Offered jointly with University of South Dakota (USD). Biomedical engineering (BME) is concerned with the application
of engineering and science methodologies to the analysis of biological and physiological problems and to the delivery of
health care. 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 and doctor of philosophy degrees are cross-disciplinary degrees. The objective of the M.S. program is to prepare a student for research and development careers in biomedical industry and further research at the
Current focus areas of faculty activity within the program are (1) biomaterials (nanomaterials, bioadhesives, tissue engineering, etc.), (2) computational biomedical engineering (biomechanics, imaging, advanced modeling/simulations, etc.), (3) assistive technology/rehabilitation engineering (advanced prosthetics, control, biomimetrics, etc.), and (4) biomolecular and genetic engineering. Students in the programs may be associated with one or more of several SDSM&T research centers and laboratories.
Admission will be based on the established graduate admission standards at the South Dakota School
of Mines and Technology. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), three letters of recommendation, and a GPA of
3.00 or better are expected of all applicants for the program. The TOEFL exam is required for students whose
native language is not English. Students seeking exceptions warranted by special circumstances are requested to contact
the biomedical engineering graduate program coordinator.
Students completing their M.S. degrees will graduate with a high level of competence in
- the application and characterization of various forms of biomaterials;
- knowledge of molecular biology and genetic engineering;
- the computation and simulation of phenomena in biomechanical systems; and
- transferring their understanding of biomaterials, biomechanics, and molecular biology to the creation of new biomedical
Courses are offered at both SDSM&T and USD campuses. Courses offered at SDSM&T are relayed to students at USD by video, and vice versa.
The Biomedical Engineering program has a limited number of Research Assistantships. All students admitted to the program are automatically considered for financial support. Financial support is dependent upon maintaining good academic standing and acceptable research progress in the laboratory.
M.S. Curriculum Requirements, Thesis Option
Elective courses in the area of the student’s intended research are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisory committee.
M.S. Curriculum Requirements, Non-Thesis Option
Elective courses in the area of the student’s intended research are to be selected in consultation with the student’s advisor committee.
Accelerated Master’s Option: BS/MS
The accelerated master’s degree programs will enable a student to complete both a B.S. and M.S. degree in as little as 5 years. Up to 12 credits applied toward the B.S. program may be used to satisfy graduate credit requirements. A minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required at the time the student applies to the program.
Courses must be taken at the 400/500/600 level. Courses taken at the 400 level are subject to the other requirements listed in the catalog. Only courses taken at SD Mines are eligible for dual credit. No transferred courses will be allowed to count toward the accelerated MS degree.
An additional 12 semester hours of graduate level credits taken as an undergraduate and not used to fulfill requirements for the undergraduate degree may be used toward a graduate degree (courses must be approved by the student’s graduate student advisory committee or advisor).
The following restrictions apply.
a. 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.
b. The student must apply to, and be admitted to, the accelerated program prior to taking courses to be credited toward the accelerated program.
c. No courses taken prior to admission to the accelerated program may be counted toward an accelerated graduate degree. No exceptions to this policy will be approved.
d. 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.
e. 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 substituted for BME 603, and a 500 level biochemistry, physiology, and anatomy course will substitute for BME 608.
f. Only courses taken at the student’s home institution are eligible for dual credit. No transferred courses from other institutions will be allowed to count toward the accelerated master’s degree.
g. Students admitted to the accelerated M.S. program may register for all courses included on his/her program of study, and these credit hours may apply to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.