Twelve people are pioneering a new effort at the University of Kansas. This semester, they began classes in the School of Engineering's newest doctorate program: Bio-Engineering.
The School of Engineering has sponsored research in Bio-Engineering for decades, but until this semester, they have not offered a degree in it. As of Fall 2007, the school offers both a Master and Doctorate degree in Bio-Engineering. Carl Luchies, director of graduate studies in the school, said that the new program satisfies a need.
"Bio-Engineering has become very popular in recent decades," Luchies said. "We've lost students who have been looking for a Bio-Engineering degree."
The University of Kansas is not the first to offer such a degree. Many colleges, including Kansas State University, offer Bio-Engineering programs.
"Bio-Engineering is not new. There are about 100 insitutions that have Bio-Engineering programs," Luchies said.
The School of Engineering has met several challenges in developing this program. One challenge was making sure applicants were qualified to enter the program.
"These are some of the best students we will get in the School of Engineering," Luchies said. "They need to know Engineering plus."
Another problem was organization. Unlike other programs, Bio-Engineering requires a wide range of specializations.
"The largest unique hurdle is the fact that Bio-Engineering at KU is an interdisciplinary program involving many departments and areas," said Nickie Lee, coordinator of graduate student recruitment for the School of Engineering, "including the KU Medical Center, orthopedic research, the School of Pharmacy, physical therapy, the School of Engineering, biology, chemistry, dentistry, and many others."
Despite these problems, the program is now underway. Currently, there are only 12 students to 40 faculty, but Luchies plans to have 80 students and 60 faculty involved in the program within five years.
"Demand for this type of program continues to increase," Luchies said.
Luchies and Lee both noted that Bio-Engineering is very inter-disciplinary. Overall, Luchies said there was a common element to the studies.
"Bio-Engineering is about improving the human condition," he said. "They want to spend their lives helping people."