Article
Developing a Small-Footprint Bioengineering Program
Proceedings of the 2012 Annual ASEE Conference
(2012)
Abstract
The field of bioengineering is rapidly changing and expanding to include not only more traditional bioengineering applications (e.g. device-focused areas such as prosthetics, imaging) but also more recent sub-fields and technologies(e.g. more biologically-focused areas such as those enabled by tissue engineering and microfluidics). This rapid change, coupled with the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of bioengineering, presents a unique challenge to the developers of academic programs, as they need to both select relevant content and strike a balance between depth and breadth. We, the architects of the bioengineering program at the undergraduate-only Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, which enrolled its first class in 2003, faced a significant additional challenge of our small size (~300 students, ~35 full time faculty, and ~1.5 dedicated bioengineering faculty). Our approach was to create a flexible program that aims to provide students with a strong grounding in both biology and engineering and which leverages Olin’s broad-based foundation in engineering fundamentals and emphasis on hands-on learning experiences. Feedback from alumni/ae, employers and graduate schools regarding our first six graduating classes indicates that an undergraduate education focusing on biology and engineering problem-solving has prepared them well for their current endeavors. The positive response to the program and its graduates confirms that our approach results in graduates who are well-prepared to create the future of bioengineering.
Keywords
- bioengineering,
- education,
- class
Disciplines
Publication Date
June 11, 2012
Citation Information
Alisha L. Sarang-Sieminski and Debbie Chachra. "Developing a Small-Footprint Bioengineering Program" Proceedings of the 2012 Annual ASEE Conference (2012) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/debbie_chachra/21/
© 2012 American Society for Engineering Education. This article was published in the Proceedings of the 2012 Annual ASEE Conference and can be found here.