M.S. in Medical Device Engineering

Program Overview

The M.S. in Medical Device Engineering (MSMDE) at KGI is a focused, 30-credit, two-semester (9-month to one-year) accelerated master's program. It is specifically designed to meet the articulated needs of the medical device industry, preparing students for engineering roles in areas such as in-vitro diagnostics, surgical instruments, assistive technology, and biosensors. The curriculum covers essential areas of expertise needed to apply engineering skills to the specialized field of medical devices, offering both breadth in medical diagnostics and devices, and depth in product development and production methods. A distinctive feature is the emphasis on authentic industry experiences, including a significant Team Master's Project with an industry sponsor.

Curriculum: The 30-credit MSMDE curriculum at KGI is structured across two semesters, focusing on both foundational knowledge and practical application. The core courses typically include: "Medical Diagnostics" (SCI 5700), "Device and Diagnostic Product Development" (ENG 6340), "Medical Devices" (ENG 5300), and "Medical Device Production" (ENG 6350). A crucial component is the "Team Master's Project" (PDEV 5000), which spans both semesters and provides hands-on, industry-sponsored experience. Students also engage in "Professional Development" (PDEV 5100). Elective courses allow for specialization in areas such as advanced devices (e.g., CAD, prototyping, biosensors, drug delivery), data science (e.g., clinical biostatistics, machine learning), regulatory affairs (e.g., US FDA Law, Medical Device Regulatory Affairs), or business (e.g., entrepreneurship, IP strategy, marketing). This comprehensive curriculum ensures graduates are well-versed in the entire medical device lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization.

Research Focus: The M.S. in Medical Device Engineering at KGI has a highly applied and industry-driven research focus, rather than emphasizing traditional academic thesis research. The program's core lies in preparing students to "approach design problems by understanding the clinical setting and user needs" and to "learn and apply industry practices to develop and manufacture viable medical devices." A significant component is the Industry Sponsored Team Master's Project, where students work in teams with industry sponsors and faculty support on real-world medical device projects. This capstone experience integrates curricular elements into a single, comprehensive project, allowing students to engage in practical research, problem-solving, and device refinement. While not a traditional academic thesis, this project-based approach provides intensive, hands-on research and development experience directly relevant to the medical device industry.

Industry Engagement: KGI's M.S. in Medical Device Engineering program boasts exceptional industry engagement, designed directly in response to the needs articulated by medical device industry leaders. The program integrates authentic industry experiences throughout the curriculum, notably through Industry-Sponsored Team Master's Projects (TMPs) where students collaborate with companies on real-world challenges. Faculty often bring significant industry experience, and the program leverages KGI's strong relationships within the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences to provide networking opportunities, visiting speakers from the industry, and case-based coursework. Students also gain valuable clinical experience, interacting with patients and healthcare providers to deeply understand user needs, a crucial aspect of user-centered design in medical device development. This direct engagement ensures graduates are highly prepared for the demands of the medical technology sector.

Global Perspective: The M.S. in Medical Device Engineering at KGI inherently incorporates a global perspective by addressing healthcare challenges and technological advancements that transcend national borders. The program's aim to "design devices that diagnose and treat medical needs, develop the next-generation of transformative devices, and plan and manage production to improve worldwide healthcare" signifies an intrinsic global outlook. While specific courses dedicated to "Global Medical Device Regulations" might be covered within regulatory affairs electives, the very nature of medical device development often involves international markets, global supply chains, and diverse patient populations. The emphasis on understanding clinical settings and user needs would naturally lead to discussions of varied healthcare systems and cultural contexts worldwide. KGI's diverse student body also contributes to a global learning environment, preparing graduates to contribute to an industry with a broad international reach.