Students studying a screen in a dark lab.

Biomedical Engineering

Apply engineering and science methodologies and to the analysis of biological and physiological problems to help people live healthier, fuller lives through the development of new health-care technologies.

Pioneer New Technologies

Set yourself up for an exciting career transforming lives and advancing the frontiers of biomedical science and engineering as a biomedical engineering student at USD. As a biomedical engineering student , you'll gain the engineering, physiological and  biological knowledge you'll need to pioneer new technologies and excel in a rapidly growing field. At our state-of-the-art Graduate Education and Applied Research (GEAR) Center in Sioux Falls, you'll work alongside companies developing the latest in products and technologies that enable people to live better.

The program stresses laboratory investigation and original research under the direction of a faculty member. It also emphasizes flexibility and individual choice in the development of the your overall program of study to match your career goals.


Degrees & Offerings

Biomedical Engineering (M.S.)

Master's
  Sioux Falls

The master's degree in biomedical engineering has both thesis and non-thesis tracks available. Whichever path you choose, this program will prepare you for research and development career in the biomedical industry or serve as a stepping stone to a Ph.D. program. You will get hands-on experience in the biomedical engineering field and learn to apply the topics you've studied to real-world situations.

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Biomedical Engineering: Medical Product Development & Manufacturing (M.S.)

Master's
  Sioux Falls

Gain a strong foundation in biomedical engineering that will enable you to design next-generation medical products. This specialization covers current methods of moving new discovers rapidly into the marketplace through a firm understanding of the regulatory pathways and commercial markets.

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Biomedical Engineering (B.S./M.S.)

Accelerated Program
  Sioux Falls

If you are a current USD undergraduate student who would like to begin a master's degree while completing your bachelor's degree, you may apply and begin the program after completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours.

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Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.)

Doctorate
  Sioux Falls

The Ph.D. program in biomedical engineering will ready you for a career as a researcher who creates and prepares new products for the commercial market. You'll explore the nexus of biomedical science and engineering, learning how to apply both areas of study to improving the lives of people.

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Program Details

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Graduate Admissions

Known for Excellence

With qualities like small class sizes, specialized programs and incredible student opportunities, USD is not your typical university. What makes us unique is what makes your education exceptional.

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

As a student at USD, the opportunities available to you extend beyond the classroom. Explore your interests, find your community and experience your education to the fullest extent through the following opportunities.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers a number of graduate assistantships ranging from $6,134 to $30,000 on a competitive basis. You are encouraged to submit your application early as decisions are typically made in mid-March for the fall term. 

An Affordable Education

Gain valuable real-world, professional experience while enjoying paid employment and discounted tuition rates as a graduate student at USD. The affordability you gain through graduate assistantships and fellowships will equip you with valuable, professional-level skills that will set you apart after graduation. 

Teaching and research assistantships are awarded by individual departments. If you do not receive an assistantship within your department, you are eligible for an assistantship outside of your academic program or within support offices (non-academic units) at USD. Further inquiries should be directed to the graduate director of the department.

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At USD, our graduate students are actively pursuing unique research and presenting at local and national conferences exploring innovative areas of interest to them. Additional research and grant opportunities include:

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) 

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition provides the opportunity to communicate the significance and impact of your research project in just three minutes.

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Research and Creative Scholarship Opportunities

Each semester students may apply for grants through the USD Graduate School, faculty and students pursue research in virtually all academic departments on campus, and in many cases, it is a required portion of a graduate degree program.

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IdeaFest

IdeaFest is an annual event celebrating student research, creative scholarship and academic engagement. Undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines present their work in oral and poster presentations, live performances, readings, exhibits and displays.

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USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including the Society for Biomaterials which is housed in Department of Biomedical Engineering. You may be interested in doing research and experiments to make friends, develop new skills and explore your interests.

Society for Biomaterials

The Society for Biomaterials chapter is active on campus. For the past two years, they have been awarded a $5,000 grant to host Biomaterials Day and do outreach research experiments for students in the area to help them become excited about science.

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Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA)

Join your fellow graduate and professional students at USD. We aim to build a sense of community between graduate and professional students. Build your resume, network with others and gain experience and the unique opportunity to represent the interests of graduate students to the greater campus and community.

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Departments & Facilities

Explore the departments, facilities and centers that contribute to your education in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
Two Students in a Biomedical Engineering Lab.

Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineering combines science, engineering and medicine to solve human health problems and improve quality of life. Biomedical engineers work with doctors to build medical devices that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Faculty & Staff

Get to know the faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Our faculty are experts in their fields, bringing practical experience in tissue engineering, experimental design, nanomaterials and movement biomechanics to the classroom.
Bio Image for Faculty Member Erin Harmon

Erin Harmon

Chair, Biomedical Engineering/Associate Professor of Practice
Bio Image for Faculty Member Ying Deng

Ying Deng

Associate Professor
Bio Image for Faculty Member Etienne Gnimpieba

Etienne Gnimpieba

Research Assistant Professor

Develop Real-World Solutions

Whether you're pursuing a Ph.D. or a master's degree, the biomedical engineering department has options that fit your life. Help doctors build medical devices that enable people to live and work normally, intern at local corporations on the forefront of developing cures for disease and many students even start their own companies or use their biomedical engineering knowledge to excel in medical school.

 

Develop Solutions
Students looking at a slide in the Gear lab in Sioux Falls.

Work in State-of-the Art Laboratories

The GEAR center is home to world-class research, available to graduate and post-graduate students, we encourage collaborations between researchers at Regental universities, other universities and colleges, government agencies, small businesses and industries with related interests.

Surprisingly Affordable

Whether you’ve recently completed your undergraduate degree, or you want to kick your career up a notch, graduate school is the next logical step. The good news is there is funding for both online and on-campus students to get you through your program. 
GA (Resident*)
Resident
Online
Non-Resident
Tuition (1 cr.)
180.3
340.15
470.45
654.05
GAF Fee (1 cr.)
55.3
55.3
0
55.3
Total

More About Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates are subject to change and may vary depending on the program or department. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs page for more information.

* Graduate Assistant (GA) rates are available for resident, non-resident and online students.

** Resident rates may be available to you through the SD Advantage, Child of Alumni or Western Regional Graduate Program. To see if you quality, visit usd.edu/grad-tuition.

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