The bachelor of science in bioengineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Bioengineering and Biomedical and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
“Our approach, the criteria and processes we use, and the quality we guarantee inspire confidence in the programs we accredit, whose graduates are building a world that’s safer, more efficient, more comfortable, and more sustainable.” – ABET
Accreditation Details
Mission of the BS in Bioengineering
The mission of the Bioengineering Department at Mason is to create new knowledge and technology at the interface between engineering and bioscience to improve human health through research and education. To accomplish this mission, the primary goals of the department are:
- To provide a challenging and rewarding multidisciplinary education to our students;
- To establish and conduct nationally-recognized research programs in bioengineering;
- To serve the University as a nexus for opportunities at the interface of engineering and biomedicine; and
- To foster links with nearby public and private sector laboratories and organizations to collaborate on research and development projects, promote biomedical technology transfer, and establish training and internships for students.
Program Educational Objectives
Graduates of the Bioengineering bachelor’s program are expected within 3-5 years of graduation to:
- Contribute to the development of engineering technologies and/or solutions for improvement of human health and health care in diverse populations.
- Engage in professional and leadership development activities, advanced degree programs, and/or other post-graduate opportunities.
- Communicate and perform effectively as members and/or leaders of multidisciplinary teams.
- Understand the ethical and social implications and consequences of their work.
Student Outcomes
Our student outcomes above are a combination of the general 1) through 7) requirements, and the program-based criteria for Bioengineering (indicated in bold). Performance indicators are defined for the different outcomes:
By the time of graduation, students will have demonstrated the following:
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex bio/biomedical engineering problems, including those associated with the interaction between living and non-living systems, by applying principles of engineering, science (including biology, human physiology, chemistry, and calculus-based physics), and mathematics (including calculus, differential equations, and statistics).
a. Identifies bio/biomedical engineering problems and gathers relevant information
b. Applies an appropriate combination of mathematical, scientific and engineering techniques to formulate the engineering problem to be solved
c. Applies an appropriate combination of mathematical, scientific and engineering knowledge to solve the problem
2. An ability to apply engineering 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
a. Identifies and articulates problems and needs
b. Understands design requirements taking into consideration relevant constraints, standards, and regulations
c. Uses appropriate engineering and computational tools in the design process
d. Tests and evaluates their design objectively
e. Considers public health, safety, and welfare; as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors in the design process
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
a. Writes clear reports appropriate for the given audience
b. Delivers clear oral presentations appropriate for the given audience
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
a. Understands their ethical and professional responsibility as engineers
b. Recognizes the potential impact of their profession on global, environmental, economic, and societal issues
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
a. Participates in the establishment of goals and work plans
b. Contributes to the development of a collaborative team environment
c. Encourages an inclusive team environment
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data from physical and living systems, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
a. Designs experiments, taking into account variability when planning measurements from living systems
b. Conducts experiments safely and effectively
c. Analyzes and interprets data thoughtfully and critically
d. Uses engineering judgement to draw conclusions
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
a. Seeks out relevant information on their own to solve an unfamiliar problem
b. Integrates information gathered from multiple sources to solve an unfamiliar problem
c. Recognizes the need for life-long learning
Licensure Disclosure
This program has been identified by George Mason University as one that may lead to a career requiring professional licensure/certification. Federal regulations require Mason to disclose information as to whether this program meets/does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in your state, or whether such a determination has not been made. Please consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.”