The University of Arizona College of Medicine.
A new undergraduate degree combining medicine, engineering, management, and law at the University of Arizona will prepare students for a wide range of careers in the medical device industry.
The new Bachelor of Science in Medical Device Development and Application was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents at their June board meeting and will start accepting students in Spring 2026.
College of Medicine Professor Dr. Marvin Slepian said the medical device industry is growing at a faster rate than the pharmaceutical industry, and will continue to be in demand due to a rapidly aging population.
“The number of new drugs or new molecular entities that are developed every year is sadly going down,” he said. “Medical devices, on the other hand, actually cost less to develop, can be developed much quicker, and are taking an increasing bite in terms of where therapy is today.”
VIEW LARGER A medical device called a total artificial heart sits next to a model of a human heart. The cost of devices is also not increasing as fast as the cost of drugs.
“Medical devices have been fairly flat in terms of the percent cost in the total healthcare dollar,” Slepian said.
Although the degree includes an engineering angle, that is just one facet of the industry, and there are jobs for students with wide-ranging interests, including clinical trials, regulation and patents, and marketing.
“Anyone coming out of the program will be able to hit the ground running, and will be really desired by medical device companies, biotech, pharma, regulatory agencies, insurance companies, or the legal field,” he said.
The industry supports almost 2 million jobs across the country, according to the International Trade Administration.
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