Master of Science in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering
Application Deadlines
Spring 2024:
September 15, 2023
Fall 2024:
December 15, 2023
- Program Overview
- Application Criteria
- Tuition & Fees
- Meet Our Students
- Career Outcomes
- DEN@Viterbi - Online Delivery
- Request Information
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.
- This program requires completion of 26 units of coursework
- Eligible for the OPT STEM extension
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
---|---|
Spring 2024 | September 15, 2023 |
Fall 2024 | December 15, 2023 |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Applicants to the master's of science programs in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering are required to have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Degrees in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines are frequently represented among our program applicants, including but not limited to the following:
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biology / Biological Sciences
- Biomedical Engineering
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Physics
Applicants without a Bachelor’s degree in the preferred majors listed above will only be considered with coursework and demonstrated proficiency in the acceptable courses listed below (or equivalent).
Math | Calculus Differential Equations Linear Algebra |
Computer Programming | |
Electronics | |
Life Science | |
Physics |
Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The following materials are required to be included with your online application:
- Transcripts
- Resume/CV
- Personal Statement
- Letter of Recommendation (3 required)
NOTE: The GRE is not required for 2024 applications.
For tips on completing your application visit
Ready to Apply
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition
Estimated Cost of Attendance - 28 Unit Program
Download the Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.
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.
2022 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*
Alumni Employment - 2022*
(Companies & Job Titles)
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Edwards Lifesciences - Technical Development Program Engineer
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Johnson & Johnson - RD Engineer Insertion Systems MDEDP
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Roche - Regulatory & Quality FLEX Engineer
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Valero Lab - Research Intern
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Zymo Research Corporation - Research Associate (Biomedical Engineering)
.
Internships (Summer 2023)**
Axonics, Fasikl Incorporated, Suna Solutions
.
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2022 graduating class.
** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.
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.
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) |

Published on July 10th, 2017
Last updated on October 28th, 2023