Graduate Program.Degrees Offered

The Duke BME graduate program includes both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Many of our funded students are Ph.D. candidates, many of whom earn an M.S. degree on their way toward the Ph.D. We have both a thesis and a non-thesis M.S. program. Duke BME also participates in the Duke School of Medicine's Medical Scientist Training Program for students interested in earning both the M.D. and Ph.D.

The M.S. Degree

Thirty units (approximately 10 classes) are required for the M.S. degree. For the thesis M.S., the thesis counts as six units toward the 30-unit requirement. A maximum of six units of undergraduate courses taken in graduate school may be used toward the degree. Every student working toward an M.S. degree serves one semester as a teaching assistant. The curriculum is flexible and is tailor-made by you, your advisor and your three member graduate committee.

The Ph.D. Degree

Our program is a custom-built, flexible, student-committee selected education experience tailored to meet your needs in your chosen sub-discipline within BME. Your Research Advisor, in addition to a primary BME faculty member who serves as your Departmental Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, a five-member dissertation committee, and the Chair of the Department, will mentor you. This team helps guide your career progression from early coursework and experiences that develop breadth to the later years of research and leadership (see Figure below). Required courses include a mathematics and a biology class, a 12-hour course on responsible conduct in research, and attendance at the BME seminar series for one year. The total number of courses you study is determined by you, your advisor, and your dissertation committee. Many Ph.D. students take 48 units of courses. Many students also make use of industrial internship opportunities, though these are not required. You can transfer up to 30 units from other graduate programs for your Ph.D., and your committee will take into consideration all prior post-baccalaureate coursework. Every student in the Ph.D. program serves as a teaching assistant for two semesters.

Career Progression for our Ph.D. students. In our program, you will progress over time from introductory classes to more specialized coursework. As you learn more, your focus will gradually shift from coursework to learning important leadership and research skills.

The M.D. - Ph.D. Degree

The Medical Scientist Training Program is designed for students who are pursuing a career in the medical sciences, academic medicine, and research. Students admitted into the M.D.-Ph.D. program may complete their Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering making ample use of their experiences in the medical basic sciences in their research. You can obtain additional information at the Medical Student Training Program website.

For more details on degree requirements and courses of study, see the curriculum section.