There are 24 credit hours of technical coursework required for the MSE with Thesis (approximately 8 technical 3-credit hour courses), plus 6 credit hours of thesis coursework, for a total of 30 credit hours required. All courses except the Thesis courses must be graduate level and taken for a letter grade. Learn more about the Graduate School's requirements in the Graduate Catalog.
Previously approved courses for each requirement can be found on the Graduate Level Courses by Requirement list. This list is not exhaustive and other courses are available to meet program of work requirements. If you find another course that you wish to count toward a requirement, please send the course name, number, and the requirement you want to fill to the Graduate Advisor for approval. A syllabus may be requested in some cases. You must receive approval prior to enrollment in the course.
| Requirement | Credit Hours | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Biological or Clinical Sciences | 3 | Graduate level, taken for a letter grade. |
| Basic or Applied Mathematics | 3 | A statistics course is encouraged, but another mathematics topic may be approved in some circumstances. Graduate level, taken for a letter grade. |
| Technical Area 1: Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation | 3 | Choose one course from each of three of the four technical areas for a total of 9 credit hours. Graduate level, taken for a letter grade. |
| Technical Area 2: Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering | 3 | |
| Technical Area 3: Computational Biomedical Engineering | 3 | |
| Technical Area 4: Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Biomechanics | 3 | |
| Technical Electives: graduate-level taken for a letter grade | 9 | One technical elective may be substituted with one approved graduate-level professional development course. All coursework must be approved by the Graduate Advisor in advance of registration. |
| Thesis Courses: BME 698A and 698B | 6 | Two semesters of thesis taken on a CR/NC basis are required for the MSE with Thesis degree. Students must be registered for 698B in the semester in which they plan to graduate. |
Program of Work
The Program of Work is a form students complete to report their coursework completion status.
All versions of the Program of Work for the MSE and PhD programs can be found on UT Box at https://utexas.box.com/v/BMEGradForms.
Students are to complete the Program of Work that corresponds with their respective degree program and year of entry into the graduate program.
Enrolling in Thesis Hours
To enroll in BME 698A or 698B Thesis, complete the BME Thesis Registration Form and submit it to the Graduate Coordinator during the regular registration period. The Graduate Coordinator will add the appropriate course to your schedule. Students are required to be enrolled in BME 698B during the semester in which they apply to graduate with an MSE with Thesis.
Thesis Committee
Your thesis committee may comprise of two or more people and your supervisor must be a BME GSC member. Other members can be from outside of the BME GSC.
- Your thesis committee will be reviewed as part of the application for graduation. If one of your members is not on the BME GSC, you must submit a copy of their CV to the Graduate School after submitting your application to graduate.
- Submit the application to graduate with a master's degree as early as possible during the semester you intend to graduate to avoid any delays. The application is typically available on the first day of class for that semester.
Other Requirements
All graduate students in BME, including master's students in the coursework only and thesis track, are required to attend seminars designed to promote academic and professional development and networking opportunities. These seminars include the Responsible Conduct in Research (Ethics) Seminar offered in two parts in the fall and spring semesters, the Individual Development Plan (IDP) Workshop each fall semester, and the Graduate Research Seminars that take place throughout the semester on Thursday afternoons.
Program Completion
For information regarding the Master's Graduate Application Form and graduation deadlines, please see the Graduate School's Deadlines and Submissions Instructions page. Students who plan to graduate with an MSE in BME should apply to graduate at the beginning of their final semester.
