Biomedical Engineering

The M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Biomedical Engineering prepare students for careers in solving engineering problems in health care, biomedical research, and biotechnology. Areas of current faculty research include biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, bioanalytical microsystems, patient-care devices, tissue engineering, flow cytometry, disease processes, clinical translation, and molecular and cellular systems. Instruction includes five core courses, a seminar and numerous electives taught by Affiliated Faculty and others within the School of Engineering, School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Pharmacy.

In addition to the general requirements specified in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog, students must also complete the BME core, emphasis core, and elective BME curricula described below. BME 567 Biomedical Engineering Seminar must be taken every semester, up to a maximum of 8 credit hours total. Students must pass the Qualifying Examination before applying for Candidacy or proceeding to the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam. Upon successfully passing the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam and successful review of their application by program faculty and the Dean of Graduate Studies, students are admitted to Candidacy for the doctoral degree. For successful completion of the program requirements, all candidates must pass a Final Examination (Defense of Dissertation).

For all students pursuing degrees in BME, the following BME core courses are offered once per academic year: 

Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Emphasis

The following Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering emphasis core courses are offered every other year: 

Molecular and Cellular Systems Emphasis

The following Molecular and Cellular Systems emphasis core courses are offered every other year:

Equivalent graduate-level courses taken at other institutions may be used to satisfy one or more of the above core requirements, as approved by the student's Graduate Advisor or Curriculum Committee.

Elective Courses

For completion of the Ph.D. degree, the student must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of elective courses from the list below. At least 9 of these credit hours must be from courses offered in the School of Engineering. Ph.D. candidates may substitute electives other than those listed below, as approved by the student's Graduate Advisor or Curriculum Committee. 

M.S. degree candidates must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours of elective courses from the lists below. M.S. candidates may substitute electives other than those listed below, as approved by the student's Graduate Advisor or Curriculum Committee.

Biomedical Engineering Electives

Engineering Electives

1. Bachelor’s degree from a related science or engineering program in an accredited college or university. The degree must have been granted prior to the date on which you intend to enter the UNM graduate program.
2. An overall grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4 point scale).
3. A total combined GRE score of 1100 on the old scale (250 on the new GRE scale; see http://www.ets.org/s/gre/pdf/concordance_information.pdf for conversion); and
4. Basic courses in physics, math, biology, and chemistry. 

Students who do not meet these criteria may be encouraged to apply to UNM as a Non-Degree Status Student (to take leveling courses, improve their GPA, etc.).

• UNM Application
• A check or money order for the application fee, made out to the University of New Mexico. The application fee may be paid with a major credit card if you are applying online. 
• If the applicant uploads their transcript to the graduate online application only one official transcript needs to be sent to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program
• A letter of intent stating your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, your research interests, your career objectives, general information on your technical and scientific experience, as well as a detailed explanation of special circumstances that might affect your admission. The letter of intent should state whether you desire financial aid in the form of a research or teaching assistantship.
• Three letters of recommendation. Uploaded to the pre-admission form or sent to the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program using our Letter of Recommendation Form . These letters should be professional (as opposed to personal or character) references, such as from colleagues, supervisors, or former instructors.
• For International students, have TOEFL scores sent to UNM (UNM TOEFL code is 4845) and include a signed Certificate of Financial Responsibility. Please Note: After admission, the I-20 will not be issued until the Office of International Admissions receives your Certificate of Financial Responsibility and a $50 non-refundable Application Fee.

Scholarships

• Assistantships