Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
This degree is awarded in recognition of a high level of mastery in subject matter and a significant original research contribution in biomedical engineering. The Ph.D. recipient will be capable of a continuing effort toward the advancement of knowledge and achievement in research and other scholarly activities and may pursue a career in a medical, industrial, or academic environment.
A minimum of 72 credit hours is required for the Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Students who have received an M.S. degree from another university may petition for transfer of up to 32 credit hours applicable toward the Ph.D. degree. Students must pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination within the first year of full-time Ph.D. studies. This is a written and oral examination intended to explore both the depth and breadth of the student’s academic abilities. Within two and one-half years of matriculation, students will be required to defend their thesis research proposal (comprehensive examination). A written dissertation and oral defense are also required for receiving the doctoral degree. Dissertation format and deadlines are established by the Graduate College.
There are no specific courses that are required for the doctoral degree in biomedical engineering. However, a minimum of three courses in life science, three courses in mathematics, and six courses in biomedical engineering or other engineering-related courses are required. The specific courses selected to meet these requirements will depend on the entering qualifications of the student and the nature of the thesis research proposal. In general, the student’s thesis committee will determine the specific course requirements necessary for graduation. Graduate students should consult with their advisers to plan their curriculum.
Curriculum
| Minimum Credits Required | 72 |
| Maximum 400-Level Credit | 9 |
| Maximum Transfer Credit | 32 |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Life Science Courses | (9-10) | |
| Select a minimum of three courses from the following: | 9-10 | |
| Biochemistry | 4 | |
| Genetics for Engineering Scientists | 3 | |
| Concepts of Cancer Biology | 3 | |
| Human Physiology | 3 | |
| Cell Biology | 3 | |
| Advanced Biochemistry | 3 | |
| Molecular Biology | 3 | |
| Immunology and Immunochemistry | 3 | |
| Bioinformatics | 3 | |
| Mathematics Courses | (9) | |
| Select a minimum of three courses from the following: | 9 | |
| Applications of Mathematics to Chemical Engineering | 3 | |
| Computational Techniques in Engineering | 3 | |
| Fourier Series and Boundary-Value Problems | 3 | |
| Statistics | 3 | |
| Partial Differential Equations | 3 | |
| Partial Differential Equations | 3 | |
| Complex Analysis | 3 | |
| Linear Algebra | 3 | |
| Stochastic Processes | 3 | |
| Introduction to Time Series | 3 | |
MATH 555 | 3 | |
| Regression | 3 | |
| Computational Mathematics I | 3 | |
| Computational Mathematics II | 3 | |
| Finite Element Method | 3 | |
| Engineering Analysis I | 3 | |
| Engineering Analysis II | 3 | |
| Advanced Engineering Analysis | 3 | |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 | |
| Methods of Theoretical Physics I | 3 | |
| Methods of Theoretical Physics II | 3 | |
| Biomedical Engineering or Other Engineering-Related Courses | (11-20) | |
| Select a minimum of six courses from the following: | 11-20 | |
| Introduction to Biomedical Engineering | 2 | |
| Communication Skills in BME | 1 | |
| Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Neuroscience I | 2 | |
| Neurobiology | 2 | |
| Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Neuroscience II | 2 | |
| Computational Neuroscience II: Vision | 3 | |
| Cognitive Neuroscience | 2 | |
| Mathematics and Statistics for Neuroscience III | 2 | |
| Vertebrate Neural Systems | 3 | |
| Reaction Kinetics for Biomedical Engineering | 3 | |
| Medical Imaging | 3 | |
| Mathematical Methods in Biomedical Engineering | 3 | |
| Cell Biomechanics: Principles and Biological Processes | 3 | |
| Quantitative Aspects of Cell andTissue Engineering | 3 | |
| Inverse Problems in Biomedical Imaging | 3 | |
| Medical Imaging Science | 3 | |
| Biostatistics | 3 | |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging | 3 | |
| Introduction to Molecular Imaging | 3 | |
| Neuroimaging | 3 | |
| Wave Physics and Applied Optics for Imaging Scientists | 3 | |
| Advanced Concepts in Image Science | 3 | |
| Bioinstrumentation and Electronics | 3 | |
| Physiological Signal Processing and Control Theory | 2 | |
| Control Systems for Biomedical Engineers | 3 | |
| Advanced Quantitative Physiology | 3 | |
| Neuromechanics of Human Movement | 3 | |
| Fluid Mechanics for Biomedical Engineers | 3 | |
| Advanced Mass Transport for Biomedical Engineers | 3 | |
| Computational Models of the Human Cardiovascular System | 3 | |
| Seminar in Biomedical Engineering | 3 | |
| Special Problems | 1-6 | |
| Polymer Processing | 3 | |
| Polymer Rheology | 3 | |
| Bioprocess Engineering | 3 | |
| Interfacial and Colloidal Phenomena with Applications | 3 | |
| Pharmaceutical Engineering | 3 | |
| Drug Delivery | 3 | |
| Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 | |
| Advanced Database Organization | 3 | |
| Topics in Machine Learning | 3 | |
| Probabilistic Graphical Models | 3 | |
| Analysis of Random Signals | 3 | |
| Computer Vision and Image Processing | 3 | |
| Machine and Deep Learning | 3 | |
| Statistical Signal Processing | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics | 4 | |
| Dynamics of Viscous Fluids | 4 | |
| Computational Fluid Dynamics | 3 | |
| Advanced Materials Processing | 3 | |
| General Electives | (0-18) | |
| Select 0-18 credit hours of electives from BME 400-799 to fulfill minimum total credits | 0-18 | |
| Ph.D. Research | (24-36) | |
| BME 691 | Research and Thesis PHD | 24-36 |
Minimum degree credits required: 72
