Work in progress - an interdisciplinary initiative in bioengineering education

The College of Engineering at Iowa State University is initiating a new minor program of study in bioengineering for undergraduate engineering majors. This minor program will introduce students to bioengineering and its applications to agriculture and health sciences, which are of high interest to both students and employers. Students who complete the bioengineering minor will be well-positioned to address engineering needs in the bioeconomy, specifically in the areas of bioinformatics and systems biology, biomechanics, biomaterials, bio micro systems, biobased products and bioprocessing. Core courses are designed to facilitate a holistic understanding of the field rather than compartmentalized introduction to various subfields. Several of the courses will be team taught by groups of two faculty with complementary expertise to bring broad and integrative learning experiences. This interdisciplinary effort will also involve undergraduate research and project experiences that provide opportunities for students to work as part of interdisciplinary teams and broaden their educational and career opportunities. The program will be offered starting Fall 2008.