Golden State Today

The UC Davis Department of Biomedical Engineering is set to introduce a new nine-month master’s degree program in medical device development at Aggie Square, the innovation district the university plans to open in Sacramento in 2025. The program will combine hands-on training with entrepreneurial expertise aimed at accelerating careers in the industry.

Classes for the Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development will commence in September 2025. This program, designed specifically for Aggie Square, will offer students direct access to clinical innovation. All 12 required courses will be conducted at Aggie Square and include a three-quarter capstone project focused on translating UC Davis research into clinically directed training in device design.

Students will collaborate closely with clinicians to develop medical solutions that enhance patient care and ensure devices can be commercialized after prototyping.

“Our new Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development aims to provide skills that will accelerate the career of the student,” said Steven C. George, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. “This will likely be in the medical device private sector, but could also serve students who decide to pursue an advanced professional degree in the health sciences or law.”

The program emphasizes business and leadership classes offered through a partnership with the UC Graduate School of Management. It bridges product development and entrepreneurship, distinguishing it from other Master of Engineering tracks within the UC system.

Valerie Quiroz, a development engineer for the UC Davis Translating Engineering Devices to Medicine (TEAM) Lab, highlighted that this lab would serve as a resource for students with its new 10,000-square-foot space at Aggie Square featuring modern infrastructure for device fabrication.

Faculty from the Department of Biomedical Engineering and industry experts will lead classes, providing practical experiences and insights to support students' career pathways.

“The fact that Aggie Square is home to the Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development degree program thrills me,” said Richard L. Corsi, dean of the College of Engineering. “Not only will our engineering students receive a world-class education from professors and clinicians at the UC Davis Medical Center — one of the nation’s best hospitals — they will be active participants in the growing medical device research and industry hub in Sacramento and California as a whole.”

The University of California Office of the President approved this degree on July 11, 2024. Applications are now being accepted for its first cohort starting September 2025.