Overview
Students must complete a core curriculum, fulfill a distribution requirement, satisfactorily complete two research, pass the qualifying examination and complete a research dissertation.
Coursework
Overall, students are required to complete a total of 72 credits, with a minimum of 36 credits of graduate-level courses, typically distributed as follows:
- Core curriculum (15 units)
- Distribution courses (9 units)
- Program electives (12 units)
A minimum of 24 credits of dissertation research is required.
Like the research rotations, the distribution requirement is intended to provide some breadth to a student's education in biomedical engineering prior to their specializing in one area. Students must complete one graduate level course in at least three of our five educational programs.
Advising
Each entering student is guided by an academic advisor who is a primary faculty member of the BME Department. The advisor helps in the selection of courses. The advisor also helps select rotations with the aim of matching each individual's research interests with those of a research supervisor.
As a student progresses through the doctoral program, the advisor's role is replaced by the dissertation mentor to reflect the increasing focus on an area of specialization. By the time research is completed, the student will have assembled an advisory group consisting of his/her dissertation committee.
Research Rotations
Research rotations serve three important purposes. First, they provide an opportunity for each student to be exposed to different areas of biomedical engineering research. This broadening experience, prior to the subsequent necessary specialization, should prove to be useful as their careers develop. Second, the rotations serve as a testing ground for both students and potential research mentors for the long-term affiliation that is associated with a doctoral dissertation research. Third, the field of research represented in one rotation report serves as the basis for the qualifying examination.
While also enrolled in classes, students are required to complete two separate research rotations, each typically lasting one semester, by the end of their first full year of enrollment. The rotations can be performed under the mentorship of any of the full-time or Graduate Group faculty of the department. A written report, co-signed by the rotation mentor signifying completion of the work, is required at the end of each rotation. A third rotation early in the summer is optional. Students entering with a Master’s degree need only complete one rotation.
Seminars
All students are required to attend a weekly research seminar sponsored by the department (or with permission, an affiliated department). No credit is given for attendance but students are given a P/F grade and must receive a passing grade for each semester of attendance. These seminars provide exposure to state-of-the-art research by scientists both within and outside of Washington University. Regular attendance over the duration of a student's tenure provides an invaluable educational experience.
Journal Clubs
Many laboratories sponsor a journal club, whose purpose is to critically analyze recent journal publications of interest to investigators in that field. Students and postdoctoral fellows conducting research in that laboratory, as well as those who are rotating through that laboratory, are required to attend these sessions. Generally, a student volunteers to read and present a recent paper of wide interest. Questions from faculty and other students bring out the significance of the paper's findings and possible weaknesses in its arguments.
Journal Club is an important stepping stone as a student moves into the research phase of their doctoral program. In particular, it provides excellent preparation for the dissertation defense.
Qualifying Exam & Thesis Proposal
No later than the end of the first year of enrollment in the doctoral program, students are required to take and pass both written and oral qualifying examinations. The written portion consists of one of the rotation reports, while the oral portion covers the fields of research encompassed by the research done in the rotation.
A written and oral thesis proposal normally should be completed within two years of completion of the qualifying exam. The thesis committee must meet annually, however, so the thesis committee must be formed within one year of passing the qualifying exam. The members of the thesis committee may change as the research topic evolves.
Dissertation Research
After the thesis proposal is approved, no later than two years after successfully completing the qualifying examination, dissertation research occupies the bulk of the student's effort. Upon completion of the dissertation, students will defend the dissertation. At the time of the defense, the expectation is that students will at least be the first-author on a published manuscript and have another in process. After this defense, presentation to and acceptance by the registrar's office of the final dissertation completes the degree requirements.
Teaching
Each doctoral student is required to serve as an unpaid teaching assistant for one semester after they have passed their qualifying examinations. Those desiring an academic career, are strongly encouraged to spend at least one additional semester (with the permission of their thesis mentor) as a teaching assistant in one of the department's undergraduate courses.