SGUS Program FAQs

 

The following are answers to commonly asked questions about the Biomedical Engineering (BME) SGUS program. Please feel free to contact Susan Bitzer, Academic Advisor/Counselor, if you have additional questions.

Susan Bitzer
Department of Biomedical Engineering
1111 Gerstacker Building
2200 Bonisteel
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2099

Telephone: 734/763-5290
Fax:  734/936-1905
Email: sbitzer@umich.edu

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is Biomedical Engineering?

It's a synthetic heart valve that saves a grandmother's life.  It's a MRI scanner that reduces parents' worries about their infant's head injury.  It's an automatic biosensor for rapid gene sequencing.  Biomedical Engineering is the newest engineering discipline, integrating the basic principles of biology with the tools of engineering to solve biological or medical problems.

With the rapid advances in biomedical research, and the severe economic pressures to reduce the cost of health care, Biomedical Engineering will play an important role in the medical environment of the 21st century.  Over the last three decades, Biomedical Engineering has evolved into a separate discipline bringing the quantitative concepts of design and optimization to problems in biomedicine.  Students at the University of Michigan’s Department of Biomedical Engineering usually specialize in a sub-discipline by selecting one of six options: Bioelectrics, Biotechnology, Biomaterials, Biomechanics, Biomedical Imaging, or Rehabilitation Engineering.

Why get a M.S.E. degree?

Engineering is fast becoming a field where a M.S.E. degree is of increasing importance for professional development.  This degree is also a way to round out and enhance the knowledge gained by the undergraduate experience and to provide specific knowledge in a niche area of engineering.  A M.S.E. degree is also a necessary first step toward a Ph.D. degree.

When is the best time to get a M.S.E. degree?

The best time will depend on personal goals and plans.  There are several paths to the M.S.E. degree, including continuation immediately after the B.S.E. degree, part-time education in conjunction with employment, and a delayed return to the University after field experience.  Students should choose the route that fits with their individual career goals and lifestyle choices.

What is SGUS?

SGUS stands for Sequential Graduate/Undergraduate Study.  SGUS students are allowed to satisfy some of the requirements for a M.S.E. degree while completing the requirements for the B.S.E. degree.  A maximum of nine hours of credit can be used for both degrees.

What are the advantages of the SGUS program?

Many employers now favor hiring more highly trained engineers at the entry level of the profession.  Many in the academic community feel that a combined B.S.E./M.S.E. program will soon become the accepted standard training for engineers.  The Biomedical Engineering SGUS program is also unique in that students will also have the option of continuing their academic careers in medical school.  The SGUS program is an integrated program that facilitates the completion of a M.S.E. degree with two semesters of study beyond that required for the B.S.E. degree.  Up to nine hours of required course work can be double counted within the combined program.  Thus, with proper planning and scheduling, a semester of study may be eliminated, and students should be able to complete the B.S.E. and M.S.E. degrees within five years of study.  Upon completion of the SGUS program students have all the job possibilities available with their traditional engineering degree, as well as the additional possibilities created with a M.S.E. degree in Biomedical Engineering.

What are the disadvantages of the SGUS program?

SGUS status may impact negatively on the eligibility for undergraduate and graduate financial aid.  The timesaving advantage of the SGUS program may be lost if the student does not follow an efficient plan of study when they enter the program.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Who can apply?

To officially enter the SGUS program a student must:

How does one apply?

First, make an appointment with Susan Bitzer, Academic Advisor/Counselor, to discuss this program and ensure that it is a good fit with your career goals and plans.  A student may also be referred to a graduate advisor for further services.

Then, on line, fill out an application, personal statement, statement of purpose, and resume for the Rackham Graduate School, typing “SGUS 01551” in the subplan section.  Once the application is “submitted” both the Rackham Graduate School and BiomedE may review it online.  The names and e-mail addresses of the faculty writing the required three letters of reference should be noted on line as well.  The system will generate an e-mail asking the appropriate faculty for letters and providing specific instructions on how to do so.  General Record Exam (GRE) scores are not required.  The graduate school application-processing fee of $60 must be submitted as well.

When should one apply?

The application deadlines are:

To begin SGUS in fall term-              
U.S. & Canadian students apply by July 1, International students apply by June 1

To begin SGUS in winter term-        
U.S. & Canadian students apply by Nov 1, International students apply by October 1

To begin SGUS in spring term-        
U.S. and Canadian students apply by April 1, International students apply by March 1

In the spring term, very few course offerings are available.  Most students will be better served by entering the program in the Fall or Winter terms.

Is my admission automatic if I meet the basic criteria (GPA and senior standing)?

Admission is not automatic.  Biomedical Engineering faculty will review your application.  Your statement of purpose, personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation are important parts of the admission decision.

Are GRE's required for SGUS?

GRE scores are not required for admission to the SGUS program, but are required for admission to the regular Biomedical Engineering M.S.E. and Ph.D. programs.  If a student is seriously considering pursuing a Ph.D., the GRE test should be taken during the senior year.  This also facilitates applications for major national graduate fellowships from the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, Whitaker Foundation, and others.

Must international students retake the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for admission to the SGUS?

The TOEFL is waived for students who have already taken it.

How can I become involved in the SGUS program before I reach senior standing?

Students who are interested in the SGUS program may begin to follow the recommended curriculum for their particular area of study as early as their sophomore year.  In addition, there is a seminar course and research conducted with departmental faculty.  Students are also welcome to join in other department events, such as the annual picnic and holiday gatherings.

May a SGUS student continue for a Ph.D.?

Yes, the academic selections of the SGUS program are oriented toward a well-rounded preparation for professional life in engineering or for continuing in an academic career in medical school.  Doctoral students must apply for admission to the Ph.D. program by submitting an application for Change of Program.  The appropriate GRE test scores must also be submitted, as well as a revised statement of purpose. SGUS students are admitted only for a M.S.E. degree.  Admission to the Ph.D. program is not guaranteed.  In 2007, the average GPA was 3.5 and the average total GRE scores were 2000 or above for entering Ph.D. students.

CURRICULUM AND GRADUATION

Which Undergraduate Departments are involved?

How many undergraduate courses or credits may I count towards the M.S.E. degree?

You may count nine credits or about two “concurrent” courses toward the M.S.E. degree.

When are the concurrent courses taken?

The student may take the concurrent courses at any time prior to receiving their undergraduate degree.

How do I know which graduate courses to take?

The curriculum is listed by graduate concentration on the BiomedE web site at www.bme.umich.edu, academics, graduate.

Does enrollment in SGUS affect when I receive my B.S.E. degree?

You should graduate with your B.S.E. degree at the end of the term in which your degree requirements are met.  You must complete a diploma application  on line and your final academic audit.  You must complete the B.S.E. degree within one semester of enrolling in the SGUS program.  You may participate in the appropriate graduation ceremony for your B.S.E. degree and again, when you receive your M.S.E. degree.

What happens after the B.S.E. degree is complete?

Your university standing will be changed to the M.S.E. degree level.  Susan Bitzer, the Academic Advisor/Counselor, will still be available for advising services.  You may be referred to a graduate advisor, if necessary, for additional services.

TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID

What does this program cost?

SGUS students must pay Rackham fees for all classes taken during the terms they are classified as graduate students.  SGUS students should expect to pay two terms of graduate level tuition before completion of the M.S.E. degree.  Please refer to the tuition section of the current Time Schedule for tuition rates on the Registrar’s Office web site.

Is financial aid available?

Most of the need-based financial aid for undergraduates is not available to students enrolled in a graduate program.  Admission to a graduate program changes a student's eligibility for financial aid.  Graduate students are usually considered independent students.  Thus each student who currently receives federal financial aid (loans, grants scholarships, or work-study) or would like to apply for such aid, is encouraged to see a counselor in the Office of Financial Aid (located in the Student Activities Building).   The counselor will be able to discuss how entering the SGUS program will affect their financial needs before applying to the program.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering awards merit-based aid (fellowships, graduate student instructorships and research assistantships) to graduate level students.  The majority of this aid is reserved for students who are Ph.D. track.  SGUS students will normally not be eligible for this aid.

Although fellowship opportunities are limited, Ph.D. track students with an excellent academic record are eligible to apply in their senior year for a three and four year National Science Foundation Fellowships to support their doctorate studies in Biomedical Engineering.  Students who are interested should stop by the Department of Biomedical Engineering main office at 1107 Gerstacker in September when the fellowship applications are available.