Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Science in Bioengineering
The MS in Bioengineering at Lehigh University prepares critical thinkers, problem solvers and innovators to work where engineering meets the physical and life sciences.
- Credits30
- Typical length2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Science
- GRENot required/considered
Overview
What the Master of Science in Bioengineering is
Bioengineering problems rarely sit inside a single discipline, so this program teaches you to bring the physical sciences, the life sciences and engineering to bear on them together. Alongside technical depth, it builds the leadership and the habit of continuous learning that a fast-moving field demands. Neither a thesis nor a comprehensive exam is required, so the degree can fit coursework-focused or research-focused goals.
A 30-credit degree, typically 2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Research areas
Research aimed at medicine’s hardest problems
Across all three research areas, the department’s faculty and students are working on some of the largest and most complex problems in health: detecting disease earlier, creating therapies that repair or replace damaged tissue, treating neurological conditions, and turning the flood of biological data into care tailored to each patient. Master’s students can contribute through electives, projects and optional thesis research.
Biocomputations and Modeling
Living systems produce far more data than people can read unaided, and turning that data into insight is central to personalized medicine, drug discovery and understanding disease. Researchers in this area build models and analytics that predict how molecules, cells and whole biological systems behave, and apply them to biomedical images and health data.
Focus topics: Biomolecular Modeling, Bioinformatics, Bioengineering Systems and Controls, Biophysics, Modeling of Biological Systems, Computational Bioengineering, Data Analytics and Biomedical Image Analysis.
Diagnostics, Sensors and Devices
Catching disease early, and monitoring it outside a major hospital, depends on better tools. This area develops the imaging, sensing and diagnostic technologies and the medical devices that help identify, treat and prevent disease, with an eye toward care that is faster, less invasive and more widely available.
Focus topics: Biomedical Imaging, Biophotonics, BioMEMS, Biosensors, Microfluidics, Bioelectronics, Medical Devices.
Materials and Therapies
Many new therapies are made possible by innovation in biomaterials, from the molecular scale up through micro-scale structures. Work in this area aims at regenerating damaged tissue, delivering drugs where they are needed, treating neurological conditions, and understanding how cells and tissues respond to force and to their environment.
Focus topics: Biomaterials, Molecular Bioengineering, Biopharmaceutical Engineering, Cell and Tissue Engineering, Neuroengineering, Biofluid and Solid Mechanics, Biomolecular and Cellular Mechanics, Environmental Bioengineering.
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits: a 7-credit common core that gives every student the same foundation, then 23 credits of electives in bioengineering and other programs that you shape around your goals.
- Common core, 7 credits. Choose one methods course (BIOE 452, BIOE 415 or BIOE 463), take Professional Development for Bioengineers (BIOE 453), and choose Advanced Engineering Physiology or Quantitative Biology (BIOE 410 or BIOE 445).
- Bioengineering electives, 11 to 12 credits. At least four BIOE courses at the 300 and 400 level, with no more than one at the 300 level. BIOE 451 and BIOE 490 can count here and can be repeated for up to six credits.
- Free electives, 11 to 12 credits. At least four courses at the 300 or 400 level in bioengineering or other departments. Up to two courses from another department may be at the 200 level.
- Thesis option. Up to six elective credits can go to thesis research, culminating in a written thesis. A thesis is not required, and there is no comprehensive exam.
- Course-level rules. At least 18 credits must be in BIOE courses, with at least 15 of them at the 400 level, and no more than 12 credits may be at the 300 level. You need a B- or better in at least 18 credits of your program, and courses graded C- or better count toward the degree.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| BIOE 453 | Professional Development for Bioengineers | Career and professional skills for bioengineering grads. |
| BIOE 452 | Mathematical Methods In Engineering I | Analytical math methods for engineering: ODEs, transforms. |
| BIOE 415 | Bioengineering Statistics | Applied probability and statistics for bioengineering data. |
| BIOE 463 | Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers | Numerical methods: equations, ODEs, PDEs, regression. |
| BIOE 410 | Advanced Engineering Physiology | Quantitative modeling of human physiological systems. |
| BIOE 445 | Quantitative Biology | Molecular/cellular biology and biochemistry for engineers. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog listing below and with your academic advisor.
Concentrations
Three concentrations, or a path of your own
Every student takes the common core and bioengineering electives. Choose a concentration to focus your electives, or pursue a generalized bioengineering program.
Biomaterials
For students interested in biological and biomimetic materials and their characteristics and applications. Courses range from Introduction to Biomaterials to specialized topics such as Cardiovascular Bioengineering, Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, and Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine. You can build further expertise with coursework in chemical and biomolecular engineering, materials science and engineering, and chemistry.
Bioengineering Product Development
For students interested in the design, development, regulation or commercialization of medical products, including medical devices, diagnostics and sensors, and biologics. Courses cover areas such as regulatory affairs, the medical device product development lifecycle, and biotechnology, and you are encouraged to broaden your knowledge with industrial and systems engineering, project management, technical entrepreneurship and general business entrepreneurship. Students in this track are encouraged to complete a Bioengineering Projects course under the guidance of a technical mentor.
Biocomputations and Biomedical Analytics
For students interested in the fast-growing field of computational data science as applied to biotechnology, biological systems, biopharmaceutical development, digital health and healthcare analytics. Example courses include Bioengineering Statistics, Bioengineering Applications in Machine Learning, Structural Bioinformatics, and Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers. You are also encouraged to take courses in industrial and systems engineering, data science, and computer science and engineering.
Careers
Where graduates work
Bioengineering alumni work where engineering meets biology and medicine.
Most of our alumni work in biopharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare organizations, and others work in research universities, government agencies, consulting and finance. Typical roles include research and development scientist, process or manufacturing engineer, quality specialist, data and computational scientist, and technical manager or director. Many alumni begin at the bench or on the plant floor and later move into project leadership, strategy and executive roles.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Merck
- Johnson & Johnson
- Regeneron
- Bristol Myers Squibb
- GSK
- Takeda
- Stryker
- Medtronic
Alumni also work at Pfizer, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Abbott, McKinsey & Company and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Based on current employers of Lehigh bioengineering alumni who graduated between 1996 and 2025. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $52,050.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
- Merit and alumni partial scholarships are available for Master of Science applicants.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and international GPAs are evaluated against that standard. A trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters is taken into account. You will also submit official transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
- Holistic review
The program director reviews each application as a whole, in consultation with program faculty.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither required nor evaluated.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the minimums in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the MS in Bioengineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree that prepares students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, innovators, leaders and life-long learners in bioengineering. Students learn to solve problems that call on interdisciplinary knowledge at the interface of the physical and life sciences and engineering.
How many credits is the MS in Bioengineering?
30 credits: a 7-credit common core and 23 credits of electives in bioengineering and other programs.
How long does the MS in Bioengineering take to complete?
The program takes two years. Faster completion may be possible through degree planning with your advisor.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required. If you want research experience, up to six of your elective credits can go to thesis research that culminates in a written thesis.
What concentrations can I choose?
Biomaterials; Bioengineering Product Development; and Biocomputations and Biomedical Analytics. You can also pursue a generalized bioengineering program. Every student takes the common core and bioengineering electives.
What courses make up the common core?
Seven credits in three parts: one methods course (Mathematical Methods in Engineering, Bioengineering Statistics, or Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers), Professional Development for Bioengineers, and either Advanced Engineering Physiology or Quantitative Biology.
What are the admission requirements?
A bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent from a foreign institution, by the time you enroll. A GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, with consideration for a trend of strengthening grades in your final semesters. Applications are reviewed as a whole by the program director in consultation with faculty.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Science in Bioengineering?
The GRE is not required or considered for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $52,050 for the 30-credit degree. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
What scholarships apply to this program specifically?
Merit and alumni partial scholarships are available for Master of Science applicants.
Which department offers this program?
The Department of Bioengineering.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, English-proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Deadlines are December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
Contact
Talk to the program
Department of Bioengineering
Sinclair Lab, 7 Asa Drive, Suite 205, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Department of Bioengineering »
General enquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.