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Location: ENA 121C
Program number: 403.220.3835
Fax: 403.210.8119
Email address: bmegrad@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Master of Science (MSc), thesis-based
Master of Engineering (MEng), thesis-based

Specialization:

• Medical Imaging (Interdisciplinary)*

* MSc and PhD degrees only. See the Calendar section on Interdisciplinary Specializations for further information.

The curriculum is designed for students with degrees in Engineering, Medicine, Physical Sciences, or Life Sciences. Background experience and qualifications, as well as areas of interest of the applicants will be taken into account at the time of admission. The appropriateness of the undergraduate preparation of the applicant must be supported by the proposed supervisor(s). Students in the MSc and PhD degree programs are normally considered full-time.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies, the program requires: minimum GPA requirements are 3.00 for the MEng (thesis-based) program, 3.20 for the MSc program, and 3.50 for the PhD program, all on a four-point scale.

For admission to the MEng (thesis-based), MSc or PhD program, students must provide two reference letters with their application package.

For admission to the MEng (thesis-based) program, students must have an approved four-year undergraduate degree in engineering.

MEng (thesis-based), MSc and PhD students can only be accepted upon identification of one or more approved Biomedical Graduate Engineering Program supervisors who are willing to supervise and fund the applicant (funding for MSc and PhD students only).

International students are required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language, in accordance with the guidelines of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. All students must meet the admission requirements of both the Faculty of Graduate Studies and the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

Transfer of appropriately qualified MSc students directly into the PhD program is encouraged. Students wishing to transfer must do so between 8 and 16 months of first registration. For transfer, a minimum GPA of 3.50 is required (over a minimum of 9 units (1.5 full-course equivalents)), including Biomedical Engineering 600 (or 612) and 614. In addition, a research proposal, approved by the supervisory committee, must be submitted to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Applications for transfer must be supported by both the supervisor and the supervisory committee.

Students applying for MSc and PhD programs may be admitted for September, January, or May. Students applying for the MEng (thesis-based) program may be admitted for September start only. For all programs, deadlines are three months prior to the start of the semester (i.e., June 1 for September admission, etc.) for students holding a degree from a recognized Canadian or U.S. University, and six months prior to the start of the semester (i.e., March 1 for September admission, etc.) for students holding a degree from another recognized international University.

Credit may be granted with approval of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Advanced standing will not be granted for Biomedical Engineering 600, 602 or 604.

Master of Science/Doctoral of Philosophy
For a Master of Science (MSc) degree, all students are required to take a minimum of 12 units (2.0 full-course equivalents) as approved by the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. This must include Biomedical Engineering 600, 602 and 604.

For a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), two further courses (6 units) are required beyond the Master of Science requirements. For students who transfer from an MSc program, 18 units (3.0 full-course equivalents) at the graduate level are required beyond the BSc, or equivalent, degree. All PhD students are required to take Biomedical Engineering 600, 602 and 604.

All students may choose other courses from the listing of Additional Courses or approved courses from other departments (see website for most recent information: ). Other relevant courses, not on the Additional Course list or Program's website, require the approval of the supervisor and the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Students may be required to take senior undergraduate courses as deemed by their Supervisory Committee, but graduate credit will only be granted for senior undergraduate courses as approved by the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

In addition to the course requirements, all MSc and PhD students are required to complete a research project and to submit a written thesis in compliance with the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Medical Imaging Specialization
This specialization is open to MSc and PhD students and requires completion of a course sequence in Medical Imaging plus additional specialization requirements (see MEDI entry). MSc students must take a minimum of two courses (the MEDI core and a MEDI foundational course). PhD students must take three courses (including the MEDI core, a MEDI foundational and a MEDI elective course). PhD students previously completing the MSc Specialization in Medical Imaging will be required to complete one elective course in medical imaging. These requirements are in addition to the core program requirements of the BME Graduate Program. The Medical Imaging courses are counted towards BME Graduate Program elective courses.

Master of Engineering (thesis-based)
For a Master of Engineering (thesis-based), normally 24 units (4.0 full-course equivalents) are required, in accordance with the rules of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

All Master of Engineering (thesis-based) students are required to take Biomedical Engineering 600, 602 and 604 plus a project management course at the graduate level (usually Civil Engineering 691), a health economics course at the graduate level (usually Economics 679) and a clinical trials and biomanufacturing course at the graduate level (usually Medical Science 669). Two of the remaining four courses must be chosen from the Additional Courses approved by the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program for Master of Engineering (thesis-based) students (see website for most recent information: ). The remaining two courses must include at least one Biomedical Engineering or Engineering course.

In addition to the course requirements, all Master of Engineering (thesis-based) students are required to complete a research project and to submit a written thesis in compliance with the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Core Courses
1. Biomedical Engineering 600 – Biomedical Engineering Foundations
2. Biomedical Engineering 602 – Biomedical Engineering Core I
3. Biomedical Engineering 604 – Biomedical Engineering Core II

Note that Biomedical Engineering 602 and 604 core courses are 1.5 units (0.25 full-course equivalent), usually taken in Fall and Winter, respectively, but, they may be taken out of sequence for students first registering in the Winter Term.

Additional Courses
1. Biomedical Engineering 609 – Anatomy and Physiology for Biomedical Engineers
2. Biomedical Engineering 619.XX – Special Problems in Biomedical Engineering

Additional Courses in Theme 1: Bioelectrical Engineering
1. Electrical Engineering 663 – Numerical Electromagnetic Field Computation
2. Electrical Engineering 631 – System Identification and Parameter Estimation
3. Electrical Engineering 665 – Bioelectromagnetism

Additional Courses in Theme 2: Biomechanics
1. Biomedical Engineering 619.02 – Special Topics in Biological Tissue System Mechanics
2. Civil Engineering 651 – Finite Element Modelling
3. Civil Engineering 653 – Theory and Application of the Finite Element Method
4. Mechanical Engineering 653 – Continuum Mechanics
5. Mechanical Engineering/Kinesiology/Medical Science 663 - Advanced Biomechanics (Muscle)

Additional Courses in Theme 3: Cell and Tissue Engineering (Biomaterials)
1. Chemical Engineering 659 – Advanced Cell and Tissue Engineering

Additional Courses in Theme 4: Medical Imaging
1. Electrical Engineering 697 – Digital Image Processing
2. Medical Science 689.01 – Medical Imaging Techniques
3. Medical Science 689.02 – Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging
4. Medical Science 689.03 – Advanced Medical Image Processing
5. Medical Science 689.04 – Advanced Molecular Imaging

Additional Biomedical Engineering related courses may be listed under other departmental listings - see website for most recent information: .

Courses are listed by theme, but students are not restricted to taking courses from within a theme. The supervisor and supervisory committee should be consulted for course selection. Courses not listed under Additional Courses or on the list at require the approval of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Directed studies courses require approval of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

Not applicable.

Graduate credit may be given for 500-level courses. No more than 3 units (0.5 full-course equivalent) of credit will be allowed in MSc/PhD or MEng (thesis-based) program as approved by the supervisory committee, and the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

In accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations, the expected completion time for the MEng (thesis-based) degree is 18 months, for the MSc is 24 months and for the PhD is 48 months. Students transferring from the MSc to the PhD program are expected to complete studies within 60 months. Funding in the MSc and PhD programs may not be available after these expected completion times.

MSc and PhD students need a supervisor for admission to the program. The Supervisory Committee should be selected jointly by the student and supervisor immediately upon entry into the MSc or PhD program and approved by the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. MEng (thesis-based) students will choose a supervisor in consultation with the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program for admission to the program. The Supervisory Committee consists of the supervisor, co-supervisor (if appropriate), and two other members who normally hold academic appointment at the Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. Appointment of individuals who do not hold academic appointments at the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà is possible but requires the support of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program and the prior approval of the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The supervisory committee will advise on course selection and research topic for the student. The supervisory committee will usually be cross-disciplinary, as required by the student’s research topic and deemed necessary by the supervisor in consultation with the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. The supervisory committee will recommend transfer to the PhD program for MSc students and certify the background preparation for PhD students prior to scheduling of the candidacy exam. All students will follow the guidelines of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program regarding supervision, frequency of committee meetings, course changes, thesis or project proposals, candidacy examinations, etc. as outlined in the Student Handbook. Membership on candidacy and examination committees requires the approval of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program.

Scheduling of the Thesis Examination (MEng (thesis-based) and MSc, PhD)

All members of the Supervisory Committee must have reviewed the student’s research, including a relevant written sample of the materials related to the thesis, before an examination can be scheduled.

MSc and MEng (thesis-based) Thesis Examination

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations, the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program requires the examining committee to consist of a minimum of five voting members: the supervisor (and co-supervisor if appropriate) and Supervisory Committee, one Internal Examiner, and one other member. The Internal Examiner must be external to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. At least one of either a) the Supervisory Committee (excluding supervisor and co-supervisor) or b) the other member, must be a Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program Approved Supervisor.

The student shall make a public thirty minute presentation (20 minute presentation plus 10 minutes for questions) of his/her thesis research, normally immediately before the oral examination. Examining committee members should attend this presentation but should refrain from asking questions. The maximum allowable two-hour examination period does not include the time spent on student presentation.

Doctoral Candidacy Examinations

A written research proposal will be required before the oral candidacy exam can be completed. Prior to the oral candidacy exam, the supervisory committee must review and approve the written research proposal and assess the appropriateness of background preparation of the student. The oral candidacy exam must be completed within 16 months of first registration as a PhD student for direct entry with an MSc, and within the first 20 months for students who transfer from an MSc to PhD program.

In addition to Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations, the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program requires the examining committee to consist of a minimum of four voting members: the Supervisory Committee members (excluding the supervisor and co-supervisor, if appropriate), one Internal Examiner, and one other member. The Internal Examiner must be external to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate program. At least one of either a) the Supervisory Committee (excluding supervisor and co-supervisor) or b) the other member, must be a Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program Approved Supervisor.

The student’s background knowledge in biomedical engineering and in-depth knowledge in his/her chosen research specialization is examined. The student may make a presentation (no longer than 15 minutes) at the beginning of the oral candidacy examination. The oral candidacy examination is to focus on two areas: 1) the proposed research project, and 2) the preparation of the candidate and the ability of the candidate to carry out research at the doctoral level.

Note that the supervisor and co-supervisor are non-voting members of the Doctoral Candidacy Committee.

Doctoral Thesis Examination

The examining committee consists of a minimum of six voting members: the Supervisory Committee members (including the supervisor and co-supervisor, if appropriate), one Internal Examiner, one member external to the Áù¾ÅÉ«Ìà (External examiner), and one other member. The Internal Examiner must be external to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate program. At least one of either a) the Supervisory Committee (excluding supervisor and co-supervisor) or b) the other member, must be a Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program Approved Supervisor.

The student shall make a public sixty minute presentation (45 minute presentation plus 15 minutes for questions) of his/her thesis research, normally immediately before the oral examination. Examining committee members should attend this presentation but should refrain from asking questions during the presentation. The maximum allowable two-hour examination period does not include the time spent on student presentation.

Doctoral students must present a written research proposal to the supervisor and to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program no later than twelve months after initial registration. Current practice is for MSc and PhD students to enrol in Biomedical Engineering 604 (formerly Biomedical Engineering 614), which requires completion and oral presentation of a research proposal. The proposal, with an approval of the supervisor and the co-ordinator of Biomedical Engineering 604, must be sent to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program to be placed in the student's file.

None.

Students in MSc and PhD programs will not be admitted without funding from an interested supervisor. Please see the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program handbook for more details.

Students in the MEng (thesis-based) program do not receive funding, but may be eligible for awards or financial assistance.

For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

A Master of Science, Master of Engineering, or Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering does not entitle graduates to a designation of Professional Engineer. The title of Engineer, or Professional Engineer, is restricted to those who are members of a Provincial engineering association.

Please see the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program website for the latest version of the Handbook of Policies and Procedures at .

Faculty members in this program are based in the Schulich School of Engineering, the Cumming School of Medicine and the faculties of Kinesiology, Veterinary Medicine and Science. Many Biomedical Engineering faculty are cross-appointed to multiple departments. Information about Biomedical Engineering faculty research can be found at .