Research and academia track

Students embarking on this doctoral program will have a variety of sub-tracks or options to avail of. Students can choose any one of the following sub-tracks:

• Biomaterials
• Bioinstrumentation
• Biomechanics
• Biocomputing
• Biotechnology
• Music in Medicine

Accordingly, students may choose their electives (3) from one of the following: materials science and engineering (MTSE); electrical engineering (EE); mechanical engineering (MEEN); computer science (CS); biology (BIOL); performance arts health (MUPH) from the College of Music. Thus, students will get a graduate minor in any of these disciplines, in addition to their PhD degree. The graduate minor will enable students to gain a depth of knowledge in their area of research, thus making them valued subject matter experts. In addition, students will be required to take a course in instructional service or teaching practicum, that will prepare them for curriculum development and teaching courses in an effective manner. The degree plan is as follows:

Start-up management track

Students embarking on this doctoral program will have the unique opportunity to take their innovative research and spin it off into a start-up company. Doctoral students will take relevant courses pertaining to creating and running a start-up company from the G. Brint Ryan College of Business. The courses will provide them with the knowledge and foundation necessary to embark on the path of entrepreneurship. In addition, students will be required to take a course in translational biomedical engineering that will prepare them on various aspects of translating their research into a start-up company. The degree plan is as follows:

Additional requirements

In addition to credit hours requirements, PhD students must complete the following. 

Residence requirement

Students are required to enroll in at least 9 credit hours for two consecutive terms/semesters or in at least 6 credit hours for three consecutive terms/semesters.

Dissertation advisory committee formation

Students admitted to the PhD program will be required to form a committee comprising a BMEN faculty advisor and 3 other committee members (BMEN faculty). Students on the start-up track will need to include an additional advisor from industry. The BMEN department will suggest names for the industry advisor.

PhD qualifying requirements

Biomedical engineering core courses need to be completed with a grade of B or better. An oral PhD qualifying examination is conducted by the student’s dissertation advisory committee to ensure the research readiness of the student. All students will be required to complete their qualifying exam within one year of joining the program. The qualifying exam will be determined by the BMEN advisor and the committee. Students will also be required to make an oral presentation on their research plans.

Students who fail the qualifying exam will get one more opportunity to pass their qualifying exam. Failure in both attempts will result in the student being discontinued from the PhD program.

Dissertation proposal defense

An oral dissertation proposal defense is conducted by the doctoral candidate’s dissertation advisory committee. The dissertation proposal defense must be conducted at least six months before the dissertation defense.

Dissertation defense

An oral dissertation defense is conducted by the doctoral candidate’s dissertation advisory committee. Students must apply for graduation prior to the defense of the dissertation. Graduation information and deadlines are available from the Toulouse Graduate School.