A flexible, multi-disciplinary curriculum emphasizes the application of advanced scientific and engineering techniques to problems in medicine and biology. The curriculum provides the foundation of knowledge needed for subsequent career activities in research, teaching or industry. It is centered around a "core" that covers the fundamentals of biomedical engineering and scientific investigation, coupled with "areas of proficiency" that are specifically tailored to meet the research interests and goals of individual students and faculty. All graduate students are encouraged to select a primary advisor and to begin thesis/dissertation research as soon as they begin their studies. Individual laboratory attention by faculty allows each student to develop skills in experimental design, execution and analysis; as well as to communicate results to the scientific community. The Masters program normally requires two years to complete while the doctoral program usually takes four years.