Bioengineering (BioE) Graduate Program Handbook

This manual provides details of the degree requirements as well as procedures to be followed in completing each degree program. If questions arise that are not answered by this handbook or the graduate catalog, please contact your BioE graduate advisor, the BioE graduate program coordinator, or the BioE Graduate Studies Director.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be a national leader in bioengineering research, educational activities, and technology transfers. Students work together with bioengineering faculty from a wide variety of technical backgrounds on some of the most perplexing and challenging problems in the field.

Definitions

Affiliate Faculty – An affiliate faculty member is one who agrees to participate with the Bioengineering (BioE) Graduate Program in a minimum of oneof the following ways:

Teach courses that are of interest to Bioengineering students
Mentor Bioengineering students through serving as an Research Advisor or by otherwise supporting BioE research efforts
Serve on committees –
- Student M.S. or PhD research committees
- Program administrative positions or committees (concentration director, admissions committee, qualifying exam committees, etc.)

An Affiliate Faculty member may also participate in recruiting graduate students. Such efforts will generally include making brief presentations about current research to visiting/prospective students or delivering such presentations at selected recruiting events and fielding requests for more detailed academic/research information from students accepted into the Bioengineering Graduate Program.

Graduate Studies Representative (formerly called the External Committee Member )– The Graduate Studies Representative (GSR) must hold authorized Graduate Faculty Status for the KU-Lawrence campus and must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member. The GSR can be any member of the Graduate Faculty whose primary research area lies outside of the Bioengineering Concentration that the student has chosen for his/her plan of study.

Core course requirements

Three core courses are required for all Bioengineering graduate students. Course waivers may be granted to students who have relevant background.

BIOE 800 Bioengineering Colloquium, 0.5 (or 1 with permission) credit hours/semester (2 credit hours total).

A colloquium series featuring speakers from industry, government, other universities, research centers and research organizations of the university campus presenting talks on various topics related to bioengineering.

BIOE Colloquium must be taken as a 0.5 credit hour course over 4 semesters for MENG, MS, and PhD students. For students who are able to graduate with fewer than 4 Fall or Spring semesters in the BIOE program, a 1.0 credit option is available. Enrollment in BIOE 800 for 1 credit hour must be approved (by the student’s advisor, the BIOE program, and the instructor) as part of your Plan of Study prior to enrollment.

BIOE 801 Responsible Conduct of Research in Engineering, 1 credit hour.
Completion of BIOE 801 with a grade of B or higher satisfies the University of Kansas requirement for Ethical Conduct of Research Training for Masters students. Doctoral students are required to complete additional training.

Lectures and discussion on ethical issues in the conduct of a scientific career, with emphasis on practical topics of special importance in bioengineering. Topics include the nature of ethics, the roles of the scientist as a reviewer, entrepreneur, employer and teacher, research ethics in the laboratory, social responsibility and research ethics regulation. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

CPE 756 Introduction to Bioengineering, 3 credit hours.

An interdisciplinary introduction to the field of biomedical engineering. This course covers a breadth of topics including bio-transport, biomechanics, biomaterials, tissue engineering, drug delivery, biomedical imaging, computational biology, and biotechnology. Students are exposed to these broad topics and go further in depth in a topic of their choice with the semester project. For students with a prior Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering degree, this core requirement is replaced by one additional
3-credit breadth course. Prerequisite: Graduate-level standing in engineering, or consent of department.

Degree Programs and Requirements for each Concentration

The Bioengineering program offers Master of Engineering (MEng), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Bioengineering, and participates in the MD/PhD degree program in conjunction with the University of Kansas School of Medicine. The Bioengineering Program provides knowledge breadth in engineering and the biological sciences, and knowledge depth in a particular research area. The degrees will prepare students for careers in industry, and government institutions and laboratories, and in academia.

There are six concentrations in the degree program. The requirements are specific to both the degree and the concentration. All requirements can be found on the concentration webpage (hyperlinked below).

Bioimaging

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

Biomechanics and Neural Engineering

Biomedical Product Design and Development

Biomolecular Engineering

Computational Bioengineering

Prerequisite Courses and Transfer Credit

Prerequisite or Transfer Courses: The student’s academic transcript will be evaluated by the Graduate Studies Director. If necessary, the student may need to provide additional information about the course(s) to be waived, i.e. course description, course syllabus, course schedule, copies of completed assignments or tests taken in the course, etc. Prior courses will be evaluated to assure sufficiently rigorous content to prepare the student for further study at KU, or as having equally met the academic standards of a similar course at KU.

Master’s students may transfer up to 9 credit hours of graduate coursework toward their KU degree, per university policy. A Course Substitution Petition must be completed and signed by the Student, the Advisor and the Program Director for each course. The completed and signed form will be retained in the student’s academic file.

Doctoral students cannot formally transfer courses to KU. However, the BioE program can waive course degree requirements based on prior coursework. A Course Substitution Petition must be completed and signed by the Student, the Advisor and the Program Director for each course. The completed and signed form will be retained in the student’s academic file.

MD/PhD Students: Based on medical school courses/curriculum, and to facilitate timely degree completion in the MD/PhD program, MD/PhD students will automatically have credit for the following standard set of four courses for the PhD.

ANAT 845 Anatomy
BIOL 546 Mammalian Physiology
BIOL 752 Cell Biology
MICR 808 Immunology

The above courses for MD/PhD students may count as depth or breadth, depending on the student’s concentration. Additional course waivers may be allowed for prior graduate coursework prior to the MD/PhD program per the standard procedures for doctoral students (above).

Degree Planning, Advising, and Timely Completion

Initial Orientation, Advising and Enrollment

At the BioE New Student Orientation, the BioE Graduate Studies Director will discuss details about our program. You will then be advised by the Graduate Studies Director, a concentration director, or your advisor (if you already have identified your advisor) regarding your deficiencies and course requirements for the concentration in which you are most interested. You may also discuss possible transfer credit with the Graduate Studies Director. Your recommended class schedule will be set for the current term, and tentative options will be discussed for the following term. This will be recorded on an advising sheet, which will be retained in your student file. After you have gone through Orientation & Advising, the academic hold for advising will be removed from your account, and you will be shown how to use the KU Enroll & Pay System to complete your enrollment. You will use the KU Enroll & Pay System each semester to enroll and to manage all your personal, academic and financial information while you are at KU.

Selecting a Concentration and Research Advisor/Mentor

During your first term at KU, it is your responsibility to investigate your concentration(s) of interest, to select your concentration of study, to ask questions of the Program Director, to arrange meetings with potential faculty advisors, and to talk to our current graduate students about their experiences and insights. No formal lab rotations are required, but you are encouraged to attend meetings, shadow current students, and even to work in multiple labs. This is your opportunity to learn about the lab work and environment/culture, as you consider the best overall fit. You should also inquire about funding opportunities available (e.g. Graduate Research Assistants, Scholarships, Fellowships, etc). Don’t be shy about asking prospective advisors whether or not he/she will have financial support for you as a graduate student. We expect that by the end of your first semester in the BioE program, you will have identified your research advisor and have developed an initial draft of your plan of study with your advisor.

Engineering Plan of Study

A plan of study is required for all Graduate students in BIOE. Following is the expected time line for establishing the plan of study.

SECOND TERM ENROLLMENT: There will be an enrollment hold placed on your account until you have submitted the draft of your plan of study which you and your advisor have established. Email the BioE Program Coordinator to inform them that your draft plan of study is complete and the enrollment hold will be removed for your second semester at KU. You do not need to specify your committee members nor does the draft plan of study need any approvals.

UDATE PLAN OF STUDY & SELECT COMMITTEE: During your second semester at KU and with the help of your advisor, you will select your committee (3 for MS, 5 for PhD). Please talk to each prospective committee member before including him/her as a committee member. Also, please review to the guidelines in this handbook regarding the requirements for the thesis/dissertation committee. You will then request approval for your plan of study from your advisor, research committee and program director, which is done completely on-line. Please see the following website for more information about how the Plan of Study on-line system works: Graduate Plan of Study. (Your log-in is the same as your KU e-mail log in.) It is your responsibility to make sure that your Plan of Study is reviewed and approved by your advisor, your committee, and the Graduate Studies Director.

THIRD TERM ENROLLMENT: There will be an enrollment hold placed on your account until you have updated your Plan of Study and it has met with final approval. Your Plan of Study must be complete, posted, and have met with final approval from the Graduate Studies Director, your Advisor/Committee Chair, and all Committee members in order for your enrollment hold to be removed. Once your plan of study has been approved, please email the BioE Program Coordinator or stop by BioE program office to have your enrollment hold removed.

FINAL & APPROVED PLAN OF STUDY: After your Plan of Study has met with final approval, enrollment holds will continue to be placed on your account, because you will need to update grades and make changes to coursework, as needed. After each update, simply email the BioE Program Coordinator to have your enrollment hold removed.

EXECUTE YOUR PLAN – HAVE ANY NECESSARY CHANGES APPROVED: Prior to the doctoral comprehensive exam and the final (MS or PhD) defense, any changes to your Plan of Study must be approved by your Advisor, all members of the Committee and the Graduate Studies Director.

Master of Engineering

MEng is course-only, and there are no thesis and defense needed.

Master of Science Thesis and Defense Examination

M.S. Committee Make-up

The Master of Science Committee is composed of three members of the KU Graduate Faculty:

the Advisor, who must be an Affiliate faculty member, serves as the committee chair
a minimum of one member with a primary appointment within the School of Engineering
a minimum of one member with a primary appointment outside the School of Engineering

M.S. Thesis and Defense

The student’s research will lead to the Master’s thesis, which demonstrates that its author has completed an original and independent investigation of a significant problem. The thesis provides evidence that the student can recognize an important problem, acquire the data to answer the questions posted within that problem, and extend the results of the answered questions to other problems of significance. Defense of the thesis is scheduled when the Advisory Committee listed on the Plan of Study agrees that the research is complete. The student must schedule the defense and notify the BioE program coordinator three weeks prior to the scheduled defense.

Expected Progression in the MS degree (timeline)

The expected progression is provided in the forms and documents area of the Bioengineering website as the Masters Timeline.

Doctoral Dissertation Committee, Examinations & Activity Reports

Doctoral Dissertation Committee Make-up

The Doctoral Dissertation Committee is composed of five members of the KU Graduate Faculty:

the Advisor, who must be an Affiliate faculty member, serves as the committee chair.
a minimum of two members with primary appointments within the School of Engineering
a minimum of one member with a primary appointment outside the School of Engineering
one Graduate Studies Representative (see definition above)

Examinations

There are three examinations that are part of the PhD curriculum. Successful completion of the qualifying and comprehensive exams will admit the student to formal PhD candidacy. The doctoral dissertation defense is the final exam.

1. The Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is formally composed of three criteria:

The student must satisfy all general and track deficiencies. Deficiencies should typically addressed (met) as early as possible in the student's program.
The student must complete three 3-credit BioE track depth courses numbered 700-990 (excluding internship and independent study courses) with a GPA of 3.5 or above.
The student must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively through writing, oral presentation, and open questioning. For students who successfully completed a Master of Science degree in Bioengineering at the University of Kansas, this criterion is automatically met. All other BioE doctoral students must complete a written and oral communication qualifying examination. This exam is offered each May in the week following the Spring semester final exams. For students entering Fall semester, it should be taken the following May, after two semesters. Students entering Spring semester, generally take it after their third semester, but can take it after their first semester. The qualifying exam serves as an entrance exam to the doctoral program. This exam can be taken a maximum of two times.

Format and content of the written and oral qualifying examination

The details of the exam committee, the selection of journal articles, the format and procedures for both the written and oral portions of the exam, expectations, possible outcomes, etc. are provided in the forms and documents area of the Bioengineering website as BioE Qualifying Examination Requirements.

2. The Comprehensive Examination

The major examination about half way through a doctoral student's dissertation is the comprehensive examination. It is intended to assure that the student has potential to become an independent investigator. The skills demonstrated in this examination include those necessary to obtain funding for research and development in academia, government, and industry; these skills are expected to be highly developed. The comprehensive examination is used to determine the soundness, significance, and originality of the student's research project, as well as test the clarity and thoroughness of the student's understanding. It provides an opportunity for the student to justify his or her research vision, describe the initial research plan, and present preliminary data demonstrating feasibility of the project. The comprehensive examination affords an opportunity to correct deficiencies in the student's overall educational program that become evident during the course of the exam. Passing the examination advances the student to doctoral candidacy status. The student must schedule the defense and notify the BioE program coordinator three weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The student should provide the Dissertation Committee with the comprehensive proposal document at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.

Format and content of the written and oral qualifying examination

The Comprehensive Exam is administered by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, the details of the content, the format and procedures for both the written and oral portions of the exam, expectations, possible outcomes, etc. are provided in the forms and documents area of the Bioengineering website as BioE Comprehensive Exam Information.

3. The Dissertation Defense

The doctoral dissertation demonstrates that its author, the doctoral student, has completed an original and independent investigation of a significant problem. The dissertation provides evidence that the student can define an important problem, develop a viable research plan to investigate the problem and generalize the results to other problems of significance. Defense of the doctoral dissertation is scheduled when the Doctoral Dissertation Committee agrees that the research plan approved at the Comprehensive Exam has been completed. The Dissertation Defense may not be scheduled for a date less that 5 months from the Comprehensive Exam. The student must schedule the defense and notify the BioE program coordinator three weeks prior to the scheduled defense. The student should provide the Dissertation Committee with the final dissertation document at least two weeks prior to the oral examination. The examination must be publicized at least one week before the date of the examination.

Outcomes of the Examination: Based on the majority vote of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, the outcome of the Dissertation Defense will have one of three outcomes: Pass with Honors, Satisfactory Pass, or Unsatisfactory (Fail). In the event the outcome is unsatisfactory, the student may be allowed a second attempt on the recommendation of the program. A second failure will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Expected Progression in the doctoral degree (timeline)

The expected progression is provided in the forms and documents area of the Bioengineering website as the PhD Timeline.

Annual Review of Doctoral Student Progress

To help assure students are progressing through the doctoral degree per the expected timeline, all doctoral students that have been in the program for at least one calendar year are required to submit an annual Doctoral Student Activity Report in the Spring Semester of each year. The current form will be distributed in early March and activity reports must be submitted by April 1. The Doctoral Student Activity Reports will be reviewed by Bioengineering Faculty Affiliates for appropriate research progress and products (presentations and publications) for the students time in the program. Particular attention is made to assure a timely comprehensive exam. The activity reports and faculty evaluations will be discussed at the annual Bioengineering Leadership Meeting for determination of final feedback to the student. The Graduate Studies Director will send feedback summaries to all doctoral students. The Graduate Studies Director will also meet with the advisors of students who are deemed to have limited progress, to help ensure there is a plan for improved progress.

Research Skills Requirement

The research skills requirement is met when students develop and defend their research proposal and successfully pass the Comprehensive Exam.

Responsible Conduct of Research

Doctoral students are required to pass BIOE 801 Responsible Conduct of Research in Engineering with a grade of B or higher, in partial fulfillment of the University of Kansas requirement for Ethical Conduct of Research Training. In addition, doctoral students admitted after Fall 2027 or later must complete the additional required training, per the university Research Skills and Responsible Conduct of Research policy.

Doctoral Student Residency Requirement

Engineering residency requirements for doctoral students are met with enrollment of two semesters, which may include one summer session, spent in resident study at KU. During this period, the student must be involved full time in academic or professional pursuits, which may include an appointment for teaching or research if it is directed specifically toward degree objectives. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester.

Regular and Timely Feedback

Faculty thesis/dissertation advisors provide regular and timely feedback and assessment on academic work and student progress enabling students to maintain timely progress towards degree completion. As an interdisciplinary program, the need and ability of advisor feedback in Bioengineering Graduate program will vary from student to student. Expectations for communication and feedback will be set in each student’s Advising Agreement. This agreement should be completed by the student and advisor to

1. Initiate a conversation between the student and his or her advisor(s).

2. Help establish expectations for the advisor(s). It should make clear to the student what the advisor(s) agree(s) to do (e.g., turnaround time on feedback, frequency of meetings, nature and extent of comments/suggestions for revision).

3. Establish expectations for the student, expected number of meetings, and any extenuating circumstances that might impact progress.

The agreement needs to be completed shortly after a faculty member agrees to advise a student. The Advising Agreement may be used to structure a conversation with a potential advisor and determine if the advising relationship is a good fit. After the agreement is signed and completed, the student is responsible for sending the document to the Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Program Coordinator.

Change of Concentration or Advisor

Change of Concentration

To change the Bioengineering Concentration, a student must submit a new Concentration and Advisor Declaration Form signed by the student and the advisor.

Change of Advisor

A change of advisor generally has negative impacts on both the advisor and the student. Change of advisor should generally be avoided, of possible to prevent setbacks and delays in graduation. However, if a student’s research interests are substantially changed or if they have difficulties or disagreements with their advisor, they may request to change advisor. To do so, they first need to identify a new research advisor. The Bioengineering Graduate Studies Director and Coordinator can help identify a new advisor, if needed. Then the student must submit a new Concentration and Advisor Declaration Form signed by the student and the new advisor. In addition, the student must update the information on their Plan of Study. Doctoral students must also note the change of advisor and any change in research plan on subsequent Doctoral Student Activity Reports.

Change of Major or Degree Program

Switching from Master of Engineering (MEng) to the MS degree

Requirements

Students must be in good academic standing. They must have identified a potential research Advisor who submits a letter of support for their change to the MS degree.

Process

The student must email the BioE Program Coordinator indicating the desire to switch to the MS degree, and include a current resume/CV. The student’s potential research advisor must also submit a statement indicating support for the student to change to MS. Upon review and approval by the Graduate Studies Director the students program will be immediately change to the MS degree.

Adding (continuing for) the PhD in addition to the M.S. degree

Requirements

Students must be making timely progress toward M.S. degree completion, and be in good academic standing. The student should have a graduate GPA of 3.5 or higher. They must have an Advisor, a Committee and a completed and approved Plan of Study for the M.S. At the time students desire to switch to the M.S./PhD program, he or she must have a clear topic and research agenda for the PhD dissertation, which is supported by the Advisor/Chair.

Process

The student must email the BioE Program Coordinator indicating the desire to add the PhD upon completion of the MS degree, and include a current resume/CV. The student’s research advisor must also submit a statement indicating the students research proficiency and productivity, and well as their support for the student to continue in the PhD. Upon review and approval by the Graduate Studies Director the PhD degree will be added and the student may begin taking PhD courses upon successful completion of the MS defense.

Switching from M.S. to PhD without completing the M.S. degree

Students wishing to switch from the M.S. to the PhD degree will likely fall into two categories 1) the student applied, was accepted, and began the M.S. program but decided to pursue the PhD; or 2) the student applied for the PhD, but the admissions committee recommended admittance into the M.S. instead.

Requirements

A current BioE MS student may request that the Admissions Committee approve the change of the student’s status from MS student to PhD aspirant. Before making the request, the student is required to have competed all general and concentration deficiencies and a minimum of two semesters (Fall and Spring) as a full time KU BioE graduate student with a minimum 3.5 GPA (graduate courses only). Generally, a student without an undergraduate degree in an engineering discipline will be required to finish the BioE MS degree before pursuing the BioE PhD degree.

Process

The following is required to be submitted to the Bioengineering Graduate Program: 1) the Petition to Switch from MS to PhD, 2) the student’s letter of intent for his/her PhD program of study and 3) the advisor’s letter of evaluation on the student’s level of preparation to begin his/her PhD program of study. The committee’s decision will be based on the student’s letter of intent, the advisor’s letter of evaluation, the student’s academic performance as a KU BioE graduate student, and evidence of strong research productivity as demonstrated by research products. The Admissions Committee will evaluate the submitted documents vote to approve or deny. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Admissions Committee.

Change of Major

A graduate student wishing to change from Bioengineering to another major within the University of Kansas must apply through the standard application process. Upon acceptance into the new program, the student must notify Bioengineering of the change of major, so that the Bioengineering degree can be removed from the students plan.

Time Limitations (link KU Policy)

KU limits the length of studies for both MS and PhD programs. The current policy can be found through the following link.

Degree Time Limits | College Office of Graduate Affairs

Financial Support

Scholarships and Fellowships

Most scholarships and fellowships are reserved for recruiting prospective students. The School of Engineering is the primary source of scholarships for BioE students. Admitted students are nominated by Bioengineering for these funds each Spring for Fall admissions (and each Fall for Spring admissions). The SoE is responsible for allocating and distributing the funds.

The Thomas and Madeleine Turpin Bioengineering Scholarship Fund is under the administration of the BioE. The Bioengineering Program identifies one or more students for the award annually, and funds will be allocated to the chosen student(s) by the School of Engineering.

There are University-wide doctoral fellowships for which students may be eligible, including:

Self Graduate Fellowship (Self Graduate Fellowship | Madison & Lila Self Graduate Programs )

Chancellor’s Doctoral Fellowship (https://ogs.ku.edu/chancellors-doctoral-fellowship)

Bernadette Gray-Little Fellowship (https://ogs.ku.edu/bernadette-gray-little-doctoral-fellowship)

University Graduate Fellowships (https://ogs.ku.edu/university-graduate-fellowships-ugf)

The Bioengineering Program will nominate eligible and competitive students for these fellowships. If you believe you are eligible and would like to be nominate, contact the BioE Graduate Studies Director or BioE Coordinator.

Student may also apply for Outside Scholarships and Fellowships. The Bioengineering Program can help support such applications, as needed. Example sources that have funded BioE students include federal funding agencies (such as the National Science Foundation), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows, and the International Peace Scholarship Fund.

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)

General GRA Opportunities

During the first term at KU, it is the student’s responsibility to investigate potential concentration(s) of interest, to select a concentration of study, to ask questions of the Graduate Studies Director, to arrange meetings with potential faculty advisors, and to talk to our current graduate students about their experiences and insights. This is the right time to find out about funding opportunities available (e.g. Graduate Research Assistants, Scholarships, Fellowships, etc). Students should NOT be shy about asking prospective advisors whether or not he/she will have financial support available. By the end of the first semester in the BioE program, students should have identified a research advisor and with his/her help, have developed an initial draft of the Plan of Study.

Training Grant (T-32) GRA Opportunities

It is the responsibility of the student to seek out and to apply for funding opportunities. KU-L and KUMC typically have multiple NIH-funded T-32 Training Grants. These are transitory, depending on funding renewal and are focused on training in specific research areas. The student should investigate opportunities in their area and inquire about programs with the training grant director.

Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs)

The Bioengineering Program is allocated GTA positions for the purposes of recruiting in Bioengineering. The number available is not fixed and may change each year. Generally, these BioE GTA positions are offered to prospective incoming graduate students. Only positions are turned down or students that have accepted them fail to matriculate will BioE GTAs be available for current BioE students. BioE students serve as GTAs in teaching capacities in departments and units throughout the School of Engineering. The BioE program works to distribute GTA positions to assure that students are qualified for their departmental class or lab assignments.

The BioE GTA is designed to support new students through their first year of the BioE Program. Students who do not win full fellowships or scholarships should work with their advisor and the BioE Program to obtain funding to support their studies through the subsequent years in the program. If a student will not be supported in a GRA from their advisor, then they should seek and apply for all GTA opportunities outside of the BioE Program (e.g. Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.). Students should not expect nor rely on GTA positions from BioE beyond their first year in the program.

All students who accept offers of a GTA are required to go through both University and Departmental (or Programmatic) GTA training before their contract is valid. International students must score a 22 (4.5 after January 21, 2026) or higher on the TOEFL Speaking section; score a 7 or higher on the IELTS Speaking section spoken section; or score a 50 or higher on the KU SPEAK test in order to be considered for a GTA position.

Current BioE Students who are seeking GTA positions/funding and want to be considered for possible BioE GTA positions need be proactive and work to meet the funding need early. Note that GTA positions for Fall are considered in the Spring and generally appointments are completed in June. Similarly GTA positions for Spring are generally assigned in October. Thus, it is important to apply for GTAs and request BioE support early, if there is any question regarding future funding. Current BioE Students seeking a BioE GTA position should meet the following criteria:

Be in good academic standing in the program
Be making consistent and adequate progress in coursework and research
Have already applied for GTA positions in other programs (all applicable)

Extracurricular Activities

Student Organizations and Participation

Bioengineering Student Council (BioESC)

The Bioengineering Student Council has been registered as a student organization. It is up to students to maintain (or reinstate) this group within engineering and with the university. This group has worked to promote BioE graduate student activities and participation in engineering and university activities and programs.

Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)

The Biomedical Engineering Society has been a registered as a student organization. It is up to students to maintain (or reinstate) this group within engineering and with the university. It is also up to students to apply for maintain recognition as an official BMES student chapter by the national organization. This group has worked to promote biomedical engineering through Engineering EXPO, and invited speakers working in biomedical engineering positions. This group is open to undergraduate and graduate students and has historically emphasized undergraduate participation.

Society for Biomaterials (SFB)

The Society for Biomaterials has been a registered as a student organization. It is up to students to maintain (or reinstate) this group within engineering and with the university. The purpose of this Student Chapter of the Society for Biomaterials (SFB) is to encourage the development, dissemination, integration and utilization of knowledge in biomaterials. The chapter has held networking events and has hosted the regional symposium Great Plains Biomaterials Day on multiple occasions.

Graduate Engineering Association (GEA)

The Graduate Engineering Association or GEA acts as "the voice of graduate students" in the School of Engineering and represents engineering across campus. Student membership to GEA is divided into two categories: Graduate Engineering Ambassador and Graduate Member. All currently enrolled graduate students are considered members of GEA.

More information about the GEA can be found on the KU Engineering website: https://engr.ku.edu/graduate-engineering-association

Engineering Student Council (ESC)

Bioengineering students are encouraged to participate directly in the activities of KU Engineering Student Council.

Conferences and Travel

School of Engineering (SoE) Graduate Student Travel Funds

Graduate students in the School of Engineering attending a local, regional, national, or international meeting, conference, workshops, etc. may apply for funds administered through the Graduate Engineering Association (GEA).

Information about applications and current policies can be found on the KU Engineering website: https://engr.ku.edu/gea-travel-grant

Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs Travel Funds

Funded by the KU Student Senate, the Graduate Student Travel Fund provides support for graduate students traveling to conferences and/or professional meetings at which they are presenting their research or creative works. Professional development conferences, workshops, and opportunities that the student demonstrates are related to their field of study or research project are also eligible for funding.

Information about applications and current policies can be found on the KU Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs website: https://graduate.ku.edu/graduate-student-travel-fund

Ethics, Professionalism, and Academic Integrity

An understanding of ethics, professionalism, and academic integrity is integral to the University of Kansas School of Engineering and to conducting work in the engineering profession. Ethics is the foundation of upholding the public trust and assuring safety as an engineer. Academic integrity is a cornerstone of the university’s mission: to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.

The University of Kansas requires graduate training to help students understand and avoid academic misconduct in many situations. Academic misconduct will not be tolerated and may result in permanent dismissal from the School of Engineering. More information on ethics, professionalism, and academic integrity can be found on the School of Engineering and University of Kansas websites.

School of Engineering Academic Misconduct

Academic Affairs Misconduct Page

KU Introduction to Ethics

Research Integrity and Conflict of Interest

Research Skills and Responsible Conduct of Research Policy

University Policies and Degree Requirements

This section contains information on requirements and policies of the Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs, hereafter referred to as “the University”. It is not a complete list of all policies pertaining to graduate students. Only those policies that most commonly affect graduate students are included.

Policies are described in general terms and are intended to help students understand what is expected. They do not reflect the exact language of the official policy and should not be confused with official policy. Specific information and restrictions as well as links to relevant forms may be accessed by clicking on the policy headings. Links to the official policies in the KU policy library are found at the bottom of each policy description. Students are accountable to and should familiarize themselves with the University's official policies.

General Policies

The following University policies apply to ALL graduate students regardless of degree, program, or department. These are minimum general requirements. Your department or program may have more restrictive policies in any of these areas.

Admission

Degree or non-degree seeking applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (as evidenced by an official transcript from the institution the degree was obtained).

Related Policies and Forms:

Admission to Graduate Study

English Proficiency Requirements

The University requires all applicants, international or domestic, to demonstrate English proficiency for admission to any graduate program at KU. There are multiple ways to prove English proficiency:

Declaration of native or native-like speaker status on the online application for graduate study.
Official scores from an English proficiency standardized test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS-Academic, or PTE), sent by the testing agency to the University of Kansas. Official scores must be less than two years old. Scores must be reported to KU directly by the testing service. Self-reported scores or unofficial scores are not accepted. TOEFL scores should be sent by ETS to KU institution code 6871. IELTS should be sent to KU Graduate Admissions via the e-delivery service. PTE score sheets containing the Score Report Code and Registration ID should be emailed to graduateadm@ku.edu for verification.
Graduation with a baccalaureate degree (or higher) earned in residence from an accredited English-medium college or university or an accredited college or university in the United States. Degrees earned online may not be used to verify English proficiency. Note: this option is not sufficient for employment as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.
AEC Curriculum: Students who haven't taken one of the listed tests may complete coursework through the KU Applied English Center (AEC) to demonstrate English proficiency.
US Military Employment: If you are employed as an officer in the U.S. military with documentation of selection or promotion to the rank of Major or higher (or the equivalent U.S. Navy or Coast Guard rank), then you will be considered fully proficient and will not be required to complete AEC testing.

Additional English Competency Requirements for GTAs:

English proficiency requirements for GTAs are governed by the Kansas Board of Regents and must be met separately from the English proficiency requirement for admission to a KU graduate program. Detailed information on English proficiency requirements for GTAs may be found on Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs’ Spoken English Competency page.

Related Policies and Forms:

Enrollment

For graduate students, advising on enrollment and course selection take place at the department level. While individual units may have additional enrollment requirements, for students who are required to enroll full-time (e.g. students holding a GTA/GRA/GA appointment, international students on an F-1 or J-1 visa, students receiving federal financial aid, etc.) the University defines full-time enrollment it as follows:

Fall and Spring semesters:

Enrollment in 9 credit hours;
Enrollment in 6 credit hours plus a GTA, GRA, or GA appointment, regardless of percentage of appointment;
Enrollment in 6 credit hours for graduate students using the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Post-9/11 GI Bill – Active Duty;
Doctoral candidates enrolled in dissertation hour(s). *See Doctoral post-comprehensive enrollment.
Enrollment in 6 competencies for students in a Competency-Based Education (CBE) program

Summer sessions:

Enrollment in 6 credit hours;
Enrollment in 3 credit hours plus a GTA, GRA, or GA appointment, regardless of percentage of appointment;
Enrollment in 3 credit hours for graduate students using the Montgomery GI Bill – Active Duty (MGIB-AD) and Post-9/11 GI Bill – Active Duty;
Doctoral candidates enrolled in dissertation hour(s).
Enrollment in 6 competencies for students in a CBE program

Graduate students are not normally permitted to enroll for more than 16 hours a semester or more than 8 hours in summer session.

While these are KU’s definitions of full-time enrollment, other institutions may have different definitions. Be sure to consult with your financial aid and/or health insurance providers before making enrollment decisions.

Students not enrolled by 11:59pm the day before the first day of classes will be assessed a late enrollment fee. The University Registrar then deactivates the KU ID of any not enrolled by the last Friday in October (for Fall) or last Friday in March (for Spring). Students who wish to enroll after that must submit a Permit to Re-Enroll to be reactivated.

Students who wish to leave their graduate program should inform the department of such plans in writing so that a Voluntary Withdrawal form may be submitted on their behalf. Please note that voluntarily withdrawing from your program does not automatically withdraw you from coursework. You must also withdraw from all classes in Enroll & Pay via the “Withdraw from the University” option.

Deadlines for adding, changing, dropping, or withdrawing from all courses, as well any fines associated with the change, are set by the University. Deadlines vary from year to year. Students should carefully review the current Academic Calendar.

You may also wish to consult the Registrar's page on Effects of Dropping or Withdrawing on your Transcript.

Your graduate program coordinator (or similar title) is available to guide you through any enrollment scenarios or questions that come up. In order to avoid problems on your record, please consult with them prior to dropping or changing enrollment.

Related Policies:

Graduate Credit (Including Transfer Credit)

The University’s Graduate Credit policy defines KU’s conditions for the following:

Definition of graduate credit for the purposes of a course “counting” towards a graduate degree or graduate certificate at KU;
Transfer of graduate credit to KU from an outside institution;
Reduction in the required number of graduate hours for Master’s students;
Counting credit hours taken as non-degree seeking student towards a later graduate degree at KU;
Counting credit hours taken as a certificate seeking student toward another graduate degree.

Transfer Credit

The transfer credit option allows master’s students to add graduate-level coursework completed at another institution to their KU transcript to count toward their KU degree. Upper-level coursework taken as an undergraduate, even courses numbered at the graduate level, is not eligible for transfer in any case. Additional restrictions apply to what non-KU graduate courses and the number of credit hours that can be counted toward a KU master’s degree, so students should carefully review the information provided in the link above and the related policies below, as well as consulting with their DGS. In all cases, transfer credit must first be approved at the department or program level. To begin the transfer process, students should consult with their DGS to submit the required transfer materials. These include a transcript reflecting the courses to be transferred and descriptions and/or syllabi for the courses in question.

No transfer of credits is allowed for the Ph.D. In circumstances where students enter the Ph.D. program with an M.A. from another intuition or other relevant graduate coursework, it may be possible for students to request a reduction in the number of hours required for the Ph.D. Students should consult with their DGS about their enrollment plan.

Reduced Credit Hour Degree

KU policy defines 30 hours as the minimum for master's degrees. Departments may petition for a reduced hour degree master's degree for individual students in cases where they may provide evidence that the student entered the program especially well-prepared to complete a graduate-level degree and the student is able to maintain a superior grade point average. Reduced credit hour degrees must be based on coursework or experiences that can be objectively measured, such as coursework or qualifying internship or study abroad programs. Professional or life experience does not qualify. A reduction in hours is distinct from a transfer of credit and is reserved for students whose prior coursework doesn’t qualify for transfer credit (e.g. was already used to fulfill requirements towards a completed degree) and there are no modifications on the transcript.

Restrictions apply to the number of credit hours that can be reduced for a master’s degree, so students should carefully review the information provided in the link above and the related policies below.

In all cases, a reduction in hours must first be approved at the department or program level, so to begin the process for approval, students should consult with their DGS. Students must also provide documentation of the coursework or experience being used to justify the reduced hours (e.g. transcripts, program descriptions).

Because there is no minimum number of required hours for the Ph.D., reduction of required hours based on prior degrees or experience is determined solely at the program level. Doctoral students should consult with their DGS about their enrollment plan.

Related Policies:

Graduate Credit
Co-enrollment
Master's Degree Requirements (on Reduced Hour Master's Degree)

Credit/No Credit

The University supports and encourages interdisciplinary study, which may include graduate students enrolling in coursework at the graduate level that is outside of their primary discipline. The Credit/No Credit (CR/NC) is an option for graduate students who are taking a course that is not required for their degree or certificate and who do not wish to have the course grade reflected in their cumulative graduate GPA. Rather than a grade appearing on the transcript, the student receives a designation of CR or NC, which does not factor in the GPA.

No course graded CR/NC will count toward the satisfaction of any graduate degree or certificate requirement. This includes, but is not limited to, courses taken to fulfill the Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship requirement for doctoral students.

Students make the CR/NC election via the Registrar’s CR/NC online request form. Elections and changes to elections can only be made during the specific CR/NC period. For regular semester courses, this period begins after the last day to add a class and extends for approximately two weeks. Exact dates may be found on the current KU Academic Calendar. Please keep in mind, short courses may have alternate dates.

The student should consult with their own program advisor about the appropriateness of the course prior to enrolling; however, in cases where CR/NC is elected, the course instructor is not informed of the election unless the student chooses to share this information.

Additional restrictions apply. Students should carefully review the information in the link above.

Related Policies and Forms:

University Senate Rules and Regulations (USRR), Section 2.3.8

Probation & Dismissal

Probation is an academic status that can be assigned to a graduate student that is not making satisfactory progress toward completing their degree. The department initiates the probation process and will inform the student of why they are not making satisfactory progress, what they must do to return to good standing, and the deadline for doing so.

Students are most commonly placed on probation due to their graduate cumulative GPA dropping below a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). In these cases, probation occurs automatically and is reflected on the student’s record for the semester following the semester in which the student’s GPA drops below 3.0. If the student’s cumulative GPA is raised to 3.0 by the end of the probationary semester, the student will be automatically returned to good academic standing.

Individual Schools/the College may set more stringent GPA requirements.

Students may also be placed on probation by their departments for other reasons that constituting a failure to make satisfactory progress towards degree. These may include, but are not limited to;

Lack of progress on the thesis, dissertation, or capstone project
Unacceptable academic performance on program milestones outside of coursework (e.g. exams)
Unsatisfactory grades or GPA within foundational required courses (despite the overall cumulative GPA)
An unsatisfactory result in their department’s annual progress evaluation

Nearing or going beyond their maximum time to degree. See the Time Limits section below for more information.

Students should carefully review the Good Academic Standing policy for graduate students at KU for more information on what constitutes making satisfactory academic progress.

Individual programs may also have additional measures of progress. Students should also consult the Annual Review section of their department graduate handbook or the degree requirements section and with their program advisor for more information.

If a student is unable to raise their cumulative GPA or otherwise meet the communicated terms of the academic probation, the department will reconsider their continuation in the program, and in most cases will recommend the student for dismissal. Once dismissed, a student is no longer able to be enrolled in coursework and cannot complete their degree. Students dismissed from any graduate program may not be admitted to any other graduate program at the University of Kansas.

A student on probation or facing dismissal should discuss their status with their advisor.

Related Policies:

Grading

The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs’ (GPA) Grading policy governs requirements for the grading of graduate students above those described in Article II of the University Senate Rules and Regulations. Additionally, individual schools, departments, or programs may have grading policies that are more stringent than those of GPA.

Students should also consult their advisor and the departmental grading section of this handbook for additional information that may affect them.

At minimum, for all graduate students at KU, at least a B average is required on course work counted toward any of the master's degrees at KU, and only courses graded A, B, or C (excluding C-) may be counted. Course work counted toward a doctorate, including that for a master's degree if obtained at KU, should average better than a B.

Related Policies:

Time Limits

The University expects that master’s degree should typically be completed in two (2) years of full-time study, the doctorate degree in five (5) years of study, and both the master’s and doctorate together in six-seven (6-7) years of study.

Students who anticipate exceeding these targets should review the information in the policies below, as well as consult with their program advisor to create a timeline for degree completion. In order to support this process, students are encouraged to use a Mentoring Agreement Template and/or adapt to their own needs to support effective mentoring and a positive mentoring relationship.

Note that individual schools/the College/degree programs may require Mentoring Agreements for students who are nearing their maximum time to degree.

Related Policies and Forms:

Leave of Absence

In exceptional circumstances (e.g. cases of illness, emergency, financial hardship, military leave, to pursue family responsibilities, or to pursue full-time activities related to long-range professional goals) it may be necessary for graduate students to take a break from their program temporarily, without having to withdraw entirely from the program. An approved leave of absence allows a student to take a temporary break from enrolling in graduate coursework while remaining in good standing with the University and the department and while “stopping the clock” on their time to degree. When a student is on Leave of Absence status it is understood that they have temporarily suspended their graduate work and therefore will not make use of University resources, including faculty time.

Requesting a Leave of Absence is done through a University petition. University petitions must first be approved and supported at the program level, so students wishing to initiate the petition process should first consult with their Director of Graduate Studies and review their department’s internal petition procedures. Units or the Director of Graduate Study may request documentation to support the student’s need for a leave of absence.

In order for a Leave of Absence to be approved, the student must be withdrawn from all active and/or future enrollment. Withdrawal for the purposes of Leave of Absence is still subject to all Registrar deadlines, required forms, and applicable tuition and fees.

Students on Leave of Absence are automatically reactivated after their leave is over and are eligible to enroll for their intended semester back during the normal enrollment periods. See the KU Academic Calendar for exact dates that enrollment begins.

If at any time plans change and a student wishes to return and enroll before leave was supposed to end, they may contact their department to be reactivated early.

Related Policies and Forms:

Leaves of Absence (policy)
Leave of Absence (GPA website, form linked at bottom of page)

Required University Milestones
All graduate students must complete one or more exams as part of their degree requirements. In addition to department or program guidelines, the following milestones are required for all students and specific regulations apply:

Master's Final Culminating Exam (written or oral)/Thesis Defense for Master's degree
Doctoral Comprehensive Oral Exam
Doctoral Final Exam/Dissertation Defense

*A final culminating effort is not required for departments with an approved coursework-only master’s degree option in the Academic Catalog (note that programs with a capstone are considered coursework only).

Before a student is allowed to complete any of these three exams, pre-approval from the school/College is required in advance of the exam date. This pre-approval request will be submitted on the student’s behalf by their department after the exam date has been scheduled. The school/College reviews the student record and verifies all University requirements have been fulfilled. The full list of these requirements may be found via the link in the heading above. Students should work with their departments well in advance of their planned exam date, to schedule their exams in a timely fashion and to ensure that all University policies relating to oral exams are being followed.

There are additional policies requirements for oral exams. The following are University policies pertaining to oral exams:

Oral Exam Committee Composition

All voting committee members must be appointed members of the Graduate Faculty of KU. Additionally, a majority of committee members serving on a graduate student oral examination committee must be tenured/tenure-track faculty in the candidate’s department or program of study.

Many additional restrictions apply, especially for doctoral exam committees. Master’s and doctoral students should carefully review the University policies pertaining to exams, as well as consult with their Director of Graduate Studies when forming an exam committee. Your graduate program coordinator can assist with confirming the qualifying status of any faculty member at KU, or outside of KU.

Oral Exam Attendance

Oral Exams may be conducted in-person, remotely, or a hybrid of both. There are no University level requirements for physical presence; however, there are strict regulations on participation.

In all cases, all committee members must be present, either physically or via phone/video conference, for an exam to commence. If a committee member does not arrive or appear, the exam may not begin and if a committee member leaves or loses connection such that they cannot fully participate, the exam may not proceed. Oral examinations that do not meet these attendance requirements are not valid.

Master’s and doctoral students should carefully review the policies below, as well as consult with their Director of Graduate Studies in the formation of an oral exam committee.

Related Policies and Forms:

Doctoral Degree Requirements

In addition to the student’s individual Ph.D. program’s degree requirements, the following are University requirements for graduation with a Ph.D. at KU.

Enrollment Requirement

Prior to the semester in which the comprehensive exam is held, all doctoral students must complete a minimum program engagement equivalent to two full-time semesters. This may be accomplished through either of the following:

Two semesters (fall and/or spring) of full-time enrollment in KU coursework, as defined by University policy
At least 18 hours of enrollment in KU coursework spread out over several part-time semesters

Related Policies and Forms:

Engagement and Enrollment in Doctoral Programs

Continuous Enrollment for Post-Comprehensive Students

During the semester in which the doctoral oral comprehensive exam is completed and each fall and spring semester follows, doctoral students must adhere to very specific enrollment requirements. These requirements may be different than enrollment requirements prior to the oral comp exam.

Failure to properly comply with the enrollment requirements may cause delays to graduation or additional enrollment requirements to make up what was missed, increasing tuition expenses near the end of your degree program.

To avoid delays or additional costs, you are also strongly advised to meet with your graduate program coordinator the semester before your oral comprehensive exam. Your graduate coordinator will work with you to develop an enrollment plan that meets all policy requirements, while also preventing unnecessary or avoidable fees.

Post-comprehensive enrollment requirements also apply to students with GTA/GRA/GA appointments, but these students must be certified to drop their enrollment levels. Departments are responsible for tracking student enrollment and will submit the certification form on the student's behalf at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester in which the enrollment will drop below 6 hours. Students who are certified to reduce hours continue to meet the University's definition of full-time enrollment, as well as the enrollment requirements of their employment contract.

Related Policies and Forms:

Graduate Certificate Requirements

The University offers a variety of Approved Graduate Certificate Programs to encourage current graduate students to pursue interdisciplinary study, gain a credential for expertise in an outside area of study, or provide an option for a coherent course of advanced study for those not ready to commit to a full degree program. Note that students must be fully admitted to a graduate certificate by the end of the last course that will count to fulfill the certificate. Students wishing to complete the certificate should apply as early as possible. Students whose interests or career goals may be served by a Graduate Certificate should familiarize themselves with the University’s policies relating to Certificate programs (found below) early in their graduate career, in addition to individual certificate program requirements.

Related Policies and Forms:

Graduation Requirements (Master’s & Ph.D.)

In addition to all program requirements, students planning to graduate must complete all University graduation requirements prior to the published Graduation Deadline in a given semester. Students should consult the current Academic Calendar for the published Graduation Deadline, which varies by semester.

Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs Graduation Checklists (Master’s | Doctoral)

These graduation checklists provide a comprehensive list of all University requirements for graduation and should be consulted by every graduating master's or doctoral student as soon as graduation is expected. Submission of the final draft of the thesis or dissertation is done electronically. Students must comply with all University requirements for formatting and electronic submission of the thesis or dissertation. There is no University requirement that students provide a bound or printed copy of the draft.

We strongly encourage students to submit an Application for Graduation as early as possible; ideally prior to the 20th day of classes of the semester they intend to graduate.

Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs Funding Opportunities

The Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs (GPA) offers funding opportunities in several different categories. Students interested in applying should direct inquiries to the department’s Director of Graduate Studies or to GPA. Some of the available funding includes:

Summer Research Scholarships: intended primarily for post-comp doctoral students.

Graduate Student Travel Fund: intended for graduate students presenting a paper at a national or regional meeting of a learned or professional society. A student may receive an award (max $750) only once per academic year, with priority given to students who have not received the fund previously. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doctoral Student Research Fund: Designed to support KU doctoral students who need assistance to carry out research that advances progress toward the degree. Applications for this fund are accepted only for a limited time as funding is available. Students are eligible to receive one award from this fund during their doctoral career. Students should check the link above for additional information and restrictions.

Policies Regarding Freedom of Expression on Campus

Kansas State Law (HB2333) requires postsecondary educational institutions in Kansas to publish in their handbooks and orientation programs the institution’s policies, regulations, or expectations of students regarding free expression on campus.

Per KU General Counsel, this includes the following two policies:

Note that the two policies listed above apply to ALL members of the campus community; they are not specific to graduate students.

University Non-Discrimination Policy

As a premier international research university, the University of Kansas is committed to fostering a sense of belonging, that nurtures growth and development for all Jayhawks in their learning and in their work. As such the university policy library includes its official policy on Nondiscrimination, Harassment, and Equal Opportunity. In addition, more information about these policies can be found on the website of the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, the KU unit charged with maintaining and enforcing these policies.