Plan your courses for the first semester
Complete this step prior to the start of classes.
- Meet with your faculty advisor(s) to discuss research interests and coursework needs.
The Graduate Academic Advisor can provide general guidance, but final coursework approval will always come from your faculty advisor(s).
Submit your degree plan
Finish this step before completing nine hours.
- Meet with faculty advisor(s) to discuss research interests and coursework needs.
- List all previous, current and planned courses for the degree, as well as all committee members.
- Have your plan approved by the graduate academic advisor, committee chair and members, director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate and Professional School.
- Submit your approved plan via the Document Processing Submission System.
- Failure to submit your required degree plan by the stated Grad School deadlines will result in a registration hold being placed on your account.
Expected Timeline: Degree plans can take up to two months for full approval.
Submit your research proposal approval form
Complete this before the end of your 4th semester (approx. 1.5 years – summers are included in the term calculation).
- Form is to be completed via ARCS.
- You must attach a full .pdf of the proposal.
- You must include a timeline for all aims, publishing, defending and graduating.
- The department requires that you use NSF/NIH guidelines for formatting. Information on these formatting requirements can be found at on this NIH webpage.
- For more details, speak to your faculty advisor before writing the proposal.
- Have your proposal approved by the graduate academic advisor, all members of your committee, the director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate and Professional School.
M.S. students are required to complete the proposal by the end of the 4th semester in the biomedical engineering program (summers are included). Failure to meet the required deadlines will result in the student being placed on probation.
MS Deadlines
Expected Timeline: Research proposal approvals for graduate and professional school can take several weeks for full approval, once received in the relevant office.
Complete your coursework
Prior to scheduling your final defense.
- Complete all graded coursework on your degree plan.
- Ensure your completed coursework matches your degree plan and make any necessary changes via the Document Processing Submission System.
- Final courses may be in progress during your graduating semester.
Complete your residence requirement
Before scheduling your final defense.
Complete all graded coursework on your degree plan.
Apply for graduation
During the first month of your final semester.
Visit your Howdy portal or the Graduation homepage for more information and to pay your graduation fee.
Schedule and advertise final defense
Your request must be received by the Graduate and Professional School, in fully approved format, at least 10 business days before your requested defense date.
- Submit your request and announcement of the final exam via ARCS in your Howdy portal.
- Have your request approved by your graduate academic advisor, your committee chair, the director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate and Professional School.
- Approvals can take several weeks, so plan accordingly.
MS Deadlines
Expected Timeline: Final exam request approvals for Graduate and Professional School can take at least 10 business days for full approval, once received in that office.
Submit final defense results
Votes due within 10 business days after final defense.
- Voting is completed via ARCS in the faculty’s Howdy portal by each committee member.
- You will not be able to access your results until the entire form is submitted and approved by the Graduate and Professional School.
- Your results must be approved by your graduate academic advisor, all members of your committee, the director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate and Professional School.
MS Deadlines
Expected Timeline: Approval of Graduate and Professional School final exam votes can take at least 10 business days for full approval once received by the office.
Submit thesis and written thesis approval form
Submitted after the successful completion of your final exam.
- Complete the approval form via ARCS in your Howdy portal.
- The final thesis document must be uploaded in Vireo and follow the Thesis Office requirements.
- Your form must be approved by your graduate academic advisor, all members of your committee, the director of Graduate Programs and the Thesis Office.
MS Deadlines
Expected Timeline: Once received by the Thesis Office, dissertation approvals can take several weeks for full approval.
Graduation
Make arrangements for cap and gown by visiting the Graduation website.
Expected Timeline: Once received by the Thesis Office, dissertation approvals can take several weeks for full approval.
Additional Information
- Requirements listed above are for biomedical engineering and, in some cases, are stricter than the university's minimum guidelines. Failure to meet any of the above requirements could result in your dismissal from the program.
- You must be continuously registered every fall and spring semester until all degree requirements have been met.
- All documents (e.g., proposal, dissertation) must be submitted to your advisory committee at least two weeks prior to milestone completion.
Additional Information
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Requirements listed above are for BME, and in some cases, are stricter than the university minimum guidelines. Failure to meet any of the above requirements could result in dismissal from the program.
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Students must be continuously registered every fall and spring semester until all degree requirements have been met.
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All documents (e.g. proposal, dissertation) must be submitted to your advisory committee at least two weeks prior to milestone completion.