Master of Bioengineering (MBE) Degree and a Major Concentration in Global Medical Innovation
Program Learning Outcomes for the MBE Degree and a Major Concentration in Global Medical Innovation
Upon completing the MBE degree and a major concentration in Global Medical Innovation, students will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of Bioengineering topics in at least one of the following areas: Biomaterials, Tissue Engineering, Mechanobiology and Biophysics; Biomedical Imaging, Optics and Diagnostics; Microfabrication, Microfluidics and Design; Synthetic Biology and Genome Engineering; Quantitative, Computational and Theoretical Bioengineering.
- Develop effective medical products, from concept to commercialization, within a team environment.
- Comprehend and navigate the global medical technology industry by leveraging an internship experience.
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 program and a major concentration in Applied Bioengineering must complete:
- A minimum of 30-31 credit hours, depending on major concentration, to satisfy degree requirements.
- A minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study (coursework at the 500-level or above).
- A minimum of 24 credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
- A minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of part-time graduate study at Rice University.
- The requirements for the major concentration in Bioengineering. When students are admitted into the MBE degree program, they must additionally identify and declare one of the two major concentrations, either in:
- Applied Bioengineering (class-based or research-based): designed as a flexible degree for students who will pursue careers in research, medicine, or related fields, or
- Global Medical Innovation: designed specifically for students who will pursue a career in the global medical technology industry. As the medical technology industry becomes increasingly global with an emphasis in cost-effective health care solutions and clinical outcomes, Rice University seeks to prepare engineers for this new and changing environment. This area of specialization of the MBE degree is designed to prepare engineers for careers in medical technology through education in innovation, emerging-market design projects and internships. The Rice MBE area of specialization in Global Medical Innovation program specifically targets students who have an undergraduate degree in engineering (mechanical, electrical, chemical, or bioengineering/medical) or a related field, and who are interested in pursuing a career in the private, public, or non-profit sectors of medical technology.
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.67 or higher in all Rice coursework.
- A minimum GPA of 3.20 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree with a minimum grade of a B- (2.67 grade points) in each course (for students pursuing the Global Medical Innovation major concentration).
Both areas of specialization have the same prerequisites, though applicants will be evaluated considering the different purposes of each. More information about each of these areas of specialization can be found below. Curriculum must be approved by the Graduate 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 fulfill prerequisites or 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 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 Global Medical Innovation | 30 | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BIOE 627 | MEDICAL INNOVATION INDUSTRY SEMINAR | 1.5 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 1.5 | |
| MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY DESIGN SEMINAR 2 | ||
| ROLES OF PHYSICIANS, SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND MBA’S IN HIGH-TECH STARTUPS | ||
| Major Concentration | ||
| Select 1 from the following Major Concentrations (see below for Major Concentration requirements): | 27-28 | |
Applied Bioengineering (Class-Based or Research-Based) | ||
Global Medical Innovation | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30-31 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Concentration in Global Medical Innovation | ||
| Core Requirements: Medical Technology Design | ||
| BIOE 527 | HEALTHCARE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| BIOE 529 | HEALTHCARE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP LAB | 3 |
| Core Requirements: Medical Technology Implementation | ||
| BIOE 528 | MEDICAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN LAB | 3 |
| BIOE 530 | MEDICAL ENGINEERING & DESIGN LAB 2 | 3 |
| Internship or Independent Study 1 | 6 | |
| GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY (2 semesters required, 1st semester) | ||
| GRADUATE INDEPENDENT STUDY (2 semesters required, 2nd semester) | ||
| Elective Requirements | ||
| 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 | ||
| PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION FOR ENGINEERING LEADERS | ||
| MANAGEMENT FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING | ||
| LEADERSHIP COACHING FOR ENGINEERS | ||
| Elective Category: Quantitative Requirement | ||
| BIOE 539 | APPLIED STATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| Elective Category: BIOE General Elective | ||
| Select 1 additional course from approved departmental (BIOE) course offerings (or another department) at the 500-level or above 3 | 3 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 27 | |
Footnotes and Additional Information
| 1 | This will be considered on a case-by-case, and the student is responsible for obtaining and selecting an internship that best aligns with their career goals. |
| 2 | BIOE 539 or an alternative quantitative-based BIOE course, taken at the 400-level or above, with the advisor's approval. |
| 3 | Students may complete a course offered by another department, but it must be relevant to the MBE degree. |
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/2021_22/Bioengineering_Graduate_Handbook.pdf
Enrollment Status Requirements
Students may enroll for the Applied Bioengineering area of specialization on a full-time or part-time basis. For the Global Medical Innovation area of specialization, 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. 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 guidelines:
- 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.
- Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis.
Additional Information
For additional information, please see the Bioengineering website: https://bioengineering.rice.edu/