M.S.-Plan B Degree Requirements

Six credits of core coursework are required, to be chosen from the BMEn 5000-Level Core and/or BMEn 8000-Level Core lists.

If additional core courses are completed, their credits may be counted toward other degree requirements, as indicated on the list of Courses by Number.

Two credits of BMEn 8601 and/or BMEn 8602 are required. Seminars are 1 credit per semester and may be repeated for credit.

Click here for the current seminar schedule.

Graduate seminars from other departments/programs may NOT be substituted for this requirement.

Six credits of coursework with a primarily biological emphasis are required.

See the Biology Electives list for a selection of courses that have been approved for this requirement.

Biology elective credits must be at the 5000 level or higher unless approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Nine credits of technical electives are required. Three of these credits must include math-/stat-intensive coursework.

See the Technical Electives and Math-/Stat-Intensive lists for a selection of courses that have been approved for these requirements.

Technical elective credits must be at the 5000 level or higher unless approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Six additional credits in a field of science or engineering are required.

Some courses do not have sufficient technical/biology content to count toward those elective requirements - see the Free Electives list for courses that may only be counted toward the Free requirement.

Free elective credits must be at the 5000 level or higher unless approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The M.S. electives (Biology, Technical, Free) must include a minimum of 6 credits of minor or supporting program coursework. This coursework must be completed outside BME in engineering, mathematics, the physical sciences, and/or the biological sciences.

• If a MINOR is chosen, it will be included on the official transcript. A minor must be approved by the DGS of the program granting the minor. Students are advised to determine appropriate courses for fulfillment of minor requirements during their first semester of study.
• If a SUPPORTING PROGRAM is chosen, it must be composed of a coherent set of courses, possibly embracing several disciplines, and should include at least one 8000-level elective. A supporting program will not appear on the transcript.

By the end of the first academic year of study*, M.S. students should submit a Graduate Degree Plan to the advisor, DGS, and Graduate School for approval. The Graduate Degree Plan is the formal statement of the coursework being used to satisfy degree requirements.

Along with the Graduate Degree Plan, students should also submit the M.S.-Plan B Supplement for review by the DGS. The supplement is an internal form that shows which courses are being used toward the specific degree requirements set by the department (core courses, bio/tech electives, etc.).

*Part-time students do not need to submit the Graduate Degree Plan until one semester before they plan to complete the degree.

In addition to the 29 course credits for the M.S.-Plan B degree, students must complete 2-3 credits of Plan B Project (BMEn 8820).

The project should entail approximately 50-75 hours of work per credit, performed in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Students must submit a written report of approximately 10 double-spaced pages per credit to the advisor, who will assign a letter grade for BMEn 8820 based on the report. The report must then be defended before the student's committee (see next sections).

M.S.-Plan B students may register for Plan B Project credits during any semester, with the advisor's approval.

At least one month prior to the Final Examination/Project Defense, students must assign their examination committee members online by going to the Graduate School's Forms for Master's Students and clicking on "Master's Final Examination Committee."

Committee requirements are posted on the Graduate School website at http://www.grad.umn.edu/students/masterscommittee.

All M.S.-Plan B students must perform a Final Oral Examination in defense of the Plan B Project. The Master's defense must be closed to the public. It is not restricted to a discussion of the project, but will include questions related to coursework in the major and minor/supporting fields.

Graduate degrees are awarded on the last working day of the month in which the candidate completes all requirements. The degree award will appear on the candidate's transcript approximately 3 weeks following the official conferral date. Diplomas are mailed within 4-6 weeks of the official conferral date.

The Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Graduate Commencement is held each spring. Students wishing to participate in the commencement ceremony must apply to do so by the posted deadlines. See http://gradcommencement.umn.edu/ for information, eligibility requirements, cap and gown information, and additional details.