Graduate students participate in groundbreaking research in imaging technologies, medical devices, regenerative engineering and sensing and monitoring systems while interacting with outstanding faculty members who have collaborations with the colleges of science, medicine and veterinary medicine as well as faculty, doctors and industry personnel worldwide.
Summary of Degree Offerings
The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers several degrees, all of which are described in detail below. The Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science programs are research based and require a thesis, while the Master of Engineering degrees are industry based and involve an internship. Students with a bachelor's degree and the ultimate goal of receiving a Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical engineering should apply directly to the Doctor of Philosophy program. There is no need to complete a Master of Science before beginning a Doctor of Philosophy degree, even if your bachelor's degree is in a non-engineering field.
Doctor of Philosophy
With this degree option, students complete a minimum of 64 or 96 hours on their degree plans. The total number of hours on the degree plan as well as the required number of hours of formal coursework is dependent upon the student’s previous degree(s). As part of this research-intensive degree, students will write and defend a dissertation. A Doctor of Philosophy requires a committee of four or more graduate level faculty members, including one faculty to act as the primary adviser for each candidate. Students may enter this program with a master’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering or an equivalent field. (If the degree is not in engineering, leveling courses may be required.) Students entering with only a bachelor’s degree will be required to complete a 96-hour degree plan, and students who have earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution will only be required to complete a 64-hour degree plan.
Master of Science
Students interested in an Master of Science degree complete a minimum of 32 hours on their degree plans, of which 24 hours is formal coursework. As part of this research-based degree, students are required to write and defend their final thesis. A Master of Science requires a committee of three or more graduate level faculty members, one of which must act as the primary adviser for each candidate. Students admitted into this program must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or an equivalent field (if the degree is not in engineering, leveling courses may be required.)
Students with the ultimate goal of pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy should apply directly to the Doctor of Philosophy program.
Master of Engineering
The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a Master of Engineering degree in which students complete a minimum of 30 hours on their degree plans, of which 27 hours is formal coursework. Geared toward industry, students in this degree program are required to complete an internship and final project. Students admitted into this program must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering or an equivalent field (if the degree is not in engineering, leveling courses may be required.)
Master of Engineering/Master of Business Administration Cooperative
In conjunction with Mays Business School, the Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a Master of Engineering/Master of Business Administration degree that allows students to complete both degrees in approximately 2.5 years.
This program prepares students for leadership roles in many areas of biomedical engineering and business with specific Master of Business Administration training in leadership, management, human resources, teambuilding, communications, marketing, finance, accounting, strategy and technology. The program also allows for an optional self-designed specialization for the biomedical engineering student (may require enrollment in additional semesters). The goal of the degree program is to produce leaders in biomedical engineering and business.
See more specific details about the curriculum and degree timeline.