Graduate Programs Goals and Directions

Graduate programs available at The University of Oklahoma offer the option of choosing concentration in bioengineering within the traditional branches of engineering or of pursuing M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in bioengineering.

Our philosophy for education is to provide a solid core of knowledge through broad-based, rigorous coursework and a multidisciplinary research experience on a significant problem as a thesis project. Life science courses (e.g. physiology, molecular biology) complement graduate offerings in bioengineering with minimum coursework credit hour requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. of 24 and 36-48 hours, respectively. Under the aegis of the University of Oklahoma Bioengineering Center (OUBC), students work closely with scientists, physicians and engineers to learn experimental and quantitative approaches to investigation and design. A final oral defense of a written thesis on the project caps the graduate experience with an intermediate general exam requirement for doctoral candidates. An inter-campus entity, OUBC draws faculty from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation as well as the Colleges of Engineering and Arts and Sciences on the Norman Campus. The program enjoys balanced participation of bioengineering faculty from three schools in the College of Engineering including: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Our primary goal is to have skilled and knowledgeable graduates prepared for industrial, academic, entrepreneurial or government careers. A favorable environment and available instruction afford interested students the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and even participate in startup companies or in licensing the technology they development. Another OUBC goal involves moving into state-of-the-art laboratories on the planned millennium campus of the University of Oklahoma.

Areas of emphasis for future growth have been targeted from perceived needs and opportunities in the context of existing strengths in the biosciences and bioengineering. Strong programs exist in cardiovascular biology, cardiac arrthythmias and genome
sequencing at the University of Oklahoma-Norman, Health Sciences Center and Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Specific fields of interest include thrombosis, endothelial cell functions, glycobiology, tissue engineering, adhesion molecules, implantable device, and imaging senserving with applications ranging from inflammation, sepsis, ischemia and diabetes to measurement of in vivo gene expression.

Degree Programs

Bioengineering M.S. and Ph. D. degrees

Alternative Degree Programs

Bioengineering concentration (Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering)
Bioengineering concentration (Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering)
M. D. / Ph. D. Dual Degree Program

Available Coursework in Selected Research Areas

Biomechanics
Imaging
Implantable Devices
Tissue Engineering

Information on application to the University may be obtained online. Applicants should also contact the OUBC Graduate Program Coordinator for additional information regarding admission.