Course Requirements – Research Programs
Course Requirements – Research Programs (MASc, PhD)
1 Background
Students are accepted into the research program at the Institute to undergo intensive academic training under the guidance of a research supervisor (and co-supervisor, if applicable). Because coursework is part of that training, it is important that students consult their supervisor(s) prior to course enrolment, to ensure that course objectives are appropriate for their project and aligned with the intended educational outcome for their training.
Graduate courses may vary in timing, weight, delivery mode, and format, and course codes convey this information. Specifically, all graduate courses have course codes consisting of
- A prefix associated with the academic unit or program (three letters, e.g., BME);
- A four-digit course number (e.g., BME1477); and
- A suffix associated with the course weight (alpha character, e.g., BME1477H).
Normally, course weight is measured in full-course equivalents (FCEs) and is indicated via a Y or H suffix:
- Y (full course): 1.0 FCE, normally taken over two sessions (48-78 hours of organized activity)
- H (half course): 0.5 FCE, normally taken over one session (24-39 hours of organized activity)
Generally, graduate students are expected to take graduate-level courses from the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering toward fulfilment of degree requirements outlined in their respective programs; however, under certain circumstances, substitutions, and/or alternatives may be possible, with special permission from the Associate Director or Director. Degree requirements and academic options are detailed below.
2 General requirements
2.1 Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses are required for students to maintain active registration at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering.
Course |
Group |
Requirement |
All students |
Maintain enrolment every term until program completion |
|
All students |
Complete at least once |
|
MASc students |
Maintain enrolment in Fall and Winter terms until program completion |
|
PhD students |
Maintain enrolment in Fall and Winter terms until year 5 |
2.2 Compulsory environmental health and safety (EHS) training
See: https://bme.utoronto.ca/services/health-safety/
Students are prohibited from starting laboratory work until all Health and Safety training requirements are completed.
2.2.1 Students on campus
All research program students (i.e., MASc and PhD) must take EHS training and the BME Health and Safety Orientation (above) at the beginning of the program. Afterward, students must take the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) refresher course annually. Students are also required to attend mandatory specialized safety courses (e.g., laser safety, radiation safety, etc.) specific to their research and training environment. Students must consult their supervisor(s) for lab-specific training requirements.
2.2.2 Students in off-campus research locations
In addition to the above, students situated in affiliated research locations (e.g., Holland Bloorview, SickKids, KITE, etc.) must also take requisite health and safety training that is pertinent to their local environment. Students will receive this information from site (e.g., hospital) administrators and/or their supervisor(s). Students seeking health and safety training information for their research location should reach out to their supervisors as soon as practicable.
2.2.3 Noncompliance
Due to the complexity of academic training, it is possible that students may work at multiple locations throughout the duration of their degree program. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of health and safety policies of all research locations they attend. Negligence, inattention, or ignorance of the rules is not a valid reason for noncompliance. If a student is found to be in violation of any of the above-mentioned health and safety policies, the department may recommend to the School of Graduate Studies the termination of registration and eligibility of that student.
2.3 Foundation courses
Foundation courses help students with their training. Foundation courses are not specific to a discipline but can be applied across different research subjects. The three courses are BME1477, 1478, and 1479. Students are required to take at least two out of three of these courses.
Course |
Group |
Requirement |
All students |
Complete at least two of three |
|
2.4 Technical electives
See: https://uthrprod.service-now.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0012774
All research-program students should consult their supervisor(s) to take courses relevant to their academic training. In addition to supervisor recommendations, students may also want to engage in self-directed exploration, to learn more about the overarching framework of the BME curriculum and/or electives, which could be taken synergistically to concentrate subject matter expertise in a specific area of Biomedical Engineering. For these reasons, an overview of the BME graduate curriculum is available (above), together with some recommended electives for specialization. Students should view the recommended electives as a guide for creating a specialized learning plan to bolster knowledge and gain expertise on topics of interest. However, note that the specialization course listings are not comprehensive. If a student finds a course from another Engineering department that is a better fit for their training, the student should discuss this course with their research supervisor and/or supervisory committee. Coursework should be tailored to the student’s training and interests. Elective recommendations may also change from time to time depending on instructor availability and/or when course offerings change.
TIP: It may also benefit students to seek input from peers who have taken a course to understand the expected workload and educational outcomes of that course.
3 Program requirements
3.1 Master of Applied Science (MASc)
The MASc program requires at least 2.0 FCE in foundation and/or elective courses. A full coursework breakdown is provided below. All coursework requirements must be fulfilled before program completion.
Category |
Weight |
Requirement |
Compulsory courses |
Varies |
See 2.1 |
EHS training |
Varies |
See 2.2 |
Foundation courses |
1.0 FCE |
See 2.3 |
Technical electives |
1.0 FCE |
See 2.4 |
3.2 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) requirements
The following tables detail coursework requirements of standard entry PhD students, who began doctoral studies after completion of a master’s program; and direct entry PhD students, who began doctoral studies after completion of undergraduate studies or transferred from the master’s to the doctoral program without completing the master’s degree.
3.2.1 Standard entry
Standard entry PhD students require at least 1.0 FCE in foundation and/or elective courses. A full coursework breakdown is provided below. All coursework requirements must be fulfilled before the student is eligible to achieve PhD candidacy.
Category |
Weight |
Requirement |
Compulsory courses |
Varies |
See 2.1 |
EHS training |
Varies |
See 2.2 |
Foundation courses |
1.0 FCE |
See 2.3 |
3.2.2 Direct entry (or Transfer)
Direct entry PhD students require at least 3.0 FCE in foundation and/or elective courses. A full coursework breakdown is provided below. All coursework requirements must be fulfilled before the student is eligible to achieve PhD candidacy.
Category |
Weight |
Requirement |
Compulsory courses |
Varies |
See 2.1 |
EHS training |
Varies |
See 2.2 |
Foundation courses |
1.0 FCE |
See 2.3 |
Technical electives |
2.0 FCE |
See 2.4 |
4 Course substitutions
Substitution of a requisite (i.e., foundation) course requires departmental approval. A course substitution may be possible if the student wishes to take (or has taken) a course with content similar to that offered by a foundation course. Students must follow the steps outlined below, which are required to ensure that the substitution(s) is/are documented on the student’s record; failure to do so may impede the student’s program completion/graduation.
Examples:
- Acceptable substitution: a course on research methods and project execution could be a suitable substitution for BME1477 Biomedical Engineering Project Design and Execution.
- Unacceptable substitution: a course on business planning is not a suitable substitution for BME1477 Biomedical Engineering Project Design and Execution
Approval procedure:
Step 1: Supervisor permission
The student must consult their primary research supervisor to discuss appropriate courses for their program and garner permission for course substitution(s).
Step 2: Associate Director permission
After obtaining supervisor permission, the student must send the following documents to the Graduate Office (grad.bme@utoronto.ca):
- A short (max. one page) written rationale with specific details on how the alternate course(s) would be beneficial toward the student’s degree; and
- A written confirmation (typically email) from the student’s primary supervisor to indicate that the substitution is appropriate for the student’s program, and that the supervisor supports the student’s request for course substitution.
Step 3: Departmental approval
The review process may take up to two weeks. After the student’s request and documentation are thoroughly reviewed by the Associate Director, the Graduate Office will notify the student of the decision outcome.
5 Optional courses
5.1 APS leadership course
See: https://gradstudies.engineering.utoronto.ca/professional-degrees/elite-emphasis/
Some APS courses are now partially renamed TEP under the Institute for Studies in Transdisciplinary Engineering Education & Practice. BME students may take only one APS-coded four-digit course (e.g., APS1070) toward fulfilment of their graduate degree program, if desired.
5.2 500-level undergraduate course
BME students may count a maximum of one 500-level Engineering undergraduate course credit (e.g., BME595) toward fulfilment of their graduate degree program. Although this is a unique benefit intended for students who completed Engineering undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto, other BME students may also take advantage of this option, if desired.
5.3 Courses outside of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
Outside Engineering, BME students may take graduate courses from other faculties (e.g., Faculty of Arts and Science) if they have explicit written permission (typically email) from their primary research supervisor to confirm that the course(s) is/are relevant to the field of Biomedical Engineering and appropriate for the student’s academic training. Students should copy the BME Graduate Office (grad.bme@utoronto.ca) in the email correspondence when seeking permission from their supervisor to ensure documentation of this special permission in the student’s file. Please keep in mind that because such courses fall outside of BME control, students must contact the administrators of the relevant department(s) for final enrolment permission and instructions.
6 Contacts and resources
- Academic accommodations: https://www.viceprovoststudents.utoronto.ca/student-resources/rights-responsibilities/academic-accommodation/
- Course enrolment limit: https://uthrprod.service-now.com/kb_view.do?sysparm_article=KB0012666
- Graduate courses & other academic activities: https://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/policies-guidelines/graduate-courses-other-academic-activities/