M.S. in Biomedical Engineering

Program Overview

The M.S. in Biomedical Engineering is a 30-credit degree program that typically takes 1.5 to 2 years for full-time students. It is structured to foster independent scholarly work while providing flexibility to align with individual student interests and career goals. The curriculum is delivered through a blend of core courses and a significant number of electives, allowing for specialization. Students can pursue the program both on-campus and fully online, catering to diverse learning needs, including those of working professionals seeking to advance their expertise. The program has a strong track record of career success, with 86% of its graduates employed within six months of graduation and a mean compensation of $80,000.

STEM-designated: Yes, the Stevens Institute of Technology M.S. in Biomedical Engineering program is STEM-designated. This is a significant advantage, particularly for international students. The STEM designation makes them eligible for a 24-month extension of their Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the United States, allowing for a total of up to three years of valuable post-graduation work experience. This designation underscores the program's rigorous scientific, engineering, and quantitative focus, which is highly valued by employers in the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.

ABET Accredited: While ABET accreditation primarily focuses on undergraduate engineering programs to ensure foundational quality, Stevens Institute of Technology's undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program is indeed accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET. For master's programs, ABET accreditation is less common and often not a primary indicator of quality, as master's programs are designed for specialization and advanced study building upon an accredited undergraduate foundation. The institutional accreditation for Stevens comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which assures the overall quality of the university and its programs.

Curriculum: The 30-credit curriculum includes 3 core courses (9 credits) and 7 elective courses (21 credits). Students can choose to specialize in various concentrations, such as Medical Devices, Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine; Rehabilitation and Biomechanics; or Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence. Sample core courses include topics related to fundamental biomedical engineering principles. Electives allow students to delve into advanced areas like Cardiopulmonary Mechanics and Physiology, Advanced Biomechanics, Introduction to Brain-Machine Interfaces, Medical Instrumentation and Imaging, Machine Learning in Biomedical Engineering, and Microscopy Imaging in Biological Systems. Students also have the option to pursue a Master's Thesis (3 credits) or a 3-credit research project, offering opportunities for in-depth scholarly work.

Research Focus: The M.S. in Biomedical Engineering program at Stevens has a strong research focus, emphasizing cross-disciplinary thinking and collaboration. The Department of Biomedical Engineering is home to numerous state-of-the-art labs and centers, including the Semcer Center for Healthcare Innovation, a hub for interdisciplinary biomedical research and tissue engineering. Faculty are actively engaged in cutting-edge research in diverse areas such as biomechanics (from cellular to whole-body motion), control systems, engineering physiology (e.g., neural engineering, lung mechanics), biomedical imaging (biophotonics, image processing), and tissue engineering (3D cultured tissue constructs, regenerative medicine). Students are encouraged to participate in these groundbreaking research projects, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to significant innovations in healthcare technologies.

Industry Engagement: Stevens Institute of Technology places a very high priority on industry engagement for its Biomedical Engineering program. Its advantageous location in the New York-New Jersey area, a global hub for pharmaceutical, medical research, and technology, provides unparalleled access to medical device companies, pharmaceutical firms, and clinical research institutions. The program offers robust internship possibilities and collaborative projects with leading organizations, allowing students to gain real-world experience and build professional networks. Faculty often have strong ties to industry, bringing practical insights into the classroom, and the program's design-oriented approach helps students pursue new technologies from concept through commercialization, directly aligning with industry needs.

Global Perspective: Stevens Institute of Technology fosters a global perspective within its M.S. in Biomedical Engineering program through its diverse international student population and the worldwide reach of biomedical challenges. The university actively attracts students from numerous countries, enriching classroom discussions with varied insights into global healthcare systems, medical device regulations, and public health issues. The innovative solutions developed in biomedical engineering, such as new medical devices or regenerative therapies, have universal application, preparing graduates to contribute to healthcare advancements and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects that span national borders, ensuring they are well-equipped for careers in a globally interconnected professional landscape.