Biomedical engineering as a research discipline is concerned with the development of new physical and mathematical concepts applicable to problems in biology, medicine, and the organization of health care. Biomedical engineering also deals with more pragmatic problems, such as biomedical use of information systems and development of advanced biomedical instrumentation. The vision of the BME graduate program is to provide the best advanced education to our graduate students such that they are optimally prepared for successful careers in academia, industry, and related fields. The goal of the program is to provide advanced education and research training in quantitative biology, biomaterials, cellular bioengineering, biomedical photonics, medical imaging, biomedical instrumentation, and the scientific principles underlying the origination of diagnostic and therapeutic devices and processes. The program is specifically concerned with the interface between biology, medicine, and the engineering, physical, computing, and mathematical sciences.
Candidates for the master of science (M.S.) degree must complete 30 hours of graduate-level credit, approved by the faculty, with the following minimum distribution of didactic hours: 12 hours in biomedical engineering, 3 hours in an approved life sciences course, and 9 hours in advanced life science, physical science, or engineering. At least 6 of the BME hours and 3 of the advanced science or engineering hours must be 6000+ level courses. One (1) hour of BME seminar and 6 hours of thesis research credit hours can count toward the total of 30 hours necessary for the M.S. degree. In addition, the candidate must submit a research thesis for faculty approval and give a final oral presentation.
Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must complete a minimum of 27 semester hours of graduate-level didactic courses approved by the program faculty, excluding seminar, research, and teaching hours. Candidates must complete 15 hours in biomedical engineering courses (required: BME 6110 or equivalent), 3 hours in an approved life sciences course, and 9 hours in advanced life science, physical science, or engineering, where 3 of those hours are in an approved quantitative course. At least 9 of the BME hours and 3 of the advanced science or engineering hours must be 6000+ level courses. The remainder of the 72 hours required for a Ph.D. will primarily consist of dissertation research, but may also include seminar and other approved (didactic) courses. In addition, students must pass a qualifying examination consisting of written and oral presentations of a proposal for doctoral research, present a dissertation showing the results of original research in biomedical engineering, and successfully defend the dissertation results in an oral examination.