Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering

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The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Engineering, offered by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, is a collaborative degree program between the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering and Sciences and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. This degree emphasizes intensive, novel research within a flexible graduate curriculum with a core focused on technical fundamentals.

With faculty-mentored biomedical research, students are trained to use engineering approaches to solve a novel contemporary biomedical problem in areas including biomaterials engineering, tissue engineering, biomechanics, biomedical robotics, drug delivery, biomolecule detection, and other emerging areas. Students in the biomedical engineering doctoral program benefit from our close association with physicians at Virtua Health System, Rowan-Virtua University School of Osteopathic Medicine and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, which stimulates translation into the clinic.

A growing business school on the main campus and access to The Office of Technology Commercialization and the Rowan Innovation Fund allows and fosters the progression of applied translational biomedical research into commercial products and processes.

Program Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Engineering at Rowan University requires the completion of 72 hours of graduate level coursework and research credits as well as the successful completion of a novel research project completed under the mentorship of a faculty advisor culminating in a Doctoral Dissertation. The Doctoral Dissertation should demonstrate the student’s ability to effectively apply engineering principles to solve a contemporary biomedical problem.

Coursework:

Core Courses: Minimum of 12 s.h. (chosen in consult with advisor)
Elective Courses: Minimum of 18 s.h. (chosen in consult with advisor)
Research Credits: up to 42 s.h.
Research & Dissertation: Successful defense of Doctoral Dissertation

Biomedical Engineering Core Courses

Students must choose a minimum of 12 s.h. from the following bank of courses. An advanced mathematics course is required. Course substitutions can be made with approval of the students Dissertation committee.

Required Core Courses: 12 s.h.

MATH 01515 - Engineering Applications of Analysis Credits: 3
BME 11610 - Special Topics for Doctoral Students in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
BME 11611 - Biological Transport Phenomena Credits: 3
BME 11550 - Advanced Biocompatibility and Immunoengineering Credits: 3
BME 11573 - Biomaterials Engineering Credits: 3
CHE 06586 - Advanced Engineering Thermodynamics. Credits: 3
STAT 02510 - Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis Credits: 3
STAT 02525 - Design and Analysis of Experiments Credits: 3

Biomedical Engineering Elective Courses

Students must choose 18 s.h. from the following bank of courses in consultation with their advisor. Please note: The following list of elective courses is not limiting; additional courses may be approved by the academic advisor. Core courses in excess of 12 s.h. count as electives.

Elective Courses: 18 s.h.

BME 11551 - Advanced Mechanobiology Credits: 3
BME 11552 - Advanced Cell Bioelectricity Credits: 3
BME 11553 - Regulatory Strategies in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 3
BME 11554 - Advanced Stem Cell Engineering Credits: 3
BME 11555 - Fundamentals of Synthetic Biology Credits: 3
BME 11556 - Advanced Nanoparticle Design and Engineering Credits: 3
BME 11568 - Advanced Phenomena in Biomaterials Science Credits: 3
BME 11574 - Advanced Topics in Controlled Release Credits: 3
BME 11590 - Advanced Emerging Topics in Biomedical Engineering Credits: 1 to 4
BME 11602 - Writing and Winning Grant Proposals in the Biomedical Field Credits: 2
ENGR 01510 - Finite Element Analysis Credits: 3
ENGR 01511 - Engineering Optimization Credits: 3
CEE 08573 - Advanced Structural Analysis Credits: 3
CEE 08675 - Fracture Mechanics Credits: 3
CHE 06518 - Polymer Engineering Credits: 3
CHE 06571 - Biomedical Control Systems Credits: 3
CHE 06572 - Biomedical Process Engineering Credits: 3
CHE 06578 - Tissue Engineering Credits: 3
CHE 06584 - Controlled Release Theory, Technology and Applications Credits: 3
ME 10505 - Special Topics in Mechanical Engineering Credits: 3 to 6
ME 10522 - Computational Fluid Dynamics Credits: 3
ME 10550 - Advanced Solid Mechanics Credits: 3
ME 10570 - Principles in Biomechanics Credits: 3
MATH 01505 - Probability and Mathematical Statistics I Credits: 3
MATH 01512 - Complex Analysis I Credits: 3
MATH 01521 - Nonlinear Differential Equations Credits: 3
MATH 03610 - Applied Statistical Epidemiology Credits: 3
MATH 03611 - Special Topics in Biomathematics Credits: 3
STAT 02510 - Introduction to Statistical Data Analysis Credits: 3
STAT 02525 - Design and Analysis of Experiments Credits: 3

Biomedical Engineering Research Courses: 42 s.h.

Research hours are credited for laboratory research leading to a Doctoral Dissertation.

ENGR 01799 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation Credits: 1 to 9

Total Required Credits for the Program: 72 s.h.

72 credit hours of graduate level coursework and research hours. A minimum of 30 hours must come from core/elective coursework with a minimum of 12 of these coursework hours coming from Biomedical Engineering Core Courses. Credits beyond 30 may come from additional core/elective coursework or Ph.D. Dissertation Research hours (up to 42).

Foundation Courses

The following undergraduate courses are required.

Prior to applying: Chemistry I, Physics I, Calculus I, and Calculus II
Prior to starting the program: Calculus III, Differential Equations* and Linear Algebra*

*Differential Equations and Linear Algebra may be taken during the first semester of residence (these courses are in addition to 30 hours of graduate coursework).

For applicants with undergraduate majors that are not Biomedical Engineering or a closely related field, Biomedical Engineering Core undergraduate courses may be required for completion of the degree (these courses are in addition to 30 hours of graduate coursework).

Graduation/Exit/Thesis Requirements

Successful completion of Preliminary Exam, Qualifying Exam & Dissertation Defense
Scholarship including: Peer reviewed journal papers, Conference presentations.
BME Seminar attendance each semester (BME 11600, 0 credits)
Safety and responsible conduct of research training
Completion of two mentored TA assignments
Students without comparable previous undergraduate coursework may be required to take undergraduate Biomedical Engineering Foundation courses in addition to their graduate coursework requirements.

Minimum Required Grades and Cumulative GPA

The Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering is a Category 2 program.

For details regarding satisfactory academic progress and graduation requirements, please visit Academic Program Policy Categories

Graduate Program Chair Contact Information
Vince Beachley
Engineering Hall
856.256.5329
beachley@rowan.edu

Department Head Contact Information
Mary Staehle
Engineering Hall
856.256.5338
Staehle@rowan.edu