Purpose

These programs serve students who are:

• Interested in completing a master's degree in biomedical engineering (BME),
• Pursuing a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics or other appropriate degrees, and
• Seeking a way to work in a research laboratory while they study
  

Benefits to Students

Left: Students work in paid laboratory positions while completing their BS and MS degrees in five years.

Students who participate in this program will be able to earn both the BS and the MS degrees in five years. Students with advanced placement credits may require less time. Most students will receive a paying job in a laboratory once accepted into the program. All students, once they reach senior status (within two semesters of graduation with their bachelor's degree) will become eligible for graduate assistantships (GA). The typical GA includes a tuition-and-fees scholarship and a monthly salary. Students remain in GA status throughout their senior year and their graduate year(s).

Learning by doing is central to this program. Students will join research teams organized through the Joint Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering, which is shared by The University of Memphis and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center . Such teams include internationally recognized laboratories at several sites, including, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, LeBonheur Children's Hospital, and the Memphis VA Medical Center.

Application and Continuation Procedures

Right: Working directly with faculty, students often find that these hands-on experiences are a great contribution to their learning.

Student can apply once they have reached sophomore standing and have completed one semester of course work at The University of Memphis. Application materials should include an application form, two letters of reference and a copy of the student's transcript. Each applicant will be required to complete an interview with a pre-graduate advisor in the BME department. Once admitted, students are assigned to a pre-graduate advisor who directs their research experiences and monitors their progress toward graduation. In order to remain in the program past the junior year, students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.25. Students must meet all the requirements of their departments' Bachelor's Degree and the requirements of the BME department's master's degree. An application and reference form are available at this site. The forms are in a document format; they can be downloaded, completed and submitted to the Accelerated Program Director in Biomedical Engineering. Download the application and forms here.

Typical Student Expectations

A chart of the specific course work requirements can be obtained from the BME department. However, in addition to course work, students are expected to complete research assignments. This program includes paid, obligatory research assignments as a special form of experiential learning. Students often find that these hands-on experiences are a significant contribution to and motivation for their learning.

Between the time the student enters the program and the completion of their junior year, students are expected to work a minimum of 6 hours per week in their pre-graduate advisor's laboratory; when circumstances allow, more time per week is encouraged. During the summer following their junior year, students will be expected to conduct full-time research with their graduate advisor. Both general professional and research skills are honed through such efforts. In their senior year, students will become GAs and be expected to work with their graduate advisor a minimum of 20 hours per week. In all following semesters, the student is a graduate student and is expected to work full-time in their graduate advisor's laboratory. Every lab is different, but this typically means 20 hours per week during the semesters and 40 hours per week all other times of the year.