Department of Bioengineering
EAC/ABET & WASC Accreditation
The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) is an organization with a mission of serving the public through promotion and advancement of education in fields including engineering, and ABET’s strategic plans include accreditation of educational programs and promotion of quality and innovation in education (
www.abet.org). At UCSD, Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology have a relatively heavy emphasis on engineering, whereas Bioengineering: Bioinformatics has a relatively heavy emphasis on biological, chemical, and physical sciences. The Bioengineering and Bioengineering: Biotechnology programs are accredited by EAC/ABET. The Bioengineering: Bioinformatics program is not accredited by a Commission of EAC/ABET. EAC/ABET accreditation will be sought in due course for the “new” Bioengineering: BioSystems major.
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the regional organization providing umbrella accreditation for UC San Diego through its Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities. UC San Diego has been accredited by WASC since 1964.
Program Mission Statement
To provide our students with an excellent education that enables successful, innovative, and lifelong careers in bioengineering industries and professions.
Program Educational Objectives
To provide our students with a modern bioengineering education, consisting of:
- depth, breadth, and creativity in the central areas of bioengineering, its underlying sciences, and related technologies,
- effective communication, learning, and teamwork skills that facilitate bioengineering practice, continued professional advancement and adaptation, and
- a recognition of professional and social responsibilities, including sensitivity to ethical and health-related issues.
Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the Bioengineering Program, graduates in Bioengineering; Bioengineering: Biotechnology; Bioengineering: Bioinformatics; and Bioengineering: BioSystems are expected to have the desired knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors as indicated below.
- An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to bioengineering problems.
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as being able to analyze and interpret data.
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs.
- An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams.
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
- An ability to communicate effectively with written, oral, and visual means.
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context.
- A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
- A knowledge of contemporary issues.
- An ability to use modern engineering techniques, skills, and computing tools necessary for engineering practice.
Overview
Welcome to the undergraduate educational programs of the UCSD Department of Bioengineering! Since 1966, UCSD has offered an undergraduate major in Bioengineering. Over the past forty years, UCSD Bioengineering has established a reputation of innovation and excellence in education.
Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field in which the principles and tools of mechanical, materials, electrical, and chemical engineering are applied to biomedical and biological problems. Bioengineering plays an important role in medicine in projects that range from basic research in physiology to advances in biotechnology and the improvement of health care delivery. By its very nature, bioengineering is broad and requires a foundation in engineering and mathematics as well as in the physical, chemical, and biological sciences.
As indicated above, the UCSD Department of Bioengineering has an educational mission and targeted outcomes for its undergraduate major programs. Four undergraduate majors are available to current entering students and freshman and transfer students applying to enter in fall 2014:
· Bioengineering – accredited by EAC/ABET (in “impacted” status)
· Bioengineering: Biotechnology – accredited by EAC/ABET (in “impacted” status)
· Bioengineering: Bioinformatics – not accredited by a Commission of EAC/ABET
· Bioengineering: BioSystems (“New” major for fall 2013!) not accredited by a Commission of EAC/ABET
The Bioengineering: Premedical major was discontinued and phased-out, effective fall 2010.
