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The University of New Mexico

PhD Degree

The emphasis of the PhD degree is advanced training in the subject matter of Biomedical Engineering, and demonstration of the ability to design and implement significant independent research at an advanced level. The degree program is designed to develop both scholarship and technical expertise as the foundations for continuing scientific activity and contributions. While some students enter the PhD program after obtaining a Master’s degree, it is often preferable to design a program for the PhD that bypasses the MS degree. 

The typical time to completion of the PhD degree is 4-6 years. The BMEGP is an intensive research-based PhD program; therefore, students who fail to identify a research mentor and secure financial support beyond the second academic year, may be asked to leave the program. The program provides guidance for students to successfully identify research mentors, however, the task of finding a long-term fit within a research lab is the personal responsibility of each individual student.

  • 48 credit hours of coursework, including BME core, emphasis area core, and electives
  • 18 hours of dissertation credits
    • Must maintain continuous enrollment, excluding summer terms, from the first semester of registering in dissertation hours through the semester of graduation
    • Dissertation credits cannot be earned until the semester in which the student passes the Comprehensive Examination
    • A student who fails the Comprehensive Exam cannot apply dissertation credits until the exam is retaken and passed
    • Dissertation credits may be taken for 3-12 hours at a time
    • There is no limit on how many times dissertation credits can be taken, but only 18 hours will apply toward degree completion
  • A max of 6 hours of Problems courses are allowed for elective credit
  • At least 50% of coursework must be completed after admission to the program
  • Significant milestones:
    • PhD Qualifying Examination - must be taken at the first opportunity following the satisfactory completion of the 3 BME core courses (this is generally by the 3rd semester in the program, with few exceptions; exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Program Director). Students who obtain an MS in BME en route to the PhD at UNM should take the exam in the 1st semester after entering the PhD program. More information on the qualifying exam can be found here.
    • PhD Comprehensive Examination - should be taken by the 6th semester in the PhD program. Students who obtain an MS in BME en route to the PhD at UNM and whose research is carried forward through their PhD should take the exam by the 3rd semester in the program. More information on the comprehensive exam can be found here.
    • PhD Dissertation Defense
    • Submission of PhD dissertation to the Office of Graduate Studies
    • Additional documentation needed for graduation can be found here. (link to Forms for Students in the PhD Program)