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The University of New Mexico

Curriculum

At this time, BME offers the following two educational emphasis areas (or “tracks”) for MS and Ph.D. students: 1) Molecular and Cellular Systems, and 2) Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering.

Two concentrations are also available for MS students: 1) Bioinformatics, and 2) Entrepreneurship and Technology Management.

The emphasis areas and concentrations share a common set of BME core courses (Methods of Analysis, BME Research Practices, and the Biomedical Engineering Seminar). Each area and concentration also have their own specific core courses.

Remaining coursework towards the MS and Ph.D. degrees may be selected from other courses offered in the BME program (as electives), research seminars, and courses in the Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Arts & Sciences.

For more information on about BME programs at UNM, including coursework consult the BME Graduate Program Handbook, the online UNM catalog, and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Degrees

  • MS Plan I (Thesis): 24 credit hours of coursework, including BME core and electives, plus 6 hours of thesis (BME 599)
  • MS Plan II (Non-Thesis): 32 credit hours of coursework, including BME core, emphasis area core and electives. A maximum of 12 hours of “Problems” credits can be applied toward the electives.
  • MS Plan III (Coursework Only): 30 credit hours of coursework, including BME core and elective courses.
  • PhD: 48 credit hours of coursework, including BME core, emphasis area core and electives, plus 18 hours of dissertation credits.

BME Core Courses: Required for all BME Students

BME 547. Biomedical Engineering Research Practices (3 cr)
BME 558. Methods of Analysis in Bioengineering (3 cr)
BME 567. Biomedical Engineering Seminar (1 cr/semester)

Note: Students are expected to sign up for this seminar each semester. Therefore, up to 4 credits of this seminar may be applied to the MS, and up to 8 credits of this seminar may be applied to the PhD.

Core Courses for BME Emphasis Areas (“Tracks”)

Molecular and Cellular Systems

BME 544. Thermodynamics of Biological Systems (3cr)
BME 556. Protein and Nucleic Acid Engineering (3 cr)
BME 517. Applied Biology for Biomedical Engineers (3 cr)

Biomaterials, Biomechanics, and Tissue Engineering

BME 572. Biomaterials Engineering (3 cr)
BME 575. Biomechanics (3 cr)
BME 579. Tissue Engineering (3 cr)

Bioinformatics Concentration

Requires completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours from the following:

  • Mathematics (3 credit hours) chosen from BME 558; BIOL 592; CS 530.
  • Biology and Life Science (6-8 credit hours) chosen from BME 517; BIOL **351; BIOM 507, 508, 509, 510, 514, 515.
  • Bioinformatics (9 credit hours) chosen from BME 518; CS 521, 527, 529, 564, BME 568.
  • Electives approved by the program.

ETM Concentration for M.S.

Requires completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours from the following:

  • 15 credit hours minimum of graduate-level courses at the School of Engineering. Includes 3 credit hours for Project or Thesis.
  • 1 credit hour of graduate seminar (if required by the department).
  • MGMT 512 Strategic Management of Technology.
  • Choose 3 from MGMT 513, 514, 515, 516; or other courses as approved by the advisor.
  • 3 additional MGMT credit hours for Thesis, Project, or Business Plan.

Elective Courses

Elective courses may be chosen from within the BME curriculum. Any non-BME electives taken for the satisfaction of degree requirements must be technical in nature and further the study of BME subject areas. Electives must be approved by the faculty advisor and confirmed by the Graduate Program Director. Course offerings from Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or other departments in the School of Engineering are typically approved as electives, however, students may propose electives from any department.

In addition, up to 3 credits (or one course) of department/program/group meeting seminars may be counted toward the MS or PhD program. Up to 3 credits of “Problems” courses may be applied toward the MS; up to 6 credits of “Problems” courses may be applied toward the PhD. For these courses, a memo outlining course expectations and deliverables must be submitted.