Doctor of Philosophy
Graduate School Degree Completion Procedures
Course Requirements
Students must complete the following for the Ph.D. degree:
Note:
All courses must be at the 5000 level or higher unless approved by the DGS
All electives must be at least 3 credit courses unless approved by the DGS
BMEn
Core
3 Courses selected from the following list:
BMEn 5001 Advanced Biomaterials
BMEn 5101 Advanced Bioelectricity/Instrumentation
BMEn 5201 Advanced Biomechanics
BMEn 5311 Advanced Biomedical Transport Processes
BMEn 5351 Cell Engineering
BMEn 5401 Biomedical Imaging
Biology Electives
3 courses, may include BMEn
5501
Technology Electives
3 courses, at least one of which must be in engineering and one of which must
have a mathematical focus
Technology Electives are courses in engineering, physical sciences and mathematics offered in the Institute of Technology, or courses outside of IT that are predominately mathematics, physical science, and/or engineering content (require pre-approval of the DGS). All electives must be at least 3 credit courses unless approved by the DGS. The electives must include a Minor or Supporting program in a field involving engineering, mathematics, the physical sciences, or the biological sciences. A minor must be approved by the DGS of the program granting the minor. Students choosing a supporting program in place of a minor must take at least one 8000-level elective.
Statistics
One course - STAT 5021, 5302 or 5303 recommended
Equivalent Core Course(s)
List any undergraduate courses taken that
are being declared equivalent to BME core courses (complete “Replacements
for Core Courses”)Replacements for Core Course(s), if declared above must meet the criteria
of “Technology” Electives ( Technology Electives are courses in engineering, physical sciences and mathematics offered in the Institute of Technology, or courses outside of IT that have predominantly mathematics, physical science, and/or engineering content. Pre-approval from the DGS is required for these courses)
Free Science/Technology Elective
1 course
For the PhD only, courses
relevant to science and technology.
(e.g., public policy, ethical and historical
aspects may be approved by the DGS).
BMEn Seminar
2 semesters
BMEn Seminar, or Other Program Seminars, or Grand Rounds
2 semesters
DGS approval is necessary for Grand Rounds
Thesis
24 credits of BMEn 8888
The BMEGP requires a minimum grade
of B- for any course on the Degree Program Form for the
Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. program is planned with the aid of an adviser and a
committee selected jointly by the student and adviser and approved by the Director
of Graduate Studies. The committee is comprised of a minimum of four faculty
members, including three from within the major field and one from the minor
or supporting field. This is typically but not necessarily the same as the OPE committee (see below).
Written Preliminary Exam
The WPE, also known as the dossier, is completed and submitted to the Graduate Program to assess the student’s ability to successfully complete a Ph.D. thesis. The deadline for submission of the dossier is July 15th of the second year of residence in the Ph.D. program for students who began in fall semester, with the expectation that students will schedule the OPE prior to the drop/add deadline for fall semester (ca. Sept. 15th) so that registration for doctoral thesis credits can be made. These dates are Nov 15th and ca. Jan 15th for students who began in spring semester.
More information on the dossier
Oral Preliminary Exam
In order to meet the stated time schedule, arrangements for the Oral Preliminary Exam (OPE) should be made upon submission of the dossier. The student's OPE committee typically serves as the doctoral committee. It is the student's responsibility to schedule the exam with the committee members and the Graduate School. In order to allow sufficient time for the WPE examiners to read the dossier and to minimize scheduling difficulties, the OPE should be scheduled sometime between the start of the semester and the day preceding the drop/add deadline (so that doctoral thesis credits can be added if the OPE is passed).
Please keep in mind the
following regulations regarding the OPE:
• Only OPE committee members may attend.
• The examination begins with a presentation, not to exceed 30 minutes,
about the proposed research to establish the ability to formulate, describe
and conduct an original research project.
• The OPE determines whether the student has mastered the material in
the major and minor/supporting fields at the level the committee deems appropriate
for advancement to doctoral candidacy. Thus, the examination is not restricted
to a discussion of the research proposal, but will include questions related
to coursework in the major and minor/supporting fields. For this reason students
are encourage not to delay the oral exam beyond the fall semester of the third
year.
• The adviser, who chairs the committee, is responsible for the conduct
of the exam (i.e. ensuring that a line of questioning is appropriate as well
as observing Graduate School procedures).
A Ph.D. student is deemed to be making satisfactory progress by completing most or all coursework, submitting the written preliminary examination (WPE), and successful completing the oral preliminary examination (OPE) within the first two academic years.
Final Oral Examination and Thesis
Upon completion of the thesis, the Ph.D. candidate takes the final oral examination in defense of his/her thesis. The final oral exam may take place only after the thesis has been judged ready for defense by the readers. This exam consists of a public seminar in which the candidate presents the thesis and to which the scholarly community is invited.
The Ph.D. candidate must stand for a final oral examination in defense of his/her
thesis. The final oral exam may take place only after the thesis has been judged
ready for defense. This exam consists of a seminar in which the candidate presents
the thesis and to which the scholarly community is invited. A closed meeting
between the candidate and the appointed examining committee immediately follows
the thesis presentation. The candidate is then excused and the vote is taken
on whether he/she passed the exam. The final oral exam is limited to the thesis
subject and relevant areas.
The advisor is responsible for ensuring
the inclusion of the appropriate modifications and required revisions, if any,
in the final thesis. The final oral exam report form will not be signed and
submitted to the Graduate school until all reservations have been satisfied.
2001 © Department of Biomedical Engineering and
the Regents of the University of Minnesota.