Bioengineering , one of the newest fields of engineering, involves the study of how complex systems come into being, how they behave and what we can do to modify or regulate their behavior. The most interesting behaviors of complex systems are not evident in the components that make up the system, but "emerge" as a result of the self-organizing interactions between the components. An understanding of self-organization and emergent properties is the cornerstone of an education in bioengineering.
Students admitted as engineering freshmen in the Watson School join the Engineering Design Division (EDD) which coordinates our unique first-year curriculum. The division provides students with an introduction to all branches of engineering and ensures that they develop the technical and communication skills essential to be successful engineers.
The primary focus of the bioengineering program at Binghamton University is complex systems. While knowledge of complex system behavior is essential for understanding living systems and particularly relevant for those considering careers in biology, medicine or biotechnology, an understanding of complex systems is also useful for thinking about events in the world of nonliving natural systems like avalanches, earthquakes, flooding and weather. Our approach to complex systems can also be employed in understanding and influencing the behavior of human systems and organizations like financial networks, communication networks, communities and political structures all demonstrate emergent behaviors not evident in the behavior of individuals.
The first bioengineering alumni graduates from the Watson School in 2006 and our students have been pursuing exciting and innovative careers in leading-edge environments ever since. Today, our alumni are working with medical and pharmaceutical employers like Merck, Regeneron and the Vermont Cancer Center, government agencies like the departments of the environment in Maryland and New York City, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institutes of Health and the EPA, and technology firms like Cisco, Schlumberger and Sensis. Many of these employers interview on campus through the Career Development Center. A growing number of our alumni also move on to graduate programs in engineering or to other disciplines such as law, business, dentistry and medicine.
Year of establishment: 2002
Number of faculty: 15 (9 full-time)
Programs and degrees awarded:
You're encouraged to visit the campus if you are interested in attending the Watson School. You are welcome to join group information sessions and student-guided tours of the campus held on most weekdays and selected Saturdays during the academic year. These sessions cover general information about admissions, academic and campus life, housing and the surrounding community. We encourage you to phone 607-777-2171 at least one week in advance of to be sure that a session will be scheduled for the day that you choose to visit.
Each fall the Admissions Office and individual Binghamton University schools host an open house for all interested potential applicants and their families. Each spring open houses are offered for all admitted freshmen and their families. These events provide general campus information as well as focused sessions on the Watson School, with the opportunity to meet faculty and staff representing your intended major. Check out the visiting campus section of the University's website for more information about visiting our campus.
Students interested in master's or doctoral studies at the Watson School should view our video on what makes a graduate education at Binghamton University so outstanding.
For everything that you ever wanted to know about undergraduate admission, visit our Undergraduate Admissions website.
For more information on how to apply for graduate studies, visit the Graduate School's website and are encouraged to check the special FAQ - Graduate section below.
The department decides. You should send only one package directly to the Graduate School, which will organize the application materials and send them to us.
Exam requirements and acceptable scores for international students can be found on the Graduate School website.
The TOEFL/IELTS score is not required if you have received a degree from a U.S. institution or if you have received a degree from an institution in a country whose native language is English.
All factors are taken into consideration, including TOEFL and GRE scores. Strength in other areas can compensate for low test scores. There are minimum required TOEFL scores. Although there is no firm minimum required score on the GRE, successful applicants typically have a score of 700 or higher on the Quantitative part of the GRE. Slightly lower scores may be accepted if the applicant is strong in other aspects (e.g., good course grades and/or strong research experience).
All factors are taken into consideration, including GPA. Strength in other areas can compensate for low GPA. We pay particular attention to your academic performance in the key courses in Electrical and Computer Engineering; grades in junior-level and senior-level courses tend to be weighted most heavily.
Yes, it is important and we consider the reputation of an applicant's undergraduate university
It is difficult to isolate a single factor; they are all important.
Some master's students can receive financial support, usually as a teaching assistant (TA), and sometimes as a research project assistant (RPA). Exceptional academic performance, high test scores and research experience can increase your chances of receiving support.
Job opportunities depend heavily on many external factors (e.g., the economy, the particular area of specialization, the student's job search skills, etc.) so it is hard to give precise information on this. Graduates from our master's and PhD programs have been successful getting job offers from both large and small employers throughout the U.S. For additional information, consider conducting an Internet search or contacting the Bioengineering Program's Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Professor Jacques Beaumont.
We begin looking at fall 2010 applications in November 2009. Deadline for funding consideration would be January 15, 2010.
