The department offers programs that lead to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Engineering as well as combined MD/PhD degrees. The latter degrees are conferred jointly with the School of Medicine.

​The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's level, with a minimum of 30 being course credits (including the core curriculum) and a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research.

The core curriculum that must be satisfied by all PhD students consists of the following:

  • ​One graduate-level course in life science from an approved list
  • One graduate-level course in mathematics from an approved list
  • One graduate-level course in computer science from an approved list or exemption by proficiency
  • Four BME courses from an approved list

Please visit the Biomedical Engineering (BME) website for a comprehensive list of the approved courses.

Up to 3 credits of BME 8887 BME Doctoral Seminar Series may be counted toward the 30 credits of graduate courses required for the PhD, so a total of 27 additional credits (usually nine courses, including the core curriculum) are required for the PhD. Up to two 4000-level courses may be counted toward the nine courses required for the PhD. Graduate courses may be transferred in (up to 24 credits) but must be evaluated and approved by the Director of Doctoral Studies. The evaluation and approval may occur at any time, but course transfer does not become official until after one year in residence at Washington University.

Students seeking the PhD in Biomedical Engineering enroll in two to three courses each semester. Before the end of their first 10 months of enrollment in the program, students take their oral qualifying exam, which consists of a presentation of their research done to date in the mentor's laboratory followed by an oral exam addressing any issues directly related to their rotation report or their oral presentation. Upon successfully passing the qualifying examination, they advance to candidacy and complete the balance of their requirements. During the second and third years, students complete their remaining courses, participate in one semester of a mentored teaching experience, and begin their thesis research. By the end of the third year, students must complete their thesis proposal.

Students pursuing the combined MD/PhD in Biomedical Engineering must complete the degree requirements in both schools. MD/PhD students typically complete the first two years of the medical school preclinical curriculum while also performing one or more research rotations, then the remaining requirements for the doctoral degree, and finally the clinical training years of the medical degree. The department generally gives graduate course credits for some of the medical school courses toward the fulfillment of course requirements for the PhD degree. This is arranged on an individual basis between the student, their academic advisor and the Director of Doctoral Studies.

Contact Info

As part of their degree requirements, PhD students must complete a program-defined Mentored Experience Requirement (MER) as per these guidelines. The Mentored Experience Implementation Plan (MEIP) is the written articulation of a program-defined degree requirement for PhD students to engage in mentored teaching activities and/or mentored professional activities, collectively referred to as the MER.

Mentored Experience Requirement (MER)

Philosophy of Teaching

We are educating students for careers in industry, in government, and in academia with a concentration on research. Therefore, it is important that our graduates know how to convey technical knowledge in both lecture and interactive settings to a wide audience (from peers in the field to trainees with a limited understanding of the nuances of the topic). At present, our program requires the mentored teaching experience, not the mentored professional experience.

Preparatory Engagement

Preparatory Engagement activities are those that represent an introduction to the foundational skills associated with teaching or communication. Pedagogical preparation engagement activities are normally completed before students are permitted to engage in assisting or teaching in a classroom.

Two preparatory workshops that have been approved by the Biomedical Engineering graduate committee are required.

Mentored Teaching Experiences (MTEs)

Assistant in Instruction (AI)

An Assistant in Instruction (AI) is a PhD student who is directly engaged in the organization, instruction, and/or support of a semester-long course primarily taught by a faculty member. An AI receives mentorship from a faculty member related to best practices in classroom engagement, instruction in the field, interpersonal engagement, and other relevant skills. Students and mentors complete a mentorship plan prior to the start of each AI experience. To complete each AI assignment and to ensure that it applies toward their degree requirements, students must register for the appropriate course number for each semester of engagement. Refer to the "Required Pathways for Completion" section below for course numbers and details.

Each student will be the AI for one course at 10 MER units by registering for EGS 8010 MTE - Assistant in Instruction Experience  for the semester of engagement. Students are eligible for an AI assignment after they pass the qualifying exam and typically when they are beginning the second year of the program. Students work with their department coordinator or graduate program advisor on the timing of their AI assignments.

Required Pathways for Completion

Students work with their faculty mentor and their Director of Graduate Studies to plan how and when they will complete their MER. Students register during the normal registration period for courses in accordance with one of these approved pathways.

  • Preparatory Engagement

Pathway #1
EGS 8010 Students register one time for the semester of the AI assignment