Department of Biomedical Engineering

Degree Requirements

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree requires conducting a focused research project and completing designated coursework.  Students must select a thesis advisor and complete an original research investigation including a written thesis, and obtain approval of the thesis by a thesis committee.  In addition, the students must successfully complete a minimum of 42 units (refer to core and elective courses below) of course work beyond the bachelor's degree.
 

Doctor of Philosophy 

The Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering requires the achievement of an original and significant body of research that advances the discipline, and which culminates in the oral and written presentation of a dissertation. Students may enter the Ph.D. program with a B.S. degree in engineering, biological science, or physical sciences from either UCI or another university.  At the end of Year One, each student will match with a faculty advisor (from the list of Core and Affiliated faculty) and an individual program of study will be designed by the student and a faculty advisory committee. Six milestones are required for the Ph.D.:

  1. Successful completion of 42 units (refer to core and elective courses below) of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree;
  2. Successful completion of a preliminary exam;
  3. Selecting an area of specialization, taking four depth courses (electives) and six quarters of the BME seminar series;
  4. Formal advancement to candidacy by successfully passing a qualifying exam;
  5. Presentation of current research in BME seminar series, and;
  6. Completion of a significant body of original research and the submission of a written and an oral defense of an acceptable dissertation.

Advancement to candidacy must be completed by the end of summer of the second academic year. Special exceptions can be made, but a formal request with justification must be supplied in writing to the BME Graduate Advisor. The qualifying exam will consist of an oral and written presentation of original work completed thus far, and a coherent plan for completing a body of original research. The exam will be presented to the student's graduate advisory committee. The graduate advisory committee will be selected by the student and faculty advisor and must have a minimum of five faculty members (including the faculty advisor). Of these five  faculty members, three must be core biomedical engineering faculty. In addition, one  faculty member must have his/her primary appointment outside the Department of Biomedical Engineering but can be a BME-affiliated faculty and the fifth member must have his/her primary appointment outside of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and cannot be a BME-affiliated faculty . The qualifying exam will follow campus and Henry Samueli School of Engineering guidelines.

The Ph.D. will be awarded upon submission of a written and an oral defense of an acceptable dissertation. The degree will be granted upon the recommendation of the graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies. Completion of the Ph.D is expected in the fifth year following completion of the B.S. degree, although a maximum of seven years (28 academic quarters) is allowed.
 

M.D. / Ph.D.

A combined M.D./Ph.D. degree is offered in conjunction with the UCI College of Medicine. The program combines clinical training and research experience. Students who complete this program will be awarded both an M.D. degree from the College of Medicine and a Ph.D. degree from the School of Engineering. More information is available on the UCI Medical Scientist Training Program web page. Applications should be made to the UCI Medical Scientist Training Program and applicants should state that their chosen graduate department is Biomedical Engineering.

 

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