FAQ's

1. What is the difference between the Bioengineering Ph.D., Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering Ph.D., and a Ph.D. from another engineering school doing bioengineering research? This issue is discussed on the following web page concerning the Curriculum requirements.
   
   
2. What is the difference between the M.S. in Bioengineering and an M.S. from another engineering school doing bioengineering research? This issue is discussed on the following web page concerning the comparison of the M.S. degree.
   
   
3. What is a school?
   At Georgia Tech, "Schools" are what are thought of as "Departments" at many other universities. For example, the School of Mechanical Engineering is the academic unit that houses the Mechanical Engineering faculty and students, offers Mechanical Engineering classes, and confers Mechanical Engineering degrees.
   
   
4. What is a home school?
   The Bioengineering Program is an interdepartmental degree program that includes the participation of a number of different home schools. Each student's home school is the school to which the student applied and was admitted. Each student is generally subject to the administrative policies of his or her home school, in addition to the administrative and academic policies of the Bioengineering Program.
   Independent of a student's home school, the Bioengineering Program specifies the students' academic and degree requirements.
   
   
5. Does my research advisor have to be in my home school?
   No. Any participating faculty member in the Bioengineering Program may advise a student in the program, independent of his or her school affiliations.
   
   
6. What is the difference between the Bioengineering Program Faculty and the Biomedical Engineering Program Faculty?
   Bioengineering Program faculty are from participating schools within Georgia Tech and may advise students within the Bioengineering Program. Biomedical Engineering Program faculty may advise students enrolled in the Coulter Biomedical Engineering Ph.D. program, and consist of all of the faculty of the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and participating faculty from other schools/departments at Georgia Tech and Emory. There is overlap between the faculty of both programs.
   
   
7. Which schools participate in the Bioengineering Program?
   · College of Computing
   · School of Aerospace Engineering
   · School of Biomedical Engineering
   · School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
   · School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
   · School of Materials Science and Engineering
   · School of Mechanical Engineering
   · School of Textiles Engineering
   
   
8. How are students funded?
   Graduate Research and Teaching Assistantships and most fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic potential. Students are nominated for assistantships by their home school. Students can apply for a variety of fellowships sponsored by national organizations, corporations, and foundations. Information regarding fellowships is available at http://www.grad.gatech.edu/fellowship/fellowshiplist.pdf.
   
   
9. How do I choose an advisor?
   Although mechanisms in each home school are somewhat different, students are given the opportunity to learn about research projects by meeting with potential thesis advisors. Through a selection process involving input from students and faculty, students are matched with research advisors. In some home schools students are expected to match up with a research advisor prior to arriving at Georgia Tech.
   
   
10. What are the requirements for admission?
    The general requirements for being considered for the Bioengineering Program are:
    · B.S. Degree in Engineering or Science
    · 2 years of calculus and differential equations
    · 1 year of calculus-based physics
    · 1 year of chemistry (preferably organic) preferred
    · 1 semester of biology preferred
    · Minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper based) or 25 (computer)
    
    
11. Where do I find the departmental codes to send my TOEFL and GRE results?
    The codes can be found at: http://www.gradadmiss.gatech.edu/programs/multidisciplinary/bioe.php
    
    
    
12. The Bioengineering Program requirements are the same for all home schools involved in the program. Home schools may impose additional criteria. Please see their respective web pages for more information.
    
    
13. I do not have an engineering degree. Can I apply? Do I take the same courses?
    A student who has met the above requirements and has a quantitative aptitude is welcome to apply to the program. A science student may find it necessary to take some undergraduate courses to satisfy prerequisites for particular graduate courses, but this is dependent on both the student's background and the nature of the course.
    For students with a BS in science, an MS in Bioengineering is required before a Ph.D. in Bioengineering.
    
    
    
14. I am transferring from another graduate program. Can I receive transfer credit for my coursework? How?
    Students who have completed an MS degree at another university may make an agreement to apply MS towards towards their Bioengineering Ph.D. This coursework Planning Sheet is filed by the student to establish this agreement, subject to the approval of the Bioengineering Graduate Committee. The Planning Sheet should include all classes to be used towards the Ph.D. -- both those completed at Georgia Tech and those from the MS awarding school.
    
    
    
15. Application Materials: How do I apply? How do I choose a home school? This issue is discussed on the following web page concerning how to apply to the program.
    
    
    
16. Can I apply Spring Semester?
    Student are encouraged to apply for Fall semester admission. Students who apply for Spring semester admission will encounter difficulty finding a thesis advisor and funding for matriculation beginning in the Spring semester.