Program: Biomedical Engineering (Ph.D.) - University of South Dakota

Apr 03, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Program Overview

The biomedical engineer serves as an interface between traditional engineering disciplines and living systems, applying the patterns of living organisms to engineering design or new approaches to human health. The Ph.D. program prepares you for a career as a researcher who advances the frontiers of biomedical science and engineering. Focus on generating new ideas through applications that analyze biological and physiological problems to develop and deliver new health care technologies. Learn more at usd.edu/bme.

DELIVERY: On campus (GEAR Center)

Doctor of Philosophy, Biomedical Engineering: Total 84 credit hours

Departmental Requirements (39 credit hours)

Biomedical Engineering is an extremely broad discipline. A consequence of this breadth is that it is difficult to define a set of core courses that will satisfy the needs of all students. In USD’s program, we have identified a short list of courses that we believe are essential for all students, and this list is enumerated below. In addition to the listed courses, a graduate student’s advisor and advisory committee may require that a student take other courses (from Biomedical Engineering and other disciplines as appropriate) that are relevant to their research and career goals. Up to 21 credits of prior graduate-level coursework may be applied toward the Ph.D. program at the discretion of the student’s advisory committee.

BME 710 - Experimental Design & Data Analysis in Biomedical Engineering (C) 3 cr
BME 790 - Seminar (C) 1 cr (6 credits of Seminar required)
BME 888 - Doctoral Research Problems/Projects (C) 1-12 cr
OR
BME 898 - Dissertation (C) 1 to 9 cr (30 credits required of either 888 or 898 with advisor approval)

Approved Elective Courses (45 credit hours)

Approved elective courses in the student’s intended research area are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. The number of elective courses required will depend on the student’s background and educational goals.

Students must select:

12 graduate credits of BME XXX electives (BME 888 does not meet this requirement) are required.
33 graduate credits of electives with the approval of the department chair, the remaining electives may include departmental, transfer, or non-departmental coursework. Non-departmental electives are limited to a maximum of 15 credits.

BME 612 - Biotechnology for Biomedical Engineers 3 cr
BME 714 - Optical Biochemical Sensors 3 cr
BME 721 - Tissue Engineering 3 cr
BME 724 - Biopolymers (C) 3 cr
BME 740 - Biomaterials Surface Science and Engineering (C) 3 cr
BME 747 - Cardiovascular Biomaterials 3 cr
BME 751 - Drug Delivery (C) 3 cr
BME 761 - Bioadhesives (C) 3 cr
BME 792 - Topics (C) 1 to 3 cr
BME 888 - Doctoral Research Problems/Projects (C) 1-12 cr (with advisor approval)
BME 898 - Dissertation (C) 1 to 9 cr [Additional dissertation credits may be used as electives with advisor’s approval.]

General Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

Location Matters in Biomedical Engineering

USD’s Biomedical Engineering programs are not designed to prepare graduates for the Professional Engineering exam or any professional license or certification. State licensure or certification is not required to work as a Biomedical Engineer in South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for professional licensure after completion of your program, it is your responsibility to understand the professional licensure requirements.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study placements (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. If you have questions regarding supervised field study, please contact a program representative or visit USD’s State Authorization page.

Questions?

Biomedical Engineering GEAR Center
605-275-7474 | bme@usd.edu | usd.edu/bme

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad