The Biomedical Engineering BS/MS dual degree is an accelerated program providing the academically qualified student an opportunity to simultaneously earn both BS and MS degrees (two diplomas are awarded) in the biomedical engineering program areas of his/her/their choice in five years, the time normally required to finish a bachelor's degree alone.

The five-year completion period is possible because fewer undergraduate credits are required for the combined degrees (180 instead of 192). Also, co-op experience may be adjusted (two co-op periods instead of three), thereby giving the BS/MS student two additional quarters to take courses. If needed, students may also take evening courses while on co-op.

The program combines the practical work experience of Drexel undergraduate cooperative education with the graduate credentials of an advanced degree. Students may earn both degrees in the same major, or may complete their master's degree in a different field. With both an undergraduate and graduate degree and practical work experience, BS/MS graduates enter the work force with specialized knowledge and training.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For information on tuition billing and financial aid, please visit Drexel Central.

Eligibility

Exceptional students with a cumulative grade point average of greater than 3.4 and who are enrolled as five-year co-op students are eligible for the program. Students formally apply for the program after they have completed 90 credits and before completion of 120 credits. Students are encouraged to begin planning as early as freshman year. Students who have completed more than 120 credits are not eligible.

Transfer Students

Transfer students are eligible to join the BS/MS program. However, they must be able to complete both the bachelor's and master's programs in the time it would take them to complete the bachelor's degree alone. The co-op requirement for the transfer students may be adjusted upon the approval of the academic Dean and the Steinbright Career Development Center.

Transfer students must be enrolled at Drexel for at least two terms prior to being accepted into the BS/MS program and must have a Drexel GPA of al least 3.4 to be eligible. In addition, past academic performance at previous institutions will be considered. Transfer students may not be accepted to the BS/MS program with more than 120 credits.

International transfer students must have at least the required minimum TOEFL score for their graduate program of study to be admitted to the BS/MS program. If their TOEFL scores do not meet the required minimum, they must make arrangements to retake to TOEFL through Drexel's English Language Center. An additional term of English language study may be required.

Application Process

All BS/MS applicants must formally apply to the program at prescribed times. Applications are available in the Office of Graduate Admissions from the Graduate Advisor. The application is accompanied by a Plan of Study prepared in consultation with an undergraduate and a graduate department advisor. The selected students are automatically placed in the non-thesis option. Once selected for the non-thesis option, BS/MS students can petition to participate in the thesis option. Only biomedical engineering undergraduates can study for the BS/MS non-thesis option. The thesis option is open to undergraduates from other academic units.

Requirements

Students enrolled in the non-thesis BS/MS dual degree program must complete 225 overall credits, including 45 graduate credits, which may include a maximum of 3 research credits. Students enrolled in the thesis BS/MS dual degree program must also complete 225 overall credits, including 45 graduate credits, which may include a maximum of 6 research credits. Thesis option students have the choice of completing the senior design course sequence concurrent with their MS thesis research; however, it is not a requirement. This condition must be approved by their research advisor and their academic advisor. The thesis option degree requirements may, with prior approval, also be satisfied by achieving a publication in a refereed journal as the first author. This achievement precludes a faculty examining committee, a written thesis manuscript, and a public defense of the research. The publication must be formally approved by the research advisor and the academic advisor. Students enrolled in the BS/MS program must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in their undergraduate and graduate coursework to remain in the program.

Advising

Students in the BS/MS dual degree program must work closely with a faculty member to make sure that they are following their plan of study and progressing appropriately. Drexel ensures that each student has an academic and research advisor for the program.

Contact

For more information about the program, please contact:

Dr. Fred Allen
Email: fdallen@drexel.edu
Phone: 215.895.1812