BME MS Thesis Guidelines

The BME MS thesis consists of a written document, which must be submitted to a MS thesis committee and orally defended before the same committee. The written document must fulfill all the same formatting guidelines as the doctoral dissertation, which are available from the Graduate School website. Once the MS thesis has been successfully defended and the thesis submitted to the Department and Graduate School, then the candidate is eligible to graduate with their BME MS degree with thesis option.

The MS thesis committee must be proposed and submitted for approval to the Program in Biomedical Engineering (PIBE) Graduate Program Director. This should be done at least three weeks in advance of the scheduled defense. The submitted document (preferably by email) should include a listing all the proposed committee members, with their full contact information (name, address, department and program affiliation, telephone, email). Beside the name of each committee member, their status in the committee should be indicated (e.g., Principal Advisor, Committee Chair, Outside Reader, Regular Member). By including a person on the proposed committee will indicate that the candidate has already contacted that person and they have already agreed to serve. The thesis committee must consist of a minimum of three members of the PIBE, and it is not required (though it is recommended) for an outside reader to be on the MS Thesis committee. An outside reader is defined as someone who is not a member of the PIBE but may be from another graduate Program or Department at this university, or can be from another academic institution altogether. The outside reader could also be someone with a relevant doctoral degree in industry or government. There is no maximum number of thesis committee members, but a practical upper limit would be 6 – 7 people. Typically, MS thesis committees have 3 – 5 members. The Chair of the MS Thesis committee must be a member of the PIBE and cannot be the candidate’s principal advisor.

The MS thesis itself must be submitted to the thesis committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled defense. Typically, a complete draft of the thesis is submitted to the candidate’s principal advisor(s) at least four weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The principal advisor(s) would suggest revisions to this draft, which the candidate would incorporate before a final draft is submitted to the thesis committee as a whole.

There is no maximum or minimum length of a MS thesis. Typically, it is shorter in length than a doctoral thesis, as the MS original research project is appropriately smaller in scope compared to doctoral dissertation research. Questions about the length and specific content should be directed to the candidate’s principal advisor. However, the overall format of the MS thesis must conform to the guidelines for the doctoral dissertation.

The oral defense of the MS thesis consists of both a public and a private portion, which in total will typically last less than two hours. The defense date, time, and location must be established in coordination with the Graduate Program Secretary (Administrator), who is responsible for advertising the event. The public portion typically consists of an oral presentation, which lasts from 20 – 40 minutes, and should be developed for a mixed audience of faculty and graduate students, many of whom will not be experts in the specific research field. A question and answer session occurs at the end of the oral presentation by the candidate and is typically from 10 – 20 minutes in length. The Chair of the MS Thesis Committee is responsible for chairing both the public presentation and the private defense. As such, the Chair of the committee will introduce the candidate to the public audience and explain to the audience the guidelines for asking questions, etc. At the conclusion of the public presentation, the Chair will ask the public to leave and also ask the candidate to leave, so that the thesis committee can meet in private for a short session. This session allows the committee to discuss the oral presentation and to decide how they will ask questions of the candidate. Then, the candidate is asked to return and the committee will then ask questions of the candidate to examine the extent of their mastery of the research project. Once the thesis committee has concluded asking questions of the candidate, then the candidate will again be asked to leave so that the committee can discuss the candidate’s performance and decide whether they will accept the candidate’s thesis. Typically, the committee will make recommendations for revisions to the thesis, though the committee may also accept the thesis as submitted. If there are required revisions, then usually one of the committee members is assigned to review the revised document and will not sign the signature until the revisions have been completed in accordance with the wishes of the thesis committee. If the committee decides that the thesis is not acceptable, then the committee will provide the candidate with written comments regarding what is deficient and what would be necessary to make the thesis acceptable. In this case, the candidate would follow the committee’s direction in conducting new or additional experiments, as well as whatever analysis would be necessary. Then, the candidate with develop a new MS thesis and go through the same process as before. In general, it the responsibility of the principal advisor to make sure that the candidate has completed sufficient research and that the thesis is of adequate quality before the thesis is allowed to be submitted to the thesis committee.

The Chair of the thesis committee is responsible for communicating to the Graduate Program Director the result of the committee’s decision.

BME Doctoral Teaching Requirement

The BME teaching requirement for the Ph.D. degree can be fulfilled in any of the following three manners:

1. deliver 4 lectures in a BME undergraduate or graduate course (e.g., BME 303), and present a seminar that covers the state-of-the-art in your field of research.
    
2. teach a BME course, either as the instructor of record (if you have G5 student status) or as the principal instructor (for G4 student status).
    
3. petition for something else that is equivalent to the above.

BME Doctoral Dissertation Proposal

Following successful completion of the BME Qualifying Examination, the next step in a doctoral student’s progress is their Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense. This proposal defense must be competed within 15 months following the Qualifying Examination. The candidate’s defense will be made to their Doctoral Dissertation Committee, which must be approved by the Graduate Program Director and then approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The committee must meet the guidelines/policy established by the Graduate School for a dissertation committee. The committee must consist of 3 or more faculty who are members of the Program in Biomedical Engineering (PIBE) and at least 1 faculty who is not a member of the PIBE. The Chair of the committee cannot be the student’s principal advisor/mentor.

The dissertation proposal is a written document, which will provide the committee with sufficient information to determine whether the proposal meets the standards for a doctoral dissertation in BME. In consists of the following sections: Abstract, Table of Contents, Introduction, Background & Significance, Hypotheses, Preliminary & Previous Studies, Research Design & Methods, Timeline for Completion, Human &/or Animals Justification (if appropriate), and References Cited. Although the Program in Biomedical Engineering (PIBE) does not set a page limit, the dissertation committee may do so; typically the written proposal is approximately 25 pages. The written proposal should be submitted to the dissertation committee two weeks in advance of the scheduled oral defense. An example of a successful dissertation proposal can be seen here.

The oral defense consists of a public presentation, which must be announced and advertised at least one week prior to the event, followed immediately by a private session with the candidate’s committee. The defense should be scheduled by PIBE secretary/assistant, and should be held on campus. Typically, the public oral presentation would be approximately 30 - 40 minutes in length and there should be sufficient time for the audience (but not the committee) to ask questions. There is no time limit for the private oral defense, but it is typically less than 2 hours in duration. Typically, the Chair of the committee will arrange for the format or order in which questions will be asked by the committee members.

The essential determinant is whether the proposed studies will be necessary and sufficient to constitute a doctoral dissertation in BME. The PIBE leaves this determination to the committee. If the committee approves the proposal, then there should be general agreement between the committee and the candidate that if the candidate performs the studies as proposed, then the committee should be favorably disposed to in the future approving the dissertation. That is, if the candidate performs the proposed experiments, analyses, and interpretations, then this would be sufficient for the dissertation. Hence, it implies that the proposed body of work should be sufficient to complete the dissertation. It is, of course, recognized that unexpected findings may require deviation from the proposal. However, this is one of the roles of the committee, that is, to advise and consult with the candidate on a periodic basis and to monitor their progress. To facilitate this, an annual meeting is then required with at least a majority of the committee members present.

The Chair of the committee must communicate the decision of the committee to the BME Graduate Program Director. If the committee does not approve the proposal, then the committee should provide direction to the candidate as to what is deficient and allow the candidate further time to revise and then to develop a new proposal. The new proposal would follow the same guidelines as the previous proposal, requiring a new written document and oral defense.

BME Doctoral Dissertation Defense

The BME Doctoral Dissertation Defense represents the culmination of a doctoral student’s studies and research. The dissertation is a written document that must follow the Graduate School guidelines, which are described on the Graduate School website. It is the responsibility of the graduate student to be sure to follow all Graduate School and Department policies regarding fulfilling the requirements of the doctoral dissertation defense. In particular, the student should be sure and check the Graduate School website to verify that the various deadlines are met to ensure that they can graduate in a given semester.

In general, the written dissertation should be developed in close consultation with the student’s primary advisor. During the student’s dissertation research, the student should schedule periodic meetings with all the committee members who can reasonable attend said meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to ensure that the committee is in agreement with the general flow of the research and that the student is following the previously agreed upon research plan (which was presented and approved at the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense). At the conclusion of the dissertation research, the written dissertation should be presented to the entire dissertation committee at least two weeks before the scheduled dissertation defense.

At least two weeks prior to the dissertation defense, the student must submit to the BME Graduate Program Director (GPD) an Abstract, using the Graduate School approved form (Doctoral Dissertation Defense), which is then submitted to the Graduate School by the GPD (assuming it is approved by the GPD). The Graduate School publishes this completed form in its list of scheduled dissertation defenses.

Once the dissertation defense is successful, the Chair of the Dissertation committee must formally inform the GPD that the defense was successful. This can be done by a hardcopy form or by email. If any changes are required by the committee of the dissertation, then the committee members may sign the Face Page of the dissertation in advance but it will be held by the Committee Chair until such time as the student completes all the required changes.

English Proficiency Requirements (SUNY Standards)

WHO needs to be tested? All new incoming and transfer PhD students as well as supported Masters’ students and any for whom the TOEFL has been waived and any for whom English is not the first language.

A recent TSE (Test of Spoken English from ETS) can SUBSTITUTE for the SPEAK test

WHO gives the test? The ESL Program from the Linguistics Department

WHERE? The ESL Office in the Social and Behavioral Science Building, room N-252

WHEN to sign up and take the test? The beginning of the semester during orientation

WHY is the test necessary? To follow the guidelines set up by the Faculty Senate to improve the undergraduate experience here at SUNY by carefully training the international teaching assistants in pedagogical, linguistic and cultural awareness areas.

WHAT test is used? The SPEAK test (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) with a score range of 20 – 60.

AND THEN WHAT?

Under 39: the student needs Intensive English Center Work (2-7031)

40-44: the student needs ESL 591 Intermediate Oral/Aural Skills Class (no Grading, Running Recitation Sessions or TA-ing responsibilities) B or higher moves them to ESL 596

45-49: ESL 596 High Intermediate Oral/Aural Skills Class (Grading or running recitation sessions) B or higher moves them to ESL 598.

50-54: ESL 598 Advanced Oral/Aural Skills Class (can concurrently TA) B or higher results in no more ESL support

55 and higher: cleared from any more ESL support

Undergraduates can select a cross listed ESL 191 or ESL 198 as space allows.

More Questions?
Contact Barbara Brownworth, ESL Oral/Aural Coordinator
Phone: 2-7706
Fax: 2-9789
Email: bbrownwo@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

1. Purpose
   
   The Ph.D. qualifying examination is an early review process intended to provide an initial assessment of a student's preparation and capacity for continuing and completing a Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering.
   
2. Criteria
   
   In order to pass the qualifying examination, a student must: demonstrate (1) breadth and (2) depth in a specific area of Biomedical Engineering, requiring a sophisticated understanding and integration of the clinical, biological, and engineering aspects of the given problem. This is achieved in both a written form and an oral presentation.
   
3. Timing
   
   The qualifying examination will be given once a year in the summer. Before taking the qualifying examination, the student must (1) must be enrolled in the Ph.D. program, and (2) completed the core course requirements as specified by the Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering or have already completed his/her master’s degree. The examination must be undertaken within two years of starting the doctoral program.
   
4. Administration of Examination
   
   The qualifying examination will be administered by the Qualifying Exam Committee.
   
   1. Each Qualifying Exam Committee will be comprised of a faculty panel of four persons (includes the Chair), assigned by the Graduate Program Director or the Chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee. At least three of faculty must be in the BME Graduate Program.
      
   2. The qualifying examination is both a written and oral examination. Once the decision has been made by the student to participate in the examination, the faculty will provide a set of Biomedical Engineering problems. Within 2 days, the student will then select one of the problems (submitted by the Graduate Faculty), at which time he/she will inform the Qualifying Exam Committee Chair. The written portion of the examination will be due in one month. Late submission of the written portion will result in postponement of the exam to the following cycle (next summer).
      
   3. The written portion of the exam should be structured as follows:
      
      1. Maximum 25 pages in length
         
      2. doubled-spaced
         
      3. 1 inch margins all around
         
      4. 12 point font
         
      5. includes schematics/Figures
         
      6. covers clinical, biological and engineering concepts
         
   4. Following submission of the written portion, the Qualifying Exam Committee Chair will set a date for the oral part of the examination, no later than 2 weeks.
      
   5. The student should prepare for a 30 minute presentation. The actual duration of the oral examination will be approximately 2 hours (90 minutes allowed for questions).
      
5. Qualifying Exam Committee Responsibilities and Decisions
   
   The Qualifying Exam Committee is primarily responsible for questioning the student's written and oral preparation, as well as fundamental knowledge in his/her chosen area (problem) and for determining the outcome of the examination. The Qualifying Exam Committee can also take into consideration the student’s academic performance leading to the qualifying examination. The outcome of the examination can be either:
    
   1. PASS
   2. FAIL
   PASS indicates that the students has displayed a clear understanding of the problem and has presented a cohesive and innovative solution to the problem. The student is then allowed to continue with his/her studies.
   FAIL indicates that the students has NOT displayed a clear understanding of the problem at either the biological or engineering level, or both, and has NOT presented a cohesive and innovative solution to the problem. This will allow the student to correct the identified deficiencies in their knowledge, as well as to allow one more chance to retake the examination in the following year. Failure of the second attempt will results in the expulsion of the student from the Ph.D. program.
   The chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee will provide a written report of the examination outcome with the final decision to the Graduate Program Director.
6. Appeals and Grievances
    
   Any challenge to the decision of the Qualifying Exam Committee should be reported directly to the Graduate Program Director. If an appeal is made formally, a subcommittee appointed by the Graduate Program Director will review the appeal and present an appropriate response.

Example Qualifying Examination

Click here to view a qualifying exam administered in the summer of 2003.