If you plan to pursue graduate studies in biomedical engineering, the Fast Track program can help you get ahead. This program speeds the process if you're committed to earning a graduate degree from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University. With Fast Track, you can begin graduate courses at the end of your junior year, as long as you will be a U4 when taking the graduate course. This could allow students to complete both the biomedical engineering Bachelor of Science and the biomedical engineering Master of Engineering within five years. If a student wishes to pursue a Master of Science or Doctorate of Philosophy in biomedical engineering, prior arrangements should be made with a faculty advisor and there is no guarantee that Fast Track will reduce the time to degree.
How Fast Track Works
The biomedical engineering department has streamlined its program for Fast Track participants by substituting specified graduate courses for selected undergraduate course offerings. Students take these 600-level courses during their senior year, reserving graduate credit while fulfilling undergraduate requirements through "credit-by-exam." You must receive an A or B in the course to receive “credit-by-exam” for the equivalent undergraduate course. The reserved graduate credits are transferred to earned graduate credits once accepted into the graduate program.
The department allows students to take up to nine hours of graduate coursework and simultaneously fulfill their undergraduate requirements. To keep your schedule balanced, please be cognizant of the workload associated with these courses and plan your schedule accordingly. Fast Track helps students in fulfilling course requirements for a graduate degree; it is not acceptance into graduate school. You will still need to apply for your intended graduate degree.
Advantages
- Participate earlier in graduate studies
- Identify research opportunities in your chosen discipline sooner
- Reduce the total credit hours for BS and MEng degrees by up to one semester
Requirements
- Current upper-level undergraduate student in biomedical engineering
- Commitment to graduate studies at Texas A&M University in biomedical engineering
- Completion of at least 90 hours of undergraduate coursework
- Recommended GPA of 3.5 (students with lower GPAs should have extensive research experience)
Before Applying
Before applying to the BME Fast Track program, the student must meet with the BMEN undergraduate advisor to discuss course options, credit requirements, and degree plan implications. The student is also encouraged to meet with the BME graduate advisor and discuss plans for their graduate degree as well as potential faculty mentors.
How to Apply
To apply for the Fast Track program in biomedical engineering, complete the BME Fast Track application via the Fast Track google form following ALL instructions listed. Once the application is complete, submit your resume to BMEFastTrack@tamu.edu. Once these documents have been submitted, your application and resume will be reviewed, and you will be notified of the admission decision.
The following qualities will be evaluated for each applicant and are listed in order of importance:
- Major GPA
- Cumulative GPA
- Experience in industry, research or other field applications
- Professional service
- Conference participation, presentations and publications
While your application is pending, the student may enroll in the course at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Once a decision has been issued for the BME Fast Track program (admit or deny), it is the student's responsibility to work with the undergraduate advisor to make sure they are registered for the correct level for the course based on degree plan needs. The deadline for this adjustment is by the 5th class day of the fall/spring terms.
After Acceptance
Once accepted to the BME Fast Track program, the student should:
- Meet again with the BME undergraduate advisor to switch the registered undergraduate course to the graduate level course.
- Process the necessary paperwork to enroll in the graduate level course.
- Meet again with the BME graduate advisor and discuss course plans and entry in to graduate school.
The deadlines to apply for the Fast Track program are listed below. Grades for the semester in progress will be used during the review.
- Fall - July 15
- Spring - December 1
For program questions, contact bmefasttrack@tamu.edu.
Fast Track Equivalences
Accepted students must complete the BMEN Fast Track Form before the start of the semester. The biomedical engineering undergraduate advisors will adjust the students’ schedules accordingly.
- BMEN 402/650 – Biomedical Optics Laboratory
- BMEN 404/604 – FDA Good Laboratory and Clinical Practices
- BMEN 406/606 – Medical Device Path to Market
- BMEN 422/622 – Bioelectromagnetism
- BMEN 425/625 – Biophotonics
- BMEN 427/627 – Magnetic Resonance Engineering
- BMEN 428/628 – Embedded Systems for Medical Applications
- BMEN 431/631 – Biomolecular Engineering
- BMEN 432/632 – Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics
- BMEN 457/657 – Orthopedic Biomechanics
- BMEN 458/658 – Motion Biomechanics
- BMEN 461/661 – Cardiac Mechanics
- BMEN 463/663 – Soft Tissue Mechanics and Finite Element Methods
- BMEN 469/669 – Entrepreneurial Pathways in Medical Devices
- BMEN 471/641 – Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering
- BMEN 480/680 – Biomedical Engineering of Tissues
- BMEN 482/682 – Polymeric Biomaterials
- BMEN 483/683 – Polymeric Biomaterial Synthesis
- BMEN 486/686 – Biomedical Nanotechnology
- BMEN 487/687 – Drug Delivery