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MS Program Requirements
Advising
Each department or program in the Henry Samueli School of
Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list
of graduate advisers may be obtained from the Office of the Associate
Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli
School of Engineering and Applied Science. This list is also available
from the Department of Bioengineering. Students are assigned a faculty
adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written
request from the student. All faculty in the School serve as advisers.
New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the
faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S.
degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during
the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and
the study list approved. Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records
are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser
and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention
is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation.
If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in
writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Students
are strongly urged to consult with the program student office staff and/or
the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements,
and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought
on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for
taking Ph.D. preliminary examination for those who choose the comprehensive
examination option, on the procedures for filing the thesis for those
who choose the thesis option, and on the use of the Filing Fee. Students
are also urged to become familiar with the sections on Termination of
Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination at the end of this document.
Areas of Study
Biocybernetics
Graduate study in biocybernetics is intended for science
or engineering students interested in systems biology or biosystems, with
the emphasis on systems and integration. This encompasses the systems
engineering/cybernetics-based integrative machinery for studying hierarchical
and/or integrative properties or behavior of living systems. This includes
regulation, control, communication, integration and intercommunication
mechanisms and their associated measurement, visualization and mathematical
and computer modeling. The program provides directed interdisciplinary
biosystem studies, to establish a solid foundation in system and information
science, mathematical modeling, measurement, and integrative biosystem
science, as well as related, specialized life science domain studies.
The program fosters careers in research and teaching in systems biology,
engineering, medicine, and/or the biomedical sciences, or research and
development in the biomedical or pharmaceutical industry.
Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering
Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering provides an intense
graduate training in the manipulation and characterization of both biomaterials
and cells: Structure-property-performance of modern biomaterials; design
and processing of biomaterials to engineering the appropriate three dimensional
microenvironment with the specified temporal spatial presentation of molecular,
biochemical, biomechanical, and bioelectrial cues to activate the appropriate
pattern of signal transduction and simulation of progenitor cells to regenerate
functional tissues;modeling of interactions between host and biomaterials,
multi-scale biomechanics, and moving boundary problems in maturing tissues;
manipulation of cellular and molecular components to direct cell fate
and function toward applications in regenerative medicine and other therapeutic
and diagnostic devices.
Biomedical Instrumentation
This program is designed to train biomedical engineers interested in the
applications and development of instrumentation used in medicine and biotechnology.
Examples include the use of lasers in surgery and diagnostics, sensors
for detecting and monitoring of disease, and microelectromechnical systems
(MEMS) devices for controlled drug delivery, surgery, or genetics. The
principles underlying each instrument and the specific needs in medical
application will be emphasized.
Biomedical Signal/Image Processing and Bioinformatics
The field of biomedical signal/image processing and bioinformatics encompasses
techniques for the acquisition, processing, classification, and analysis
of digital biomedical information. The program is designed to provide
advanced training in processing biomedical signals, images, and related
information, classification, and analysis of biomedical data, and decision
support of clinical processes. Sample applications include: (1) digital
imaging research utilizing modalities ranging from x-ray imaging, MR and
CT, to PET and SPECT, to optical microscopy, to combinations such as PET/MR;
(2) signal processing research on hearing to voice recognition to wireless
sensors; and (3) bioinformatics research ranging from image segmentation
for content-based retrieval from databases to correlating clinical findings
with genomic markers. Graduates of this program will be able to integrate
advanced digital processing and artificial intelligence technologies with
health care activities and biomedical research. They will be prepared
for careers involving innovation in the fields of signal processing, medical
imaging, and medical-related informatics in either industry or academia.
Medical Imaging Informatics
The Medical imaging informatics encompasses topics
related to medical knowledge representation, information extraction and
structuring, information distribution, information architectures and retrieval,
and image processing/understanding. Graduates of medical imaging informatics
programs are able to conduct basic or applied research at the intersection
of medicine with computer and cognitive sciences, and are familiar with
the use and potential of modern information technologies. This program
aims: 1) to enable students from engineering backgrounds to become familiar
with aspects of clinical/medical environments, such that they are able
to appropriately apply their skills and knowledge in these domains; 2)
to enable students from medical backgrounds to gain sufficient expertise
in current information and engineering technologies to address specific
problems within clinical environments; and 3) to enable all students in
this program to be experts within the field of medical imaging informatics,
becoming experienced in dealing with diverse biomedical data. An important
part of the training program is its multidisciplinary community for students
and faculty from several disciplines (e.g., Schools of Engineering, Medicine,
Information & Library Sciences, and Public Health), engaging them
in the growing area of medical imaging informatics. The program consists
of a core curriculum that all students must fulfill in their first year;
thereafter, the program allows for flexibility in the choice of courses
to permit specialization in research. Students are guided towards careers
in both academia and the healthcare industry.
Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering
The field of molecular and cellular bioengineering
encompasses the engineering of therapeutic proteins enzymes, cellular
metabolism, biological signal transduction, trafficking of proteins in
cells, drug delivery vehicles, and cell-cell interactions. The emphasis
of research is on the fundamental basis for diagnosis, disease treatment,
and redesign of cellular functions at the molecular level. This field
of study interacts closely with others such as bioinstrumentation (MEMS),
tissue engineering, and neuroengineering. Graduates of this program are
targeted principally for employment in academia; in government research
laboratories; and in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomedical
industries.
Neuroengineering
The neuroengineering program is a joint endeavor between the interdepartmental
degree programs in Neuroscience in the School of Medicine and Biomedical
Engineering in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science,
with the active involvement of scientists and technologists from the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. The objectives of the neuroengineering sub-field
are (1) to enable students with a background in engineering to develop
and execute projects that address problems that have a neuroscientific
base, including locomotion and pattern generation, central control of
movement, and the processing of sensory information; (2) to enable students
with a background in biological science to develop and execute projects
that make use of state-of-the-art technology, such as microelectromechanical
systems (MEMS), signal processing and photonics; in preparing students
to use new technology, the program also will introduce them to basic concepts
in engineering that are applicable to the study of systems neuroscience,
such as signal processing, communication and information theory; and (3)
to enable students to develop the capacity for the multidisciplinary team
work that is necessary for new scientific insights and dramatic technological
progress. Courses and research projects are co-sponsored by faculty in
the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Brain
Research Institute (BRI).
Foreign Language Requirement
None
Course Requirements
For all fields other than medical imaging informatics,
at least 12 courses (42 units) are required, at least eight of which must
be from the 200 series. For the field of medical imaging informatics,
11 courses (40 units) are required, all of which must be from the 200
series. For the thesis plan, seven of the 12 must be formal courses and
two must be 598 courses involving work on the thesis. For the comprehensive
examination plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward
the minimum course requirement. Lower division courses may not be applied
toward a graduate degree. To remain in good academic standing, an M.S.
student must maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 and a grade-point
average of 3.0 in graduate courses.
By the end of the first quarter in residence, students design a course
program in consultation with and approved by their faculty adviser.
Group I consists of core courses. Students are required to take all of
the courses in this group as indicated in each field.
Group II consists of elective courses. Students are required to fulfill
the remaining of the course requirements from courses in this group as
indicated in each field.
Biocybernetics
Group I: Biomedical Engineering C201, CM202, CM203, CM286B, CM286C, and
either Biomedical Engineering M296A or Biomathematics 220.
Group II: Biomathematics 206, CM208C, M230, Biomedical Engineering M248,
M296D, Computer Science 161, 170A, 267B, Electrical Engineering 113, 131A,132A,
141, 142, 211A, 211B, M214A, 214B, 232E, CM250A, CM250L, M252, 260A, 260B,
Mathematics 151A, 151B, 155, 170A, Physics 210B, 231B, Statistics 100A,
100B, and other courses approved by the field committee.
Biomechanics, Biomaterials, and Tissue Engineering
Group I: Biomedical Engineering C201, C204, C205, C206 and two from the
following: Bioengineering 176, Biomedical Engineering CM240, CM280, C283,
C285, C287, MCDB 100, 104, 138, M140, 165A, 168.
Group II: Students are expected to fulfill the remaining course requirements
from courses in this group posted on the Biomedical Engineering website.
Biomedical Instrumentation
Group I: Biomedical Engineering C201, C204, C205, C206, CM 250A, andElectrical
Engineering 100.
Group II: Students are expected to fulfill the remaining course requirements
from courses in this group posted on the Biomedical Engineering website.
Biomedical Signal / Image Processing and Bioinformatics
Group I: Biomedical Engineering C201, CM202, CM203,
M214A, Electrical Engineering 113, 211A.
Group II: Biomedical Engineering M248, Biomedical Physics 200A, 200B,
219, 222, Biostatistics 420, Computer Science 143, 161, Electrical Engineering
211B, 214B.
Remedial courses are taken as necessary. Students without exposure to
signal processing are recommended to take: Electrical Engineering 102,
Program in Computing 10A, 10B.
Medical Imaging Informatics
Group I: Biomedical Engineering 220, 221, 223A, 223B,
223C, 224A, 224B, 226, 227, 228, Human Genetics 210.
Group II: Biomedical Physics 210, 214, Biostatistics 213, M234, 276, Computer
Science 217A, 240A, 240B, 241A, 241B, 244A, 245A, 246, 262A, 262B, M262C,
263A, 263B, 265A, 268, M276A, 276B, Electrical Engineering 206A, 211A,
211B, M217, Information Studies 228, 246, 272, 277, Linguistics 218, 232,
Neuroscience CM272
.
Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering
Group I: Biomedical Engineering C201, C204, C205, C206, and two courses
from the following: Bioengineering 100, Biomathematics 220, M270, M271,
Biomedical Engineering M186A, CM286B, CM286C, M215, M225, CM245, C283,
Chemistry and Biochemistry CM253, Computer Science 170A, Mathematics 146,
151A, Physiological Science135, Statistics 200B.
Group II: Students are expected to fulfill the remaining course requirements
from courses in this group posted on the Biomedical Engineering website.
Neuroengineering
Group I: Biomedical Engineering M260, Neuroscience
M202, 207, either Biomedical Engineering M263 or Neuroscience 205, and
any other graduate-level engineering courses approved by the student's
adviser and the Neuroengineering field chair.
Group II: Biomedical Engineering C201, M214A, CM250A, , M261A, M261B,
M261C, Electrical Engineering 113, 115A, 131B, 136, 142, 210A, 231A, CM250L,
M252, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 284, Neuroscience 102, M201,
M273, 274, Physiology 220.
Remedial courses are taken as necessary. For students without previous
exposure to neuroscience, Neuroscience M101A and M101B. For students without
previous exposure to signal processing and information theory, Electrical
Engineering 102.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Field Experience
Not required.
Comprehensive Examination Plan
The comprehensive examination plan, available for all
fields except medical imaging informatics, requires a passing grade on
the written portion of the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination. Students who
fail the examination may repeat it once only, subject to the approval
of the faculty examination committee. Students who fail the examination
twice are not permitted to submit a thesis and are subject to termination.
The oral component of the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination is not required
for the M.S. degree.
Thesis Plan
New students who choose this plan are expected to submit
the name of the thesis adviser to the Graduate Adviser by the end of their
first quarter in residence. The thesis adviser serves as chair of the
thesis committee.
A research thesis (eight units of Biomedical Engineering 598) is to be
written on a biomedical engineering topic approved by the thesis adviser.
The thesis committee consists of the thesis adviser and two other qualified
faculty members who are selected from a current list of designated members
for the interdepartmental program.
Time-to-Degree
The normal length of time for completion of the M.S. degree under the
comprehensive examination plan is one year. The normal length of time
for completion of the M.S. degree under the thesis plan is two years.
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