Masters Program in Biomedical Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

MASTERS PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

ACADEMIC PROGRAM APPLICATION

January 2016

CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………………………………………….. 3

PART I – UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE FORMS……………………..…………………. 4

PART II – RESOLUTION STATEMENT…………………………………..……………………. 8

PART III – PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT………………………………………………… 10

PART IV – APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………………………….. 27

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Biomedical Engineering is an emerging and rapidly expanding field where engineering and biological disciplines converge. The outlook for biomedical engineers is incredibly promising. In May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified Biomedical Engineering as the fastest-growing occupational field, with jobs over the next decade being expected to grow by over 70%. Major categories of employment include medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, scientific research and development, and pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing. This new MS program in Biomedical Engineering, together with our existing PhD program, will train the next generation of researchers and professionals who will play a key role in multi- and interdisciplinary teams that bridge the gap between engineering and the biological sciences.

This multi-disciplinary graduate program will build upon the established biomedical research strength at the University of Delaware, largely within the College of Engineering. It will serve students enrolled in our existing PhD program who want a stepping-stone on the way to a full PhD, and will serve as appropriate recognition of the coursework and research accomplishments of students who, for whatever reason, cannot commit to the time required to complete the full requirements for the PhD.

The MS degree will be administered by the Biomedical Engineering Department and will be awarded by the College of Engineering. It will be built on a first year core curriculum that includes the principles of Biomedical Engineering, an advanced math course, a statistics course and an ethics course. The elective curricula can be chosen from a variety of courses in engineering and the life sciences, in consultation with the students graduate advisor. The students will have the option of completing a Master’s thesis, or pursuing a non-thesis option.

If a student is pursuing a non-thesis option MS, the student will be advised by the Graduate Director, or a BME-affiliated faculty member appointed by the graduate director. If a student is pursuing a thesis-option MS, the student will be advised by the BME-affiliated faculty member most directly involved in supervising the thesis research. Students are responsible for identifying potential faculty advisors by meeting with faculty, attending faculty presentations, and attending research group meetings. With the consent of both student and advisor, the Graduate Director will match the student to a Faculty Advisor before work is begun on the thesis research.

This MS program will provide a necessary adjunct to our successful existing PhD program, and increase our ability to support the careers of our excellent graduate students. This program will enhance our offering of graduate education in a discipline essential for UD as a major research university, providing a critical component to the University’s strategic priorities in life and health sciences. It is also critical to UD’s Path of Prominence, aligning with the University’s strategic plan to “engage closely with the critical issues of our day, to increase the global impact of the University, and to raise its prominence in the world.”

UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE FORMS

Academic Program Approval

This form is a routing document for the approval of new and revised academic programs. Proposing department should complete this form. Detailed instructions for the proposal should be followed. A checklist is available to assist in the preparation of a proposal. For more information, call the Faculty Senate Office at 831-2921.

Submitted by: ____Ryan Zurakowski______phone number___302-831-0331__

Department: ____Biomedical Engineering______email address ___

Date: ______Oct 16, 2015______

Action: ___Add Graduate Degree – Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering______

(Example: add major/minor/concentration, delete major/minor/concentration, revise major/minor/concentration, academic unit name change, request for permanent status, policy change, etc.)

Effective term______16F______

(use format 04F, 05W)

Current degree__BS, PhD______

(Example: BA, BACH, BACJ, HBA, EDD, MA, MBA, etc.)

Proposed change leads to the degree of: ______MS______

(Example: BA, BACH, BACJ, HBA, EDD, MA, MBA, etc.)

Proposed name:_____ Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering ______

Proposed new name for revised or new major / minor / concentration / academic unit

(if applicable)

Revising or Deleting:

Undergraduate major / Concentration:______

(Example: Applied Music – Instrumental degree BMAS)

Undergraduate minor:______

(Example: African Studies, Business Administration, English, Leadership, etc.)

Graduate Program Policy statement change:______Attached______

(Must attach your Graduate Program Policy Statement)

Graduate Program of Study:______

(Example: Animal Science: MS Animal Science: PHD Economics: MA Economics: PHD)

Graduate minor / concentration:______

Note: all graduate studies proposals must include an electronic copy of the Graduate Program Policy Document, either describing the new program or highlighting the changes made to the original policy document.

List new courses required for the new or revised curriculum. How do they support the overall program objectives of the major/minor/concentrations)?

BMEG 869 – Master’s Thesis.

Supply support letter from the Library, Dean, and/or Department Chair if needed

(all new majors/minors will need a support letter from the appropriate administrator.)

Supply a resolution for all new majors/programs; name changes of colleges, departments, degrees; transfer of departments from one college to another; creation of new departments; requests for permanent status. See example of resolutions.

Explain, when appropriate, how this new/revised curriculum supports the 5 goals of undergraduate education: http://www2.udel.edu/gened/

N/A

Identify other units affected by the proposed changes:

(This would include other departments/units whose courses are a required part of the proposed curriculum. Attach permission from the affected units. If no other unit is affected, enter “None”)

The Department of Biological Sciences teaches three courses required for this degree (BISC605, BISC606 and BISC643). The Department of Applied Economics and Statistics teaches one course required for this degree (STAT 608). Note that either BISC643 or STAT608 are required, but not both. All these courses are already required for the existing BME PhD degree.

Describe the rationale for the proposed program change(s):

(Explain your reasons for creating, revising, or deleting the curriculum or program.)

The department of Biomedical Engineering has a very successful undergraduate BS and graduate PhD program. Our current graduate students pursuing the PhD are interested in a MS option to provide a stepping-stone to the PhD, or recognition of their coursework and research accomplishments should they need to leave the program before completing the PhD requirements. To accommodate these identified needs, we are proposing a Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering degree.

Program Requirements:

(Show the new or revised curriculum as it should appear in the Course Catalog. If this is a revision, be sure to indicate the changes being made to the current curriculum and include a side-by-side comparison of the credit distribution before and after the proposed change.) See example of side by side.

ROUTING AND AUTHORIZATION: (Please do not remove supporting documentation.)

Department Chairperson Date

Dean of College Date

(By signing above, the Dean confirms that their college policies and bylaws have been followed correctly during

consideration of the request described in this form.

The approval actions that were taken at the college level were (check all that apply) :

______college faculty vote; ______college curriculum approval ______college senate approval

Chairperson, College Curriculum Committee______Date______

Chairperson, Senate Com. on UG or GR Studies Date

Chairperson, Senate Coordinating Com. Date

Secretary, Faculty Senate Date

Date of Senate Resolution Date to be Effective

Registrar Program Code Date

Vice Provost for Academic Affairs & International Programs Date

Board of Trustee Notification Date

Revised 9/22/2015/khs

RESOLUTION STATEMENT

PROVISIONAL APPROVAL OF NEW PROGRAMS – RESOLUTION

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

WHEREAS,the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) in the College of Engineering has offered successful programs for the BS and PhD in BME offering students skills to successfully work as biomedical engineers and biomedical engineering researchers, and

WHEREAS, BME has received many inquiries over the last several years from individuals who are seeking Master’s degrees in BME and

WHEREAS, BME has proposed a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering that will provide students with graduate-level knowledge and skills in Biomedical Engineering without the time commitment needed to pursue a doctoral-level program of independent research, and

WHEREAS, the existing PhD program in Biomedical Engineering already provides all the courses and administrative framework for such a degree, and

WHEREAS, the proposed major contributes to one of the milestones on the University’s “path to prominence” to achieve excellence in professional education; be it therefore

RESOLVED, that the Faculty Senate recommends provisionally for five years the approval of the establishment of a new Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering.

III

PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT

PROGRAM POLICY STATEMENT CONTENTS

I. PROGRAM HISTORY………………………………………………………………………………... 11

A. Rationale…………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

B. Date of Permanent Status………………………………………………………………………...12

C. Degrees Offered…………………………………………………………………………………... 12

II. ADMISSION…………………………………………………………………………………………... 12

A. Admission Requirements………………………………………………………………………… 12

B. Application Deadlines…………………………………………………………………………….. 12

C. Admission Categories……………………………………………………………………………. 12

D. Change of Classification…………………………………………………………………………. 12

III. ACADEMIC…………………………………………………………………………………………… 12

A. Degree Course Requirements…………………………………………………………………… 12

B. Course Curriculum………………………………………………………………………………... 13

C. Committees and Director………………………………………………………………………… 16

C.1 BME Graduate Committee……………………………………………………………... 16

C.2 Graduate Director……………………………………………………………………….. 16

D. Satisfactory Progress…………………………………………………………………………….. 16

D.1 Faculty Advisor…………………………………………………………………………... 16

D.2 Academic Load………………………………………………………………………….. 16

D.3 Transferability……………………………………………………………………………. 17

D.4 Annual Progress Report………………………………………………………………… 17

D.5 MS Requirements………………………….…………………………………………… 17

D.5a Thesis Committee…………………………………………………………….. 17

D.5b Master’s Thesis…..……………………………………………………………. 17

D.6 Grade Requirements……………………………………………………………………. 18

D.7 Consequences of Unsatisfactory Progress…………………………………………… 18

D.8 Standards of Student Conduct………………………………………………………… 18

D.9 Dismissal……………………………………………………………………………...... 18

D.10 Graduate Student Grievance Procedure……………………………………………. 18

D.11 Attendance at Conferences and Professional Meetings…………………………... 18

IV. FINANCIAL AID……………………………………………………………………………………… 18

A. Financial Awards………………………………………………………………………………….. 19

B. Continuation of Financial Aid……………………………………………………………………. 19

V. IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION…………………………………………………………. 19

A. Implementation Plan……………………………………………………………………………… 20

B. Assessment Plan…………………………………………………………………………………. 21

B.1 Program Objective………………………………………………………………………. 21

B.2 Curricular Map and Learning Outcomes……………………………………………… 21

B.3 Assessment Plan………………………………………………………………………… 21

I. Program History

A. Rationale

This is a proposal for a new MS degree in Biomedical Engineering to be offered in the College of Engineering as part of the Biomedical Engineering Program.

Biomedical Engineering is an emerging and rapidly expanding field where engineering and biological disciplines converge. According to the National Institutes of Health, Biomedical Engineering is defined as follows:

“Biomedical Engineering integrates physical, chemical, mathematical, and computational sciences and engineering principles to study biology, medicine, behavior and health. It advances fundamental concepts, creates knowledge from the molecular to the organ systems levels, and develops innovative biologies, materials, processes, implants, devices, and informatics approaches for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, for patient rehabilitation, and for improving health.” -From www.nibib.nih.gov

The outlook for biomedical engineers is incredibly promising. In May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified Biomedical Engineering as the fastest-growing occupational field, with jobs over the next decade being expected to grow by 72%. Major categories of employment include medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, scientific research and development, and pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing.

We propose to offer a MS in Biomedical Engineering to train the next generation of researchers and professionals who will play a key role in multi- and interdisciplinary teams that bridge the gap between engineering and the biological sciences. This MS program will build upon the successful foundation of the PhD degree program in Biomedical Engineering, sharing with it a common first year core curriculum with advanced curricula that allow appropriate specialization.

Students will have the option of completing a thesis or a non-thesis option. If a student is pursuing a non-thesis option MS, the student will be advised by the BME Graduate Director, or a BME-affiliated faculty member appointed by the graduate director. If a student is pursuing a thesis-option MS, the student will be advised by the BME-affiliated faculty member most directly involved in supervising the thesis research. Students are responsible for identifying potential faculty advisors by meeting with faculty, attending faculty presentations, and attending research group meetings. With the consent of both student and advisor, the Graduate Director will match the student to a Faculty Advisor before work is begun on the thesis research. The MS degree will be administered by the Biomedical Engineering Department and will be awarded by the College of Engineering.

This multi-disciplinary graduate program will build upon the established biomedical research strength at the University of Delaware, largely within the College of Engineering. There are currently 11 primary faculty in the Biomedical Engineering Department, and 52 affiliated faculty from multiple departments. This MS program will provide a necessary adjunct to our successful existing PhD program, and increase our ability to support the careers of our excellent graduate students. This program will enhance our offering of graduate education in a discipline essential for UD as a major research university, providing a critical component to the University’s strategic priorities in life and health sciences. It will offer academic rigor, as well as flexibility, to meet the needs and interests of students from different backgrounds and of their faculty advisors from different research areas. This program will also provide a foundation for educational funding and training grant opportunities.

B. Date of Permanent Status

This program will begin in fall of 2016. Since enrollment will only be open to students already enrolled in the BME PhD program, we do not have an initial anticipated class size. We anticipate this program eventually graduating 2-4 MS students per year.

C. Degrees Offered

The Biomedical Engineering program will offer a Master of Science Degree (MS) in the College of Engineering.

II. Admission

A. Admission Requirements

Students may not apply directly to the MS program, nor will students be permitted to transfer into this program from another major. Admission to the M.S. degree will be restricted to students previously admitted to the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Engineering.

B. Application Deadlines