Integrating communication into the bioengineering curriculum

Oral, written, and visual communication assignments have been successfully integrated into the curriculum in the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University. Since most of the undergraduate courses in the Bioengineering Department have been developed in the last four years, the opportunity existed to build a strong sequence of communication activities into the curriculum and individual courses. Faculty who specialize in communication training from the Cain Project were available to collaborate in course design, implementation, and evaluation of communication projects in courses. Seven of the eight core Bioengineering courses require communication projects; three of the most popular track electives have significant communication components. Written communication assignments include design reports, research papers, short technical reports, and technical memos. Oral and visual communication assignments include presentations and posters. Both team and individual assignments have been developed. Since faculty efforts to teach communication are coordinated, assessment is conducted within a course and across the Bioengineering curriculum.