Establish Master of Bioengineering (M.Bioengineering) and Doctor of Bioengineering (D.Bioengineering)
Description of and Reasons for Anticipated Action
The Department of Bioengineering was established July 1998, following a two year period of extensive review and development of an Academic Plan and a Strategic Plan. The Academic Plan Report recommended a "new terminal Master's degree in areas attractive to the burgeoning biotechnology and biomedical technology industries in the Bay Area and the rest of California." A professional doctoral degree has also been the subject of discussions. Therefore, the Department is considering adding these two professional degree programs once the core faculty is complete.
Relationship to Existing Campus Programs, Units, and Mission
The two graduate, academic degrees currently offered do not meet the needs of students whose career plans require education beyond that of a Bachelor's degree, but who do not wish or do not need to pursue advanced academic training. Industry is drawing more on advanced education to meet its needs, but not all positions require a Master of Science or a Doctor of Philosophy.
In addition to the graduate academic degrees offered in Bioengineering, several peer institutions also offer a professional degree. These include Columbia (D. Engineering Science), Duke (joint M.D./Ph.D.), University of Michigan (M.D./M.S. and M.D./Ph.D.), University of Utah (M.E.), and University of Washington (M.S.E.).
The campus plans to grow by 400 new students, 350 at the undergraduate level and 50 at the graduate level. The college of Engineering will play a major part in this growth, increasing by 300 undergraduates and 50 graduates. Bioengineering will grow by 165 undergraduates and 50 graduates -- the remainder being absorbed in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. Due to the unprecedented growth in the biomedical field throughout California, trained professionals are in strong demand, and highly qualified undergraduates are asking for professional degrees at the graduate level.
Resources Required
As a new department, Bioengineering is ramping-up in faculty and staff positions with 6.00 new faculty FTE and 7.00 staff FTE approved for steady-state by 2003-04. New facilities are also being planned with major fund solicitations directed to private foundations.
Anticipated Funding Strategies to Support New Program
New funding beyond the level stated above is anticipated through NIH and NSF pre-doctoral training programs. Over time, the Department may choose to offer the professional programs through distance learning or as self-supporting, high fee programs, but this will be some time after the degrees are approved for full-time students in the Department.
Students
unknown at this time.
Employment Opportunities
The rapid progress and development of new techniques, technologies, and systems have resulted in significant industrial interest directed at graduating students who receive inquiries from firms ranging from large companies to small start-ups. Leading companies include Cepheid, Caliper, Nanogen, Becton Dickinson, Medtronics, Iris Micromedical, Novo Nordisk, Rhone Poulenc, Baxter, Bayer, and Merck. Nationally, the medical instruments and supplies industry's rate of growth in employment between 1987 and 1994 was 29%, compared to -3.2% in all US manufacturing and 10.9% in all U.S. sectors. National pharmaceutical employment grew 12% from 1987 to 1995, and biomedical engineering is projected to lead engineering employment growth in the next decade, even outpacing electrical and electronic engineering. Today more than 165,000 Californians are employed in the health care technology industry surpassed only by the aerospace industry with 189,000 jobs. California has the largest concentration of health care technology companies in the U.S. Fully 32% of the nation's biotechnology companies and 28% of high-tech medical device firms are located in California.
UC Campuses and Other California Institutions with Similar Offerings
To date, UCSD has the only other approved department of bioengineering in the UC system, although UCD is planning a division, and UCI has some coursework peripheral to the field. UCLA received approval to offer M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in December 1997, and UCSB is in start-up mode to develop a "designated program". None of these programs is known to offer graduate professional degrees at this time. California State University, Sacramento has a "program" at the M.S. level, and offers a Certificate in a Rehabilitation Engineering program.
Anticipated Campus Review and Implementation Date
Fall 2000. The proposal is currently under discussion in the Department.
Campus Contact Person
Professor Dorian Liepmann, Department of Mechanical Engineering
liepmann@me.berkeley. edu
6117 Etcheverry Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-1740
510-642-9360
Professor Theodore Cohn, School of Optometry
tecohn@spectacle.berkeley.edu
360 Minor Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-2020
phone: 510-642-5076
FAX: 510-643-5109
