Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biomedical Engineering (PhD)


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Please see the Program Policy Document  for more information.

Program Overview


Through the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the University of Delaware (UD), graduate students can obtain a PhD and/or a MS degree. Students are not admitted directly into the MS program. The MS and PhD programs are built on a common first year core curriculum with advanced curricula that are based on the research the student will perform for their PhD dissertation (or MS thesis, if electing that option). Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Biomedical Engineering, faculty that are affiliated with the BME program come from multiple colleges and departments at UD. PhD and MS students will generally identify a Faculty Advisor from among our program’s primary and joint faculty, who will be responsible for defining the student’s research responsibilities and for evaluating the student’s performance. The PhD and MS degree will be administered by the BME Program and will be awarded by the College of Engineering.

This multi-disciplinary graduate program builds upon the established biomedical research strength at the University of Delaware, largely within the College of Engineering. It offers academic rigor, as well as flexibility, to meet the needs and interests of students from different backgrounds and of their faculty advisors from different research areas.

Requirements for the Degree:


The PhD program in Biomedical Engineering consists of 39 credits of graduate level course work, inclusive of 9 credits of Doctoral Dissertation research. The program allows for considerable flexibility in course selection. The PhD program also requires completion of a Teaching Aid requirement, the Qualifying Exam, two Research Seminar Symposia presentations, the Candidacy (Proposal) Defense, and the Doctoral Dissertation and Defense.

Advanced Math:


Technical Electives:


15 credits

  • Choose 5 courses from the list of technical electives , of which at least one must be a 600-level or higher BMEG technical elective.

Other Course Requirements:


Seminar Series:


0 credits–must be taken 3 times

Research and Doctoral Dissertation:


PhD students must complete at least 3 credit hours of Research (BMEG 868 ) and 9 credit hours of Doctoral Dissertation Research (BMEG 969 ). If a student has registered for, or completed all course requirements but has not yet met all of the stipulations for passing into candidacy, they may register for Pre-Candidacy Study (BMEG 964 ). If the student registered in Pre-Candidacy Study is admitted to candidacy before the end of the free drop/add period of the following semester, their registration in BMEG 964  from the preceding semester may be changed to BMEG 969  and used to fulfill the 9-credit Doctoral Dissertation requirement.

Additional Program Requirements:


Teaching Aid Requirement


All PhD students are required to fulfill a minimum of 1 semester of Teaching Aid requirement

Graduate Student Research Symposium


PhD students are required to complete at least two presentations in the semi-annual Graduate Student Research Symposia. This includes a 3-minute research “pitch” by the end of their 3rd year of training and a 12-minute research talk between the 4th year of training and graduation.

Qualifying Exam


The qualifying exam must be taken in the summer after the first year. For students with non-fall matriculation or part-time study, the timing of this exam will be set based on course completion and approval by the Graduate Director.

Dissertation Proposal


PhD students must complete the Dissertation Proposal within 2 years after the Qualifying Exam. If a student is unable to successfully complete their Dissertation Proposal within two years of passing their Qualifying Exam, they must petition the Graduate Director, in writing, for an extension of this deadline.

Dissertation Exam


To complete the PhD, students must pass a Dissertation Exam. This exam involves approval of the written dissertation and an oral defense of the dissertation. Department policy is that students must complete the Dissertation Exam within 5 years of the Qualifying Exam (6 years after matriculation) or must petition the Graduate Director, in writing, for an extension of this deadline.

Annual Progress Report


Each student’s progress toward their degree will be monitored annually by the Graduate Committee. Before July 1st of each year, the student must submit an annual Progress Report to the Graduate Director that is signed by the Faculty Advisor. This report includes a checklist of course requirements, research accomplishments, self-assessment, an individual development plan, advisor feedback, and verifications that programmatic milestones/requirements are completed.

Biomedical Engineering (MS)


  

Credits to Total a Minimum of 39


Last Revised 2021-2022 Academic Year


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