The Neural Engineering Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree consists of 47 credits post-BS, or as few as 26 credits post-MS, depending on coursework and the institution granting the MS degree. The 47 credits shall consist of a minimum of 31 credits of coursework (subject to supervisory committee approval), 1-2 credits of seminars, and 14 dissertation credits.
To graduate, students must earn a B- grade in all courses, a 3.0 GPA or higher in all courses, successfully complete a PhD Qualifying examination for admission to candidacy, complete a research proposal defense, and successfully defend their dissertation before their supervisory committee.
See the Graduate Handbook (coming soon) for the most up-to-date degree requirements and policies. See the Director of Graduate Studies regarding waiving credits for prior completed graduate coursework.
PhD Requirements
Core Courses (Take one course from each core area)
| Neural Interfaces: | |||
| NTECH 7155 | Neural Engineering Lab* | 3 | |
| Neural Analysis & Modeling: | |||
| BME 6005 | Computational Neuroscience* | 3 | |
| Neurophysiology: | |||
| BME 6430 | Systems Neuroscience: Functioning of the Neurosystem | 4 | |
| NEUSC 6040 | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 4 | |
| Neuroprostheses/NeuroRobotics: | |||
| BME 6440 OR ECE 6654 | Neural Engineering & NeuroRobotics* | 4 | |
| Core Course Minimum Credit Hour Sub-Total | 14 | ||
Elective Courses (Choose at least 9 credits, choosing courses from at least 2 different areas)
| Neural Interfaces: | |||
| ECE 6330 | Health Technology | 3 | |
| ECE 6780 | Embedded Systems Design* | 4 | |
| ECE 6226 | Electrical Interface for MEMS | 3 | |
| ECE 6215 | Biomedical Microdevices | 3 | |
| ECE 5480 | Diagnostic and Therapeutic Ultrasound | 3 | |
| ECE 6710 | Digital VLSI Design* | 4 | |
| ECE or BME 7310 | Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging | 3 | |
| ECE 7620 | 3-D Reconstruction Techniques in Medical Imaging | 3 | |
| CS 7710 | Neuromorphic Architectures | 3 | |
| ECE 6730 | Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit Design | 3 | |
| ECE 6360 | Bioinstrumentation | 3 | |
| Neural Analysis & Modeling Electives: | |||
| CS 6355 | Structured Prediction | 3 | |
| CS 6300 | Artificial Intelligence | 3 | |
| CS 6353 | Deep Learning* | 3 | |
| ECE 6535 | Mathematical Tools for Neural Data Analysis & Modeling* | 3 | |
| BME 6433 | Biological Statistical Signal Processing* | 3 | |
| ECE 6530 | Digital Signal Processing* | 3 | |
| ECE 6520 | Information Theory | 3 | |
| ECE 6540 | Estimation Theory | 3 | |
| CS 6210 | Scientific and Data Computing I | 3 | |
| MATH 6070 | Mathematical Statistics | 3 | |
| MATH 6440 | Advanced Dynamical Systems | 3 | |
| MATH 6630 | Numerical Solutions of Partial Differential Equations | 3 | |
| MATH 6740 | Bifurcation Theory | 3 | |
| MATH 6770 | Mathematical Biology I | 3 | |
| MATH 6780 | Mathematical Biology II | 3 | |
| Neurophysiology Electives: | |||
| BME 6003 | Cellular Electrophysiology and Biophysics | 3 | |
| BME 6230 OR ME EN 7120 | Musculoskeletal Functional Anatomy for Engineers | 3 | |
| BME 6460 | Electrophysiology and Bioelectricity of Tissues | 3 | |
| NEUSC 6060 | Neuroanatomy | 1.5 | |
| NEUSC 7750 | Developmental Neurobiology | 1.5 | |
| NEUSC 6100 | Visual Neuroscience I | 3 | |
| NEUSC 6245 | Neurophysiology Lab* | 1 | |
| BME 6302 | Biomaterials | 3 | |
| NEUSC 6050 | Principles of Systems Neuroscience | 4 | |
| Neuroprostheses/NeuroRobotics Electives: | |||
| ECE 6650 | Robotics | 3 | |
| MEEN 6240 | Advanced Mechatronics* | 4 | |
| MEEN 7240 | Haptics for Virtual Reality, Teleoperation, and Physical Human-Robot Interaction | 3 | |
| CS 6360 | Virtual Reality | 3 | |
| CS 6540 | Human/Computer Interaction | 3 | |
| ECE 6651 | Intro to Robot Control | 3 | |
| ME EN 6225 | Motion Planning | 3 | |
| ECE 6652 | State Space Control | 3 | |
| ME EN 7200 | Nonlinear Controls | 3 | |
| ME EN 7210 | Optimal Controls | 3 | |
| ECE 6570 | Adaptive Control | 3 | |
| CS 7640 | Advanced Image Processing | 3 | |
| ECE 6657 | Computer Vision | 3 | |
| Elective Minimum Credit Sub-Total | 9-12 | ||
Allied Field STEM Courses or Additional Electives
| Remaining credits to reach minimum 31 coursework credits can be taken from allied field STEM courses or additional electives from the above courses (subject to supervisory committee approval) | |||
| TBD | Allied Course Credit Sub-Total | ~17 | |
Seminars (enroll in 2 semesters of any of the graduate seminars listed below)
| BME 6470 | Studies in Neural Engineering (“Neural Engineering Research Group”) | .5 |
| NEUSC 6010 | Frontiers in Neuroscience | 1 |
| NEUSC 6030 | Neuroscience Journal Club | 1 |
| BME 6090 | Biomedical Engineering Seminar | .5 |
| ECE 7900 | Electrical Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| Seminar Credit Sub-Total | 1-2 |
Dissertation
| NTECH 7970 | PhD Dissertation | 14 |
| Dissertation Credit Sub-Total | 14 |