Master's Degree in Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies engineering principles to healthcare challenges, drawing on collaboration across engineering, medicine, and science. It spans areas like biomaterials, biomechanics, and tissue engineering to develop innovative solutions to real-world medical problems.

Complete applications will require transcripts; a personal statement indicating background, motivation, and interest in the program, and career aspirations; and three academic and/or professional recommendations.
International applicants must submit TOEFL scores unless they have received a degree from an English-speaking institution.

Priority Consideration deadline is December 15. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with a deadline of May 1 for the Fall Semester and September 1 for the Spring Semester.

The following curriculum is generally taken as an undergraduate prior to matriculation to Tulane’s BME graduate program (course numbers are equivalent to Tulane courses satisfying each requirement).

-1 year of college physics (PHYS 1310-1320)
-1 year of college chemistry (CHEM 1070-1080)
-1 semester of biology with lab (CELL 1010)
-1 course in computer programming (BMEN 2020)
-3 semesters of calculus (MATH 1210-1220, MATH 2210)
-1 semester of differential equations (MATH 2240)
-1 semester of statics (ENGP 1410)
-1 semester of mechanics of materials (ENGP 2430)
-1 semester of fluid mechanics (BMEN 3440)
-1 semester of materials engineering (ENGP 3120)
-1 semester of circuits (ENGP 2010)
-1 semester of electronics (BMEN 2730)

Prior to commencing coursework at Tulane, an entering graduate student who is deficient in this preparation will prepare a proposed curriculum in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Studies.

Yes. A master’s degree in biomedical engineering changes which jobs you can apply for on day one. Without it, a bachelor’s grad typically spends 10 to 20 years building toward roles in R&D, technical consulting, or advanced engineering. With an MS, you reach those roles one to two years after graduation. The degree does not just add knowledge. It moves you into a higher job tier immediately.

Employers sort candidates differently depending on their degree level. A BS in biomedical engineering qualifies you for entry-level lab roles, quality assurance, and manufacturing positions. An MS qualifies you for roles that require independent judgment, project leadership, and technical depth.

That tier difference shows up in hiring. Many R&D positions, regulatory affairs roles, and technical consulting jobs list an MS as a minimum requirement, not a preference. You can have five years of industry experience and still be screened out because the job requires a graduate degree.

Salary data reflects the same gap. MS graduates enter higher pay bands at the start of their careers and reach senior-level compensation faster than BS-only graduates in comparable roles.

With a master’s degree, you become eligible for a different set of roles across the biomedical sector. These include:

• R&D engineer at a medical device or biotech company
• Regulatory affairs specialist at the FDA or in industry
• Clinical applications engineer working directly with healthcare providers
• Technical consultant for healthcare technology firms
• Product development lead at a startup or established manufacturer
• Biomedical scientist at a government research agency
• Program or project manager for clinical trials or product launches

These roles are not typically accessible to BS graduates without years of demonstrated advancement. An MS compresses that timeline significantly.

A common objection to pursuing a master’s degree is that work experience can substitute for it over time. In some fields, that is true. In biomedical engineering, it largely is not.

The R&D and consulting roles that pay the most and offer the most autonomy are structured around degree tiers. Companies use degree requirements as a first filter, especially in regulated industries like medical devices and pharmaceuticals where technical credentials carry legal and compliance weight.

Spending a decade building experience without the degree means competing for senior roles against candidates who have both. The degree removes that barrier at the start of your career rather than requiring you to overcome it later.

A traditional MS in biomedical engineering prepares you to go deeper into engineering and research. That is valuable, but it points you toward a specific set of roles, primarily in labs, academia, and technical engineering positions.

The MS in Bioinnovation at Tulane is built for a different outcome. The program focuses on moving biomedical technologies from research into commercial use. You learn engineering and biology alongside entrepreneurship, regulatory strategy, and market analysis.

The program includes a built-in commercialization internship where you work directly with a startup, industry partner, or faculty-developed technology. You conduct customer discovery, market research, and a full commercialization analysis, then deliver a final report that documents your applied work. Graduates leave with a project they can point to, not just coursework.

That focus opens roles that a traditional BME master’s does not. Product development and commercialization roles at biotech companies, startup founding or early-stage team positions, technology transfer and licensing roles at universities and hospitals, and venture development within healthcare organizations are all pathways that align with what the Bioinnovation MS prepares you for.

Tulane BME graduates work across the biomedical sector. Alumni go on to roles at medical device companies, biotech startups, healthcare technology firms, consulting organizations, and research institutions. The Bioinnovation program specifically attracts students interested in the commercial side of the industry, and graduates pursue paths in product development, technology licensing, and early-stage company building.

The program draws on Tulane’s connections to the New Orleans startup ecosystem and to the Tulane Innovation Institute, which means students are working with real technologies and real commercialization challenges during the program itself.

Request information about the Tulane MS in Bioinnovation or start your application today.

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a meaningful distinction. Biomedical engineering focuses specifically on applications in human health and medicine. The goal is to develop and improve technologies that directly affect patients and clinical care.

Bioengineering is broader. It includes applications in agriculture, environmental science, food production, and industrial biotechnology in addition to medicine. A bioengineer might work on crop yield optimization or biofuel production. A biomedical engineer is focused on the human body and healthcare.

Some universities use the terms differently based on departmental structure rather than a strict technical distinction. When evaluating programs, look at the curriculum and faculty research areas rather than the program name alone.