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Colorado State University, School of Biomedical Engineering
Colorado State University's ME program with a biomedical engineering specialization takes an interdisciplinary approach. The 30-credit program, which may be completed entirely online, was developed with 13 different departments at the university and is split into four sections—core, foundation, depth, and breadth.
In the core and foundation sections, students gain a foundational basis for their study by taking classes like quantitative systems physiology, biological physics, and structure and function of biomaterials. In the depth section, students select a particular interest, and then dig in, with classes like process control and instrumentation, digital signal processing, or biofluid mechanics. In the breadth section, students focus on applied and advanced mathematics, taking courses such as generalized regression models, nonparametric methods, and design and data analysis for researchers.
Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering
Ranked in the top 20 in the nation, Johns Hopkins' online MS program in applied biomedical engineering draws upon the university's acclaimed expertise in biomedical research and medical care. The program consists of core classes that cover physiology and mathematical models as they apply to biomedical engineering.
Students then choose to specialize in translational tissue engineering, imaging, or instrumentation. The curriculum is rounded out by a series of electives, which include topics like human robotics interaction, computational genomics, theoretical neuroscience, and magnetic resonance in medicine. The program totals 30 credits and may be completed entirely online.
University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering
USC's online MS in biomedical engineering is one of the best, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The DEN@Viterbi student services model allows online students to fully engage with the on-campus classroom, with blended approaches to course enrollment, lecture offerings, homework assignments, academic advisement, and program orientation.
Students first take required core courses in biomedical systems, advanced studies of the nervous system, signal and systems analysis, and physiological control systems. Then, they complete a series of electives, many of which cover interdisciplinary topics and include classes like brain theory and artificial intelligence, mathematical pattern recognition, and medical imaging informatics. The program consists of 28 units and may be completed part- or full-time entirely online. Official GRE scores are optional but advisable.
The online ME in biomedical engineering at Rutgers provides an award-winning faculty, executive coaches for students, and the opportunity for one-on-one independent study. The entirely online 33-credit program is designed for avid researchers who want to focus on cutting-edge topics like tissue engineering and drug delivery.
The curriculum explores six areas of biomedical engineering, including biomaterials and tissue engineering; biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering; computational bioengineering and biomedical imaging; molecular, cellular, and nanosystems bioengineering; neuroengineering; and physiological systems and bioinstrumentation. Official GRE scores are required as part of the admissions process.
Purdue University, College of Engineering
The entirely-online graduate-level biomedical engineering program at Purdue is packaged within the school's interdisciplinary MSE degree. This is a diverse 30-credit curriculum that offers a menu of courses in biomedical engineering, life science, analysis, regulatory engineering, and quantitative and analytical methods. In addition to biomedical engineering classes that explore biosensors, biomaterials, tissue engineering, and measurement and simulation of the nervous system, students can select elective courses in topics like regulatory compliance for biomedical devices, regenerative biology and tissue repair, biostatistics, and lumped system theory.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Home to the acclaimed Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's ME in bioengineering degree offers a nuanced technical education as well as a set of fundamental business skills so that graduates are prepared to take on supervisory roles in the industry. Students may choose a concentration in either bioinstrumentation, computational genomics, or general bioengineering.
Core bioengineering courses explore topics like conservation principles, signals and systems, and bioenergetics, while foundational business classes are offered in subjects like finance and innovation and managing business operations. Technical electives cover areas like cellular biomechanics, tissue engineering, and systems biology. The program consists of 32 credits and may be completed entirely online. Official GRE scores are required as part of the admissions process.
Seth Donahue, PhD Colorado State University
Dr. Seth Donahue is an associate professor at Colorado State University's biomedical engineering department, where he teaches classes in biomedical engineering fundamentals, cell and tissue mechanics, and human biomechanics. Dr. Donahue's research primarily focuses on bone biology and mechanics and their implications for osteoporosis treatment, limb salvage, fracture healing, and tissue regeneration. He is currently the primary investigator for over $2 million in grants supplied by agencies such as the NIH and the Whitaker Foundation. Before completing a post-doctoral fellowship in bone cell biology at Penn State Medical Center, he received his doctorate in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Davis.
Anil Maybhate, PhD Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Anil Maybhate is a researcher and professor in Johns Hopkins University's Department of Biomedical Engineering, where he develops and teaches online courses in the principles of medical instrumentation and the principles of medical imaging. His research has explored interdisciplinary areas of biomedical engineering like the complexities of human posture and the development of biosignals-based markers of nervous system injuries. He won the Department of Biomedical Engineering's best new instructor award in 2016. Dr. Maybhate received his doctorate in physics from the University of Pune, India.
Bartlett W. Mel, PhD University of California
Dr. Bartlett W. Mel is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at USC's Viterbi School of Engineering. Upon joining the biomedical engineering department at USC in 1994, he established the Laboratory for Neural Computation. His research centers on computational neuroscience and neural engineering, often involving the use of computer models to study brain function—for example, exploring how the massive computations carried out in the visual cortex allow a person to recognize objects at a speed and accuracy far beyond any technological capability. Dr. Mel won the National Science Foundation CAREER award in 1998. Before spending five years as a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology, Dr. Mel received his doctorate in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Matt Zbrog is a writer and researcher from Southern California. Since 2018, he’s written extensively about a wide range of engineering disciplines, with a particular focus on the potential impacts of major technological breakthroughs. His work largely centers around conversations with engineeri...
