Bioengineering

Bioengineering is an interdisciplinary field that applies principles of engineering, biology, and physical sciences to develop technologies that improve health, agriculture, and the environment. By bridging the gap between engineering and life sciences, bioengineering fosters advances that improve quality of life, support sustainable development, and drive innovation in healthcare, agriculture, and biotechnology.

Highlights of bioengineering at Butler include:

• Small classes and faculty mentorship
• Digital technology and AI integration
• 25+ year history of Engineering at Butler through EDDP
• Industry internships in a major metropolitan location
• Undergraduate research
• Community-engaged learning
• Hands-on lab experiences
• Design throughout the curriculum, including a year-long senior design sequence

Program Educational Objectives for Bioengineering

Within 3–5 years of graduation, our alumni will:

• PEO 1. Apply bioengineering principles, technical skills, and a liberal arts foundation to solve complex problems, contribute to innovation, and advance technologies in diverse professional settings including industry, government, and academia.
• PEO 2. Continuously pursue personal and professional development through advanced education, certifications, or self-directed learning in bioengineering or related fields, staying abreast of evolving technologies and global engineering challenges.
• PEO 3. Demonstrate leadership, ethical decision-making, and social responsibility in their professional roles in bioengineering or related fields, contributing to sustainable solutions that benefit communities and address global needs.

Student Learning Outcomes for Bioengineering

Student outcomes for the bioengineering program are:

• 1) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex bioengineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• 2) an ability to apply bioengineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
• 3) an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• 4) an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in bioengineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
• 5) an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
• 6) an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions, and
• 7) an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Curriculum

The Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering degree curriculum provides a strong background in core engineering and science courses with an emphasis on:

• Conservation engineering
• Biomaterials
• Biomechanics
• Bioinstrumentation
• System design

The bioengineering program requires 128 semester credit hours for graduation. Topics cover 39 credits of general math/science, 12 credits of core engineering coursework, and an additional 50 hours of major-specific requirements.

To graduate, students must complete all required engineering courses with a GPA of 2.0 or better, demonstrating mastery of key competencies aligned with the program’s outcomes.

Sample Four-Year Plan