Biomedical engineering is a discipline which integrates the engineering sciences with biology and medicine. The field of biomedical engineering has seen a dramatic escalation in activity over the past 20 years leading to the development of a wide variety of medical devices, medical procedures, and a basic understanding of biological processes. Engineering approaches are becoming increasingly important in modern biological and medical research and in the development of new technologies that stem from recent discoveries. The University of Arizona has established strengths in medical and biological engineering with faculty members providing education and research opportunities from nearly every scientific discipline on this campus. The Biomedical Engineering Program's major goal is to provide graduate education. However, the Program also coordinates an undergraduate BME Option available to students in several colleges at the university.

Admission Criteria: A Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical, or life sciences, or mathematics will be required for admission to the program. Calculus, ordinary differential equations, linear algebra and matrix methods, and at least one course each in computing and in life science are normally required for admission. Applicants lacking some of these requirements at the time of application may provide a plan for completion of these requirements prior to admission, or may request conditional admission status. All applicants must submit GRE scores (General Test). During the first year, course work includes foundation BME core courses and introduction to research opportunities in faculty laboratories. Continued studies and research are flexible and include advanced graduate courses in engineering and life sciences, research methods, thesis credits (M.S.), dissertation credits (Ph.D.) and a research seminar series. Each student's course of study is developed with the guidance of a mentor and advisory committee. Students are also encouraged to participate in clinical and industrial internships which provide experience in state of the art applications of biomedical engineering. The strength of the Biomedical Engineering Program derives largely from the flexibility afforded by the broad biomedical engineering research interests of the interdisciplinary faculty who participate in the Program. This allows each student the freedom to design a unique program of study to meet individual career goals. Each student's course of study is developed with the guidance of a mentor and advisory committee.

Master of Science. All master's students in the program must take 36 units of graduate credit including the following courses: (a) four Biomedical Engineering core courses, BME 510, 511, 516, and 517; (b) an approved ethics course; (c) seminar, BME 696 (2 units); (d) 2 units of rotation, BME 597G;  (e) 9 units in advanced graduate engineering courses; and (f) 6 units of 910 thesis. All students are encouraged to attend the weekly BME seminar series. A final examination is required. Specific M.S. degree requirements and examination procedures are described in the Biomedical Engineering Program Graduate Handbook.

Doctor of Philosophy. All doctoral students must complete 46 units of graduate credit beyond the master's degree including 15 units in the major; a minimum of 9 units in the minor; 6 units of seminar, BME 696A or BME 696C; and 18 units of 920 dissertation. The major and minor units will include advanced courses that focus on the student's biomedical engineering research/thesis interests and will be established in consultation with the student's mentor and advisory committee. A Plan of Study should be developed by the student and mentor and a copy of the written plan should be sent to the BME Program office for review and approval by the Program Committee. A student may transfer 12 units of graduate credit from another accredited institution. Each student must pass a qualifying examination. After completion of all or nearly all required course work, the comprehensive examination may be scheduled. The comprehensive exam in the major and minor fields is taken after the student has completed the requirements for the minor. A final oral examination including defense of the dissertation is required. Doctoral students are encouraged to attend the weekly BME seminar and present their research at this seminar during the last semester in residence. Specific Ph. D. degree requirements and examination procedures are described in the Biomedical Engineering Program Graduate Handbook.

Biomedical Engineering Minor. Ph.D. candidates in other disciplines may select a minor in Biomedical Engineering. The BME Minor is 12 units of approved BME courses including 9 units from BME 510, 511, 516 or 517 and in addition 3 units of BME 597.  The doctoral student's dissertation committee should contain one faculty member in the BME Program. The minor will be granted upon completion of these courses with a B average for the required units. A Minor Program of Study form must be completed and a signed copy filed with the BME Program Committee. Undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Specialization: The BME Program coordinates the undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Specialization to allow undergraduate students to gain educational experience in the field of biomedical engineering through courses, senior design projects, and investigator-sponsored research projects.