Biomedical engineering is a discipline that 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. The University of Arizona established the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program to address the increasing importance of engineering approaches in modern biomedical research and new medical technologies.
The strength of our Biomedical Engineering program is derived from the breadth of research activities among our interdisciplinary faculty. Faculty from numerous departments within the Colleges of Medicine, Engineering, and Arts & Sciences participate in this interdisciplinary graduate program. The major research areas are Biomedical Imaging and Spectroscopy, Bioinformatics, Bioinstrumentation and Devices, Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Biomechanics, Biosensors, Cardiovascular Biomedical Engineering, Neuroengineering, Nanomedicine, and all in-between.
UA Biomedical Engineering provides a rigorous education in the time-tested principles, technologies and tools of engineering combined with broad exposure to the ever-expanding modern practice of biomedicine.
BME is an inherently interdisciplinary department with a diverse and highly collaborative faculty. Research and educational connections throughout the university yield extensive opportunities for students to gain the knowledge and experience to pursue careers in industry, academia, medicine and government.
BME’s educational programs not only deliver a solid theoretical foundation in science and engineering, but also students gain the applied hands-on skills to design and build biomedical devices, instruments and systems.
Acquire the knowledge to contribute to improving health care. Learn how to create better and more cost-effective technologies for prevention, detection and treatment of health-related issues.
Be part of the revolution occurring in biomedicine!
College of Engineering
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Admission to the BME PhD program is a highly competitive process. Our Admissions Committee does a holistic review of all of the following materials.
Application materials needed:
English Proficiency
Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language.
Please check our English Requirement list to verify your need to submit an English proficiency test.
Individual departments may require higher scores than the Graduate College and all tests must be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid. The University of Arizona's institution code for sending official electronic score reports from ETS is 4832.
Acceptable English Proficiency credentials:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
Pearson PTE Academic - minimum score of 60
Graduate English Language Endorsement from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
CEPT Full Academic test - offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.
Exemptions
Those exempt from submitting English proficiency scores are:
International student requirement:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6
Pearson PTE Academic - minimum score of 60
Graduate English Language Endorsement from the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL)
CEPT Full Academic test - offered by our Center for English as a Second Language (CESL), minimum Total score of 110.
Graduate Funding
All full-time BME doctoral students in good academic standing are supported financially during their graduate studies. This includes annual stipend, in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition (if applicable), and health insurance. First-semester support is typically provided by the department or the college in the form of fellowship or research assistantship.
Beyond the first semester, support is typically provided by the faculty adviser, using funds from the adviser's research grant or the departmentwide training grants (see following section), contingent upon the student's satisfactory academic progress and good standing in the BME program. Students can also be supported through teaching assistantships.
Teaching and research assistantships for master's students are handled on a case-by-case basis. Master's students may also be supported by a variety of fellowships and scholarships.
Detailed information about teaching and research assistantships is available in the UA Graduate College GA Manual.
The BME graduate program encourages all students to seek fellowship funding. The following resources simplify finding, applying for and managing fellowships and scholarships:
Among fellowship sources for BME students are the following:
We currently admit students to begin our program in Fall only. Applications are only accepted between October 1st and January 6th. All application materials must be submitted by December 1 of the year preceding entrance for international applicants, and January 6th of the entrance year for domestic applicants.
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832
NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
63
Doctoral students must complete a minimum of 63 units of graduate credit, and meet the Graduate College’s minimum units of courses in which regular grades have been earned. A high level of performance is expected of students who are enrolled in graduate programs at The University of Arizona. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 (letter grade of B) or better to continue enrollment in the degree-granting program, receive financial support, and to be awarded an M.S. or Ph.D. degree.
Students entering the program with a M.S. degree may petition to apply previous graduate coursework to the Ph.D. degree requirements. The Graduate College requires that at least 30 units of graduate credit must be completed at the University of Arizona.
Required Courses
BME 510 (3) – Biology for Biomedical Engineering, minimum grade required: B
BME 511 (3) – Physiology for Biomedical Engineering, minimum grade required: B
BME 517 (3) – Measurement and Data Analysis in Biomedical Engineering, minimum grade required: B
Choose at least two courses from different focus areas (6 units total) of:
Biomaterials:
Biomechanics
Biomedical Imaging & Optics
Biomedical Informatics
Cell and Tissue Engineering
BME 581B – Cell and Tissue Engineering (Spring)
SLHS 649 (3) – Survival Skills & Ethics (Alternate course option with Graduate Studies Committee approval)
BME 696A Seminar/696C Forum (1)
(6 units count toward total unit requirement, full-time students required to register for/attend Seminar each semester in program)
BME 592 Rotation (2)
Graduate Coursework (10 units) Level 500+ courses, dependent on approval of mentor and Graduate Studies Committee
Example:
ENGR 581A - Assess Erly Stg Medical Tech (2)
BME 585 – Nanotechnology (3)
CHEE 583 – Introduction to Polymers (3)
MCB 579 – Art of Scientific Discovery (3)
Units in the Minor (min. 9)
Minor unit amount based on that program’s requirements
Example:
MCB 577 (4) Prin of Cell Biology
MCB 580 (3) Intro to Systems Biology
MCB 588 (4) Prin Cell+Molec Neurobiology
BME 920 Dissertation (min.18 units)
Elective coursework can include BME and non-BME courses. Please email Andrea Anduaga (aanduaga@arizona.edu) with specific questions.
N/A
The Graduate College requires all Ph.D. students to complete a "minor" program of study. Ph.D. candidates in the disciplines other than BME may select a minor in BME.
Completion of these courses with a "B" average for the required units is necessary for granting of the minor. BME does not require representation at the written Comprehensive Examination, but does require a BME faculty member to be present at the oral examination, and BME-related material must be covered. The student’s dissertation (Doctoral final oral examination) committee must contain one BME faculty member. This committee member must be present at the dissertation defense, either in person or by teleconference. The BME Program should receive a copy of the student’s Doctoral Plan of Study at the time they declare their minor in BME. The student’s non-BME major advisor (mentor) cannot serve as the student’s advisor for a BME minor.
A BME Doctoral student may choose to major and minor in Biomedical Engineering, i.e. obtain a "Distributed Minor in Biomedical Engineering". The distributed minor consists of 9 units of formal graded course work in any area of Biomedical Engineering (excluding major course work, seminars, and lab rotations).
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
Program-level Information | |
---|---|
Application Acceptance Rate | 30.56% |
Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | 4.83 |
Department-level Information | |
Enrollment Percent Male | 55.41% |
Enrollment Percent Female | 44.59% |
Enrollment Percent International | 28.38% |
Enrollment Percent URM | 21.62% |