The School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems
The School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems is a nationally recognized center for research in biomedical engineering and science. The School offers multidisciplinary instruction on a full- and part-time basis at the graduate level and full-time instruction at the undergraduate level.
The faculty includes individuals with engineering, physics, mathematics, biostatistics, life science, medical, and clinical specialties. Multidisciplinary research is carried out through collaboration among Drexel University faculty members and with several medical schools and hospitals in the Philadelphia area.
The School offers MS and PhD programs in Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Science. Areas of specialization available or under development include biomechanics, rehabilitation, biomaterials and tissue engineering, biosensors and biomedical imaging, biostatistics, genome science and bioinformatics, human factors and performance engineering, neuroengineering, and systems biology.
About the School
The School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems (formerly the Biomedical Engineering and Science Institute, founded in 1961) is a leader in biomedical engineering and biomedical science research and education. The undergraduate program was inaugurated in September 1998 and has steadily grown to attract the highest ability students at the University. The program has received accreditation by the Accreditation Board of Engineering Technology (ABET) in 2002 and again in 2008.
Our academic thrust areas, both in research and education, are at the forefront of biosensing, bioimaging, bioinformation engineering and integrated bioinformatics, drug delivery, biomedical ultrasound & optics, bionanotechnology, cellular tissue engineering, neuroengineering and human performance. Emerging initiatives include skin bioengineering, pediatric engineering and homeland security technologies. Various departments at Drexel University offer courses that are suited for students in biomedical engineering and biomedical science. Our curriculum complements the strengths of the Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Information Science, Law and Medicine. As a whole, our curriculum offers the advanced knowledge needed for industrial careers, health professions, graduate research or careers in highly specialized fields such as pre-professional health (medical, dental, and veterinary) and pre-law.
The marriage of technology with biology and medicine drives the 21st Century industrial enterprise. Consistent with this mission, we strive for clinical and industrial relevance in our academic pursuits. We enjoy a strong entrepreneurship program in biomedical technologies. Our alliance with regional economic development agencies and corporations together with our advisors from business development, legal, and investment communities sustains the growth of this program. The students and faculty of the School are committed to move their discoveries from our laboratories to clinical practice or home use. The success of our Translational Research in Biomedical Technologies Program has been recognized and funded regionally as well as nationally.
Our School has experienced remarkable growth in recent years thanks to our outstanding research portfolio, high quality and innovative undergraduate program, and our multidisciplinary approach to education and research. Another competitive advantage of our School is the unique free-standing university-level administrative structure with its own tenure-track faculty lines, budget and space. This helps us transcend the traditional organizational boundaries of engineering, sciences and medicine. Our independence allows us to pursue growth and collaborations in various disciplines. Our small size gives us agility to reconfigure and reorganize in response to emerging opportunities. The University Strategic Plan recognizes our School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems as “Drexel’s prototype of academic integration. ”
Metropolitan Philadelphia has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of medical institutions and pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and systems industry. The School has forged strategic partnerships with select universities, research institutes, health care institutions and industries in the region. We enjoy a close working relationship with our Drexel College of Medicine as well as alliances with prominent medical institutions in the region to develop joint research and educational programs. These include University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, the Fox Chase Cancer Center and the Wistar Institute. These collaborative initiatives provide students with ample opportunities in basic and clinical research as well as innovative academic programs.
Applicants to the graduate program must meet the requirements for admission to graduate studies at Drexel University. Candidates for degrees in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems are required to maintain academics standards applicable to all graduate students at Drexel University.
Program Objectives
The overall objective of the graduate programs offered by the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems is to provide multidisciplinary curricula with an instructional core and research opportunities for students. Graduate biomedical engineering students are typically individuals with undergraduate degrees in engineering, physical sciences, or mathematics. The core curriculum provides the necessary training in life and medical sciences, modeling and simulation, and biomedical engineering applications to allow students to apply their engineering skills and perspective to solve current problems in biology and medicine. Areas in which students may focus their advanced studies and research attention include biomechanics and biomaterials, cellular and tissue engineering, biomedical sensing and imaging, human factors and performance engineering, neuroengineering, and bioinformatics. Students without an academic background in engineering or physical science who wish to enter the biomedical engineering program may enroll in the Crossover Program.
The core courses in the Biomedical Science program are designed to educate life-science students in quantitative analysis, mathematical modeling, systems analysis, and fundamental computational and informatics skills. Students are then encouraged to combine their knowledge of the life sciences with their newly acquired analytical skills to focus in such areas as tissue engineering and/or bioinformatics.
A recent agreement with the Interdepartmental Medical Science Program at the Drexel College of Medicine allows students to spend one year taking courses at the College of Medicine and their second year at the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems—leading to a Master's degree in Biomedical Science.
A non-thesis MS degree is available to non-traditional students seeking advanced studies in biomedical engineering and biomedical science to enhance their careers.
Admission Requirements
Acceptance for graduate study at Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems requires a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the United States or equivalent international institution. Regular acceptance requires a minimal cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale for the last two years of undergraduate work, and for any graduate level work undertaken.
Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems normally requires a TOEFL score of at least 260. Verbal, analytical, and quantitative scores on the GRE General Test are recommended for admission and are required for financial assistantship consideration.
The School practices a rolling admissions policy--students are able to apply at any term during the year, but students are encouraged to matriculate in the fall to ensure proper sequence of coursework.
In addition to the School's requirements, students must satisfy the requirements of the Office of Research and Graduate Studies in matters such as academic standing, thesis, examinations, and time limits.
Students without an academic background in engineering or physical science should review information about the Crossover Program.
Financial Assistance
Financial support for qualified students pursuing studies toward the MS and PhD degrees is available in the form of research assistantships, teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships, and fellowships.
Calhoun Graduate Assistantships are supported by the School's Calhoun Endowment. To be considered for a fellowship, students must submit GRE scores along with all their application materials. The application deadline is February 28 for the following academic year. For more information, please contact Dr. Rami Seliktar.
Dean's Fellowships are available for outstanding applicants to the School when other forms of financial assistance are not available. This Fellowship provides approximately 40% of a student's tuition for the first year and is renewable depending on the student's academic performance. Fellowship applicants must be seeking full-time study only at the master's level. Other requirements include a GPA of 3.5 or better in their bachelor's program and submission of GRE scores. For international students, a TOEFL score of 260 or better is required. For more information regarding international applicant requirements, view the International Students Admissions Information page.
For further assistance, students should contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
All applicants will automatically be considered for departmental assistantships. There is no additional paperwork to apply. Applicants interested in graduate assistantships must submit GRE scores. These awards are based on academic merit.
About Graduate Co-op
Drexel University’s long tradition in the field of experiential learning has now been extended into many of its master’s programs in science, business, and engineering.
This option, called Graduate Co-op, provides students with the opportunity to gain work experience directly related to their career goals while earning academic credit. Students who have earned a minimum of 24 credits with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to participate. Employment typically lasts six months, during which students enroll in a special 3 credit GCP course coinciding with their term of employment. Students gain work experience while earning salaries. It is important to note that the GCP program does not guarantee a job. It is a market-driven process for the candidates as well as employers. GCP provides the tools and contacts; the student must qualify for the job on the basis of merit, qualifications, and skills.
Further information on the GCP program is available at the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center.
