Academics
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Graduate Study
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Biomedical Engineering (PhD)
Curriculum & Requirements

The following requirements are in addition to, or further elaborate upon, those requirements outlined in The Graduate School Policy Guide. For more information on BME requirements, please see the BME PhD Program Handbook.

 

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Students entering with BS Degree

Students entering the Department of Biomedical Engineering with a Bachelor of Science (BS) must complete a minimum of 12 courses. Students should work with their primary adviser to ensure that the plan of study is sufficient for meeting all specified competencies. All courses used to meet the minimum requirements must be for a letter grade and none can be a 499 course (research credit).

Course Type Course Title Units
General Courses BME 512 - Seminar (3 quarters) 0
GEN_ENG 519 - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) 0
TGS 546 - Teaching Experience 0
Quantitative Courses BME 407 - Experimental Design and Measurement 1

ES_APPM 311-0 - Methods of Applied Mathematics 

OR

Choose one course from Approved List #1

1
Choose one course from Approved List #2 1
Life Science Courses One of BME 304, 305, 306. If you petition out of all three, choose one course from Approved List #3 1
BME 404 - Special Topics in Systems Physiology* (3-quarter sequence) 1
Track Courses Choose three courses from the list of courses approved for your track 3
Unrestricted Courses Choose 4 more courses** 4
Total required units: 12

*BME 304, 305, and 306 are all prerequisites for BME 404. You must either take all three of these courses or obtain an approved petition for each of them. If you take one or more of BME 304, 305, and 306, list them under "unrestricted" courses.
** Courses in the following areas may not count: research for credit (BMD ENG 499), business, entrepreneurship, writing, or communications related, global health, NUvention, seminar, or survey courses.

Students entering with MS Degree OR in DPT Program

Students entering with an MS or in the DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program must take a minimum of nine 300 or 400-level graduate courses for a letter grade. One of these may be a 499 (research credit). All of these courses must be science, engineering or mathematics courses.

Course Type Course Title Units
General Courses BME 512 - Seminar (3 quarters) 0
GEN_ENG 519 - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) 0
TGS 546 - Teaching Experience 0
Quantitative Courses BME 407 - Experimental Design and Measurement 1

ES_APPM 311-0 - Methods of Applied Mathematics 

OR

Choose one course from Approved List #1

1
Choose one course from Approved List #2 1
Life Science Courses One of BME 304, 305, 306. If you petition out of all three, choose one course from Approved List #3 1
BME 404 - Special Topics in Systems Physiology* (3-quarter sequence) 1
Track Courses One of BME 304, 305, or 306. If you petition out of all three, choose one course from the list of courses approved for your track. 1
Choose two courses from the list of courses approved for your track 2
Unrestricted Courses Choose 1 more course** 1
Total required units: 9

*BME 304, 305, and 306 are all prerequisites for BME 404. You must either take all three of these courses or obtain an approved petition for each of them. If you take one or more of BME 304, 305, and 306, list them under "unrestricted" courses.
** Courses in the following areas may not count: business, entrepreneurship, writing, or communications related, global health, NUvention, seminar, or survey courses.

Students in MSTP Program

Students entering with an MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program) must take a total of at least six 300 or 400-level graduate courses for a letter grade. None of these may be a 499 (research credit). All of these courses must be science, engineering or mathematics courses.

Course Type Course Title Units
General Courses BME 512 - Seminar (3 quarters) 0
GEN_ENG 519 - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) 0
TGS 546 - Teaching Experience 0
Quantitative Courses BME 407 - Experimental Design and Measurement 1

ES_APPM 311-0 - Methods of Applied Mathematics 

OR

Choose one course from Approved List #1

1
Choose one course from Approved List #2 1
Life Science Courses BME 404 - Special Topics in Systems Physiology* (3-quarter sequence) 1
Choose one course from Approved List #3 1
Choose one courses from the list of courses approved for your track 1
Total required units: 6

** Courses in the following areas may not count: research for credit (BMD ENG 499), business, entrepreneurship, writing, or communications related, global health, NUvention, seminar, or survey courses.

Recommended Professional Skills

The following professional skills are recommended for all students but not required:

  • Public Speaking- The Graduate School (TGS) offers public speaking workshops throughout the year. Students are strongly encouraged to participate prior to taking the oral qualifying exam.
  • Grant Writing- TGS offers grant writing workshops throughout the year. Students are strongly encouraged to participate prior to taking the oral qualifying exam.