Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Biomedical Medical Engineering

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

Ph.D. in Faith-Based Biomedical Medical Engineering

Total program length

120 semester credit hours

Maximum approved transfer credit

Up to 40 semester credit hours

Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer

80 semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion

Advanced faith-based biomedical medical engineering theory and specialization

30 credit hours

Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry

24 credit hours

Professional leadership and higher-education teaching

15 credit hours

Advanced electives and concentration courses

18 credit hours

Scholarly writing and publication

9 credit hours

Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy

6 credit hours

Program Details

• Total Credits: 120
• Duration: 3 years
• Degree Level: PhD

Dissertation research and defense

• 18 credit hours
• Total
• 120 semester credit hours
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering is a rigorous, research-intensive program designed to advance the intersection of sophisticated biomedical engineering principles and ethical, servant-leadership-oriented service. Candidates engage in high-level scholarship, focusing on the design and evaluation of complex medical systems while integrating a robust framework of biblical stewardship and professional integrity. The curriculum emphasizes the application of technical expertise toward the betterment of human health, fostering a culture of academic excellence and social responsibility.
• Students in this program are challenged to analyze contemporary biomedical challenges through a lens of moral discernment and technological innovation. The program facilitates interdisciplinary research that explores the physical and ethical dimensions of healthcare technology, ensuring that graduates are prepared to address the needs of underserved populations. Through disciplined study and original investigation, candidates contribute to the global body of knowledge while embodying a commitment to ethical, faith-informed stewardship.
• The Doctor of Philosophy in Faith-Based Biomedical Medical Engineering is a research-intensive doctoral program emphasizing advanced faith-based biomedical medical engineering theory, original research, quantitative and qualitative methodology, scholarly publication, higher-education teaching, ethical leadership, and the development and evaluation of faith-based biomedical medical engineering-support programs.
• Students may receive up to 40 semester credit hours of approved graduate or doctoral transfer credit. Accepted transfer credits are applied toward the 120-credit graduation requirement and may reduce the student's remaining coursework and anticipated completion time. A student receiving the maximum transfer-credit award must complete at least 80 semester credit hours through the University.
• The Ph.D. requires successful completion of all required coursework, comprehensive examinations, admission to doctoral candidacy, approval of a dissertation proposal, original scholarly research, submission of an approved written dissertation, and a successful oral defense.
• DOCTORAL TRANSFER-CREDIT POLICY: The Doctor of Education and Doctor of Philosophy programs each require 120 semester credit hours. Students may transfer up to 40 semester credit hours of eligible graduate or doctoral coursework toward either degree. Transfer credit is not automatically awarded. Each request is evaluated individually according to: The academic level of the previous coursework; The relevance of the coursework to the doctoral curriculum; Course content and learning outcomes; Credit-hour equivalency; Grades earned; The age of the coursework; Official institutional documentation; The University's residency and transfer-credit policies. Accepted transfer credit may reduce the number of courses and the amount of time required to complete the degree. Students awarded the maximum 40 transfer credits will have 80 semester credit hours remaining in the 120-credit doctoral program. Comprehensive examinations, doctoral candidacy, doctoral residency, the applied doctoral project, dissertation research, and the final oral defense must ordinarily be completed through the University. These requirements may not be satisfied through transfer credit unless expressly permitted under a published University policy.

Dissertation

• 8
• All prior doctoral coursework
• BIO890
• Advanced Emerging Topics in Bioengineering
• 3
• Graduate standing
• RES880
• Scholarly Publication Seminar
• 3
• RES860
• RES860 — Doctoral Research Seminar II: Final analysis phase of doctoral inquiry, emphasizing completion of primary research goals and preparation for submission. Requires rigorous data validation. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• DISS900 — Dissertation: Final preparation and defense of the doctoral dissertation, documenting original research contributions. Focuses on high-level synthesis and formal scholarly defense. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• BIO890 — Advanced Emerging Topics in Bioengineering: Exploration of frontier technologies and their impact on global healthcare equity. Critical analysis of future developments. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• RES880 — Scholarly Publication Seminar: Drafting and refining of findings for peer-reviewed publication. Focuses on journal selection, peer review response, and professional dissemination. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Dissertation Requirement

• The Dissertation represents the pinnacle of the PhD experience, serving as the primary vehicle for demonstrating original research and scholarly maturity. Students are required to conduct an in-depth, rigorous investigation into a novel biomedical engineering problem, resulting in a substantial scholarly contribution to the discipline. The scope of this project requires the application of advanced mathematical, computational, or physiological modeling to address real-world challenges, with a primary focus on sustainable and ethical innovation.
• Throughout the research process, students must explicitly integrate their faith-informed worldviews, detailing how their project reflects concepts of servant leadership, ethical reasoning, and responsible stewardship. The final deliverable consists of a peer-reviewed quality manuscript and a formal oral defense before a faculty committee. This project serves as a capstone, documenting not only the candidate's mastery of technical research methods but also their development as a character-driven academic leader prepared to contribute to the common good.

Dissertation research and defense | 18 credit hours

• Total | 120 semester credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES701 | Advanced Research Methodology | 3 | Graduate standing
• BIO710 | Physiological Systems Analysis | 3 | Graduate standing
• THE705 | Ethics in Technological Stewardship | 3 | Graduate standing
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO720 | Advanced Biomaterials | 3 | BIO710
• RES702 | Statistical Inference for Engineering | 3 | RES701
• MGT715 | Nonprofit Organizational Leadership | 3 | Graduate standing
• BIO730 | Biomedical Instrumentation Design | 3 | BIO710
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO801 | Advanced Computational Bioengineering | 4 | BIO710, RES702
• BIO810 | Biomechanics and Dynamics | 4 | BIO710
• RES805 | Grant Writing and Research Proposals | 3 | RES702
• THE802 | Integrative Worldview Seminar | 3 | THE705
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO825 | Biomedical Imaging Systems | 4 | BIO730
• BIO840 | Neural Engineering | 4 | BIO710
• RES815 | Literature Review and Synthesis | 3 | RES805
• COM810 | Academic and Technical Communication | 3 | Graduate standing
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO850 | Regenerative Engineering | 4 | BIO720
• RES850 | Doctoral Research Seminar I | 4 | RES815
• MGT820 | Collaborative Research and Stewardship | 3 | MGT715
• CAP890 | Professional Development and Service | 3 | Graduate standing
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES860 | Doctoral Research Seminar II | 4 | RES850
• DISS900 | Dissertation | 8 | All prior doctoral coursework
• BIO890 | Advanced Emerging Topics in Bioengineering | 3 | Graduate standing
• RES880 | Scholarly Publication Seminar | 3 | RES860

Career Opportunities

• Biomedical Research Scientist
• Clinical Technology Policy Analyst
• Nonprofit Healthcare Systems Consultant
• Academic Faculty and Researcher
• Director of Community Health Engineering
• Medical Device Ethical Compliance Officer
• Public Health Infrastructure Lead

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | Ph.D. in Faith-Based Biomedical Medical Engineering
• Total program length | 120 semester credit hours
• Maximum approved transfer credit | Up to 40 semester credit hours
• Minimum credits completed through the University after maximum transfer | 80 semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Four to six academic years, depending on approved transfer credit, enrollment status, research progress, and dissertation completion
• Advanced faith-based biomedical medical engineering theory and specialization | 30 credit hours
• Research methods, statistics, and scholarly inquiry | 24 credit hours
• Professional leadership and higher-education teaching | 15 credit hours
• Advanced electives and concentration courses | 18 credit hours
• Scholarly writing and publication | 9 credit hours
• Comprehensive examination and doctoral candidacy | 6 credit hours