HENRY E. RIGGS SCHOOL OF APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES

Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering
MSMDE

Program Details

Format
Start Term
In-Person
Fall
Duration
9 months
Application
Deadline
December 8 (priority),
rolling admissions
thereafter
Cost
$21,350 per term
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Research and Development

Approach design problems by understanding the clinical setting and user needs.

Manufacturing and Quality

Learn and apply industry practices to develop and manufacture viable medical devices.

Industry Experience

Work in teams with industry sponsors to solve problems.

The MSMDE program was created in response to the needs of the medical device industry. It prepares students for engineering roles in specialties such as in-vitro diagnostics, surgical instruments, assistive technology and biosensors. Graduates of the program have careers in functional areas including research and development, process development, manufacturing, and quality control.

Students learn how 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. Our graduates are passionate about medical devices and diagnostics and apply their engineering backgrounds to solve real healthcare problems.

About the Program

The Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering program is a two semester accelerated masters designed to prepare students for careers in medical devices based on the needs articulated by industry key-opinion leaders.

  • Breadth—Courses in Medical Diagnostics and Medical Devices expose students to the breadth of technology in the industry.
  • Depth—Courses in Product Development and Production Methods cover the path of a product from idea to commercialized device.
  • Practice—The Industry sponsored Team Masters Project provides students specific and authentic experience working with high level industry professionals in a consulting format.
  • Specialty—Elective courses allow for students to choose more knowledge in their area of interest such as in-vitro diagnostics, product ideation, business and innovation, and regulatory affairs.

MedTech is a vast and steadily growing industry with a need for qualified engineers. In addition to the specialized technical knowledge, the MSMDE program helps develop the most employer requested personal skills including:

  • Communication
  • Teamwork/collaboration
  • Problem solving
  • Organizational skills
  • Creativity

Career Options

100% of the program’s graduates are currently placed as an engineer, scientist, or medical student. Students receive personal coaching and mentoring to select courses, prepare for interviews, and identify fulfilling career directions.

What sets KGI’s MSMDE apart from other master’s programs?

  • Visiting speakers
  • Case-based course work
  • Industry sponsored projects
  • Alumni network
  • Advisory Board connections
  • Capstone experience
  • Team projects
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration

Program Overview

The curriculum covers the essential areas of expertise to apply engineering skills into the specialized field of medical devices. It is a two-semester program with small-section, in-person classes; 30 credits are required to complete the program. The curriculum covers the essential areas of expertise to apply engineering skills into the specialized field of medical devices, and provides authentic experiences with the industry.

Fall

  • Medical Diagnostics
  • Product Development
  • Industry Sponsored Team Masters Project
  • Specialty Electives

Spring

  • Medical Devices
  • Production Methods
  • Industry Sponsored Team Masters Project
  • Specialty Electives

Elective options allow for broadening knowledge including data analysis, business of bioscience, and regulatory affairs.

Program Faculty and Staff

Angelika Niemz

Angelika Niemz, PhD

Dean of Faculty and Professor

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Anna Hickerson

Anna Iwaniec Hickerson, PhD

Associate Professor; Program Director, Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering

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Ed Arnheiter

Ed Arnheiter, PhD

Professor of Practice

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How to Apply

  • Completed online application
  • Personal statement
  • Resume
  • Letter of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • English language proficiency (TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, iTEP)
  • $75 non-refundable application fee
  • Admission interview

Admitted students are required to submit a $400 non-refundable enrollment fee to hold their spot in the program.

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Anna Hickerson

Anna Iwaniec Hickerson, PhD

Associate Professor; Program Director, Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering

Areas of Expertise: Cardiovascular Devices, Medical Diagnostics and Devices

Dr. Hickerson, who joined KGI in October 2005, received her BS in Engineering and Applied Science (2000) and her PhD in Bioengineering (2005) from the California Institute of Technology. Since joining KGI, she has worked on the design of multiple diagnostic instruments including subsystems in sample preparation, amplification, and detection of nucleic acids.

Hickerson is a listed inventor on 12 issued U.S. patents and several more pending. She has consulted for multiple diagnostic and medical device companies. In addition to her research and teaching at KGI, Hickerson has also taught Biomechanics, Introduction to Biomedical Engineering, and Biosignal Processing at Harvey Mudd College.

Angelika Niemz

Angelika Niemz, PhD

Dean of Faculty and Professor

Areas of Expertise: Medical Diagnostics and Devices

Dr. Angelika Niemz, a native of Germany, received her undergraduate degree in chemistry in 1992 at the University of Konstanz in Germany and her PhD in chemistry in 1999 at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After working as a postdoctoral fellow in chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology, she joined KGI in February 2002 as an Assistant Professor. In 2008, she became an Associate Professor. In 2009, after a six-month sabbatical where she worked for Roche Molecular Diagnostics in Switzerland, she began serving as Director of Research at KGI and was named the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Professor. In March 2021, she was promoted to Chair of Business and Bioengineering for the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences. In October 2022, she was promoted to Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor.

Niemz teaches courses on medical diagnostics, high throughput technologies, and instrumentation development at KGI. Additionally, she has taught short courses on IVD automation and nanobiotechnology at the Association for Laboratory Automation's annual conference for seven years. She has obtained independent research funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Defense, and has frequently served on grant review panels. 

Niemz is a member of the American Chemical Society, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, and the Association for Laboratory Automation. Beyond her research and other scholarly activities, she obtained funding for and organized a summer undergraduate research program at KGI for the past eight years. Niemz has also coordinated K-12 outreach activities, including internship opportunities for high school teachers and students.

Ed Arnheiterz

Ed Arnheiter, PhD

Professor of Practice

Dr. Ed Arnheiter, who joined KGI in August 2016, possesses a unique combination of industry, consulting, and higher education experience that span a 30-year period. Since 2016, Arnheiter has held a faculty appointment in operations management at the Eberhardt School of Business, University of the Pacific. In addition, he is a professor of practice in the Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences at KGI.

From 2011 to 2016, Arnheiter taught statistics, operations research, and operations management at the Sacramento campus of Drexel University. While at Drexel, he received the Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow Award from the LeBow College of Business and was appointed a Fellow, Center for Teaching Excellence. Before moving to California in 2011, Arnheiter served for 12 years as a clinical professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

In addition to 19 years teaching experience, Arnheiter has 11 years of full-time industrial work, including roles as a Quality Manager for Titleist, a Quality Engineer at GE Aerospace, and a Senior Quality Engineer for Spalding Sports. He is the principal consultant for Arnheiter Consulting, LLC, which focuses on the implementation and use of Lean Sigma improvement methods.

From March 2013 to August 2015, Arnheiter conducted lean sigma training for Chevron Corporation in San Ramon, CA; Bakersfield, CA; and Houston, TX; and provided project support for Chevron's Environmental Management Company. Most recently, he conducted lean sigma Green Belt training and mentoring for CrescentCare Health systems in New Orleans, and lean sigma Black Belt training for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center in McAllen, TX.

Arnheiter has published and presented numerous papers, book chapters, and case studies on lean management, Six Sigma, process improvement, and quality management. His research investigates novel applications of lean Six Sigma methods to improve processes in health care, education, and traditional manufacturing.

Formerly a New England resident, Arnheiter earned a PhD in industrial engineering and operations research, and a master of science in engineering management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He received his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Union College.