Biomechanics and Movement Science program - University of Delaware
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Diversity is the name of the game in the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program! Students in the BIOMS program come from highly diverse backgrounds including physical therapy, exercise physiology, mechanical engineering, biological sciences, psychology, computer science, althetic training and more. The areas in which students wish to gain knowledge and research experience are equally diverse.

Therefore, BIOMS MS and PhD students, together with their Advisors, develop Plans of Study (an individualized group of courses designed to provide breadth and depth of knowledge in biomechanics and movement science) in the first semester of study. The Areas of Study are broadly categorized as:

  • Applied Anatomy & Biomechanics (AAB)
  • Applied/Exercise Physiology (AEP)
  • Molecular & Tissue Engineering (MTE)
  • Motor Control & Behavior (MCB)
  • Rehabilitation Engineering (RE)

Master of Science in Biomechanics and Movement Science

The Master's degree program requires 24 credits plus 6 credits of thesis

  • among the 24 credits the following must be included:
    • 3 credits Instrumentation, Computer Applications
    • 3 credits of Experimental Design or Statistics
    • enrollment in 2 semesters of BMSC 865 Seminar (0 credits)
    • 2, 3-credit courses outside of the principle Area of Study
    • no more than 6 credits of Independent Study

    Prior to conducting the thesis, the student must defend the masters thesis proposal, which is written in the form of an NIH grant, before the BIOMS faculty.

    The final defense of the Thesis must be approved by the thesis committee, which is comprised of 3-6 University faculty from within the Biomechanics and Movement Science Program. The thesis advisor must be a member of the BIOMS faculty and at least one of the BIOMS committee members must have expertise in an Area of Study other than that of the Advisor.

    Doctor of Philosophy in Biomechanics and Movement Science

  • The PhD program requires 3 credits (beyond a masters degree) plus 9 dissertation credits
    • among the 33 credits the following must be included:
      • 3 credits Instrumentation, Computer Applications
      • 3 credits of Experimental Design or Statistics
      • enrollment in 3 semesters of BMSC 865 Seminar (0 credits)
      • 2, 3-credit courses outside of the principle Area of Study

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    The Ph.D. program requires 33 credit hours of coursework beyond the Master's degree plus 9 credit hours of dissertation. A student entering the Ph.D. program without a Master's degree must complete a minimum of 63 credit hours of coursework plus 9 credit hours of dissertation. As with the Master's degree, the student's program of study should be created by the student and his/her advisor as part of the admission process. This program of study must then be reviewed and approved by the BIOMS Graduate Committee. The dissertation committee must consist of at least three BIOMS faculty members,one of whom must be from a department different than that of the dissertation advisor. In addition, the committee shall have one member from outside the BIOMS program. Prior to conducting the dissertation, the student must successfully defend the dissertation proposal before the BIOMS faculty. The defense of the dissertation proposal constitutes the qualifying examination for candidacy into the Ph.D. degree program. Candidacy is completed when the student successfully defends the dissertation.


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    Please refer to the Program Policy Statement for details of the degree requirements.