South Dakota State University is set to make a significant impact with the introduction of a Bachelor of Science in healthcare systems engineering starting from fall 2025. This innovative degree program follows the approval by the South Dakota Board of Regents on December 12. It represents a unique and first-of-its-kind undergraduate offering that aims to integrate multiple disciplines under one roof.

Transforming the Healthcare Landscape

Healthcare is undeniably the largest and fastest-growing industry globally, facing increasing complexity due to various factors such as technological advancements, economic shifts, social changes, and regulatory influences. Generative artificial intelligence, computer vision, pattern recognition, and computational modeling in high-resolution anatomic domains are rapidly emerging technologies that are set to revolutionize the healthcare industry.The future-focused healthcare systems engineering program at South Dakota State University will train students to combine engineering principles and mathematical methods. By using cutting-edge tools and techniques, it will bring health care professionals and engineers together, creating a new breed of professionals capable of addressing the challenges of the evolving healthcare landscape.

Providing Workforce Solutions

Dennis Hedge, provost and vice president for academic affairs, expressed his excitement about adding this degree to SDSU's academic portfolio. He emphasized that healthcare systems are complex, and this program, with its focus on rural health care systems, will meet the workforce needs of experts with the skills and abilities to advance and optimize healthcare delivery.The degree will prepare students for a wide range of employment opportunities within the healthcare industry. They will be equipped to work in areas such as healthcare operations, developing new technologies and devices, improving patient care through data-driven decisions, and implementing efficient systems to streamline processes.

Shaping the Future of Healthcare

Sanjeev Kumar, dean of the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, highlighted that this is a more futuristic-thinking engineering degree. Graduates will possess critical thinking and problem-solving skills, enabling them to serve the workforce needs of industries today and shape the future of the healthcare industry.Students will be prepared to manage rapidly emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, as well as big data, cyber security, health informatics, telemedicine, and more. This comprehensive approach ensures that they are well-equipped to handle the challenges and opportunities of the digital age in healthcare.

Meeting Workforce Needs

As part of SDSU's land-grant mission, faculty identified current and future workforce needs and developed this program to prepare students to meet the needs of the state and region. It aims to bridge the gap between engineers and health care professionals and enable them to develop and apply cutting-edge technologies to address the critical needs of the fast-growing healthcare industry.Students have the option to add one of the following tracks to the general degree within this program: artificial intelligence and data science, pre-medicine, animal industry, and devices and sensors. This flexibility allows them to specialize in areas that align with their interests and career goals.The program is offered through the Lohr College of Engineering's Department of Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with SDSU's Colleges of Nursing, Natural Sciences, Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Education and Human Sciences, and Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. It also partners with Dakota State University to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary learning experience.