The Doctor of Philosophy Program in the Department of Bioengineering emphasizes our excellence in bioengineering research and education. 

Students pursuing the PhD degree are required to pass a preliminary examination based on their Bioengineering coursework at the end of their first year of graduate study. Students pursuing the PhD are also required to complete two, one-credit teaching practicums, and present a PhD proposal, ideally within 18 months or so of taking the preliminary exam. Each PhD candidate makes a final, public PhD thesis defense to fulfill the requirements for the PhD degree.

See the Bioengineering, PhD Program in the Pitt catalog

See the Bioengineering, MD/PhD Program in the Pitt catalog

See the Bioengineering - Medical Product Innovation Certificate Program in the Pitt catalog

Download our Graduate Certificate in Medical Product Innovation information sheet. [archived]

For further information, contact MSMPE@pitt.edu or visit engineering.pitt.edu/cmi

See the Program Bioengineering, MS in the Pitt catalog.

Medical Product Engineering (MPE) Professional MS (MS-MPE)
Thanks for your interest in obtaining a Master's Degree in Medical Product Engineering at Pitt!

Some of the seminal medical technology and healthcare advances that Pitt has contributed to the development of, and dissemination in, patients worldwide include:

• Polio Vaccine
• Kidney Transplantation
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) and Total Artificial Hearts (TAHs)

Our Master's in Medical Product Engineering (MS-MPE) program focuses on the application of engineering innovation to the identification of, and developing a solution to, challenges in health care through medical technology.

The MS-MPE Program has graduated over 200+ graduates in 10 years. After the 1.5 years it usually takes to successfully complete this Program, we expect that you will:

• Be well-positioned for career success in your areas of professional interest
  • Most MS-MPE graduates prefer industry positions in start-ups or in established organizations. Some opt to pursue careers in medicine, government, research, and education. You may come in with notions of what you want to do and we will help you achieve those aspirations. Even if you change your mind, and career focus and direction, during this program, we will encourage, support and help you make that transition as well.
• Understand better what impact you would like to make in the wide field of Bioengineering and health-care related fields, and an initial set of ideas and a preliminary plan to do so. We expect our graduates to make such an impact, and fully expect you to aspire to do so.

We have prepared some information that you may find useful as you make your decision for this important educational and career choice you are exploring. Please feel free to click-through on answering the most important questions you may have and obtaining basic yet important program information:

• Why Study Medical Product Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh? 
• MS-MPE Program Details
• MS-MPE Required Courses
• MS-MPE Course Sequence
• Professional Success
• Program Rules and Frequently Asked Questions
• Meet our Program Director 

After reviewing the supplied information, if you still have questions or need to discuss further, please contact us at MSMPE@pitt.edu.

Admission to the Professional MS in Bioengineering - Medical Product Engineering program is by application only. Class size is limited so we can provide the personalized education you deserve.To apply to the MS-MPE Program, please visit the Graduate Admissions Page on the Swanson School of Engineering website.

See the Bioengineering, MS Program in the Pitt catalog

Download our Professional MS in Bioengineering - focus on Neural Engineering information sheet.

Program Coordinator: Prof. Neeraj Gandhi (msne@pitt.edu)

WHY STUDY NEURAL ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH?

Pitt is a recognized leader in the emerging discipline of Neural Engineering. Our core faculty and clinical collaborators offer courses that prepare students to work in this exciting and dynamic field. Neural Engineering, which encompasses neural prosthetics, brain-computer interface systems, epilepsy monitoring, deep brain stimulation, engineering approaches to psychiatric disorders, and brain-inspired computation and device design, is a fast-growing field that provides clinical and technological benefits.

The program is offered by Pitt’s nationally ranked Department of Bioengineering. Instruction will be in-person and online. The 30-credit program can be completed in 1 to 1.5 years of full-time study. Students will garner a deep knowledge of the biology of the nervous system, and how, from an engineering perspective, to treat disorders, build clinical devices, and build computational models. The non-thesis program is designed to provide excellent training for industry in Neural Engineering or related fields such as Medical Devices or Data Science.

CONCENTRATIONS

Neural engineering students will pursue didactic coursework that builds core competency in at least two of the following areas:

• Brain-computer interfaces
• Neural tissue interface
• Neural imaging and signals
• Neural devices and neuromorphic engineering

The concentrations for core competency will be selected in consultation with the program director and will take into consideration the student’s previous training and career aspirations.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL MS (30 CREDITS, TYPICALLY 10 COURSES)

• 12 credits in Concentration 1
• 9 credits in Concentration 2
• 3 credits in life sciences
• 3 credits in Mathematics/Statistics
• 3 credits in Medical Ethics

Math/Statistics Course –many options available each semester; too many to list

• All graduate-level courses offered through MATH, STAT, and BIOST departments at either Pitt or CMU count towards this requirement.
• More options are provided in the ‘Approved Math Courses’ and ‘Approved Statistics Courses’ lists.

Note: Students who identify courses not on this list but wish to use them to fulfill requirements must obtain prior approval from the graduate program director.

Research M.S. Program (Thesis)

See the Bioengineering, MS Program in the Pitt catalog

 The Research MS program requires a total of 30 credits, which includes:

• Graduate Engineering Mathematics - 3 credits 
• Statistics for Bioengineers - 3 credits 
• Societal, Political and Ethical Issues in Bioengineering - 3 credits
• Life Sciences - 3 credits 
• Track Courses - 9 credits 
• Electives - 3 credits
• MS Thesis - 6 credits
• Teaching Practicum - 0 credit
• Bioengineering Seminar - 0 credits (must take 3 seminars)

Total - 30 credits

Other required courses may be tailored to the student's background and interests. Typically, completion of the Research MS program requires two years. The student is expected to have identified a research mentor before being admitted in the program. Within the first year of enrollment (preferably within the first semester), the MS candidate is expected to finalize the general area in which he/she will write a thesis. By the third semester of enrollment, the student is to prepare a Master's Thesis, following University requirements for Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs.)   The student (under the guidance of his/her advisor) selects a thesis committee of three or more persons.  For MS students, the committee will need to consist of three faculty members total and at least two need to be member of the Bioengineering faculty. However, all three can be Bioengineering faculty as there is no requirement to have one member from outside of Bioengineering. The committee should consist of the student's advisor (who will act as Chairman of this committee), at least one additional faculty member from within the Department of Bioengineering and at least one faculty member from outside the Department of Bioengineering. The committee meets at least once per year and oversees the Thesis Defense.

For further information, contact MSMPE@pitt.edu and visit The Katz MBA/MS Engineering Dual Degree Program website

The MBA/Master of Science (MS) in Engineering Dual Degree Program, offered jointly by the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and School of Engineering, positions individuals with an undergraduate degree in engineering or the hard sciences to take a management role in a company that has a significant engineering and/or technological focus. 

The Department of Bioengineering and the Katz Graduate School of Business offer a dual MBA/MS program, with the following requirements. Please note that these are only the requirements for the Professional MS half of the MBA/MS in Bioengineering and does not include the requirements of the entire program:

Foundation Courses  

• BQOM 2401 - Statistical Analysis: Uncertainty, Prediction & Quality Improvement - Joint with KGSB (3 credits)
• BIOE 2241 - Societal, Political, Ethical Issues in Biotechnology (3 credits)

Bioengineering Track Courses & Electives*

• BIOENG 2150 - Medical Product Ideation (3 credits)*
• BIOENG 2151 - Medical Product Development (3 credits)*
• BIOENG 2170 - Clinical Bioengineering (3 credits)*
• BIOENG 2171 - Medical Product Prototyping (3 credits)*
• Graduate Engineering Elective (3 credits)*
• Graduate Engineering Elective (3 credits)*
• Graduate Engineering Elective (3 credits)*

Projects Course  

• BIND 2200 & BIOENG 2095 - Integrated MBA/MS Project - Joint with KGSB (3 credits)

* The requirement of track courses implies that students would choose a specialty focus or "track" within Bioengineering, which currently consists of Biomechanics, Biosignals and Imaging, Cellular and Organ Engineering, Medical Product Engineering, Rehabilitation and Human Movement, Neural Engineering, Biophysics and Physiology. With the program director's approval, students could take courses from multiple tracks that either logically fit together or help fulfill the student's educational & career objectives.

To apply, please visit  The Katz Graduate School of Business website.

Patrick Sparto, PhD, PT
Co-Director, DPT-PhD Program
Department of Physical Therapy
Bridgeside Point 1, Suite 210
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3130
Phone: 412-647-8069
Fax: 412-648-5970
E-mail: psparto@pitt.edu

www.shrs.pitt.edu/DPT-PhD/

See the Physical Therapy/Bioengineering, DPT/PhD Program in the Pitt catalog

Bioengineering in Psychiatry (BiP)
Biomechanics in Regenerative Medicine (BiRM)
Cardiovascular Bioengineering Training Program (CBTP)
Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration (CATER)

BOOSTING RESEARCH-EXPERIENCES FOR INCREASING DOCTORATE GRADUATES IN ENGINEERING (BRIDGE)

Pitt Bioengineering and CMU Mechanical Engineering, in partnership with Department of Defense National Laboratories, offer a joint research training program in AI, robotics, and neural engineering. The two-year MS-to-PhD program is designed to increase the participation in higher education of individuals historically underrepresented in science and engineering.

Learn more