Here is advice from current BME graduate students for incoming BME graduate students. Please note this is merely advice, and information from the BME department supersedes everything on this page.
BME Graduate Program
First, go to the BME department’s website, navigate to the graduate study tab, and make sure you thoroughly read the MS and PhD pages. Also useful are the list of offered courses, department events, and the request information form.
Degree Requirements
Master’s Degree
The BME department MS program has two tracks: Non-Thesis, and Thesis. The Non-Thesis MS is recommended for those planning to pursue positions in industry, and the Thesis MS is recommended for those interested in pursuing both coursework and independent study. Click here to view a summary of the requirements for the MS program, or click the above links for more in-depth descriptions of the degree requirements.
PhD Degree
The BME department PhD program has six “tracks” representing broad research areas in the department. These tracks have different course requirements for graduation, which are provided on this page. Additionally, students entering with an MS, MSTP, or PhD/DPT degree have different requirements.
PhD students are also required to defend a research proposal during an oral qualification exam near the end of their second year.
Exact program details may evolve over time.
Courses
Popular courses for first-year fall quarter include ES_APPM 311-1 (Differential Equations I), STAT 330-1 (Statistics for Researchers I), and BMD_ENG 401 (Neurophysiology). Don’t forget, all first-year students (MS and PhD) must take BMD_ENG 512 (BME Seminar). Take a look at the BME courses being offered and the courses required and recommended for the various tracks. You can’t register for classes your first quarter until after the BME orientation. Register for classes in CAESAR and see the Office of the Registrar website to see all the courses being offered (see our Useful Links page).
Advisor
Start looking for an advisor as soon as you can. Open spaces in labs can fill up quickly. Look at the department’s website to see the research areas of the faculty and e-mail faculty members you are interested in working with. Once you have an advisor, you can form a thesis committee, get help with your plan of study (i.e. courses to take), and start doing labwork.
Funding
All PhD students are guaranteed funding by the department for their first year. This includes a monthly stipend plus tuition expenses. In addition, the Graduate School subsidizes 100% of the student health care plan for PhD students in their first six years. Note that you have to pay taxes on all stipend income you earn (research assistantship, fellowship, etc.). Fellowships, for example, are not reported on your W2, but you still must report the income and pay taxes.
MS students may consider being a TA to have their tuition and a small monthly stipend paid for. In addition, some labs will pay MS students to do research.
Your First Week on Campus
- If you haven’t done so already, setup your e-mail and NetID password
- Be sure to attend both the Graduate School orientation and the BME department orientation
- After the BME department orientation, remember to register for classes through CAESAR
- Update your contact information in CAESAR
- Get your Wildcard made in the Norris University Center basement
- Pick up your CTA Upass from The Graduate School
- Dental/Vision insurance plans are optional, talk to the Health Center to sign up for one
- Purchase your books from the Norris University Center bookstore, an off-campus bookstore, online, or older graduate students
- Begin meeting with faculty to choose an advisor as soon as possible
For Fun
Keep an eye out for emails from BMEGS or check out our upcoming events page. Also, see our Useful Links page for stuff to do on campus, in Evanston, and in Chicago.
Miscellaneous Advice
(see our Useful Links page for the relevant links):
- The Graduate School website has a helpful webpage for new graduate students
- The Norris University Center offers fun Mini-Courses, has a game room, has food, and Norris Outdoors rents recreational equipment to students
- You must register for courses, research credit, and/or TGS “courses” every quarter you are here (even summer quarters)
- Start your research project as soon as you can
- Immediately tell your advisor and the BME office staff if your paycheck is not right
- Don’t be afraid to discuss problems and issues with your advisor
- Be prepared to devote a lot of time when you TA a course
Further questions should be directed to the graduate program assistant, current graduate students, business administrator, or faculty graduate program chair.