EDUCO Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Graduates with a degree in biochemistry will be well prepared for employment, graduate study in biochemistry or other chemistry-related fields, or professional school. Biochemists are employed in research, quality control, design, sales and management. Many graduates pursue masters and doctoral degrees in biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and in other life science fields. A biochemistry degree is excellent preparation for medical school and related fields, and also for careers in business, law or education.

The curriculum at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology provides a rigorous introduction to all subdisciplines of chemistry along with biochemistry and applied biology. Students have access to modern instrumentation along with a well-equipped biochemistry lab. Rose-Hulman students are introduced to modern computational methods beginning in the sophomore year. There are many opportunities for research or other individual projects, and students are encouraged to present their results at regional and national chemistry conferences. Close interaction with engineering departments provides students with a point of view not available at most other undergraduate institutions.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to have by the time of graduation.

• An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data.
• An ability to recognize the professional and ethical responsibilities of a biochemist.
• An ability to communicate effectively in presentations and reports.
• An ability to use the scientific method to investigate biochemical systems.
• An ability to conduct biochemistry in both academic and industrial settings.

The twenty-first century will see unparalleled advances in the biological sciences. Disciplines such as biology and biomedical engineering are burgeoning and will greatly impact the way we live in the future. The areas of functional genomics and proteomics will drive discoveries in molecular medicine, gene therapy and tissue engineering. Drug discovery will be facilitated by the elucidation of new target molecules and many pharmaceutical compounds will be produced using biological processes. Environmental management, remediation and restoration will also benefit from advances in biology. Biologists will be at the forefront of these advances and will drive the medical, agricultural, environmental and industrial applications of biological sciences.

The biology program will produce biologists with the chemistry, mathematics, and physics background needed to solve biotechnological problems in the coming decades. Those students wishing to strengthen their engineering skills can earn the area minor in biomedical engineering. Other students may choose to pursue a second major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The program will prepare graduates for professional careers in government and industrial research laboratories, and in the biotechnology and health-related industries.

Those wishing to continue their studies in graduate or health professions programs will be exceptionally well qualified to do so.

Biology Learning Objectives

Upon graduation, Rose-Hulman Biology students will be able to

• Identify questions of interest to the scientific community.
• Develop and implement a strategy to answer open-ended questions or achieve a goal through scientific investigation or experimentation.
• Develop evidence-based conclusions through a process of informed evaluation and judgement.
• Communicate with a range of audiences through a variety of media.
• Demonstrate integrity with respect to ethical and professional responsibilities.
• Exhibit growth as a person and professional using appropriate learning strategies.
• Use examples from molecules to ecosystems to illustrate core concepts of biology.

An increasing number of problems in the biological sciences are being solved using sophisticated mathematical and computational tools. The biomathematics degree blends mathematics, biology, and computer science in preparation for continued graduate studies and for careers in the quantitative life sciences. The degree's mission is to provide a world class undergraduate education in applied mathematics used in support of the life sciences.

The degree's mission is supported and motivated by these facts:

• Biological data is being generated with unprecedented precision and in unfathomable volumes.
• Quantifying biological observations requires mathematical and statistical analysis.
• The basic principles of complex biological systems support mathematical and computational modeling, which can lead to testable hypotheses and new discoveries.

PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The biomathematics degree will provide a broad based undergraduate experience that

• Prepares students with a rigorous education in applied mathematics,
• Educates students in the fundamental principles of biology,
• Trains students to work in a computational arena,
• Introduces students to several of the sister disciplines of computational biology, mathematical biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, and biostatistics,
• Guides students through an advanced undergraduate research project. The degree will also liberally educate students through the study of the humanities and social sciences. Students of the program will be encouraged to participate in external and internal research programs and industrial internships and/or co-ops.

Biomedical engineers use science, engineering, and mathematics to understand and solve medical problems. We focus on improving people’s quality of life. Biomedical engineers who specialize in biomechanics design and analyze biological systems or medical devices that have to do with forces, stresses, and strains. This includes studying the motions of bodies or joints, fluid flow, the deformation of tissues or materials, and the transport of molecules and chemicals through tissues and across membranes.

Biomedical engineers who specialize in bioinstrumentation use electronics and signal analysis to take measurements from and deliver stimuli to living cells and tissues. Examples include cochlear implants, pacemakers, and patient monitoring equipment. Biomedical engineers who specialize in biomaterials design and study materials to replace, repair, and interact with cells and tissues in the body. Examples include metal, ceramic, polymer, or tissue-engineered implants; these implants can be permanent or biodegradable. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that jobs for biomedical engineers will increase by 23% between the years 2014 and 2024.

Biomedical Engineering Student Outcomes

By the time students graduate with an undergraduate Biomedical Engineering degree from Rose-Hulman, they will have:

• An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
• 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
• An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
• 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
• 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
• An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
• An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Graduates with a degree in chemistry will be well prepared for employment, graduate study in a chemistry-related field, or professional school. Chemists are employed in research, quality control, design, sales and management. Many graduates pursue masters and doctoral degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, materials science, or environmental science, among others. A chemistry degree is excellent preparation for medical school and related fields, and also for careers in business, law or education.

The curriculum at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology provides a rigorous introduction to all subdisciplines of chemistry. Students have access to modern instrumentation, a new biochemistry lab, and a new environmental chemistry lab. Rose-Hulman students are introduced to modern computational methods beginning in the sophomore year. There are many opportunities for research or other individual projects, and students are encouraged to present their results at regional and national chemistry conferences. Close interaction with engineering departments provides students with a point of view not available at most other undergraduate institutions.

Students may broaden their education by choosing a minor or second major. Many students, including chemistry majors, may be interested in a second major or minor in biochemistry and molecular biology. Other common choices include biology, chemical engineering and mathematics.

Student Outcomes

Student Outcomes are statements that describe what students are expected to have by the time of graduation.

• An ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data.
• An ability to recognize the professional and ethical responsibilities of a chemist.
• An ability to communicate effectively in presentations and reports.
• An ability to use the scientific method to investigate chemical systems.
• An ability to conduct chemistry in both academic and industrial settings.