Research in the field of biomedical engineering requires a solid working knowledge of a broad range of subjects in the life sciences, engineering and mathematics. Therefore, Ph.D. candidates must take credits distributed across the following categories with the minimums noted below.
Students entering the program with a BS degree must take 90 credits, whereas students entering with a Master's degree must complete 60 credits.
Biomedical Engineering Ph.D.
- Students are required to pass BME 591: Graduate Seminar four times.
- The department requires acceptance of at least one full-length, first-author publication, representing original research and based on the student’s dissertation work, in a peer-reviewed venue approved by the student’s PhD Dissertation Examination Committee. Students have an opportunity to petition the BME Graduate Studies Committee in cases of extenuating circumstances.
- Electives may include any WPI graduate-level engineering, physics, mathematics, biomedical engineering, or equivalent course, subject to approval of the BME Graduate Studies Committee. Students may substitute 3 to 6 credits of directed research for 3 credits of biomedical engineering and/or 3 credits of electives.
- Students who enter the BME Ph.D. program directly from their B.S. degree should expect to take 30 additional credits (90 total).
Laboratory Rotations
Students in the Ph.D. program may participate in optional laboratory rotations during their first year in the program. Laboratory rotations—short periods of research experience under the direction of program faculty members—are intended to familiarize students with concepts and techniques in several different engineering and scientific fields. They allow faculty members to observe and evaluate the research aptitudes of students and permit students to evaluate the types of projects that might be developed into dissertation projects. Upon completion of each rotation, the student presents a seminar and written report on the research accomplished. Each rotation is a 3- or 4-credit course and can last a minimum of seven weeks, or up to a full semester.