Biomedical Engineering (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of South Dakota

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Dakota combines engineering, medicine and life sciences to prepare students to solve real-world health problems and develop technologies that improve patient care. It is particularly suited to students interested in medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomedical research and related healthcare technologies, with opportunities to work with doctors and industry professionals during the degree.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish the mathematics, science and engineering foundation needed for biomedical engineering, while beginning to understand how engineering can be applied to biological and medical problems. Courses such as BME 101/101L Introduction to Biomedical Engineering introduce the discipline, while supporting coursework in mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology develops the scientific base required for later BME study.

Year 2: Students begin applying engineering principles directly to biological systems through subjects such as BME 300 Quantitative Systems Physiology I, BME 303 Introduction to Biomechanics and BME 304 Biomedical Engineering Fluid Mechanics. These courses build an understanding of physiological systems, human movement and the behavior of fluids in biomedical applications, helping students connect engineering analysis with human health.

Year 3: The curriculum moves into more advanced engineering analysis and laboratory-based learning through courses including BME 305 Biomedical Engineering Transport Phenomena, BME 306 Biomedical Engineering Thermodynamics and BME 307/307L Experimental Design/Lab. Students develop skills in transport processes, thermodynamics and experimental design while gaining experience with the methods used to investigate biomedical engineering problems.

Year 4: Students bring together their technical knowledge through advanced subjects such as BME 401/501 Introduction to Biomaterials, BME 402/402L Computational Biomedical Engineering/Lab, BME 404/404L Biomedical Signal and Imaging/Lab and BME 405/405L Cell and Tissue Engineering/Lab. The final stage also includes BME 464 Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I and BME 465 Biomedical Engineering Senior Design II, giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge to substantial biomedical engineering design challenges.

Focus areas

Biomaterials for drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, cellular biomechanics, biomedical signal and imaging, computational biomedical engineering, systems and data integration for predictive bioscience and biomedicine, bioinformatics workflow development, medical devices, biomedical research and medical product development.

Learning outcomes

Students develop the engineering, biological and physiological knowledge needed to analyze health-related problems and develop biomedical technologies, while building practical skills through laboratory investigation, research, design and industry-connected experiences. The program also develops students' ability to collaborate with medical and engineering professionals and translate research into practical healthcare solutions.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Dakota is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. USD describes the accreditation as a significant recognition of the quality of its undergraduate biomedical engineering program.

Reputation (employability rankings)

USD does not publish a QS or Guardian subject ranking specifically for its Biomedical Engineering B.S. on the official program page. However, USD reports a $92,620 median annual salary for biomedical engineers, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and highlights the field's strong employment outlook; the university also states that its students collaborate with industry professionals throughout their education.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Biomedical Engineering students at USD gain practical experience through internships, research, laboratory investigation, medical-device development and collaboration with industry professionals. The program is closely connected to USD's Graduate Education and Applied Research (GEAR) Center and specialized research infrastructure, including a cGMP facility and core laboratories equipped for microscopy, tissue culture, materials characterization, bioinformatics, 3D printing and molecular biology.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Medical-device development: Students have opportunities to work with doctors to develop medical devices designed to assist with diagnosis and treatment.
Industry internships: USD specifically highlights internships at local corporations involved in developing healthcare technologies and treatments.
cGMP facility: The Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) Facility allows students and faculty to work alongside private businesses and researchers on pharmaceutical products and medical devices while working within FDA-related quality and safety requirements.
Biomedical research: Faculty research includes biomaterials for drug delivery, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, cellular biomechanics, predictive bioscience and biomedicine, and bioinformatics workflow development.
Research instrumentation: Students have access to research infrastructure involving microscopy, tissue culture, materials characterization, bioinformatics, 3D printing and molecular biology. USD also identifies equipment such as a FEI Quanta 450 Scanning Electron Microscope and Nucleofector technology among its core facilities.
Senior design: The curriculum includes Biomedical Engineering Senior Design I and II, allowing students to apply their engineering knowledge to substantial biomedical design projects.
Biomedical engineering laboratories: Coursework includes Experimental Design/Lab, Computational Biomedical Engineering/Lab, Biomedical Signal and Imaging/Lab, and Cell and Tissue Engineering/Lab, giving students direct laboratory experience.
Society for Biomaterials: Students can participate in USD's Society for Biomaterials chapter, which has received grants to organize Biomaterials Day and conduct outreach research experiments.
GEAR Center: The Biomedical Engineering Department is housed in the Graduate Education and Applied Research (GEAR) Center in Sioux Falls, a facility designed to support commercialization, applied research and collaboration between university researchers and private-sector organizations.
Discovery District: The department is part of the USD Discovery District, which USD describes as South Dakota's first residential research park and a collaborative environment for researchers and entrepreneurs.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of USD's Biomedical Engineering B.S. can enter the biotech, pharmaceutical, biomedical research and medical-device industries or continue into professional and graduate education. The department specifically notes that graduates pursue careers in biotech and medtech, medical research and professional education in areas such as medicine, physical therapy, pharmacy and law.

Typical career roles: Biomedical Engineer, Medical Device Engineer, Biomedical Research Engineer, Biotech Engineer

Industry employment: USD prepares graduates for work in biotech, pharmaceuticals, biomedical research and medical-device manufacturing.
Career-connected learning: Students work alongside industry professionals during their education and can gain relevant experience through internships at local corporations.
Research opportunities: Students can participate in faculty-led research in biomaterials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomechanics, predictive biomedicine and bioinformatics.
Salary: USD reports a $92,620 median annual salary for biomedical engineers, citing the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment outlook: USD describes biomedical engineering as having an excellent job-growth outlook and cites Bureau of Labor Statistics data in discussing the value of the field.
Industry collaboration: Biomedical engineering students collaborate and work side-by-side with industry professionals throughout their education, while the GEAR Center supports university and private-sector research and commercialization.
Professional accreditation: The B.S. program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, providing an established external quality standard for the engineering education.
Postgraduate opportunities: USD's Biomedical Engineering Department offers B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. pathways, allowing students to progress into advanced biomedical engineering study and research.
Accelerated B.S./M.S.: Eligible students can apply 12 credits from the bachelor's program toward a master's degree, allowing the bachelor's and master's degrees to be completed in five years instead of six.
Professional education: USD notes that graduates also pursue further professional education in medicine, physical therapy, pharmacy and law, providing options beyond conventional biomedical engineering employment.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into an M.S. or Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering at USD or pursue other relevant graduate and professional programs. The university's accelerated B.S./M.S. option is particularly attractive for students who want to move directly into advanced biomedical engineering study, while the department's research focus provides a foundation for careers involving biomedical research and technology development.