Curriculum

The PhD program has no formal course requirements. Because of the small size of the program, the curriculum can be tailored to a student's specific interests and background. However, because 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, course credits must be distributed across the following categories with the noted minimums:

Engineering and mathematics courses will be taken at WPI, while biology courses will be taken at UMMS. Recommended biology courses are Cell Works PY 700, and Body Works PY 750. Alternatively, depending on the student's background, courses may be selected from the GSBS Core Curriculum.

By the start of the third year, students are required to pass a PHD qualifying exam. This exam is the defense of an original research proposal that is outside of the area of the student's dissertation project.