MS in Biomedical Engineering
Engineer Solutions That Improve Lives
Transform the health-care industry with a Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Engineering (BME) from San José State University. Our program instills the technical competence to expand your baseline knowledge of engineering and natural sciences. Learn how to navigate regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and master global regulatory frameworks to create clinical solutions.
After graduating with your biomedical engineering master’s degree, you’ll have the intensive training required to work in research and development, product management and regulatory compliance as an effective leader.
Why Earn Your Master’s in Biomedical Engineering at SJSU?
Our biomedical engineering program allows you to explore innovative methodologies in a discipline that centers on human health and welfare.
When you choose San José State University, you benefit from:
- Balanced, high-level course work that encompasses project management, medical device design, FDA regulations and the manufacturing aspects of pioneering biomedical technologies.
- Access to a fully equipped metal and fabrication shop to design products and solutions, from medical concept to physical prototype.
- A program designed in partnership with Silicon Valley biomedical companies to prepare you for senior positions in the industry.
- Experiential learning through involvement in cutting-edge research projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense (DOD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Professional networking opportunities in the Bay Area, anchored by the department’s annual Bay Area Biomedical Device Conference and our location in a hub with over 1,100 local biomedical companies.
- Connection to an award-winning student chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), which has been recognized as the best chapter nationwide.
- STEM designation that offers a high level of academic rigor and practical advantages, such as extended work authorization for international students.
- Faculty-led research in specialized fields, including cardiovascular device fluid mechanics, biomaterials, biomechanics and nanotechnology.
Eager to learn more about our master’s program? Here’s why our graduate students chose SJSU.
What You’ll Learn
The MS in Biomedical Engineering degree program at SJSU comprises 10 three-credit courses for a total of 30 units. Our interdisciplinary curriculum combines advanced engineering theory with clinical realities to help you navigate the full scope of medical device and product development.
Throughout the program, you acquire in-depth knowledge of regulatory and manufacturing compliance practices and solidify your fluency in mathematical and experimental methods. Immerse yourself in the life cycle of biomedical innovation and receive focused training on project management to pursue engineering leadership roles after graduation.
Culminating Experience
Earning a biomedical engineering master’s degree requires you to choose a thesis or a project as the culminating experience of your graduate studies. For either option, you must develop a project proposal in BME 291 - MS Thesis/Project Preparation Seminar. The reading committee and a project advisor must approve the proposal upon completion of BME 291. After approval, complete these steps:
- Implement the research plan using appropriate methods for the investigation.
- Use statistical techniques to analyze data and draw conclusions.
- Discuss the results with context from previously published research findings.
- Write a professional report of appropriate length.
- Present and defend the project to the reading committee.
Plan A (Thesis)
Choose the master’s thesis option and secure the commitment of a full-time tenured or tenure-track department faculty member to serve as your thesis committee chair. You’ll also ask two additional members to join your committee. One must be a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member at SJSU.
Write a thesis proposal and have it approved by the thesis committee. Then, pass BME 291 - MS Thesis/Project Preparation Seminar (3 units) and BME 298 - MS Project (3 units) before enrolling in BME 299 - MS Thesis (3 units). For students choosing Plan A, BME 299 counts as one graduate elective course, bringing the total to 30 units.
Your thesis must meet all university requirements as well as requirements in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. You must write the thesis under the guidance of your thesis committee chair with assistance from committee members.
Plan B (Project)
Choose the project option for your master’s degree in biomedical engineering and pass BME 291 - MS Thesis/Project Preparation Seminar (3 units) before enrolling in BME 298 - MS Project (3 units).
Prepare your project proposal in BME 291 and have it approved by your reading committee at the completion of that course.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates who complete an MS in Biomedical Engineering will be able to:
- Solve complex engineering problems and tasks while using engineering, science and statistical principles to justify recommendations.
- Evaluate the societal impact of their work, including ethical, economic, global and environmental aspects.
- Deliver effective presentations of engineering results in both written and oral formats.
- Develop lifelong learning skills and use their engineering knowledge to evaluate relevant literature and new technologies or systems.
- Become effective leaders and engineering professionals capable of working in diverse environments.
- Apply engineering education to diverse sectors, including biotechnology, clinical regulatory affairs and medical device manufacturing.
What Careers Can You Pursue With a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering?
Our master’s program equips you with competencies in engineering mechanisms and clinical regulations for research and development, regulatory compliance or product management roles. Become an effective engineering leader in the biomedical field, where you can work as a laboratory professional, find a research position or apply to medical school to become a physician.
No matter the path, a master’s degree in BME can support career stability. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5% employment growth for bioengineers and biomedical engineers through 2034, which is faster than the average for all occupations.
With an MS in Biomedical Engineering from SJSU, you acquire the proficiency to pursue senior positions like:
- Medical Device Product Development Manager
- Principal Quality Assurance Engineer
- Lead Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Research and Development Manager
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Field Clinical Engineer
Check Out the SJSU Career Center
Where SJSU Graduates Work
Equipped with regulatory expertise and a strong work ethic, SJSU Spartans have secured roles at reputable organizations, including:
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MS in Biomedical Engineering Program Admissions
Ready to take the next step toward earning your Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering? Apply to San José State University and gain admission to begin your journey.
Explore Graduate Admissions at SJSU
Application Requirements
When applying to the MS in Biomedical Engineering, please complete the steps:
- Submit your application through Cal State Apply
- Submit official documents needed to Graduate Admissions by the MS in Biomedical Engineering document deadline
- Applicants who have a major GPA of 3.0 or higher are not required to take the GRE. All others must take the GRE General Test and obtain a combined score of 315 or higher in the Verbal and Quantitative sections, and 3.5 or higher in the Analytical Writing section.
Admission to Classified Standing
For admission to classified standing in the biomedical engineering master’s program, the department requires:
- A bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering or its equivalent from an accredited institution.
- A grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester units.
- If the major grade point average is below 3.0, applicants must take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test and obtain a combined score of 315 or higher in the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning sections and a score of 3.5 or higher in the Analytical Writing section.
- Completion of fundamental course work or transition courses with grades of B or better.
Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing
If you hold a BS in engineering, chemistry, physics or biology from an accredited institution but have not completed all fundamental course work for the biomedical engineering master’s program, then you may receive admission with conditionally classified standing.
Transition courses will be listed as “conditions” and determined by the graduate coordinator. You can take these classes at community colleges or at SJSU after being admitted. Once you complete the courses with grades of B or better, you can petition for transfer to classified standing.
For more information on the transition courses, visit the Transition Courses page or contact the Biomedical Engineering Department Graduate Coordinator at biomedical-engineering@sjsu.edu.
Financial Aid
San José State University backs your commitment to education. Our Financial Aid and Scholarship Office offers the resources you need to manage the cost of your graduate program.
From finding scholarships and grants to submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), our team helps you simplify the path to earning your biomedical engineering degree.
The College of Graduate Studies has also dedicated a Funding Opportunities page for additional funding resources.
Innovate Global Medical Technology With an MS in Biomedical Engineering
Turn your scientific background into medical innovation at San José State University. Through our program, you’ll learn to apply experimental methodologies and navigate complex FDA compliance frameworks to prepare for careers in biotechnology, manufacturing, research and hospital systems. Take the first step toward earning your master’s in biomedical engineering at SJSU, gaining the skills to help shape the future of medical technology. Apply today.
