Biomedical Engineering, PhD
Become an independent researcher and technical leader who develops new knowledge and technologies to improve human health. Learn at the intersection of engineering, biology, medicine, computation and design while conducting original research with faculty mentors.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes
International students (F1) can extend U.S. work experience by 24 months.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Biomedical Engineering, PhD degree description
The School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering faculty offer a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in biomedical engineering.
You get the opportunity to study:
- biomaterials, biosensors, biomarkers and biomimetic materials
- biomedical imaging
- molecular, cellular and tissue engineering
- neural and rehabilitation engineering
- synthetic and systems biology
The PhD in biomedical engineering is conferred upon evidence of excellence in research resulting in a scholarly dissertation that is a contribution to knowledge.
Why earn your biomedical engineering PhD at ASU?
In this program, housed in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, you sharpen your ability to identify important problems, design rigorous studies, analyze and interpret data, communicate original research and contribute new knowledge to the field.
You have access to ASU's broader engineering, health innovation and entrepreneurship resources, enabling you to connect your research with translational health challenges, technology development, interdisciplinary collaboration and professional networks.
Additional details
Shape your graduate experience through the BME Graduate Student Advisory Board, a formal channel for graduate student feedback, representation and engagement within the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering.
You can also get involved through research seminars, lab groups, professional conferences, Fulton Schools career development programs, entrepreneurship opportunities and industry networking events.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (3 credit hours) Required Bioengineering Courses (18 credit hours) Other Requirement (3 credit hours) Technical Electives (6 credit hours) Research (37 credit hours) Seminar (5 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Courses used to satisfy the technical electives requirement must be selected from the list of 400- to 700-level courses that are not selected as required BME courses.
BME 701 Fundamentals in Scientific Proposal Writing (3)
Doctoral students are required to complete six credit hours from each of the following three areas:
BME graduate courses (BME prefix) (6)
life science or biology graduate courses (6)
quantitative math or engineering (6)
BME 780 Practicum (3)
BME 792 Research (37)
BME 591 Seminar (5)
BME 799 Dissertation (12)
Up to six credit hours of the required biomedical engineering courses and technical electives combined may be at the 400 level.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Ability to independently develop an approach for identifying problems, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data in the area of biomedical engineering
- Develop ability to communicate original biomedical research as scholarly work or publication
- Develop teaching practices under faculty supervision that are appropriate for biomedical engineering education within industry or academia
Ability to independently develop an approach for identifying problems, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data in the area of biomedical engineeringAdmission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Students should view the School of Biological and Health Systems admission checklist for specific admission procedures and deadlines.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Priority* |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 07/15 | Priority* |
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this biomedical engineering doctoral degree prepares you for
Professionals who specialize in biomedical engineering research areas are in high demand across sectors and industries, including business, academia, hospitals, government agencies and research facilities. Graduates with the skill sets gained through the program are sought-after by local, national and international employers.
Career examples include:
- bioinformatics scientist
- biomedical engineer
- geneticist
- medical scientist
- molecular biologist
- professor
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Harrington Bioengineering Program
|
ECG 334
sbhse.advising@asu.edu
480-965-3028
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
