With a thesis
Nine courses + thesis
Those interested in being a researcher in academic, industry, or government laboratories should choose the MS with thesis track. The time to complete with a thesis is 7 quarters.
Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Study within a department at the forefront of biomedicine
Join a department home to interdisciplinary faculty, with appointments in engineering, medicine, and arts and sciences, who lead revolutionary research that employs the principles of engineering to advance our impact on biology and medicine.
Northwestern’s highly ranked master’s program in biomedical engineering provides students with theoretical instruction in engineering, science, and mathematics disciplines; exposure to specialized topics in the field; and the opportunity to participate in research projects. Students benefit from our department's interdisciplinary research connections across Northwestern’s schools as well as to local hospitals. In addition, our community is strengthened by our thriving Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Organization.
Why Northwestern?
Robust connections university-wide + collaborations with renowned hospitals
Our department enjoys robust connections with Northwestern’s other top-ranked schools, including the Feinberg School of Medicine, as well as with renowned local hospitals, such as Northwestern Medicine, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. These connections make us a leader in the field of biomedicine and help ensure that our innovative research is frequently translated into medical practice through easy access to Chicago’s world-class medical device, pharmaceutical, consulting, and biomedical research industries.
Curriculum and Degree Tracks
The basics at-a-glance
Earn your master’s or combined BS/MS degrees with or without a thesis. Students typically complete their master’s degree in about 1-2 years.
Without a thesis
12 courses + optional research project
Those interested in industry careers may wish to enter the MS without thesis track. The time to complete without a thesis is 3 quarters.
Attend an Information Session
Northwestern's Biomedical Engineering MS department will be hosting three admissions information sessions via Zoom this fall/winter.
Special Programs
Supplement your area of study with complementary skills to prepare for career specialization
Concentrations
Gain practical skills in areas such as project management, design, regulation, and data analysis with one of the following optional concentrations:
Minor Programs
Prepare yourself for obtaining funding, managing a business, or developing/using custom software for your research with a minor in one of the following areas:
Interdisciplinary Programs and Research Groups
Most biomedical engineering graduate students participate in one of the following:
Chicago
A thriving community for biomedical discovery
Situated along Lake Michigan, Northwestern’s unique location offers easy access to research partnerships and networking opportunities in the growing Chicago-area biomedical and biotechnology sector.
Research Excellence
Pushing the boundaries of discovery and moving our ideas into society
Work closely with our faculty who are leaders in the following research areas: Biomaterials and Regenerative Engineering; Biomechanics; Cell and Molecular Engineering; Computational Biomedical Engineering; Imaging and Biophotonics; Medical Devices and Instrumentation; and Neural Engineering.
31
other departments with which we actively collaborate
across five Northwestern schools
12
interdisciplinary research centers
create the structure and support for our extensive work with other disciplines, departments, schools, and institutes
27
faculty startups
Our department is home to many startups in therapeutics, diagnostics, biological discovery, and instrumentation.
Guillermo Ameer
Daniel Hale Williams Professor of Biomedical Engineering
“We have the opportunity at Northwestern to be at the center of what could impact millions down the road.”
Career Paths
At Northwestern, you’ll have opportunities including laboratory research experience, teaching, and conferences and workshops. In addition, our career advisors in Engineering Career Development and Northwestern Career Advancement assist students with career development and placement.
Our graduates typically move on to research or leadership positions within:
Engineering schools
Medical schools
Hospitals
Industrial firms
Government laboratories
Request Your Program & Application Guide
Request a customized program guide about the master of science in biomedical engineering.