Bioengineering for Undergraduates Student Faculty Conference April 5, 2007

Undergrad. Survey February 2007, sent out survey to all undergrads to ask about various academic issues at Caltech February 2007, sent out survey to all undergrads to ask about various academic issues at Caltech Extremely large response: 380 students (~45% of undergrads) Extremely large response: 380 students (~45% of undergrads) Large sample, representative dataLarge sample, representative data

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d) Are you interested in a bioengineering major for undergrads? Are you interested in a bioengineering major for undergrads? Yes146 No186 ~38% of responding students interested in having BE for undergrads

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d) Are you or would have been interested in majoring in: (check all that apply) Are you or would have been interested in majoring in: (check all that apply) Bioengineering- Electrical Focus 66 Bioengineering- Mechanical Focus 82 Bioengineering-Other28 At least 22% of responding would actually consider majoring in BE

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d) Would it help to have an exploratory seminar class for BE (like Ch10 and Ph10)? Would it help to have an exploratory seminar class for BE (like Ch10 and Ph10)? Yes199 No77 52% of responding would like to see a BE seminar class for undergrads

What did we find out from survey? Extremely high undergraduate interest in bioengineering Extremely high undergraduate interest in bioengineering Surprisingly large number of interested students Surprisingly large number of interested students Why was this issue (undergrad BE) previously undetected? Why was this issue (undergrad BE) previously undetected? Gathered individual opinion by ing all the upperclassmen in EE and MechE to ask: Gathered individual opinion by ing all the upperclassmen in EE and MechE to ask: decision process in choosing a major (if interested in BE)decision process in choosing a major (if interested in BE) Suggested courses in BE/MechE or BE/EESuggested courses in BE/MechE or BE/EE Offering BE: factor when deciding undergrad colleges?Offering BE: factor when deciding undergrad colleges?

Why not more complaints about lack of BE for undergrads? Seniors – already done with their option, little motivation to alter available options Seniors – already done with their option, little motivation to alter available options Juniors/Sophs – have chosen their option and have already taken many core classes in the option; feel inflexible Juniors/Sophs – have chosen their option and have already taken many core classes in the option; feel inflexible Frosh – undecided but unaware of the feedback system at Caltech (petitioning for more options, etc.) Frosh – undecided but unaware of the feedback system at Caltech (petitioning for more options, etc.)

Limited opportunity to take BE courses Frosh interested In Bioengineering Declare Option Too generic; Few decide to do this Narrow req’s, No credit for BE courses Get credit for BE courses!! EAS (general) MechE, EE, Bio, APh… ChemE

Limited opportunity to take BE courses Frosh interested In Bioengineering Declare Option Too generic; Few decide to do this Narrow req’s, No credit for BE courses Get credit for BE courses!! EAS (general) MechE, EE, Bio, APh… ChemE Result Only by majoring in ChemE can you get credit for BE

Student Opinion: Why is BE necessary? Self-designing EAS is difficult and unappealing due to generic-sounding degree Self-designing EAS is difficult and unappealing due to generic-sounding degree Forced to choose between Bio, EE, MechE (to avoid generic EAS) Forced to choose between Bio, EE, MechE (to avoid generic EAS) Extra BE courses doesn’t count towards Option requirements Extra BE courses doesn’t count towards Option requirements i.e. EE electives must be EE i.e. EE electives must be EE Current option requirements too narrow to accommodate BE Current option requirements too narrow to accommodate BE  Interested engineering undergrads unable to take available BE courses

Current Undergrad System EAS (other) EAS Mat.Sci CNS Env. Sci/Eng. Aero Struct. Mech. MechE EE CS Division OptionConcentration

Proposed System: BE Concentration EAS (other) EAS Mat.Sci CNS Env. Sci/Eng. Aero Struct. Mech. MechE EE CS Division OptionConcentration BE (MechE/EE)

Bioengineering: EE Possible Curriculum (See handout) (See handout) Soph year: Ma 2ab, Ph2ab, EE 20ab, EE40, EE 111 Soph year: Ma 2ab, Ph2ab, EE 20ab, EE40, EE 111 Junior year: ACM95, EE113 or CDS 110a Junior year: ACM95, EE113 or CDS 110a Junior year and Senior Year: follow graduate requirements for Junior year and Senior Year: follow graduate requirements for BE: Biodevices and Bio-imagingBE: Biodevices and Bio-imaging

Bioengineering: MechE Possible Curriculum (See handout) (See handout) Soph year: Ph2ab, Ma 2ab, ME 35abc, ME 18ab, ME 71 Soph year: Ph2ab, Ma 2ab, ME 35abc, ME 18ab, ME 71 Junior Year: ACM, ME 19ab Junior Year: ACM, ME 19ab Junior and Senior year: follow graduate requirements Junior and Senior year: follow graduate requirements BE: Biomechanics and Bio-inspired DesignBE: Biomechanics and Bio-inspired Design

Curriculum for BE Main difference between BE and MechE or EE: BE courses will actually count for credit towards option req’s Main difference between BE and MechE or EE: BE courses will actually count for credit towards option req’s Prevent “soft” engineering major with tracks (BE/MechE and BE/EE) Prevent “soft” engineering major with tracks (BE/MechE and BE/EE)

Benefits of Proposal No new classes necessary No new classes necessary High demand for seminar class (BE 100 equivalent for undergrads/frosh?)High demand for seminar class (BE 100 equivalent for undergrads/frosh?) Works within framework of existing majors (EE, MechE, EAS) Works within framework of existing majors (EE, MechE, EAS) Short-Term: as graduate BE option is solidified, undergrad BE upper level courses will improve in parallel Short-Term: as graduate BE option is solidified, undergrad BE upper level courses will improve in parallel

Why not BE minor? EE Option req’s EE Option req’s Avg. 42 units/term (under-unit courses) Avg. 42 units/term (under-unit courses) Biology Option req’s Biology Option req’s Avg. 46 units/term Avg. 46 units/term Even interested students would have difficulty fitting a BE minor with a full option Even interested students would have difficulty fitting a BE minor with a full option Currently offer sufficient BE classes and undergraduate BE interest exists to support EAS concentration Currently offer sufficient BE classes and undergraduate BE interest exists to support EAS concentration

How to separate from ChemE/BE? Core courses are in EE and MechE; completely different background Core courses are in EE and MechE; completely different background Very little (or no) overlap in BE focus for upper-level courses Very little (or no) overlap in BE focus for upper-level courses

Other EAS concentrations vs. BE Concentration Number of undergrads Aero16 CNS10 Struct. Mech. 2 Mat. Sci. 2 Env. Sci/Eng. 2 EAS (undeclared) 5

Other EAS concentrations vs. BE Concentration Number of undergrads Aero16 CNS10 Struct. Mech. 2 Mat. Sci. 2 Env. Sci/Eng. 2 EAS (undeclared) 5 Compare scale: at least 82 undergrads considered majoring in BE if 15% of them actually major in it, it will be most popular [independent] EAS majorConcentration # Courses Aero36 CNS31 Env. Sci 25 Bioeng.18 Mat. Sci. 16 Str. Mech. 13

Undergrad BE at other Universities MIT MIT Biological Engineering (SB - undergrad) unanimously approved in February 2005 Biological Engineering (SB - undergrad) unanimously approved in February 2005 First new major course of study in 29 years First new major course of study in 29 years Other major competitor schools for Caltech also offer some type of BE program for undergrads Other major competitor schools for Caltech also offer some type of BE program for undergrads Increased interest for incoming freshman; Caltech will be at disadvantage if we don’t update options available to them Increased interest for incoming freshman; Caltech will be at disadvantage if we don’t update options available to them

Thank you to… Thank you to… Undergraduate students + EE/MechE upperclassmenUndergraduate students + EE/MechE upperclassmen Dave RutledgeDave Rutledge Niles PierceNiles Pierce Christina SmolkeChristina Smolke Yu-Chong TaiYu-Chong Tai John DabiriJohn Dabiri

Comments, questions?