Bioengineering

The Program

The master’s degree in bioengineering is a 30-credit-hour program designed to prepare students in an area of rapid growth and profound impact on society. The curriculum consists of courses specifically designed to provide a comprehensive background in the bioengineering field. Bioengineering courses are 3 credit hours and most are offered in the evening from 6:00 to 8:45 p.m.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for this program consist of a minimum of 30 graduate-level semester credit hours (beyond an undergraduate degree from an accredited engineering program) and includes 6 credit hours of core courses, 15-18 credit hours of bioengineering elective courses, 3-6 credits of bioengineering cognate elective courses, and 3-6 credit hours of general cognate elective courses. Students must earn a C or better in every graduate course to be credited toward the degree requirements. In addition, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Accelerated Bioengineering 4+1 Option

Students eligible to pursue the Bioengineering 4+1 Option or the Dual Bioengineering/Mechanical Engineering Accelerated Undergraduate/Master’s Studies Option may count up to 9 credits in the graduate program toward their undergraduate bioengineering major or undergraduate mechanical engineering major . Of these, only one cognate course is allowed. In practice with the usual graduate student program rules, accelerated master's students may also transfer a maximum of 6 additional 500 level credits toward the 30-credit master's degree.

Laboratory Facilities

The bioengineering laboratory is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in tissue engineering, biomechanics, and developing and characterizing biomaterials. The laboratory houses standard equipment and facilities required for biomaterial development, biomechanical testing, and tissue engineering. Equipment available for biomechanical testing includes eight axial test machines, a high rate tensile/compressive impact tester, a high speed imaging system, environmental chambers, and assorted fixtures.

Faculty

The BENG program faculty are engaged in research in orthopaedic biomechanics, human movement, ocular biomechanics, impact safety, biomaterials, tissue engineering, hypoxia, protein engineering, cellular engineering, biomineraliztion, biomimetics, biopreservation, bioprocessing, drug delivery, nanotheranostics, pharmaceutical formulation, microspectroscopy, thermogravimetrics, biophotonics, microoptics, biosensors, MEMS, and microfluidics.

Assistantships/Financial Assistance

Research assistantships may be available to exceptionally qualified students who are not otherwise employed. Tuition scholarships are available to qualified full-time graduate students. Find out more about bioengineering faculty and their research areas.

Requirements

Core Courses

BENG 520Adv Molecular and Cell Biology 13
ME 518Advanced Engineering Analysis 13
1

ME 518 and BENG 520 should be taken by all students within the first year of enrollment in the program.

Bioengineering Electives

5-6 courses (15-18 credit hours) from the following list:
BENG 521Biomatls and Biochem Interface3
BENG 526Fundamentals of Drug Delivery 23
BENG 550Biophotonics and Optical Metrology 23
BENG 551Microfluidics 23
BENG 560Nanobiosystems Engineering 23
BENG 570Advanced Biomechanics 23
BENG 571Impact Biomechanics3
BENG 575Regenerative Engineering 23
BENG 580Mechanotransduction 23
BENG 595Digital Manufacturing and Product Innovation 23
BENG 600Study or Research in BENG1-3
BENG 699Master's Thesis 16
1

The student has the option of electing a thesis in lieu of 6 credit hours of coursework in the bioengineering electives area.

2

Simultaneous credit toward the BSE Bioengineering major or BSE Mechanical Engineering major and MSE Bioengineering for students admitted to the 4+1 option. Please see the College's website for admission requirements and program details.

Cognate Courses

Students must elect at least 1 course (at least 3 credits) from the Bioengineering Cognate list and at least 1 course (at least 3 credits) from the General Cognate list. The total number of bioengineering and general cognate electives cannot exceed 3 courses (9 credits). 

Bioengineering Cognates

1-2 courses (3-6 credit hours); select any 1-2 courses from the following list:
BIOL 552Med & Env Toxicology3
BIOL 561Advances in Cell Biology2
ME 510Finite Element Methods 23
ME 523Sustainability Science and Engineering3
ME 555Computational Uncertainty Quantification for Engineering Applications 23
ME 568Computational Materials Design3
ME 569Introduction to Materials Characterization3

General Cognates

1-2 courses (3-6 credit hours); select any 1-2 courses from the following list:
CIS 515Computer Graphics3
CIS 551Advanced Computer Graphics3
ECE 502Electromag Theory & Simul3
ECE 545Intro Robot Syst3
ECE 552Fuzzy Systems3
ECE 554Embedded Systems3
ECE 580Digital Signal Processing3
ECE 5831Pat Rec & Neural Netwks3
ECE 585Pattern Recognition3
IMSE 501Human Factors & Ergonomics3
IMSE 510Probability & Statistical Mod3
IMSE 511Design and Analysis of Exp3
IMSE 514Multivariate Statistics3
IMSE 543Industrial Ergonomics3
IMSE 544Industrial Biomechanics3
IMSE 545Vehicle Ergonomics I3
IMSE 546Safety Engineering3
IMSE 561Tot Qual Mgmt and Six Sigma3
IMSE 567Reliability Analysis3
MATH 504Dynamical Systems3
MATH 514Finite Difference Methods for Differential Equations3
MATH 516Finite Element Methods for Differential Equations3
MATH 520Stochastic Processes3
MATH 523Applied Linear Algebra3
MATH 554Fourier Series and Boundary Value Problems3
MATH 555Functions of a Complex Variable with Applications3
MATH 562Mathematical Modeling3
MATH 572Introduction to Numerical Analysis3
MATH 573Matrix Computation3
ME 522Advanced Fluid Mechanics3
ME 525Computational Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer 23
ME 540Mechanical Vibrations3
ME 542Advanced Dynamics3
ME 564Linear Systems Control 23
ME 565Mechatronics3
ME 574Advanced Heat Transfer3
ME 589Composite Materials3
ME 591Degradation of Materials 23
STAT 530Applied Regression Analysis3
STAT 531Machine Learning and Computational Statistics3
STAT 535Data Analysis and Modeling3
STAT 560Time Series Analysis3

BENG 520     Adv Molecular and Cell Biology     3 Credit Hours

This course introduces the cell and molecular biology concepts from an engineering perspective and provides the foundation for modern biotechnology and bioengineering. This course is designed for a first year engineering graduate student to develop a comprehensive understanding of relevant applications in biology, including biochemical, cellular organizational, metabolic and genetics aspects. Advanced concepts including genomics, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology and evolution are discussed. The course provides exposure to several key techniques used in biological engineering laboratories. Students will have chance to present and discuss individual application through team project. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Doctorate or Rackham or Graduate or
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 521     Biomatls and Biochem Interface     3 Credit Hours

The course will provide graduate-level foundation on biomaterials science and principles. Specifically, the course will involve discussion on the importance of surfaces and interfaces in biomaterial function and elements controlling host responses to materials, introduction to biomimetic and rational designing approaches, and develop critical analyses of biomaterials through reading research papers and developing projects. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 526     Fundamentals of Drug Delivery     3 Credit Hours

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding on the concepts in drug delivery from an engineering perspective. The course will cover drug delivery mechanisms, quantitative understanding of drug transport, nanotechnology, drug delivery devices, toxicity and immune response, FDA regulations, clinical trials and technology transfer. The course will conclude with a design project on nanoparticles development for targeted drug delivery. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 550     Biophotonics and Optical Metrology     3 Credit Hours

The recent explosion of interest in minimally invasive medical diagnostics and contactless metrology has been fueled in part by the development of novel optics and photonics. A large number of optically-based imaging and sensing techniques have moved beyond research laboratories into medical clinics, materials engineering, and industrial applications. Topics include design principles of optical instrumentation, techniques for diagnostics and metrology, and elastic and inelastic light scattering theory. Applications include optical metrology, confocal and multiphoton microscopy, light propagation and tomographic imaging in tissues, and design of minimally invasive spectroscopic systems. Optical systems design is included as a class project. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 551     Microfluidics     3 Credit Hours

Microscaled systems and devices have enhanced reaction rates, predictable fluid mechanics, reduced reagent volumes, and a cheaper path to rapid prototyping. These advantages benefit many biomedical and processes engineering applications that require sensitive molecular detection and precise flow controls. In this course, a range of microsystem techniques will be discussed, including those based on microfluidics, MEMS, and optofluidics. The lectures will be accompanied by student-driven design projects that will be conducted in 3-hour laboratories. (YR).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate or Doctorate or
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 560     Nanobiosystems Engineering     3 Credit Hours

Nanobiosystems Engineering is an emerging frontier in nanotechnology. It integrates materials science, bioengineering, physics and life science with the biological and biochemical applications. This fast-developing interdisciplinary field holds the promise to solve many of the medical problems of future. The course will introduce advanced concepts related to nanomaterials and nanofabrication and their application in medicine. The course will also focus on design and development of nano-devices for the applications of pharmaceuticals and healthcare. Typcial applications including nano-biosensor, targeted drug delivery, and tissue engineering will also be discussed. Students in Bioengineering will have chance to present and discuss individual application through team project. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 570     Advanced Biomechanics     3 Credit Hours

This course covers intermediate level subject matter on structural biomechanics, analysis and design. Topics include: soft tissues biomechanics, human motion analysis including gait, orthopedic implants. fixation and reconstruction, head impact and injury, advanced bone models. (YR) (YR).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 571     Impact Biomechanics     3 Credit Hours

This course focuses on the understanding of the behavior of human organs, bone and tissue at their point of mechanical or functional failure. Topics will include research methods in injury biomechanics, injury tolerance of the structures and materials of the head, brain, spine, thorax, abdomen and extremities and injury prevention focusing on safety equipment. Federal motor vehicle safety standards will be discussed. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Level is
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 575     Regenerative Engineering     3 Credit Hours

This course will discuss principles of tissue engineering whereby the properties of stem as well as primary cells, growth factors, and extracellular matrix and their impact in the development of engineered tissue constructs will be explored. In addition, the course will also focus on supporting/enabling technologies typically utilized in engineering these constructs including nano-and micro-fabrication techniques, 3D printing, micro-patterning as well designing principles of bioreactors, and drug and gene delivery techniques. Additionally, various tissue engineering applications will be discussed including synthetic tissues and organs that are currently under development for regenerative medicine application. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Doctorate or Rackham or Graduate or

BENG 580     Mechanotransduction     3 Credit Hours

This course will provide a basic understanding of mechanotransduction and mechanobiology from the perspective of various microenvironments and how the aspects of these microenvironments drive cellular development, homeostasis, health, and disease. Students will learn how to read, interpret, and present information found in research articles as well as design novel bioreactor systems for physiologically relevant microenvironments that recapitulate the major mechanical forces and attributes of particular tissues and diseases. Students will gain group work and presentation experience through the design and presentation of these designs to their classmates. (OC).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate or Doctorate or
Can enroll if Major is Bioengineering

BENG 595     Digital Manufacturing and Product Innovation     3 Credit Hours

This combined lecture and hands on project course aims to train students to optimize the interplay of materials, people, machines and profitability. The course introduces methods to identify product concepts with commercial potential. Student teams will perform market analysis and explore the intellectual property space around their ideas and rapidly iterate them into a final prototype via direct digital manufacturing (e.g., 3D CAD/CAM files manifested via digital printing or machining). Advanced instruction on direct digital manufacturing tools will be given, and customer response will be used as feedback. Early stage prototypes will progress into more sophisticated designs, scaling up (cost, pricing, tooling, process flow and automation) scenario planning for mass manufacturing as well as Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) will be discussed. (W,YR)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate or Doctorate or
Can enroll if Major is , Bioengineering

BENG 600     Study or Research in BENG     1 to 3 Credit Hours

Individual study or research in an area of bioengineering under supervision of a faculty member. The student will submit a written report at the close of the term. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Doctorate or Rackham or Graduate or

BENG 699     Master's Thesis     1 to 6 Credit Hours

Research project in the area of bioengineering conducted under supervision of a program faculty member. While guided by a faculty member, a student electing this course is expected to carry out the work him-or herself. Successful completion of the course requires completion and public defense of a written thesis. A student must satisfactorily complete all 6 credit hours, which can be distributed over multiple semesters. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Rackham or Graduate

*An asterisk denotes that a course may be taken concurrently.

Frequency of Offering

The following abbreviations are used to denote the frequency of offering: (F) fall term; (W) winter term; (S) summer term; (F, W) fall and winter terms; (YR) once a year; (AY) alternating years; (OC) offered occasionally

Learning Goals

  1. Students will be able to demonstrate ability to apply physical, chemical, and mathematical principles in bioengineering.
  2. Students will be able to formulate, analyze, and solve complex health related problems using bioengineering tools.
  3. Students will be able to utilize the rapidly advancing science and technologies of bioengineering in their professional endeavors.