PhD

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Engineering with emphasis in Biomedical Engineering

Program Description

The Ph.D. Degree in Engineering with emphasis in Biomedical Engineering is an interdisciplinary research degree awarded through the College of Engineering in cooperation with the Graduate School (at the University of Arkansas, there is a common Ph.D. degree for all engineering disciplines). The Ph.D. Degree is earned through advanced coursework and in-depth, specialized research. Graduates from this program will be well-prepared for careers in academia, industry or government or as entrepreneurs in technology-based start-up companies. 

Admission to Degree Program 

Admission into the Ph.D. program with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering is a two-step process. First, the prospective student must be admitted to graduate standing by the University of Arkansas Graduate School (see "The Graduate School:  Objectives, Regulations, Degrees" in this catalog or visit grad.uark.edu for details). Second, the student must be admitted to the Department of Biomedical Engineering on the basis of academic transcripts, standardized test scores, three letters of recommendation, and statement of purpose. All students in the Ph.D. program are offered either a research or teaching assistantship.  A member of the faculty who is eligible (graduate faculty status of Group I), must agree to serve as the major adviser to the prospective student.  Because of the multidisciplinary nature of Biomedical Engineering, students holding either Engineering or non-Engineering degrees are eligible to apply. Eligibility criteria are outlined below:

  • Engineering Academic Background: Students with a BS or MS degree in engineering or engineering equivalent are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. program. 
  • Non-engineering Academic Background: Students with a non-engineering degree must fulfill the admission requirements for the Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering (M.S.B.M.E.) including the Minimum Admission Criteria for non-Engineering Majors (see admission requirements for the M.S.B.M.E.).  Students with a non-engineering background may be admitted directly into the Ph.D. program; however, it is recommended that students first complete the M.S.B.M.E. degree before entering the Ph.D. program. 

Important: On April 1st, applicants will be notified if they have received an assistantship for the following Fall semester.

Degree Requirements for Ph.D. in Engineering with emphasis in Biomedical Engineering:

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School and the College of Engineering, candidates must meet the following requirements: 

  1. Develop a Plan of Study within the first year after matriculation. 
  2. Complete an Annual Progress Report for each subsequent year of study. 
  3. Complete at least 42 hours of coursework beyond the BS degree.
    1. For B.S. to Ph.D. candidates, a minimum of 50 percent of the first 30 hours, and all of the remaining hours of course work, must be at the 5000 level or above.
    2. For. M.S. to Ph.D. candidates, all course work must be at the 5000 level or above.
  4. The cumulative grade-point average on all graduate courses presented for the degree must be at least 3.0. Upon recommendation of the student’s Program Advisory Committee, a student who has entered the Ph.D. program after a M.S. degree in engineering may receive credit for up to 24 hours of coursework. See Coursework Requirements below for additional details. 
  5. Complete 30 hours of dissertation. Upon recommendation of the student’s Program Advisory Committee, a student who has entered the Ph.D. program after a M.S. degree in engineering may receive credit for up to 6 hours of thesis research toward the dissertation requirement.
  6. Satisfactorily pass both a written and oral candidacy examination administered by the student’s Program Advisory Committee. Details of the candidacy exam are found in the BMEG graduate program handbook. 
  7. Assist in departmental teaching for two semesters. 
  8. Submit and defend the final dissertation to the student’s Dissertation Committee.

Coursework Requirements

Students are required to complete 42 credit hours of coursework beyond the BS degree in engineering or equivalent in the following four categories.

  1. Biomedical Engineering Graduate Core (5 hours)
    • BMEG 5103 Design of Biomedical Experiments
    • BMEG 5801 Graduate Seminar I
    • BMEG 5811 Graduate Seminar II
  2. Life Science - minimum of 6 hours approved by the student’s Program Advisory Committee
  3. Engineering Electives - minimum of 9 hours approved by the student’s Program Advisory Committee 
  4. General Electives - minimum of 6 hours approved by the student’s Program Advisory Committee

Detailed listing of BMEG and other electives can be found in the Graduate Catalog.