Are you committed to earning a graduate degree from the Department of Biomedical Engineering (BMEN) at Texas A&M University? The Fast Track program could help you speed up the process.
With Fast Track, you can begin graduate coursework at the end of your junior year, as long as you will be a U4 when taking a graduate course. This can allow you to complete your biomedical engineering Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Engineering (MEng) degrees within five years, depending on your efforts. If you wish to pursue a Master of Science or a Doctorate of Philosophy in biomedical engineering, make prior arrangements with a faculty advisor.
How Fast Track Works
Our department has streamlined its program for Fast Track participants by substituting specified graduate courses for selected undergraduate course offerings. You take these 600-level courses during your senior year, reserving graduate credit while fulfilling undergraduate requirements through "credit-by-exam." You must receive an A or B in the course to receive “credit-by-exam” for the equivalent undergraduate course. Once you are accepted into the graduate program, the reserved graduate credits are transferred as earned graduate credits.
We allow you to take up to nine hours of graduate coursework and simultaneously fulfill your undergraduate requirements. To keep your schedule balanced, be aware of the workload associated with these courses and plan accordingly.
Please note that Fast Track helps you fulfill course requirements for a graduate degree, but it is not acceptance into graduate school. You still need to apply for your intended graduate degree.
Advantages
- Participate earlier in graduate studies
- Identify research opportunities in your chosen discipline sooner
- Reduce the total credit hours for BS and MEng degrees by up to one semester
Requirements
- You must be a current upper-level undergraduate student in biomedical engineering
- You must be committed to graduate studies at Texas A&M University in biomedical engineering
- You must complete at least 90 hours of undergraduate coursework
- You must have a recommended GPA of 3.5 (students with lower GPAs should have extensive research experience)
Before Applying
Before applying to the BMEN Fast Track program, you must meet with your BMEN undergraduate advisor to discuss course options, credit requirements, and degree plan implications. You are also encouraged to meet with the BMEN graduate advisor and discuss plans for your graduate degree and your potential faculty mentors.
How to Apply
To apply for the Fast Track program in biomedical engineering, complete the BME Fast Track application via the Fast Track google form following ALL instructions listed. Once your application is complete, submit your resume to BMEFastTrack@tamu.edu. When these documents have been submitted, your application and resume will be reviewed and you will be notified of the admission decision.
The following qualities will be evaluated and are listed in order of importance:
- Major GPA
- Cumulative GPA
- Experience in industry, research or other field applications
- Professional service
- Conference participation, presentations and publications
While your application is pending, you may enroll in the course at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Once a decision has been issued for the BMEN Fast Track program (admit or deny), it is your responsibility to work with the undergraduate advisor to ensure you are registered for the correct level for the course based on degree plan needs. The deadline for this adjustment is by the 5th class day of the fall/spring terms.
After Acceptance
Once accepted to the BMEN Fast Track program, you should:
- Meet with the BMEN undergraduate advisor to plan for dual-counting courses.
- Complete a separate Google Form for each course to be switched to the 600-level course.
- Meet again with the BME graduate advisor and discuss course plans and entry into graduate school.
Application dates for the Fast Track program are listed below. Grades for the semester in progress will be used during the review.
- Fall Admission: June 15 – July 15
- Spring Admission: November 1 – December 1
For program questions, contact bmefasttrack@tamu.edu.
Fast Track Equivalences
Once accepted, you must complete the BMEN Fast Track Form before the start of the semester. The biomedical engineering undergraduate advisors will adjust your schedule accordingly.
- BMEN 402/650 – Biomedical Optics Laboratory
- BMEN 404/604 – FDA Good Laboratory and Clinical Practices
- BMEN 422/622 – Bioelectromagnetism
- BMEN 425/625 – Biophotonics
- BMEN 427/627 – Magnetic Resonance Engineering
- BMEN 428/628 – Embedded Systems for Medical Applications
- BMEN 431/631 – Biomolecular Engineering
- BMEN 432/632 – Molecular and Cellular Biomechanics
- BMEN 457/657 – Orthopedic Biomechanics
- BMEN 458/658 – Motion Biomechanics
- BMEN 461/661 – Cardiac Mechanics
- BMEN 463/663 – Soft Tissue Mechanics and Finite Element Methods
- BMEN 469/669 – Entrepreneurial Pathways in Medical Devices
- BMEN 471/641 – Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering
- BMEN 480/680 – Biomedical Engineering of Tissues
- BMEN 482/682 – Polymeric Biomaterials
- BMEN 483/683 – Polymeric Biomaterial Synthesis
- BMEN 486/686 – Biomedical Nanotechnology
- BMEN 487/687 – Drug Delivery