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May 03, 2024
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2015-2016 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biomechanics, MS
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 Return to: Degree and Certificate Programs
Note For the Current Academic Year:
Incoming PhD students should refer to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences section of this catalog. The following information is intended for incoming MS students, current MS and current PhD students. Questions about the future plans should be directed to the program director.
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Biomechanics: Admission Requirements
Applicants must enter the program in the fall semester in order to begin the required coursework in the core curriculum. The deadline for submission of applications is generally March 1. International applications can be accepted after March 1 but must take into consideration the delays associated with the necessary visa arrangements. In addition to the basic requirements established by The Graduate College, the division has the following requirements for admission to its program:
- Applicants must have completed a Baccalaureate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university and provide official transcripts from each college or university attended. Prior degrees would most likely include physical sciences, engineering, computer science, mathematics, biology or medicine; although students with degrees from other areas and those who consider themselves to have special or unique qualities and a reasonable likelihood of success are also encouraged to apply.
- The Graduate College requires academic transcripts from all-baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate educational experiences. These should provide a minimal grade point average of 3.0 overall (A = 4.0). The Graduate College requires all graduate students to take the GRE examinations; scores on these tests are considered by the admission committee. All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants from foreign countries must have their transcripts evaluated by an independent agency (i.e., ECE and WES).
- As required by the Graduate College, a clear, concise expression of the applicant’s interests and goals needs to be included as an essay in their application. Identifying a particular area of interest within the field of biomechanics is very helpful in identifying potential laboratories for the students.
- The Graduate College requires three letters of recommendation and it is recommended that they be from science faculty who can evaluate the character of the applicant, their academic and research performance, and their ability to think and work independently.
The Division Director and the Admissions Committee evaluate applications. All prior academic experience and the letters of recommendation will be evaluated for an indication of the applicant’s potential for success as a graduate student and future independent investigator. The statement by the applicant describing goals and motivation will be studied to determine the compatibility between the applicant’s requirements and the capabilities of the graduate program.
The number of faculty available to mentor the student’s research limits acceptance into the master’s program. Students are therefore encouraged to apply early. Generally, students entering the master’s program will not be eligible for stipends and must pay tuition. Under certain circumstances, if the faculty has sufficient funds, it may provide financial support to the extent of tuition.
Biomechanics: Thesis Program Progression
During the summer of the first year, the student selects a research project in conjunction with a faculty mentor. The research project is designed to advance knowledge in a specific discipline and to yield a scientific publication for the student. The thesis may be original or an important extension of an existing theory/principle and cannot have been used to meet the requirement of any other degree, either at Rush University or any other university.
Academic Advisor/Principal Advisor
The graduate division director functions as the academic advisor to the student during the first year. The Program Director determines the course schedule and monitors the student’s progress. In the summer, a principal advisor or mentor is selected from the faculty of the Division of Biomechanics. The advisor then accepts the supervisory role in the development of the student as a scientific investigator.
Thesis Research
The advisor will work with the student to develop a research project that can be completed within the framework of the program. Each student will have a thesis committee whose role is to assure that the student’s thesis is of high quality and meets the standards of the division, the College and the University. The thesis committee is chosen by the student in conjunction with the student’s primary advisor and should consist of at least three total members to include the student’s primary advisor. The primary advisor must be a member of the Graduate College. Once the committee convenes, it will choose a chairperson who cannot be the student’s primary advisor. The chairperson will oversee the scheduling and activities of the committee.
Master’s Thesis
A written thesis, describing work accomplished, is required to be completed by all master’s students by the end of the second year. The Thesis Committee reviews the thesis. At or near the completion of the thesis, each student will share, by means of a seminar with the academic community, the knowledge that the student has developed. Students are responsible for posting announcements (at least two weeks prior to the presentation) on institutional bulletin boards and e-mailing all faculty and students of the Graduate College the title of the thesis; the student’s name; and the location, date and time of the presentation. This presentation must precede the final approval of the written thesis by the Thesis Committee. Following the approval of the Thesis Committee, the Program Director must certify the completion of the thesis and all requirements for the MS degree. The Director of the Library of Rush University Medical Center must then approve the formatting of thesis before its acceptance by the Library of Rush University.
Completion of the Degree
The Office of the Registrar must be notified of impending completion of the degree by submission of an Intent to Graduate form at the beginning of the final semester. Information for graduation can be found in the University Catalog. As the Thesis is reaching final form, the student should consult with the University Librarian to assure that the Thesis will be formatted correctly. Upon Thesis approval, the student completes a final checklist to assure the necessary approvals. During this time, the student will be required to have an exit interview and provide the College with feedback concerning his or her experience at Rush University.
Biomechanics: Graduation Requirements
The student must complete all required courses except for those waived by the Graduate Committee and have completed the minimally required course hours as detailed in the curriculum section. The student’s Committee must approve the thesis and have the completed document accepted by the Graduate Program Director and the University Librarian.
Biomechanics: Curriculum
When the applicant enters the program, a research advisor is assigned and the student begins directed research on an active project. In the first three semesters, there is minimal research as classroom studies are emphasized. During these semesters, master’s Graduate College students take the Graduate Core Curriculum (GCC) classes, required biochemistry (BCH) course and required Biomechanics (BMC) courses. The summer semester is devoted to MS Thesis research. Research and advanced Biomechanics courses provide the core of the second-year studies. The master’s students are involved in a directed research project.
A typical course sequence is described as follows:
Note:
GCC courses are Graduate College Courses taken by master’s students from a variety of different Graduate College programs. These courses provide a basic understanding in the biomedical sciences and acquaint the students with the biomedical literature. BCH-prefixed courses are specific to the Division of Biochemistry. BMC-prefixed courses are specific to the Division of Biomechanics.
The Division of Biomechanics reserves the right to revise courses and the student may be required to take the replacement courses. Such a requirement would not apply to students who have already taken a course.
Minimal Credit Hours Required for MS Degree
The MS program in Biomechanics will require a minimum of 53 semester hours of academic coursework taken at the graduate level that consists of core courses in biomechanics, strength and properties of biomaterials, basic anatomy and cellular biochemistry (15 semester hours); research core courses in biostatistics, writing practicum, ethics and journal club and introduction to research (7 semester hours); professional track course in connective tissue biochemistry, kinematics of human motion, bioengineering material and spine biomechanics (11 semester hours); and thesis work (20 semester hours). The program may be completed in approximately 2 years of full-time study.
Research Requirements (Thesis)
All MS students must complete a thesis as a part of degree completion requirements. The thesis is completed through faculty-guided research. The thesis may be original or an important extension of an existing theory/principle and cannot have been used to meet the requirement of any other degree, either at Rush University or any other university. Each student will have a thesis committee whose role is to assure that the student’s thesis is of high quality and meets the standards of the division, the College and the University. The thesis committee is chosen by the student in conjunction with the student’s primary advisor and should consist of at least three total members to include the student’s primary advisor. The primary advisor must be a member of the Graduate College. Once the committee convenes, it will choose a chairperson who cannot be the student’s primary advisor. The chairperson will oversee the scheduling and activities of the committee.
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Return to: Degree and Certificate Programs
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