CBSE NEWS

Bioengineering undergraduate major now approved at UCSC

Friday, February 2, 2007
Written by Branwyn Wagman

The Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UCSC announced today that Executive Vice Chancellor David Kliger has approved its new undergraduate degree program in bioengineering.

The new program features an interdisciplinary structure, sponsored by four departments: Biomolecular Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology.

Bioengineering focuses on the application of engineering tools and techniques to the problems of medicine and the biological sciences. The UCSC program in bioengineering provides students with inspiration and quality education in the theory and practice of bioengineering.

Undergraduates in the bioengineering program study the fundamentals of mathematics, science, and technology. Students also gain advanced training in engineering principles and practice at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels.

Program graduates will be prepared to work as engineers solving problems in the biomedical and biomolecular domains and to pursue advanced degrees in engineering, medicine, or science.

Bioengineering students can often continue their research and studies at UC Santa Cruz in related graduate programs offered by the collaborating and other departments.

Richard Hughey, professor and chair of computer engineering, lauds the cooperation that led to this interdiciplinary program between the School of Engineering and the Division of Physical & Biological Sciences, led by Deans Steve Kang and Stephen Thorsett.

"We are thankful for their support of this new interdisciplinary venture that, like the new Computer Science: Computer Game Design major, can be expected to attract considerable student interest to UCSC" Hughey said.

Hiughey added that campus vice provost of academic affairs, Allison Galloway, provided considerable help in designing structures for this unique program.

He went on to report that the approval process was aided by the insightful review and strong support offered by committee on planning and budget chair Susan Gillman and committee on educational policy chair Jaye Padgett.