This MS in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering program is designed 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 26-28 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 and must select a 6-unit specialization (or “track”) and one elective from a list provided by the department.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 26 units is required to earn the MS in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering degree.
- Required Courses: 17 units
- Technical Elective Course: 3 units
- Track Courses: 6 units
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for graduation.
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring 2023 | September 15, 2022 |
| Fall 2023 | December 15, 2022* |
* DEN@Viterbi (Online Delivery) Deadline Extension: An application extension for Fall 2023 is available for online DEN@Viterbi applicants who intend to pursue their entire degree program online and do not require a visa sponsorship. Please email den@viterbi.usc.edu to request an application extension.
On-campus students who apply by published deadlines will be considered for scholarships if admitted.
Online DEN@Viterbi applicants can view the Master's Scholarships (DEN@Viterbi) page for scholarship opportunities.
|
Visit our
Ready to Apply page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
- Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
- Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
- If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
- For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
- If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement : The personal statement 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.
- GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2023
- Letters of Recommendation (3 Required): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.
IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.
APPLY NOW - USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION
| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
| Fall 2022 - Summer 2023* | $2,309 | $6,927 | $9,236 |
| Fall 2021 - Summer 2022* | $2,199 | $6,597 | $8,796 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students |
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE – 26 UNIT PROGRAM
MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2022/23
| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
| Student Health Center Fee | $527/semester | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $8/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | | |
| ENGR Computing Access Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | | |
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2022: $805
Spring 2023: $1,468 | | |
Visit Tuition & Fees for more information
MIYUAN XU
Tell us a little bit about yourself
In addition to graduating from USC's MS in MDDE program, I also did my bachelor in biomedical engineering from Shandong University in China. I'm really passionate about BME! While pursuing my master's degree at USC, I had a better and deeper understanding of my field of study. So, I joined as an R&D project intern at Medtronic and Data Analytics intern at ThermoFisher Scientific.
Tell us about some exciting and unforgettable incidents from your two years at USC?
I was a member of VGSA and a department senator. It was an unforgettable experience, filled with enthusiasm and commitment. I'm happy that I could help our students and department through my efforts. Now, I am confident that I can take leadership roles.
.
PRANAV SHASHIDHAR KARTHIKEYAN
Pranav has long been fascinated with the healthcare sector and knew he wanted to pursue a graduate degree in Biomedical engineering. He considered some of the prestigious universities in the U.S., including the University of Southern California (USC). Since his elder brother had done a PhD in Electrical Engineering from USC, he had a slight inclination towards USC and hoped his application would get accepted. The admission gods were smiling on him and he was admitted to the Masters in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering program.
“Since my brother studied here, he provided guidance on the different masters’ programs that USC offered and suggested the better fit for the career pathway that I chose,” he says. Pranav completed a Bachelors degree in Electronics and Instrumentation from SASTRA University in Tamil Nadu, India.
Pranav has been closely involved with the Indian community at USC and actively participates in the activities, discussions and events organized by the Hindu Student Organization (HSO) on campus. “HSO is a very open organization and interacting with people from different faiths at USC is nice,” he says adding that he has served as the president of the organization. “Serving as the president of HSO, I got a lot of experience in organization skills here that were different from the ones I gained back home. I also made some great friends for life because of HSO.”
For Pranav, life at USC was much more than studies. He got involved in several extra-curricular clubs and kept himself busy. For instance, he pursued his passion for table tennis by joining ‘Ping Pong Posse’, USC's famous collegiate table tennis club. He also got enrolled in USC’s Trojan Cricket Club and participated in USC’s cricket tournament, Cromwell Premier League. During the second year of his program, Pranav was a part of Viterbi Graduate Mentorship program where he guided and coached new graduate students. “The main role of a mentor is to ease and facilitate their (new students) transfer from homeland to here, guide them on course work and introduce them to different clubs and advise them about involvement fairs,” he explained.
Alumni Employment
- Abbott Diabetes Care - Systems Engineering Intern
- Cepheid - Project Engineer
- Edwards Lifesciences - Technical Development Program Engineer
- MicroPort Inc - R&D Engineer Trainee
- Nova Signal - Verification Engineer
Internships
Ashvins Group; Bristol Myers Squibb (HireGenics); Cook Medical; Dexcom; Johnson&Johnson - Cerenovus
This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.
If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.
Learn More About DEN@Viterbi
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS
The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.
| Required Courses |
| All courses are required - 18 units total - students may choose either BME 501 or BME 502. |
| BME 501 | Advanced Topics in Biomedical Systems OR BME 502 (4 units) |
| BME 502 | Advanced Studies of the Nervous System OR BME 501 (4 units) |
| BME 513 | Signal and Systems Analysis (4 units) |
| BME 650 | Biomedical Measurement and Instrumentation (4 units) |
| ISE 527 | Quality Management for Engineers (3 units) |
| ISE 545 | Technology Development and Implementation (3 units) |
| Required Specialization Track |
| Students must complete 2 courses from one of the tracks. |
| Medical Technology and Device Science Track |
| BME 535 | Ultrasonic Imaging (4 units) |
| BME 552 | Neural Implant Engineering (3 units) |
| Product Development Track |
| ISE 515 | Engineering Project Management (3 units) |
| ** DEN@Viterbi students completing this specialization will substitute ISE 555 (not available online) with a department approved alternative. |
| Technical Elective |
| If necessary to meet minimum 26 unit program requirement. |
| AME 503 | Advanced Mechanical Design (3 units) |
| BME 511 | Physiological Control Systems (4 units) |
| BME 535 | Ultrasonic Imaging (3 units) |
| ISE 507 | Six-Sigma Methods and Applications (3 units) |
| ISE 508 | Health Care Operations Improvement (3 units) |
| ISE 544 | Management of Engineering Teams (3 units) |
Please complete the following form for more information.
