Academic programs
Five-Year BS/MS
Our five-year BS/MS program in biomedical engineering offers motivated students a seamless path to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in less time. This accelerated program is ideal for students who want to deepen their expertise, strengthen their career prospects, or prepare for further graduate or professional study—all while saving time and tuition.
Program Overview
This integrated program allows students to begin taking graduate-level coursework during their senior year, with up to nine credit hours counting toward both their BS and MS degrees. Students complete the remaining graduate requirements in a fifth year of study, earning a MS one year after completing their bachelor’s degree.
Students are encouraged to apply in their junior year and must meet eligibility requirements set by the department and Graduate School. View the eligibility requirements below.
Program Benefits
Why Choose the Bs/MS Program?
The BS/MS program provides a streamlined route to advanced training in a growing and impactful field. Students gain deeper knowledge in biomedical systems, device design, imaging, and biomaterials while building research, leadership, and problem-solving skills. Graduates enter the workforce or PhD programs with a competitive edge and a solid foundation in both theory and application.
Our Curriculum
Use the dropdown below to learn more about what to expect in the program. Check out the course catalog for more information.
Undergraduate Phase (Years 1–4)
Students complete the standard Biomedical Engineering BS curriculum, including foundational coursework in math, science, and engineering, along with core BME classes in areas like instrumentation, biomechanics, and senior design.
During their senior year (Year 4), eligible students:
- Enroll in up to 9 credit hours of graduate-level BME coursework
- Begin aligning their undergraduate experience with their intended MS track (thesis or non-thesis)
Graduate Phase (Year 5)
The program supports both thesis and non-thesis MS tracks, giving students the flexibility to pursue a research-intensive experience or a more professionally focused degree. Students complete the following coursework to complete their MS degree:
- Thesis Option: Includes additional graduate coursework, original research, and a thesis defense
- Non-Thesis Option: Focuses on advanced coursework and a capstone project or comprehensive exam
Graduate courses may include advanced topics in biomaterials, bioinstrumentation, computational modeling, drug delivery, and tissue engineering, chosen in consultation with a graduate advisor.
Program Requirements
This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for their MS degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for their BS degree. Significant components of the program are:
- Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.4 to be admitted to the program. Conditional admission may be granted after completing 64 hours of required course work while full admission is granted after completing 96 hours of required course work with a minimum overall GPA of 3.4 in required course work.
- Students must at least have conditional admission before taking graduate courses for both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the departmental chair of the program. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School.
- Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
- Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.
To learn more about the program, contact your department advisor or the departments graduate program director, Dustin Crouch.