I’m really interested in going to a grad school that will allow me to become involved with medical device development. Some of the programs I’m really interested in is
USC: Master of Science in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering
UCSD: Medical Devices and Systems
Can anyone please provide me with suggestions on what programs are similar to these?
Or even if it’s not like those programs exactly, at least some programs that deal with medical device development?
Such graduate programs usually require an undergraduate degree in engineering, preferably in biomedical or mechanical engineering.
Yes I have that. I finished my undergraduate biomedical degree last year and I’m trying to apply now.
Check out University of Minnesota. I don’t know specifics, but university is quite active in this area with many collaborations/contacts/recruiting/research with local companies like Boston Scientific, Medtronic, 3M, St. Jude, and startups. Med device industry is big in Twin Cities.
thanks!
do you guys have any other suggestions? ill probably apply to U of M.
@Vreddy704 - I have been looking at this because my middle son will be a junior this fall at Miami (Ohio), majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering.
Check out Purdue. https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/Academics/Graduate
There are a lot of options at Purdue, but this one looks really cool: https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME/Academics/Graduate/Degree_Options/MS/BDDImmersion
thank you! that does seem pretty good. ill look into it.
maybe we can exchange schools we’re interested in if u want to
You don’t really need a Master’s in medical device development or a program that focuses on medical devices. Any program that builds your knowledge of advanced topics in engineering, be it mechanical, electrical, or CS, is what’s most important. In other words, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to look specifically for programs that deal with medical devices or that have “medical devices” in the name. Instead, look for programs that offer coursework in specific engineering topics that are relevant to your goals, or if you’re aiming for a thesis MS, look for departments with faculty doing research in relevant and interesting areas.
Most importantly, in the medical device industry, advanced degrees are good but experience is king. For example, just glancing at the coursework requirements for that USC MS in Medical Device and Diagnostic Engineering program, I’m more than a little skeptical that such a program would be of much help in the medical device industry. Of the 7 required courses, a whopping 3 of them focus on things like regulation, quality management, device development, etc. From the technical electives, they allow you to choose courses on Six Sigma, “Health Care Operations Improvement”, and management of engineering teams? I can’t imagine a hiring manager would place much or any value in any of these courses; in the medical device industry, hiring managers generally look for people who have actual experience with these things, not people who have just taken classes on them. If you’re getting an MS in engineering for the purposes of getting into medical devices, you should be learning as much advanced technical material and gaining as many advanced technical skills as possible. Everything else is fluff, for the most part.
@AuraObscura - Your points are good. I liked the Purdue program because it included two semesters of industry internships. Or course, someone really interested in this would need to find out where students actually work. Jobs at Stryker would mean a lot more than jobs with some regulatory body.
@Beadreau Just to clarify, I didn’t mean that one should be wary of all programs with a focus on medical devices, just that they should be examined a little more closely. The Purdue program, in addition to requiring industry internships, also seems pretty technical, and would be an example of a good program. And you also bring up a good point with regard to student outcomes–it’s a good idea to look at where graduates of these programs actually end up.
Thanks for that advice. That makes a lot of sense I”ll definitely expand and look in more places in that case. I’m planning on doing a non-thesis masters, so my plan then is to look through all the class syllabi for programs that do a good job building a strong knowledge base (regulation, quality management, device development) and preferably give internships and jobs afterward as well.