The University of New Mexico School of Engineering was approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department to launch a new bioengineering bachelor's degree. It is believed to be the School's first new undergraduate degree program in 40 years.
The new degree will help prepare students to work in healthcare, agriculture, food science, pharmaceuticals, and other fields related to biological innovation.
"We've heard from many students that a bachelor's degree in bioengineering is highly desirable, and we are thrilled to meet that demand," said Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing. "Biotech is an economic development priority for the state and we believe this degree will enhance our ability to foster innovation in this area."
Students majoring in bioengineering will be able to focus on specific paths, like pre-med, biomaterials, bioseparations, biomechanics, tissue engineering, and biomanufacturing. The highly requested program will give those interested in engineering and medical school a clear path to complete all necessary coursework.
"Preparing tomorrow's healthcare workforce means giving students opportunities to solve real-world challenges across disciplines. This program will equip graduates with the skills to advance innovation and improve healthcare for New Mexicans." - Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences Mike Richards
Bioengineering is already offered as a concentration for students majoring in chemical engineering. The new program will be administered by the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Its expansion to a full undergraduate degree offering is supported by extensive faculty expertise and SoE's long-running Biomedical Engineering Program.
"Building on UNM's strengths in biomaterials, tissue engineering and mechanobiology, this program will equip graduates with the knowledge and technical expertise to meet the growing demand for professionals at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and biomedical innovation," said Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodriguez. "Rooted in the needs of our communities, this degree creates new opportunities for our students, strengthens the state's high-tech talent pipeline, and advances discoveries that improve health and quality of life across our state."
Up to this point, there has not been an undergraduate engineering degree that allows students to easily take full advantage of the opportunities at the UNM Health Sciences Center and biological research at nearby national labs.
"Engineering has a different fundamental approach than other disciplines with a focus on addressing broad challenges by understanding a problem and its stakeholders, then using fundamental knowledge to create solutions in good faith," said SoE Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Community Engagement Darryl Dickerson. "The field has a vital role to play in advancing health through an engineering framework of problem-solving."
The new degree will complement other University efforts to expand the state's healthcare workforce, like the construction of the new UNM Medical School complex.
New courses will launch each year as students progress through the degree. The program has been thoughtfully designed to allow the curriculum to change as the field evolves. The introductory course will give students hands-on experience with cell culture, sterile technique and bioengineering basics. In the last two years of study, students will have lab and design courses built around real-world, open-ended problems. Degree sequencing is designed to be modular so students can dive deep into their area of interest, facilitating innovative designs for degree completion.
