters, as well as in the student's statement
of purpose. Please note that incomplete applications will not be
considered and will be returned.
Financial Assistance
All doctoral students in the Department of Bioengineering are currently supported either by research or departmental funds. Financial assistance is typically arranged between a student and a faculty advisor. Students with exceptional qualifications will be considered for additional departmental support and fellowships.
The Research MS program requires a total of 36 credits, which includes:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Statistics for Bioengineers—3 credits
- Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering—3 credits
- Life Sciences—6 credits
- Graduate Electives—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- MS Thesis—7 credits
- Teaching Practicum—1 credit
- Bioengineering Seminar—4 credits
The 30-credit, non-thesis, professional MS degree program is available for qualified students who are employed in industry. For detailed information, interested students should contact the chair of the Bioengineering Graduate Committee. The student in the Professional MS program must maintain a 3.0 QPA to remain in good standing within the program. Students who are accepted and enroll in the Professional MS program and who subsequently wish to enter the PhD program must complete the entire PhD application process.
The course requirements for the PhD in bioengineering include the following:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Statistics for Bioengineers—3 credits
- Societal, Political, and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering—3 credits
- Life Sciences—9 credits
- Doctoral Dissertation Research—26 credits
- Teaching Practicum—2 credits
- Bioengineering Seminar—8 credits
- Track Courses—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- Graduate Electives—9 credits
Total number of credit hours: 72 credits (plus the credits associated with the remedial courses, as applicable.) A PhD proposal (comprehensive examination) is presented generally at the end of the second year. A final public PhD defense is made by each PhD candidate based on the student's research work.
The MD/PhD program supports a well-integrated basic and clinical sciences predoctoral training program. The training program links 17 PhD programs in six graduate schools within the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
The course requirements for the MD/PhD in bioengineering include the following:
- Graduate Engineering Mathematics—3 credits
- Statistics for Bioengineers—3 credits
- Track Courses—9 credits (from menu of courses for specific track)
- Graduate Electives—15 credits
- Doctoral Dissertation Research—32 credits
- Teaching Practicum—2 credits
- Bioengineering Seminar—8 credits
Total number of credit hours: 72 credits (plus the credits associated with the remedial courses, as applicable).
Certificate Programs
Clinical Cardiovascular Engineering
The certificate in clinical cardiovascular engineering provides a curriculum for students who desire an advanced education in bioengineering and cardiovascular sciences so that they can become professional practitioners at the interface between cardiovascular technology and medical practice. The certificate requires the completion of a minimum of 24 credits.
Rehabilitation Engineering
The rehabilitation engineering certificate is intended to provide
students interested in gaining knowledge and experience about the
delivery of engineering and assistive technology services to people
with disabilities. Students enrolled in this certificate program
gain insight into the issues faced by individuals with disabilities
and the potential solutions that technology may offer to ameliorate
disability. The certificate includes courses to integrate engineering
skills with clinical skills in medical rehabilitation. This is accomplished
through a series of didactic courses as well as a mentored internship
in a clinical or design environment. Individuals who obtain this
certificate would be able to participate as part of an assistive
design team and be prepared for an entry-level clinical rehabilitation
engineering position. This certificate requires a minimum of 20
credits.
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