Purdue University Professional MS in Biomedical Engineering

Purdue University offers a 30-credit Professional Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering with an AI and Digital Health path that combines artificial intelligence, biomedical signal processing, digital health technology, medical devices, and professional training. Students can study in West Lafayette or Indianapolis and may add a six- to 12-month industry immersion experience.

Quick Facts

• Locations: West Lafayette or Indianapolis, Indiana

• Degree: Professional MS in Biomedical Engineering

• Relevant paths: AI and Digital Health; Clinical Engagement and Biomedical Innovation

• Credits: 30

• Format: Primarily on campus; some courses may be online

• Program length: About one year or three semesters; part-time study is available

• Industry option: Six- to 12-month internship through Industry Immersion

• Tuition: Purdue’s standard graduate tuition rate; varies by residency and enrollment

• GRE: Not required

• Target GPA: 3.0

• Final structure: Coursework-only professional master’s

Program Overview

The AI and Digital Health path is part of Purdue University’s Professional Master’s Program in Biomedical Engineering. It prepares students to combine AI methods with biomedical engineering principles and apply them to diagnostics, patient care, medical devices, software-driven health technologies, and connected health systems.

This is not a general health informatics degree. It is an engineering-focused program with a strong digital health and health data component. The curriculum fits this directory because it gives students a defined graduate path in AI-enabled health technology, biomedical data, machine learning, signal processing, and health care systems.

Purdue also offers a Clinical Engagement and Biomedical Innovation path. That route focuses on identifying clinical needs, working with clinicians, translating health care problems into engineering solutions, and developing medical device concepts. Students should choose the path that best matches their interest in data-driven health technology or clinical product development.

Curriculum and Degree Paths

The Professional MS plan of study requires 30 graduate credits at the 500 or 600 level. The competency framework includes six credits in biomedical engineering, three quantitative or analytical credits, three life science credits, 12 credits in regulatory affairs and professional skills, and six specialization elective credits. Courses can satisfy more than one category when approved.

AI and Digital Health

The AI and Digital Health plan requires students to select two courses from the concentration list. Options include Biomedical Signal Processing, Wearable Sensors in Healthcare, Advanced Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Deep Learning, AI in Medicine, and Healthcare Delivery Systems.

Students also select an additional elective. Published options cover health care data science, digital health transformation, machine learning for bioinformatics and health care, data security and privacy, statistical machine learning, data mining, computational epidemiology, human factors, medical devices, and reinforcement learning.

• Biomedical Signal Processing

• Wearable Sensors in Healthcare

• Advanced Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering

• AI in Medicine

• Healthcare Data Science

• Machine Learning for Bioinformatics and Healthcare

• Seminars in Digital Health Transformation

• Data Security and Privacy

• Computational Epidemiology

Clinical Engagement and Biomedical Innovation

The Clinical Engagement plan requires Clinical Engagement and Translational Biomedical Engineering plus its accompanying clinic course. Students also choose courses in areas such as virtual reality anatomy, clinical medicine for engineering solutions, clinical study design, regulatory approval of biomedical devices, or Biomedship.

This path may fit students who want direct exposure to clinical needs, patient-centered design, interdisciplinary work with clinicians, and the translation of engineering ideas into medical technologies.

Industry Immersion

Both relevant paths offer an Industry Immersion version with a six- to 12-month internship. Purdue describes this as a direct corporate experience that adds practical work with a medical or health technology company. Sample schedules extend beyond the standard three-semester plan and combine campus coursework with off-campus internship terms.

The internship option may provide stronger applied experience, but it also increases the time needed to complete the degree. Students should confirm internship placement procedures, location requirements, and whether an internship is guaranteed before selecting this route.

Admissions

Purdue’s Professional MS admissions requirements call for an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in engineering, life science, or technology. The program lists a target undergraduate GPA of 3.0. The GRE is not required and is not used in admissions decisions.

Applicants need a strong mathematics foundation. Students with a non-ABET engineering degree or an international equivalent must have completed Calculus I and Calculus II. Purdue also encourages differential equations or linear algebra.

Applicants select AI and Digital Health, AI and Digital Health with Industry Immersion, Clinical Engagement and Biomedical Innovation, or another Professional MS option as their research area. Purdue lists fall priority review by December 1 with rolling admission through April 15, spring admission by September 15, and summer admission by February 15.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Purdue states that the Professional MS in Biomedical Engineering follows the university’s standard graduate tuition rate rather than a separate professional-program rate. The program directs students to Purdue’s tuition calculator because cost varies by residency, campus, semester, and enrollment level.

The program does not offer teaching or research assistantships because it is a one-year professional degree. Students may explore university scholarships, external fellowships, loans, military education benefits, campus employment, and paid internships. The school also describes a professional development scholarship with reimbursement of up to $500 for an approved activity.

Campus Format and Time to Completion

The standard sample plan includes 12 credits in fall, 12 in spring, and six in summer for completion in three semesters. Part-time study is available. Purdue says courses may be offered in West Lafayette or Indianapolis and students may register in either location. Some courses are offered online, but the degree is not presented as fully online.

International students must remain aware of campus enrollment rules, including Purdue’s note that the final semester must be on campus. Students should review the current course schedule before choosing a location because summer campus offerings may be limited.

Career Preparation

The AI and Digital Health path prepares graduates to develop and evaluate AI-enabled medical technologies, use digital health tools, work with biomedical data, and connect engineering systems with health care needs. The program points to careers in medical device companies, pharmaceutical organizations, health systems, digital health companies, and other health technology settings.

Potential roles may include biomedical data analyst, digital health engineer, AI health technology specialist, medical device software engineer, clinical technology consultant, product development engineer, and health technology project lead. Specific roles depend on prior engineering preparation, technical electives, internship experience, and employer requirements.

Who May Find This Program a Good Fit?

This Purdue program may fit students with an engineering, life science, or technology background who want a short, technical master’s focused on AI, digital health, medical technology, or clinical innovation. The AI and Digital Health path offers the closest match for students interested in health data, machine learning, wearables, health care systems, and AI in medicine.

Students seeking a traditional health informatics curriculum centered on electronic health records, health information governance, and informatics administration may prefer Purdue Global’s Master of Health Informatics or another dedicated MHI program. Purdue University’s program is a better fit for students who want engineering depth and campus-based technical training.

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