Biomedical Science MS

Major: Biomedical Science
Degree Awarded: Master of Science (MS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 45.0
Co-op Option: Available for full-time, on-campus master's-level students
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 26.0102
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-1042

About the Program

The Biomedical Science program at the School of Biomedical Engineering and Science applies fundamental biological research, analysis and technology to human health. The distinguishing program educates students whose undergraduate education is in basic life sciences (e.g., biology) or paramedical disciplines in the development of analytical and therapeutic systems and approaches, predictive modeling and quantitative data analysis. For students entering with degrees in physics, mathematics, and/or computer science, the School, in close collaboration with the Department of Biology, provides the coursework needed to acquire proficiency in the life sciences.

Master's students can choose to include a six-month graduate co-op cycle as part of their studies, supported by Drexel's Steinbright Career Development Center.

Students may also choose to enroll in concentrations such as pediatric engineering, biomedical technology development, cell and gene therapy, bioinformatics, or neuroengineering. Students who graduate with a master's degree from the biomedical science program often continue clinical training in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine; pursue further graduate study toward the PhD degree; or work in industry in such fields as health care, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology or advanced therapeutics.

Additional Information

Natalia Broz
Associate Director for Graduate Programs
School of Biomedical Engineering and Science
Email: njb33@drexel.edu

Andres Kriete, PhD
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
School of Biomedical Engineering and Science
Email: ak3652@drexel.edu

For more information, visit the The School of Biomedical Engineering and Science website.

Degree Requirements

The core requirements for the master's in biomedical science encompass approximately 45.0 course credits (most courses carry three credits each). Students who choose the non-thesis option cannot register for thesis or research credits. 

The curriculum includes room for specialization in several areas in biomedical engineering, as well as concentrations in biomaterials and tissue engineering, bioinformatics and biomedical technology development.

Concentrations

Five concentrations are available:

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

Biomaterials and tissue engineering is designed to provide students with advanced training in cellular and molecular biology relevant to tissue engineering and behavior of materials used in biomedical applications.

Bioinformatics

This specialization emphasized a systems engineering approach to provide a foundation in systems biology and pathology informatics. Students are provided with hands-on experience in the application of genomic, proteomic, and other large-scale information to biomedical engineering as well as experience in advanced computational methods used in systems biology: pathway and circuitry, feedback and control, machine learning, stochastic analysis, and biostatistics.

Biomedical Technology Development

This concentration area aims to provide engineers with the comprehensive education and training necessary to succeed in careers in business, industry, non-profit organizations, and government agencies involving biomedical technology development.

Pediatric Engineering

​This concentration provides a foundation for future scientific and technical careers in pediatric engineering, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Neuroengineering

This concentration aims to train students to develop a fundamental understanding of neural systems, operational principles of neurotechnologies, and approaches to apply scientific and engineering concepts to repair nervous system for clinical applications or enhance its functional performance.

Cell and Gene Therapy Engineering

This concentration provides students with the foundations of cell and gene engineering, involving various techniques to modify or manipulate the characteristics of living cells for treatment purposes, including immune engineering and gene therapy.

Required Courses
BMES 505Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences I3.0
BMES 506Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences II3.0
BMES 510Biomedical Statistics4.0
BMES 515Experimental Design in Biomedical Research4.0
BMES 538Biomedical Ethics and Law3.0
BMES 543Quantitative Systems Biology3.0-4.0
or BMES 611 Biological Control Systems
BMES 546Biocomputational Languages4.0
or BMES 550 Advanced Biocomputational Languages
BMES 864Seminar (Must be taken 3 times)0.0
BMES Electives
Select a minimum of 15.0 credits from the list below15.0-21.0
Cardiovascular Engineering
Entrepreneurship for Biomedical Engineering and Science
Intermediate Biostatistics
Interpretation of Biomedical Data
Introduction to Biosensors
Advanced Biosensors
Pediatric Engineering I
Pediatric Engineering II
Chronobioengineering I
Chronobioengineering II
Design Thinking for Biomedical Engineers
Introduction to Product Design for Biomedical Engineers
Nano and Molecular Mechanics of Biological Materials
Quantitative Systems Biology
Genome Information Engineering
Machine Learning in Biomedical Applications
Structural Bioinformatics and Drug Design
Genomic and Sequencing Technologies
Biomedical Signal Processing
Medical Device Development
Pharmacogenomics
Medical Imaging Systems I
Medical Imaging Systems II
Medical Imaging Systems III
Principles of Neuroimaging
Tissue Engineering I
Tissue Engineering II
Biomedical Mechanics I
Biomedical Mechanics II
Transport Phenomena in Living Systems I
Biomaterials I
Biomaterials II
Biosimulation I
Biosimulation II
Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Manufacturing and Regulatory Requirements
Techniques in Cell Engineering and Gene Therapy
Introduction to Immune Engineering
Advanced Topics in Immune Engineering
Experimental Methods in Neuroengineering
Neural Signals
Principles in Neuroengineering
Systems Neuroscience and Applications I
Brain Computer Interfaces
Neural Aspects of Posture and Locomotion I
Medical Instrumentation
Medical Instrumentation II
Hospital Administration
General Electives in the fields of science, engineering, or medicine including additional BMES classes6.0-12.0
The sum of electives, core credits, and/or thesis credits must total 45.0 credits. Elective choices would depend upon the student's area(s) of focus or concentration but must be within the fields of science, engineering, or medicine. A concentration may substitute for elective credits. A minimum of 15.0 credits of BMES elective courses are required.
Thesis0.0-9.0
Research
Master's Thesis
Optional Coop Experience *0-1
Career Management and Professional Development for Master's Degree Students
Total Credits45.0-68.0
*

Co-op is an option for this degree for full-time, on-campus students. To prepare for the 6-month co-op experience, students will complete COOP 500. The total minimum required credits for this degree with the co-op experience is 46. Students not participating in the co-op experience will need a minimum of 45.

Biomedical Technology Development Concentration (Optional)

Students enrolled in this concentration will develop an understanding of critical regulatory, economic, and legal issues in addition to the project management skills that facilitate the development of new medical devices and positive working relationships with intellectual property lawyers, insurance companies, and the federal government.

BMES 509Entrepreneurship for Biomedical Engineering and Science3.0
BMES 534Design Thinking for Biomedical Engineers3.0
BMES 538Biomedical Ethics and Law3.0
BMES 588Medical Device Development3.0
BMES 596Clinical Practicum3.0
Total Credits15.0

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Concentration (Optional)

This concentration is designed to provide students with advanced training in cellular and molecular biology relevant to tissue engineering and behavior of materials used in biomedical applications

BMES 631Tissue Engineering I4.0
BMES 632Tissue Engineering II4.0
BMES 660Biomaterials I4.0
BMES 661Biomaterials II0.0,4.0
BMES 675Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering III4.0
Total Credits16.0-20.0

Bioinformatics Concentration (Optional)

This concentration emphasizes a systems engineering approach to provide a foundation in systems biology and pathology informatics. Students are provided students with hands-on experience in the application of genomic, proteomic, and other large-scale information to biomedical engineering as well as experience in advanced computational methods used in systems biology: pathway and circuitry, feedback and control, cellular automata, sets of partial differential equations, stochastic analysis, and biostatistics.

BMES 543Quantitative Systems Biology4.0
BMES 544Genome Information Engineering4.0
BMES 547Machine Learning in Biomedical Applications3.0
or BMES 549 Genomic and Sequencing Technologies
BMES 551Biomedical Signal Processing3.0
BMES 604Pharmacogenomics3.0
Total Credits17.0

Pediatric Engineering Concentration (Optional)

This concentration aims to train students: 1) to develop a fundamental understanding of childhood injury and disease, healthcare, and treatment, and 2) to apply scientific and engineering concepts, methods, and approaches to address healthcare challenges with direct relevance to pediatric patients.  

BMES 509Entrepreneurship for Biomedical Engineering and Science3.0
BMES 528Pediatric Engineering I3.0
BMES 529Pediatric Engineering II3.0
BMES 538Biomedical Ethics and Law3.0
Total Credits12.0

Neuroengineering Concentration (Optional)

This concentration aims to train students 1) to develop a fundamental understanding of neural systems from cellular, to whole brain level, and 2) operational principles of neurotechnologies that can interface with nervous systems, 3) to apply scientific and engineering concepts to repair nervous system for clinical applications or enhance its functional performance.

BMES 710Neural Signals3.0
BMES 711Principles in Neuroengineering3.0
BMES 715Systems Neuroscience and Applications I3.0
BMES 718Brain Computer Interfaces3.0
BMES 725Neural Networks3.0
Total Credits15.0

Cell and Gene Therapy Engineering Concentration (Optional)

This concentration aims to provide students with the foundations of cell and gene engineering involving various techniques and technologies to modify or manipulate the characteristics of living cells for treatment purposes, including immune engineering, and gene therapy involving the introduction, alteration, or replacement of genetic material within an individual's cells to treat or prevent disease.

MIIM 571SCell and Gene Therapy 13.0
MIIM 572SCell and Gene Therapy 23.0
BMES 670Introduction to Immune Engineering 3.0
BMES 671Advanced Topics in Immune Engineering 3.0
BMES 667Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Manufacturing and Regulatory Requirements3.0
BMES 669Techniques in Cell Engineering and Gene Therapy3.0

Sample Plan of Study

No Co-Op

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BMES 505 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences I 3.0
BMES 510 Biomedical Statistics 4.0
BMES 546
or BMES 550
 Biocomputational Languages
or Advanced Biocomputational Languages
 4.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
 Credits11
Winter
BMES 506 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences II 3.0
BMES 511 Principles of Systems Analysis Applied to Biomedicine I 3.0
BMES 515 Experimental Design in Biomedical Research 4.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
 Credits10
Spring
BMES 507 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences III 3.0
BMES 538 Biomedical Ethics and Law 3.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
Choose one of the following courses: 3.0-4.0
BMES 512
 Principles of Systems Analysis Applied to Biomedicine II  
BMES 543
 Quantitative Systems Biology  
BMES 611
 Biological Control Systems  
 Credits9-10
Summer
VACATION  
 Credits0
Second Year
Fall
Elective Courses and/or Research * 9.0-12.0
 Credits9-12
Winter
Elective Courses and/or Thesis ** 6.0-9.0
 Credits6-9
 Total Credits45-52
*

 Can include BMES 897.

**

 Can include BMES 897 and BMES 898.

With Co-op 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
BMES 505 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences I 3.0
BMES 546
or BMES 550
 Biocomputational Languages
or Advanced Biocomputational Languages
 4.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
COOP 500 Career Management and Professional Development for Master's Degree Students 1.0
Elective/Concentration 3.0
 Credits11
Winter
BMES 506 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences II 3.0
BMES 510 Biomedical Statistics 4.0
BMES 511 Principles of Systems Analysis Applied to Biomedicine I 3.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
 Credits10
Spring
BMES 507 Mathematics for Biomedical Sciences III 3.0
BMES 515 Experimental Design in Biomedical Research 4.0
BMES 864 Seminar 0.0
Choose one of the following courses: 3.0-4.0
BMES 512
 Principles of Systems Analysis Applied to Biomedicine II  
BMES 543
 Quantitative Systems Biology  
BMES 611
 Biological Control Systems  
 Credits10-11
Summer
BMES 538 Biomedical Ethics and Law 3.0
Electives 6.0
 Credits9
Second Year
Fall
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Winter
COOP EXPERIENCE  
 Credits0
Spring
Electives 6.0
 Credits6
 Total Credits46-47

Program Level Outcomes

  • Understands the fundamentals and analytical approaches relevant to quantitative biomedical science to enhance human health.
  • Take advantage of cutting edge tools, information and knowledge to address complex problems in the development and delivery of health care solutions. The graduate evaluates models and hypotheses using the appropriate experimental, mathematical and statistical approaches.
  • Innovate from an analytic and synthetic perspective using multiple approaches, integrating life sciences and engineering with a global and interdisciplinary perspective.
  • Acquire skills and knowledge necessary to specialize in an area of quantitative biomedical science, to perform research or design and develop a system.
  • Recognize ethical issues, consider multiple points of view, and use critical ethical reasoning to determine the appropriate behavior to follow in the practice of biomedical science in a global context. The graduate thus demonstrates a thorough understanding of the ethical implications and obligations associated with the practice of biomedical science.

Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems Faculty

Fred D. Allen, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) Associate Director, Undergraduate Education. Assistant Professor. Tissue engineering, cell engineering, orthopedics, bone remodeling, wound healing, mechanotransduction, signal transduction, adhesion, migration.
Hasan Ayaz, PhD (Drexel University) School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. Research Associate Professor. Optical brain imaging, cognitive neuroengineering, brain computer interface (BCI), functional ner infrared (fNIR), and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
Sriram Balasubramanian, PhD (Wayne State University). Assistant Professor. Structural characteristics of the pediatric thoracic cage using CT scans and developing an age-equivalent animal model for pediatric long bones.
Kenneth A. Barbee, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Professor. Cellular biomechanics of neural and vascular injury, mechanotransduction in the cardiovascular system, mechanical control of growth and development for wound healing and tissue engineering.
Donald Buerk, PhD (Northwestern University). Research Professor. Biotechnology, physiology, systems biology, blood flow, microcirculation, nitric oxide, oxygen transport
Jamie Dougherty, PhD (Drexel University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Brain-computer interface, neural encoding, electrophysiological signal acquisition and processing.
Lin Han, PhD (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Assistant Professor. Nanoscale structure-property relationships of biological materials, genetic and molecular origins soft joint tissue diseases, biomaterials under extreme conditions, coupling between stimulus-responsiveness and geometry.
Uri Hershberg, PhD (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel). Assistant Professor. Bioinformatics, immunology, neural computation, system biology, somatic selection, autoimmunity, genetic stability, germline diversity, dendritic cell, transcription elements, pathogens, computational and mathematical modeling, complex systems, cognition and inflammation.
Kurtulus Izzetoglu, PhD (Drexel University) Associate Research Professor. Cognitive neuroengineering, functional brain imaging, near infrared spectroscopy, medical sensor development, biomedical signal processing, human performance assessment, and cognitive aging
Meltem Izzetoglu, PhD (Drexel University). Associate Research Professor. Cognitive neuroengineering, biomedical signal processing, statistical signal analysis, optimal artifact removal, information processing, optical brain imaging, functional near infrared spectroscopy, working memory, attention, learning, reading and mathematical disabilities, cognitive aging, anesthesia awareness, and social anxiety disorders.
Dov Jaron, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) Calhoun Distinguished Professor of Engineering in Medicine. Professor. Mathematical, computer and electromechanical simulations of the cardiovascular system.
Andres Kriete, PhD (University in Bremen Germany) Associate Director for Graduate Studies and Academic Operations. Systems biology, bioimaging, control theory, biology of aging, skin cancer.
Steven Kurtz, PhD (Cornell University). Associate Research Professor. Computational biomechanics of bone-implant systems and impact-related injuries, orthopaedic biomechanics, contact mechanics, orthopaedic biomaterials, large-deformation mechanical behavior and wear of polymers, and degradation and crosslinking of polyolefins in implant applications.
Ryszard Lec, PhD (University of Warsaw Engineering College). Professor. Biomedical applications of visoelastic, acoustoptic and ultrasonic properties of liquid and solid media.
Peter Lewin, PhD (University of Denmark, Copenhagen-Lyngby) Richard B. Beard Professor, School Of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems. Professor. Biomedical ultrasonics, piezoelectric and polymer transducers and hydrophones; shock wave sensors.
Hualou Liang, PhD (Chinese Academy of Sciences). Professor. Neuroengineering, neuroinformatics, cognitive and computational neuroscience, neural data analysis and computational modeling, biomedical signal processing.
Donald L. McEachron, PhD (University of California at San Diego) Coordinator, Academic Assessment and Improvement. Teaching Professor. Animal behavior, autoradiography, biological rhythms, cerebral metabolism, evolutionary theory, image processing, neuroendocrinology.
Karen Moxon, PhD (University of Colorado) Associate Director for Research. Professor. Cortico-thalamic interactions; neurobiological perspectives on design of humanoid robots.
Michael Neidrauer, PhD (Drexel University). Assistant Research Professor. Wound healing, near infrared, spectroscopy, cell culture, data analysis, optical coherence tomography (OCT), matlab, life sciences assay development, confocal microscopy, biomaterials, in-vivo, medical devices
Banu Onaral, PhD (University of Pennsylvania) H.H. Sun Professor; Senior Advisor to the President, Global Partnerships. Professor. Biomedical signal processing; complexity and scaling in biomedical signals and systems.
Kambiz Pourrezaei, PhD (Rensselaer Polytechnic University). Professor. Thin film technology; nanotechnology; near infrared imaging; power electronics.
Ahmet Sacan, PhD (Middle East Technical University). Assistant Professor. Indexing and data mining in biological databases; protein sequence and structure; similarity search; protein structure modeling; protein-protein interaction; automated cell tracking.
Joseph J. Sarver, PhD (Drexel University). Associate Professor. Neuromuscular adaptation to changes in the myo-mechanical environment.
Rahamim Seliktar, PhD (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow) Vice Director, School of Biomedical Engineering, Science & Health Systems. Professor. Limb prostheses, biomechanics of human motion, orthopedic biomechanics.
Patricia A. Shewokis, PhD (University of Georgia). Professor. Roles of cognition and motor function during motor skill learning; role of information feedback frequency on the memory of motor skills, noninvasive neural imaging techniques of functional near infrared spectroscopy(fNIR) and electroencephalograpy (EEG) and methodology and research design.
Adrian C. Shieh, PhD (Rice University). Assistant Professor. Contribution of mechanical forces to tumor invasion and metastasis, with a particular emphasis on how biomechanical signals may drive the invasive switch, and how the biomechanical microenvironment interacts with cytokine signaling and the extracellular matrix to influence tumor and stromal cell behavior.
Wan Y. Shih, PhD (Ohio State University). Associate Professor. Piezoelectric microcantilever biosensors development, piezoelectric finger development, quantum dots development, tissue elasticity imaging, piezoelectric microcantilever force probes.
Kara Spiller, PhD (Drexel University). Assistant Professor. Macrophage-biometerial interactions, drug delivery systems, and chronic would healing. Cell-biomaterial interactions, biomaterial design, and international engineering education.
Marek Swoboda, PhD (Drexel University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Cardiovascular engineering, cardiovascular system, diagnostic devices in cardiology, piezoelectric biosensors, and pathogen detection.
Amy Throckmorton, PhD (University of Virginia). Associate Professor. Computational and experimental fluid dynamics; cardiovascular modeling, including transient, fluid-structure interaction, and patient-specific anatomical studies; bench-to-bedside development of medical devices; artificial organs research; prediction and quantification of blood trauma and thrombosis in medical devices; design of therapeutic alternatives for patients with dysfunctional single ventricle physiology; human factors engineering of mechanical circulatory assist devices
Margaret Wheatley, PhD (University of Toronto) John M. Reid Professor. Ultrasound contrast agent development (tumor targeting and triggered drug delivery), controlled release technology (bioactive compounds), microencapsulated allografts (<em>ex vivo </em> gene therapy) for spinal cord repair.
Ming Xiao, PhD (Baylor University). Associate Professor. Nanotechnology, single molecule detection, single molecule fluorescent imaging, genomics, genetics, genome mapping, DNA sequencing, DNA biochemistry, and biophysics.
Yinghui Zhong, PhD (Georgia Institute of Technology). Assistant Professor. Spinal cord repair, and engineering neural prosthesis/brain interface using biomaterials, drug delivery, and stem cell therapy.
Leonid Zubkov, PhD, DSc (St. Petersburg State University, Russia). Research Professor. Physiology, wound healing, physiologic neovascularization, near-infrared spectroscopy, optical tomography, histological techniques, computer-assisted diagnosis, infrared spectrophotometry, physiologic monitoring, experimental diabetes mellitus, penetrating wounds, diabetes complications, skin, animal models, radiation scattering, failure analysis
Catherin von Reyn, PhD (University of Pennsylvania). Assistant Professor. Cell type-specific genetic engineering, whole-cell patch clamp in behaving animals, modeling, and detailed behavioral analysis to identify and characterize sensorimotor circuits.

Emeritus Faculty

Hun H. Sun, PhD (Cornell University). Professor Emeritus. Biological control systems, physiological modeling, systems analysis.