Apr 25, 2024  
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Biomedical Engineering Program


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Chairperson: Daniel Engebretson, Ph.D.
Director of GEAR Center
4800 N. Career Ave. , Suite 221
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Phone: (605) 367-7763
bme@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/graduate-school/biomedical-engineering.cfm

FACULTY

Professor:

Daniel Engebretson, Chairperson, BME Program - USD, Ph.D. Michigan State University. Specialization: Biological Sensing and In Vitro Diagnostics.

Associate Professor:

Ying Deng, Ph.D., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Specialization: Bioactive Materials and Bionanotechnology in Tissue Engineering and Drug Delivery; Engineering Biomaterials and Alternative Cell Sources for Biomedical Applications.

Assistant Professors:

Gopinath Mani, Ph.D., The University of Texas at San Antonio. Specialization: Biomaterials, Drug Delivery Systems, Surface Characterization and Modification of Biomaterials, Drug- eluting Stents, Self-Assembled Monolayers, Nanomedicine, and Polymer Nanocomposites.
Hongli Sun, Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. Specializations: Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, Molecular Mechanisms of Cell-Materials Interaction, Development of Novel 3D Porous Degradable Scaffold/ Hydrogel, Bio-mimicking Biomaterials and Controlled Drug Release for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

DEGREE

Accelerated Master of Science, Plan A and Plan B (33 credits)  
Master of Science, Plan A and Plan B (33 credits)  
Doctor of Philosophy (84 credits)  

Program Description

Biomedical engineering (BME) focuses upon the application of engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems and to the development and delivery of health-care technologies. The biomedical engineer serves as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems and may work in either direction, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or engineering new approaches to human health. Both the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees are cross-disciplinary degrees. The objective of the M.S. program is to prepare a student for research and development careers in the biomedical industry and for additional training at the doctoral level. The Ph.D. program will prepare a student for a career as a researcher who advances the frontiers of biomedical science and engineering with attention to generating new ideas for commercialization.

Faculty in the University of South Dakota’s Biomedical Engineering program focus on developing materials that are used as vehicles for drug delivery, to control biofilm formation, as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, and biological sensors. The program was developed to be positioned at the interface between academic research and commercialization. Faculty members routinely interact with small and large businesses to identify market opportunities for products that emerge from their research. This presents unique opportunities for students in the program to explore the full gamut of research, development, and ultimately commercialization.

The Biomedical Engineering Program is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in the GEAR (Graduate Education & Applied Research) Center, 4800 N. Career Ave., Suite 221.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

  • Undergraduate GPA of 2.7 or graduate GPA of 3.0
  • An appropriate baccalaureate degree (biomedical, chemical, electrical, mechanical, or metallurgical engineering; materials science and engineering; or other related discipline).
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General test is required.
  • Additional requirements exist for international students and applicants with degrees from other countries.

-Subject to program and Graduate Dean approval, applicants who do not meet all of the above criteria may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Accelerated Master of Science Program

USD undergraduate students meeting requirements for entry into the M.S. program may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate coursework that will apply to both B.S. and M.S. degrees. The following restrictions apply:

  • The courses must be taken at the 400/500/600 level as an undergraduate. Dual-listed courses taken at the 500-level can be applied to both the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Dual-listed courses must be taken at the 500-level.
  • The student must apply to, and be admitted to, the accelerated program prior to taking courses to be credited toward the accelerated program.
  • No courses taken prior to admission to the accelerated program may be counted toward the accelerated graduate degree. No exceptions to this policy will be approved.
  • Courses that are “double counted” must be approved by the program coordinator for inclusion in the program of study prior to registration for the course or the credits will not be applied toward the accelerated graduate degree. No exceptions to this policy will be approved.
  • For accelerated track students only, a 500 level cellular physiology course may be used as an approved substitute for BME 602, a 500 level molecular biology course may be used as an approved substituted for BME 603, and a 500 level biochemistry, physiology, and anatomy course may be used as an approved substitute for BME 508.
  • Only courses taken at USD are eligible for dual credit. No transferred courses from other institutions will be allowed to count toward the accelerated master’s degree.

Financial Support

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as decisions are typically made in mid-March for the fall term. Graduate assistantships are available ($5,558-$30,000) on a competitive basis. Applications for assistantships are available from the Graduate School website homepage. Awarding of assistantships is based on:

  • Availability
  • Ability to communicate well in oral/written English 
  • Satisfactory performance in coursework

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