Bioengineering for Bioengineering for Undergraduates Undergraduates

Student Faculty Conference Student Faculty Conference April 5, 2007April 5, 2007

Undergrad. SurveyUndergrad. Survey

February 2007, sent out survey to all February 2007, sent out survey to all undergrads to ask about various undergrads to ask about various academic issues at Caltechacademic issues at Caltech

Extremely large response: 380 Extremely large response: 380 students (~45% of undergrads)students (~45% of undergrads)• Large sample, representative dataLarge sample, representative data

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)

Are you interested in a bioengineering major for Are you interested in a bioengineering major for undergrads?undergrads?

YesYes 146146

NoNo 186186

~38% of responding students interested in having BE for undergrads

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)

Are you or would have been interested in Are you or would have been interested in majoring in: (check all that apply)majoring in: (check all that apply)

Bioengineering-Bioengineering-Electrical FocusElectrical Focus

6666

Bioengineering-Bioengineering-Mechanical FocusMechanical Focus

8282

Bioengineering-Bioengineering-

OtherOther2828

At least 22% of responding would actually consider majoring in BE

Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)Undergrad. Survey, BE (cont’d)

Would it help to have an exploratory Would it help to have an exploratory seminar class for BE (like Ch10 and seminar class for BE (like Ch10 and Ph10)?Ph10)?

YesYes 199199

NoNo 7777

52% of responding would like to see a BE seminar class for undergrads

What did we find out from survey?What did we find out from survey?

Extremely high undergraduate interest in Extremely high undergraduate interest in bioengineeringbioengineering

Surprisingly large number of interested studentsSurprisingly 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 emailing all the Gathered individual opinion by emailing all the upperclassmen in EE and MechE to ask: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 Why not more complaints about lack of BE for undergrads?lack of BE for undergrads?

Seniors – already done with their option, Seniors – already done with their option, little motivation to alter available optionslittle motivation to alter available options

Juniors/Sophs – have chosen their option Juniors/Sophs – have chosen their option and have already taken many core classes and have already taken many core classes in the option; feel inflexiblein the option; feel inflexible

Frosh – undecided but unaware of the Frosh – undecided but unaware of the feedback system at Caltech (petitioning feedback system at Caltech (petitioning for more options, etc.)for more options, etc.)

Limited opportunity Limited opportunity to take BE coursesto take BE courses

Frosh interestedIn Bioengineering

Declare Option

Too generic;Few decideto do this

Narrow req’s,No credit for BE courses

Get credit for BE courses!!

EAS (general)

MechE, EE,Bio, APh…

ChemE

Limited opportunity Limited opportunity to take BE coursesto take BE courses

Frosh interestedIn Bioengineering

Declare Option

Too generic;Few decideto 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: Student Opinion: Why is BE necessary? Why is BE necessary?

Self-designing EAS is difficult and unappealing Self-designing EAS is difficult and unappealing due to generic-sounding degreedue to generic-sounding degree

Forced to choose between Bio, EE, MechE (to Forced to choose between Bio, EE, MechE (to avoid generic EAS)avoid generic EAS)

Extra BE courses doesn’t count towards Option Extra BE courses doesn’t count towards Option requirementsrequirements

i.e. EE electives must be EEi.e. EE electives must be EE Current option requirements too narrow to accommodate Current option requirements too narrow to accommodate

BEBE Interested engineering undergrads unable to take available BE Interested engineering undergrads unable to take available BE

coursescourses

Current Undergrad SystemCurrent Undergrad System

EAS (other)

EAS

Mat.Sci

CNS

Env. Sci/Eng.

Aero

Struct. Mech.

MechE

EE

CS

Division Option Concentration

Proposed System: Proposed System: BE ConcentrationBE Concentration

EAS (other)

EAS

Mat.Sci

CNS

Env. Sci/Eng.

Aero

Struct. Mech.

MechE

EE

CS

Division Option Concentration

BE (MechE/EE)

Bioengineering: EE Bioengineering: EE Possible CurriculumPossible Curriculum

(See handout)(See handout)

Soph year: Ma 2ab, Ph2ab, EE 20ab, EE40, Soph year: Ma 2ab, Ph2ab, EE 20ab, EE40, EE 111EE 111

Junior year: ACM95, EE113 or CDS 110aJunior year: ACM95, EE113 or CDS 110a

Junior year and Senior Year: follow Junior year and Senior Year: follow graduate requirements for graduate requirements for • BE: Biodevices and Bio-imagingBE: Biodevices and Bio-imaging

Bioengineering: MechE Bioengineering: MechE Possible CurriculumPossible Curriculum

(See handout)(See handout)

Soph year: Ph2ab, Ma 2ab, ME 35abc, ME Soph year: Ph2ab, Ma 2ab, ME 35abc, ME 18ab, ME 7118ab, ME 71

Junior Year: ACM, ME 19abJunior Year: ACM, ME 19ab

Junior and Senior year: follow graduate Junior and Senior year: follow graduate requirementsrequirements• BE: Biomechanics and Bio-inspired DesignBE: Biomechanics and Bio-inspired Design

Curriculum for BECurriculum for BE

Main difference between BE and Main difference between BE and MechE or EE: BE courses will actually MechE or EE: BE courses will actually count for credit towards option req’scount for credit towards option req’s

Prevent “soft” engineering major Prevent “soft” engineering major with tracks (BE/MechE and BE/EE)with tracks (BE/MechE and BE/EE)

Benefits of ProposalBenefits of Proposal

No new classes necessaryNo new classes necessary• High demand for seminar class (BE 100 High demand for seminar class (BE 100

equivalent for undergrads/frosh?)equivalent for undergrads/frosh?)

Works within framework of existing majors Works within framework of existing majors (EE, MechE, EAS)(EE, MechE, EAS)

Short-Term: as graduate BE option is Short-Term: as graduate BE option is solidified, undergrad BE upper level solidified, undergrad BE upper level courses will improve in parallelcourses will improve in parallel

Why not BE minor?Why not BE minor? EE Option req’sEE Option req’s

Avg. 42 units/term (under-unit courses)Avg. 42 units/term (under-unit courses) Biology Option req’sBiology Option req’s

Avg. 46 units/term Avg. 46 units/term

Even interested students would have difficulty Even interested students would have difficulty fitting a BE minor with a full optionfitting a BE minor with a full option

Currently offer sufficient BE classes and Currently offer sufficient BE classes and undergraduate BE interest exists to support EAS undergraduate BE interest exists to support EAS concentrationconcentration

How to separate from ChemE/BE?How to separate from ChemE/BE?

Core courses are in EE and MechE; Core courses are in EE and MechE; completely different backgroundcompletely different background

Very little (or no) overlap in BE focus Very little (or no) overlap in BE focus for upper-level coursesfor upper-level courses

Other EAS concentrations vs. BEOther EAS concentrations vs. BE

ConcentrationConcentration Number of undergradsNumber of undergrads

AeroAero 1616

CNSCNS 1010

Struct. Mech.Struct. Mech. 22

Mat. Sci.Mat. Sci. 22

Env. Sci/Eng.Env. Sci/Eng. 22

EAS (undeclared)EAS (undeclared) 55

Other EAS concentrations vs. BEOther EAS concentrations vs. BE

ConcentrationConcentration Number of Number of undergradsundergrads

AeroAero 1616

CNSCNS 1010

Struct. Mech.Struct. Mech. 22

Mat. Sci.Mat. Sci. 22

Env. Sci/Eng.Env. Sci/Eng. 22

EAS EAS (undeclared)(undeclared)

55

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 major

ConcentrationConcentration # Courses# Courses

AeroAero 3636

CNSCNS 3131

Env. SciEnv. Sci 2525

Bioeng.Bioeng. 1818

Mat. Sci.Mat. Sci. 1616

Str. Mech.Str. Mech. 1313

Undergrad BE at other UniversitiesUndergrad BE at other Universities

MITMIT Biological Engineering (SB - undergrad) unanimously Biological Engineering (SB - undergrad) unanimously

approved in February 2005 approved in February 2005 First new major course of study in 29 yearsFirst new major course of study in 29 years

Other major competitor schools for Caltech Other major competitor schools for Caltech also offer some type of BE program for also offer some type of BE program for undergrads undergrads

Increased interest for incoming freshman; Increased interest for incoming freshman; Caltech will be at disadvantage if we don’t Caltech will be at disadvantage if we don’t update options available to themupdate options available to them

Thank you to…Thank you to…• Undergraduate students + EE/MechE Undergraduate students + EE/MechE

upperclassmenupperclassmen• Dave RutledgeDave Rutledge• Niles PierceNiles Pierce• Christina SmolkeChristina Smolke• Yu-Chong TaiYu-Chong Tai• John DabiriJohn Dabiri

Comments, questions?Comments, questions?