Medical Device & Diagnostic Engineering

Program Description [back to top]

The medical device and diagnostic industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of high technology in the United States. Southern California hosts the largest concentration of this industry in the world, with over 800 companies in the Los Angeles area alone. The explosion of scientific advances in biomedicine and the demographics of an aging population will combine to sustain growth in this field for the foreseeable future.

Biomedical engineers play a special role in the development and support of medical devices and diagnostics. They require breadth of training in the underlying biological science, the enabling technologies, the clinical requirements and the highly regulated environment of medical products. A new and unique master’s program, the Master of Science in Medical Device & Diagnostic Engineering (MSMDDE), is designed specifically to provide the knowledge and skills needed for the development of medical devices and diagnostic techniques, including aspects of medical product regulation and of product development. The course of study requires successful completion of 28 units of course work and has been designed to be completed in three semesters of full-time study.  Students in the program will complete a 19-unit core as well as selecting a 6-unit specialization (or “track”) and one elective from a list provided by the department.

Application Criteria [back to top]

• An undergraduate degree in an engineering subject or the physical sciences or a graduate degree in an appropriate discipline with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
  
• Qualifying scores on the GRE (minimum 650 on the quantitative section and 550 on the verbal section) or equivalent performance on MCAT or GMAT exams
  
• Proficiency with the English language and excellent communication skills (for international students)
  
• Three Letters of Reference (faculty or employer)
  
• Statement of Purpose (one-page letter expressing career objectives)

Prior Training:

• Two years of college math including differential equations
  
• One year of engineering physics or electronics with laboratory

• One course in Circuit Theory
  
• One course in Computer Science or experience with a high level programming language
  
• One year each in Biology and Chemistry (with labs)
  
  

Graduation Requirements [back to top]

A minimum of 28 units is required for the M.S. in Medical Device & Diagnostic Engineering degree.

• 6 Core Courses: 19 units
  
• 1 Technical Elective Course : 3 units
  
• 2 Specialization Track Courses*: 6 units
  
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation. 

* There are three specialization tracks available in this program. Students must select one of the following tracks:

• Regulation
• Medical Technology & Device Science
• Product Development (on-campus only)

Course Descriptions [back to top]

Core Courses (19 units)

Students may choose either BME416 or MPTX511 and either BME501 or BME 502 and either ISE527 or MPTX515.

Specialization Tracks [back to top]

Regulation

Medical Technology & Device Science

Alternate track courses not selected as part of the core curriculum may serve as technical elective courses. Other courses may be applicable; please contact an advisor for approval.

Please note that the courses above are those available via DEN. Additional course choices are available on campus. Please consult the department website for a complete list of options.

How To Apply [back to top]

In order to evaluate any application for admission, application materials must be submitted by the deadlines listed:

June 15th Fall admission
October 1st Spring admission

Please submit the following to the USC Office of Graduate Admission via the online application system by clicking here.

• Statement of Purpose (optional)
  • The statement of purpose should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.




• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. They should be written on official letterhead.

Please arrange to have the following sent to the USC Office of Admission as a hard copy (USC Graduate Office of Admission, University Park Campus, Los Angeles, CA  90089-0915):

• Official Transcript(s) from all post-secondary schools you have attended, and official translations if they are not in English.
  
  
• General GRE scores (no older than 5 years). Official scores must be sent through ETS to the University of Southern California, ETS code 4852)
  
  
• TOEFL scores (required for international students)

Contact Information [back to top]

For the USC Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering Department:

Mischal Diasanta Cabrera
Graduate Affairs Coordinator
Biomedical Engineering
Tel: (213) 740-0344  
Email: bmegrad@usc.edu

For the USC Distance Education Network (DEN):

Ray Fujioka
Master's and Professional Programs [MAPP]
Tel: (213) 740-4488
Fax: (213) 821-0851
Email: info@den.usc.edu