Biomedical Engineering PhD

Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Minimum Required Credits: 30.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.0501
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2031

About the Program

The curriculum develops leaders who can perform independent research, identify and address unmet clinical, diagnostic, and healthcare needs by using their knowledge of modern theories, engineering systems, and mathematical and engineering tools. Biomedical doctorates require the analytical tools and broad knowledge of modern engineering and science, fundamental understanding of the biological or physiological system, and familiarity with recent technological breakthroughs.

Biomedical doctorates will be prepared for the rigors of academic and professional research in biomedical engineering and science by providing foundational training in essential career skills and the responsible conduct of research, communication and grant writing, building the necessary confidence to successfully launch their independent research initiatives. Students may choose elective courses in a wide variety of areas fitting their research needs including biocomputing, biomaterials, tissue engineering and advanced therapeutics, biomechanics and neuroengineering or take courses in medical device development or pediatric engineering.

Biomedical engineering doctorates secure advanced roles in industrial R&D, academia, and government, focusing on innovation in areas like medical devices, tissue engineering, and healthcare. Top roles include Senior R&D Scientist, Principal Investigator, or Clinical Engineering Manager.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please contact the School of Biomedical Engineering and Science

Admission Requirements

Both post-baccalaureate and post-master's students are admitted into the doctoral program in Biomedical Engineering but have slightly differing sets of requirements.

For post-master’s students, 30.0 of the credits that they earned toward their master’s degree may be applied toward the PhD. If coming from the master’s program in Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University, those courses they took would apply. For non-Drexel students who have completed their master’s elsewhere, there may be exceptions made. If these students believe that they have covered the material of the required courses in another program, they must show evidence of such material and obtain a formal waiver of this requirement from the graduate advisor.

For post-baccalaureate students, doctorates must complete a minimum of 60.0 credits and a research thesis. These 60.0 credits include the core courses required by Drexel’s MS in Biomedical Engineering.

Degree Requirements

Post-Bachelor PhD Students

Core/Foundational Courses
BMES 5010Biomedical Engineering and Science Seminar I1.0
BMES 5020Biomedical Engineering and Science Seminar II1.0
BMES 7001Professionalism, Ethics and Integrity in Biomedical Engineering and Science Research3.0
BMES 7002Grant Writing and Communication3.0
Subject Area Focused Courses
Select one (1) course:3.0
Advanced Design and Analysis for Biomedical Studies
Biostatistics II
Optional Statistics Elective:
Interpretation of Data
Select one (1) course:3.0
Biomedical Computing: Introduction to Programming in Matlab and Python
Software Design and Development for Biomedical Problems
Select one (1) course:3.0
Biomedical Modeling: Cellular Systems
Biomedical Modeling: Physiological Systems
Biomedical Signal Processing Fundamentals
Research and Dissertation 131.0
Independent Study in Biomedical Engineering and Science
Research in Biomedical Engineering and Science
PhD Dissertation
Electives
Select four (4) courses: 12.0
Advanced Biomaterials
Immune Engineering
Tissue Engineering
Design and Manufacturing of Advanced Therapeutics
Joint Biomechanics and Modeling
Musculoskeletal Injury, Clinical Assessment and Intervention
Cardiovascular Mechanics
Nanoscale Biomechanics
ML-AI Foundations in Biomedical Applications
Biomedical AI Research and Innovation
Bioinformatics: Transcriptomics and Functional Genomics
Algorithms in Bioinformatics and Genomic Analysis
Neuroengineering Cells and Signals
Neuroimaging and Brain Computer Interfaces
Computational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Medical Device Development
Pediatric Engineering
Medical Technology Innovation
Total Credits60.0
1

With consultation of the doctoral advisor additional graduate electives can be taken from the Department of Biology or the College of Medicine in areas like Immunology, Neuroscience or Pharmacology.

Post Master PhD Students 

Subject-Area Focussed Courses
Research & Dissertation 130.0-36.0
Research in Biomedical Engineering and Science
PhD Dissertation
Electives
Select any Graduate BMES 5000-7900 level course0.0-12.0
Total Credits30.0-48.0
1

Number of required research credits may be reduced based on the number of electives required. 

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
 
Understand the fundamentals of biology and physiology from an engineering perspective to enhance human healt
 
Take advantage of cutting edge tools, information and knowledge to address complex problems in the development and delivery of health care solutions. The graduate evaluates models and hypotheses using the appropriate experimental, mathematical and statistical approaches.
 
Innovate from an analytic and synthetic perspective using multiple approaches, integrating life sciences and engineering with a global and interdisciplinary perspectives
 
Acquire skills and knowledge necessary to specialize in an area of bioengineering, to perform research or design and develop a system.
 
Recognize ethical issues, consider multiple points of view, and use critical ethical reasoning to determine the appropriate behavior to follow in the practice of biomedical engineering in a global context.