BME PhD Program Curricula

General Ph.D. Program Requirements

Course Requirements

Students will take at least 18 credit hours of course work in the life sciences. Courses in molecular, cellular and systems biology are required. The requirement may be met by taking a subset of the first year medical school basic sciences curriculum (described below). It may also be met by taking the alternative life sciences curricula, also as sketched below. In either case, courses in Quantitative Biology (listed below) may be used in part to meet this requirement.

Students must also take a minimum of 18 credit hours of elective course work in mathematics/applied mathematics, engineering and/or quantitative biology. These electives must be at the 400 level or higher, with at least 2 electives at the 600/700 level. Of these 2 electives, at least 1 must have substantial theory content in engineering, mathematics or computer science. Electives of general value to all research areas are listed below. Students may choose from these and other electives to fulfill the general BME Ph.D. Program requirements. It is important that when a student considers taking a course outside of this list they consult with the BME PHD office as to whether it fulfills requirements for graduation. Seminar courses generally do not count toward graduation requirements.

For a course to apply toward graduation, a grade of B- or higher is required. If a grade lower than B- is received, then that course must be repeated. If it is not possible to repeat the course, then an alternate course may be taken but must be approved by the Program Director.

Faculty advisors may strongly advise that students choose specific electives and/or specific numbers of electives of particular importance to each of the research and training areas. In such cases, this additional course work is not a requirement of the BME PhD Program.

All PhD candidates in the School of Medicine are required to take a course in the responsible conduct of research.

Evaluation of Student Progress

An Advisory Committee of three faculty members will be chosen by each student. The student should meet with the Advisory Committee members each semester until the Graduate Board Oral (GBO) examination is passed. These meetings will serve two purposes. First, they will permit students to seek advice on courses and potential research topics. Second, they will permit advisors to assess students' progress in the program. The mode of assessment will be left to individual advisors. Near the end of the first year, each student will present a paper to his/her Advisory Committee in a formal meeting. Students' progress will be evaluated at least once per year by the Junior Progress Committee appointed by the BME Committee. Satisfactory performance will be required both in course work and in advisory meetings.

The Graduate Board Oral (GBO) Examination

Upon completion of a majority of student's course work, he/she must pass a Graduate Board Oral (GBO) examination. Details about the preliminary and final Graduate Board Oral Examinations can nbe found here. More information about the composition of the Graduate Board Oral Examination Committee and scheduling of the Graduate Board Oral Examination can be found here.

Teaching Requirement

Each student will assist in teaching two semesters of approved undergraduate courses organized by the BME Department. A TA Committee consisting of a faculty chair, Ph.D. program director, Ph.D. program coordinator, second and third year Ph.D. students, and Master's student, coordinates the assignment of students to teaching duties and must approve all assignments.

Research Rotations

Students are required to conduct research rotations in one to three laboratories. The purpose of these rotations is to gain experience with a range of  research opportunities and to assist in settling on a thesis project. Before conducting a rotation with faculty outside the BME Department, students must obtain approval from the BME Committee. During portions of the first year when courses are not in session, students must participate in a research rotation. Students must select a thesis research mentor by the end of the summer following program year 1.

Present a Thesis Proposal to the BME Committee

Within 12 months after passing the GBO examination, each student must submit a written proposal for dissertation research and present it orally to the BME Committee. The written proposal should follow the format of an NIH grant proposal. Particular attention should be paid to a clear exposition of the hypotheses to be tested, the methods to be used and their feasibility, and the interpretation of expected results. The BME Committee must ensure that the proposed project has both the financial and academic support of a suitable preceptor from a Ph.D. degree-granting program. Following presentation of the thesis proposal, the student's Advisory Committee will be disbanded, and a Thesis Advisory Committee will be named. This committee shall consist of the student's Ph.D. thesis mentor and at least 2 additional faculty. At least one faculty member must be a member of the BME committee.

Conduct Original Research and Describe It in a Dissertation

Upon approval of the BME Committee, research may be conducted in any graduate degree-granting program in the University. When research is conducted under a preceptor who does not have close ties to the BME Program, the student will select and the BME Committee must approve a co-advisor who is a BME Committee member. The progress of all students conducting research will be reviewed by the Senior Progress Committee at least once each year. Students are required to meet at least once per year with their full thesis committee.

Approval of the Dissertation by Two Readers

The completed dissertation must be read and approved by two faculty readers acceptable to the BME Committee. Ordinarily, one of the readers will be the thesis preceptor. Upon approval of the dissertation, the readers will submit a letter to the Graduate Board stating that they have read and approved the thesis and that it represents original work worthy of publication.

Pass a Final Oral Defense of the Dissertation

A final draft of the dissertation must be defended before a committee which will consist of the two principal readers and at least three additional faculty members. At least one defense committee member must be from outside both the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Committee and at least one must be a member of the Department. The defense committee will be chaired by an individual other than the candidate's primary thesis advisor.

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Last Updated: 12/20/2012  |  Legal Notice