OVERVIEW OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum number of credits required to graduate: 130
Minimum Cumulative GPA required to graduate: 2.0.
Minimum Grade requirements for courses to count toward major: None.
Other GPA requirements to graduate: A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in BEN courses
Other Requirements: Entrance into the Bioengineering program requires that students have a PC-compatible laptop computer capable of running Microsoft Office®, Mathcad©, Labview©, and Solidworks©.
Required Course(s) for fulfilling Capstone Experience: BEN 479
Contact Information: Hemant Pendse, Chair, 115 Jenness Hall, 501-2290 pendse@maine.edu
The mission of the Bioengineering program reflects the mission of Maine’s Land Grant University, specifically to provide teaching, research and public service in the discipline of Bioengineering. The goal of the Bachelor of Science program is to prepare students for employment or graduate education in fields associated with clinical, therapeutic, and diagnostic applications of Bioengineering. Students are given high quality undergraduate engineering instruction directed toward the instrumentation and techniques employed to analyze biological systems and processes, the challenges and methodologies associated with manipulating biological systems, and the current and future applications of Bioengineering. The program educational objectives are that in the time frame of three to five years after graduation our students will:
- Hold positions that utilize their engineering training and have advanced in their job responsibilities, or be pursuing postgraduate education.
- Be working as engineering professionals, act ethically by adhering to standards and being committed to the health and safety of employees and the general population.
- Be pursuing innovative solutions to current societal challenges and continue to improve themselves through a variety of learning opportunities.
- Contribute to their employer and society by working effectively in the global economy, contribute to professional, civic, or governmental organizations, be leading or working collaboratively in teams, and be communicating with diverse groups.
Program Description
The field of Bioengineering encompasses a broad range of topics, all of which focus on the interface between biology and engineering. Bioengineers use engineering skills to design devices or develop methods that interface with biological systems to benefit society. For example, Bioengineers might be involved in the design of artificial organs, development of new methods to detect or treat cancer, production of devices to measure biological agents, or formulation of materials for the controlled release of drugs. Bioengineers work at the forefront of research and industry and frequently address clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications of engineering. Students entering UMaine’s Bioengineering B.S. program typically have a strong interest in science and problem solving. The curriculum provides thorough training in the fundamentals of engineering, mathematics and science, combined with additional elective coursework in engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Employing this knowledge base, students develop the skills to engineer solutions to real world problems. Additional information about the program is available on our website.
Bioengineering majors interested in production of biofuels, biopharmaceuticals and biopolymers may take advantage of a Bioprocess Engineering Concentration. Additionally, UMaine’s College of Engineering offers a Biomedical Engineering Minor, a five-year BS-MBA degree with the Maine Business School, as well as a minor in Engineering Leadership and Management.
Degrees are awarded upon satisfactory completion of 132 credits with a cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.0 in Bioengineering (BEN) courses.
Summer Internships, Undergraduate Research Experiences, and the Cooperative Work Experience Program Option in Bioengineering
UMaine faculty members help students obtain summer internships in leading research and diagnostics development laboratories throughout New England. Internships with these companies and research institutions typically take place in the junior and senior years of the program.
Students are encouraged to undertake undergraduate research experiences in the laboratories of the department faculty. UMaine Bioengineering professors are all highly active and accomplished researchers. Research projects have included the development of nanoprobes for detection and imaging of cancer; creation of model cellular membranes for the study of membrane-protein interactions, molecular biosensors for detecting pathogens and toxins, and improving tissue-implant compatibility. Undergraduates are encouraged to participate in projects such as these to gain hands-on experience in the field, either for course credit, or as paid employees.
Students with satisfactory academic standing at the end of their fourth semester may elect to participate in the “Co-Op” program. This fifteen month program involves two fourteen-week sessions of paid, supervised professional experience as a junior engineer. The Co-Op sessions are typically scheduled during alternating semesters of the third year with a semester of coursework between the sessions. Students are able to participate in the Co-Op experience and still graduate in four years by scheduling coursework during a summer term. Participating students must register for six credits which, in general, cannot be substituted for the courses required for the BS degree.
Employment Opportunities
The B.S. degree is suitable for entry-level engineering careers and as preparation for graduate-level study in engineering or scientific disciplines. The degree also serves as an excellent foundation for admission to medical degree programs. For students who wish to pursue advanced postgraduate studies in this area, UMaine also offers a Master of Science degree in Biological Engineering, in addition to a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering through the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences http://gsbs.umaine.edu/
Computers
Students entering the Bioengineering program are required to have a PC-compatible laptop computer capable of running Microsoft Office®, Mathcad®, Labview©, and Solidworks©. Visit the departmental website for recommended configuration details.
Scholarships
Many Bioengineering undergraduates enjoy some degree of scholarship support. The following scholarships are offered on a competitive basis:
Howard D. Bartlett ‘44 and Phyllis White Bartlett ‘45 Scholarship
Charles A. Brautlecht Scholarship
Eileen M. Byrnes Scholarship
Louis Calder Foundation Scholarship
Richard E. Durst Scholarship
S.T. Han Memorial Scholarship
Thomas G. Mangan and John W. Mangan Scholarship
Omar F. and Lenora L. Tarr Memorial Scholarship
The University of Maine The University of Maine
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