Master of Bioengineering (MBE) Degree and a Major Concentration in Applied Bioengineering
Program Learning Outcomes for the MBE Degree and a Major Concentration in Applied Bioengineering
Upon completing the MBE degree and a major concentration in Applied Bioengineering, students will be able to:
- Apply and integrate advanced knowledge of Bioengineering topics in at least one of the following areas: Biomaterials, Biofabrication and Mechanobiology; Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation; Cellular, Molecular, and Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology; Computational and Theoretical Engineering and Biophysics.
- Apply knowledge from engineering and other disciplines to identify, formulate, and solve novel and complex problems that require advanced knowledge in bioengineering.
- Select and apply quantitative analytic techniques to analyze bioengineering data.
Additionally, upon completing the MBE degree and a major concentration in Applied Bioengineering, students pursuing that major concentration's optional research experience will be able to:
- Develop practical experience of designing and performing laboratory research, including the ability to summarize and assess research results in a written format, and present research results.
Requirements for the MBE Degree
The MBE degree is a non-thesis master’s degree. For general university requirements, please see Non-Thesis Master’s Degrees. For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students. Students pursuing the MBE degree must complete:
- A minimum of 30-31 credit hours, depending on major concentration and course selection, to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (graduate semester credit hours, coursework at the 500-level or above).
- A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
- A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory).
- A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of part-time graduate study at Rice University.
- A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the Policies tab.
- A minimum of 4 courses (12 credit hours) must be taken in departmental (BIOE) courses at Rice with a course type of lecture or lecture/laboratory.
- The requirements for one major concentration. When students apply to the MBE degree program, they must identify and be admitted into one of two major concentrations, either in:
- Applied Bioengineering (class-only) or Applied Bioengineering (research option): designed as a flexible program for students who will pursue careers in research, medicine, or related fields. This MBE degree major concentration is designed for students to transition to medical school or a PhD program, or to advance their professional career in the biomedical industry, or
- Global Medical Innovation: designed specifically for students who will pursue a career in the global medical technology industry. This MBE degree major concentration is designed to prepare engineers for careers in medical technology through education in innovation, emerging-market design projects and internships.
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
- A minimum program GPA of 3.00 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree.
Both major concentrations have the same prerequisites, though applicants will be evaluated considering the different purposes of each. More information about each of these major concentrations can be found below. Curriculum must be approved by the Professional Master's Academic Affairs Committee and the Bioengineering Department. This is done on a case-by-case basis.
The Master of Bioengineering (MBE) degree is a professional non-thesis master's degree. Students who have a BS or BA degree in an engineering or science discipline may apply. Depending on their background, some students may need to take remedial engineering courses to earn the MBE degree. For more information, see the department website.
The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor or, where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier. Additionally, these course substitutions must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.
Summary
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Credit Hours Required for the MBE Degree and a Major Concentration in Applied Bioengineering | 30-31 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIOE 627 | MEDICAL INNOVATION INDUSTRY SEMINAR | 1.5 |
| BIOE 628 | MEDICAL INNOVATION INDUSTRY SEMINAR | 1.5 |
| Major Concentration | ||
| Select 1 from the following Major Concentrations (see below for Major Concentration): | 27-28 | |
Applied Bioengineering (class-only or research option) | ||
Global Medical Innovation | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30-31 | |
Major Concentration: Applied Bioengineering (class-only)
Students pursuing the MBE degree with an Applied Bioengineering (class-only) major concentration must complete:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration Requirements: Applied Bioengineering (class-only) | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Elective Category: BIOE Departmental Electives 1, 2 | ||
| Select 6 courses from approved departmental (BIOE) course offerings at the 500-level or above | 18 | |
| Elective Category: Quantitative Requirement | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 credit hours from the following: 3 | 3 | |
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| APPLIED STATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY | ||
| CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS | ||
| INTRO COMPUTATIONAL SYSTEMS BIOLOGY: MODELING & DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEM NETWORKS | ||
| BIOMECHANICS | ||
| APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| Elective Category: Professional Development | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 credit hours from the following: | 3 | |
| WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL MASTER'S STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING | ||
| TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL COMMUNICATIONS | ||
| LEADING TEAMS AND INNOVATION | ||
| ETHICS AND ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP | ||
| ENGINEERING PERSUASION: HOW TO DRIVE DECISIONS AND CHANGE | ||
| MANAGEMENT FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING | ||
| LEADERSHIP COACHING FOR ENGINEERS | ||
| ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP THEORY AND APPLICATION | ||
| ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGEMENT | ||
| ENGINEERING ECONOMICS FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | ||
| Elective Category: BIOE General Elective | ||
| Select 1 additional course from approved departmental (BIOE) course offerings (or another department) at the 500-level or above 4 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | Students may include up to 6 credit hours of BIOE 506 (Graduate Independent Research) within these 18 credit hours. Students taking BIOE 506 must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of BIOE lecture or lecture/lab coursework. |
| 2 | For students formally admitted into and specifically pursuing the MBE/MD dual degrees program, up to 2 courses (6 credit hours) from the McGovern Medical School at the UT Health Science Center can fulfill MBE requirements: BIOE 695 Transfer - Foundations of Medical Science and BIOE 696 Transfer - Doctoring 1: History and Physical Exam. These students must still complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of BIOE lecture or lecture/lab coursework. |
| 3 | One of these courses or an alternative quantitative-based BIOE course, taken at the 500-level or above, with the advisor/MBE Program Director's approval. |
| 4 | Students may complete a course offered by another department, but it must be relevant to the MBE degree. |
Major Concentration: Applied Bioengineering (optional research experience)
Students pursuing the MBE degree with an Applied Bioengineering major concentration (optional research experience) must complete:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration Requirements: Applied Bioengineering (optional research experience) | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| Elective Category: BIOE Departmental Electives 1 | ||
| Select 4 courses from approved departmental (BIOE) course offerings at the 500-level or above | 12 | |
| Elective Category: Quantitative Requirement | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: 2 | 3 | |
| PHYSICAL BIOLOGY | ||
| APPLIED STATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY | ||
| CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY FOR ENGINEERS | ||
| INTRO COMPUTATIONAL SYSTEMS BIOLOGY: MODELING & DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF BIOCHEM NETWORKS | ||
| BIOMECHANICS | ||
| APPLIED STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| Elective Category: Technical Writing | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| WORKPLACE COMMUNICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL MASTER'S STUDENTS IN ENGINEERING | ||
| TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL COMMUNICATIONS | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| Elective Category: Ethics | ||
| UNIV 594 | RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH | 1 |
| Research Requirement 3 | ||
| BIOE 507 | GRADUATE RESEARCH COMPONENTS I | 2 |
| BIOE 511 | MBE RESEARCH DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR | 2 |
| BIOE 607 | RESEARCH CONCENTRATION – COMPONENT II | 5 |
| Total Credit Hours | 28 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | For students formally admitted into and specifically pursuing the MBE/MD dual degrees program, up to 2 courses (6 credit hours) from the McGovern Medical School at the UT Health Science Center can fulfill MBE requirements: BIOE 695 Transfer - Foundations of Medical Science and BIOE 696 Transfer - Doctoring 1: History and Physical Exam. These students must still complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of BIOE lecture or lecture/lab coursework. |
| 2 | One of these courses or an alternative quantitative-based BIOE course, taken at the 500-level or above, with the advisor/MBE Program Director's approval. |
| 3 | Students choosing to complete the Applied Bioengineering Major Concentration (optional research experience) will take up to 9 credit hours of BIOE 507, BIOE 511, and BIOE 607, which is a structured sequence of MBE research and research seminar courses. For students taking BIOE 507 or BIOE 607, BIOE 506 may also be taken for additional research experience, but it will not be counted toward the 31 credit hours required for the MBE. The rare exception will be if BIOE 506 is taken as an internship, with the MBE Director permission, at another institution (academic, clinical or industry). This exception will be allowed under 2 conditions: (1) a Rice BIOE faculty member will be designated as the supervisor for course credit and will receive biweekly progress reports; and (2) an equivalent number of additional credit hours must be taken through BIOE lecture or lecture/lab coursework at Rice. This arrangement will ensure that students meet the requirement of a minimum 12 credit hours of BIOE lecture or lecture/lab coursework. |
Policies for the MBE Degree
Department of Bioengineering Graduate Program Handbook
The General Announcements (GA) is the official Rice curriculum. As an additional resource for students, the department of Bioengineering publishes a graduate program handbook, which can be found here: https://gradhandbooks.rice.edu/2024_25/Bioengineering_Graduate_Handbook.pdf.
Enrollment Status Requirements
Students may enroll for the MBE Degree with a Major Concentration in Applied Bioengineering (class-only or optional research experience) on a full-time or part-time basis. For the MBE Degree with a Major Concentration in Global Medical Innovation, students may only enroll on a full-time basis. University graduation requirements (including the minimum residency requirement for students in graduate degree programs) all still apply.
Transfer Credit
For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see Transfer Credit. Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Requests for transfer credit must be approved for Rice equivalency by the appropriate academic department offering the Rice equivalent course (corresponding to the subject code of the course content) and by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.
Departmental Transfer Credit Guidelines
Students pursuing the MBE degree should be aware of the following departmental transfer credit guideline:
- No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Bioengineering website: https://bioengineering.rice.edu/.
Opportunities for the MBE Degree
Fifth-Year Master's Degree Option for Rice Undergraduate Students
In certain situations and with some terminal master's degree programs, Rice students have an option to pursue a master’s degree by adding an additional fifth year to their four years of undergraduate studies.
Advanced Rice undergraduate students in good academic standing typically apply to the master’s degree program during their junior or senior year. Upon acceptance, depending on course load, financial aid status, and other variables, they may then start taking some required courses of the master's degree program. A plan of study will need to be approved by the student's undergraduate major advisor and the master’s degree program director.
As part of this option and opportunity, Rice undergraduate students:
- must complete the requirements for a bachelor's degree and the master's degree independently of each other (i.e. no course may be counted toward the fulfillment of both degrees).
- should be aware there could be financial aid implications if the conversion of undergraduate coursework to that of graduate level reduces their earned undergraduate credit for any semester below that of full-time status (12 credit hours).
- more information on this Undergraduate - Graduate Concurrent Enrollment opportunity, including specific information on the registration process can be found here.
Rice undergraduate students completing studies in science and engineering may have the option to pursue the Master of Bioengineering (MBE) degree. For additional information, students should contact their undergraduate major advisor and the MBE program director.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Bioengineering website: https://bioengineering.rice.edu/.