FAQs

Coursework for MS Students

What is the normal graduate student course load?

On average, 9 credit hours is a good course load for graduate students. As an example, this could mean two courses (3 hours + 3 hours = 6 hours) and 3 credit hours of EBME 651 research, or this might mean 3 courses at 3 credit hours.

What is the minimum number of required credit hours for full-time graduate students per semester?

Nine credits are required.

Note: If an international student is located in-person, they are only able to take one online course per semester. 

Note: If the student has completed the required number of hours for graduation, a single credit is sufficient to qualify as a full-time graduated student.

Are there certain courses required for BME MS Students?

1. Plan A (Thesis): Students must take research credits of EBME 651 (9-12 credits). Check the Programs of Study page for more details.

2. Plan B (Project): Students must take research credits of EBME 695 (3-6 credits). Check the Programs of Study page for more details.

3. Plan C (Course-only): Students are required to take a capstone course (EBME 471 or 472 or EPOM 600)

4. Note: Online students must take a leadership course (EPOM 400). 

What do I do if I have finished all 30 available credits, and I am not done with my research?

Continuous registration is required for graduation. Therefore, you will need to take at least one more credit (e.g., EBME 651 if completing a thesis) until you are finished with your degree.

MS Funding Questions

Is there funding available for me as an MS student?

The BME department does not provide funding for students, but students that are new to CWRU are offered 20% off of total tuition (discount is applied for each semester).

Can I complete a TA-Ship while in the MS program?

It is possible for you to complete a TA-ship while in the MS program. Please contact Dr. David Wilson for more information!

Plan-Specific MS Questions

How do I find a faculty member to complete my project or thesis?

Look through faculty lists in a research area of interest to you (https://case.edu/bme/research), and contact them via email to see if they are currently accepting students.

How is my project/thesis graded at the end of my program?

• Project: Your project will be graded by the faculty member that supervised your project. 

• Thesis: Your thesis will be evaluated by your research committee that you formed at the beginning of the program.

EBME 651 Credits or Research Credits

Why take EBME 651 (or 695) vs RSCH 650 in the summer?

There are some circumstances where taking EBME 651 or 695 in the summer may be advantageous for budgeting purposes (e.g., if you need to defend in the fall, you may simply take zero credit hours in the summer by registering for RSCH 650). If you will skip a semester, a leave of absence form is necessary to maintain good standing in the graduate school.

General Questions

Is it possible to get in contact with other MS Students?

If you have questions or want to hear from a current MS student, you can get in contact with the Master's Representative for the BME Graduate Student Association. Currently, the MS representative is Maggie Witt (maw285@case.edu).