New Degree Program Proposal and Notice of Intent:
B.S. in Biomedical Sciences
School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences
University of Washington Tacoma
November 21, 2014
Catalog Copy
The Biomedical Sciences major immerses students in an exploration of topics in the life sciences including cell biology, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, and physiology, as they are applied to the science of human health. Through rigorous coursework and ample opportunities for research or clinical experiences, students will be prepared for (1) advanced training at the graduate or professional level, i.e. M.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.O., O.D., P.A., D.P.M., Pharm.D., or D.V.M.; and (2) employment in biomedical careers, such as clinical and research laboratories in private industry or public agencies (regional, state, federal), or other areas such as law and business that bridge with biology.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction and Brief Program Description 3
Ia. Projected Enrollment 4
II. Documentation of Need for Program 4
IIa. Student Interest and Demand 5
IIb. Employer Demand 6
III. Fit with Campus and University Mission 7
IV. Effect on Students and Other Programs 7
V. Academic Quality 9
Va. Student Learning Outcomes 9
Vb. Program Assessment Plans 10
VI. Feasibility and Operational Viability 10
VIa. Curriculum 11
VIb. Proposed Faculty Hires 11
VIc. Infrastructure needs 12
VII. Adherence to University and Campus Policies 12
VIII. Appendices: 12
Appendix A: Complete Curricular Requirements 13
Appendix B: Degree Pathways for Biomedical Sciences 15
Appendix C: New Courses to be Submitted with Proposal 16
I. Introduction and Brief Program Description
The University of Washington-Tacoma (UWT) seeks approval to establish a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biomedical Sciences degree program. This interdisciplinary program would be housed in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (IAS) at UWT, and would draw on courses and faculty from IAS as well as the School of Nursing. This degree will complement the existing option in Biology within the Environmental Science degree, vastly expanding the opportunities for students to choose a degree in the life sciences. This new degree will also meet regional student demand while supporting state-wide and national higher education objectives.
The purpose of the proposed degree in Biomedical Sciences is to provide a new four-year course of study at UWT, and especially in IAS, that leads to a B.S. Currently the only natural science B.S. degree offered at UWT is in Environmental Science. The proposed course of study in Biomedical Sciences will allow students to fulfill undergraduate course requirements for admission to medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, and other health- and science-related graduate or professional schools. We expect this curriculum to attract new students to UWT, thereby advancing UWT’s plans for growth in a way that also advances institutional objectives of streamlining existing resources. The degree program would serve the important function of deepening existing course offerings and institutional expertise in areas in which UWT already has noted expertise and distinction, while also expanding the opportunity for students to engage in authentic scientific research and experiential learning.
The new degree program would serve existing UWT students who are interested in the life sciences and biomedical- and health-related careers. Currently these students are accommodated only by a pre-medical, -dental, -veterinary, -pharmacy (pre-MDVP) program consisting solely of preparatory courses, therefore these students lack a major to serve as their academic home and to provide support during their undergraduate career. Importantly, this new major will also attract a new and diverse group of students to UWT and higher education. Graduates of this proposed program will be prepared to pursue a wide range of careers related to medicine and biomedical sciences. Students will be prepared to pursue graduate education or certification, leading to employment in medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, clinical or basic life science research and/or education, genetic counseling, public health, and many other related fields.
In brief, UWT seeks approval for a new program of study towards a B.S. that develops students’ critical analysis and research skills while preparing them for careers in the biomedical sciences. In their 2014 study of Popular and High-Growth Degree Fields[1] prepared for UWT, the Hanover Research group reports that majors related to health care are among the fastest-growing bachelor’s degrees, both regionally as well as nationally. The proposed degree will primarily draw on and integrate existing curricula across the campus, including those in the Division of Sciences and Mathematics and the School of Nursing, while providing the opportunity for IAS to expand its faculty expertise into cutting-edge fields of biomedical research.
Overall, the proposed B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences will support UWT’s strategic plan by attracting new students to fuel the projected growth of the campus, by expanding Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) offerings at UWT to meet societal needs, and by promoting the development of stronger links between UWT and its surrounding community.
Ia. Projected Enrollment
The proposed 137-credit degree program is anticipated to attract 20 full-time equivalent (FTE) students taking introductory course work by the end of the preparatory year (Spring 2016), and admit 40 by the end of the first official year of the major (Fall 2016-Spring 2017). These initial enrollment numbers are a conservative estimate based on the enrollment in Biochemistry (14-17 students/year) and Organic Chemistry (full at 20 students/year). Both of these courses are pre-requisites for MDVP professional schools but are not required for any Bachelor’s degree at UW-Tacoma. Data from the Hanover Research Report allow for a better estimate of demand: the report indicates that 4.2% of students at comparable institutions pursue degrees in the biological sciences[2]. With 3600 undergraduate FTE students currently at UWT, this would translate into 150 total majors in the proposed Biomedical Sciences degree at our present size. In the longer term (up to 7 years), the proposed degree program is expected to grow to a total enrollment of 240-300 students and generate ca. 60 graduates/year. This projection supports UWT’s strategic growth plan of enrolling 7000 students by 2020.
Academic Year / Students admitted / Total enrollment / Tenured/tenure track faculty / Lecturers2014-2015 / 0 / 0 / Request two hires: Neurobiologist and Epidemiologist
2015-2016 / 20 (pre-majors) / 20 / Search for Neurobiologist and Epidemiologist / Hire one half-time lecturer equivalent to partially cover 20 FTE increased demand for intro courses
2016-2017 / 40 (first official majors) / 60 / Neurobiologist and Epidemiologist begin work; request Microbiology and Genetics/Genomics
2017-2018 / 60 / 120 / Search for Microbiology and Genetics/Genomics / Hire one full time lecturer equivalent
2018-2019 / 60 (first year that students can graduate) / 180 / Microbiology and Genetics/Genomics begin work
2019-2020 / 60 / 220 / Add additional hires consistent with growth / Add additional hires consistent with growth
II. Documentation of Need for Program
Preparing students for biomedical and health-related careers is intrinsic to UWT’s mission of supporting the surrounding communities. The demand for professionals in these fields is high and is expected to continue to grow. Moreover, degrees in biology and biological sciences are among the fastest-growing Bachelor’s degrees in the nation[3]. UWT plans to expand its total enrollment to 7000 students by the year 2020, representing an FTE increase of 62%. The implementation of this visionary plan will require the creation of new academic programs that will attract and retain students while preparing them for successful careers. A new B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences will be instrumental in achieving this goal.
Moreover, an undergraduate Biomedical Sciences degree at UWT will help satisfy a growing national and regional need for college graduates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In a 2012 report to the President of the United States, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) identifies an urgent necessity to increase the number of college graduates in STEM by 34% to allow the United States to remain at the forefront of research, education, and innovation in these fields[4]. The report states that this goal can be achieved primarily by increasing the retention rates of students entering undergraduate institutions with the intent to major in a STEM field. Two of the overarching recommendations of the report are to 1) involve students (especially sophomores) as much as possible in discovery-based research courses and 2) support faculty in adopting evidence-based teaching practices. In addition, one of the major imperatives that support the report’s recommendations is for academic institutions to “diversify pathways to STEM degrees”, meaning that non-traditional students (“adult and working students and those from backgrounds atypical of traditional STEM students”) should be particularly encouraged to pursue pathways towards a STEM degree[5]. UWT is committed to promoting innovative practices in teaching and learning[6]. Moreover, 65% of first-year students at UWT are first in their family to attend college and 10% receive veteran’s benefits (based on Autumn 2013 enrollment). An undergraduate Biomedical Sciences degree at UWT will provide students with the tools and skills to excel in STEM careers and help achieve the national goals presented in the PCAST report.
IIa. Student Interest and Demand
In the fall of 2011 the Division of Sciences and Mathematics within IAS began offering upper division courses that are required for entry into medical schools: organic chemistry and biochemistry. Student enrollment in these courses indicates that there is an average of 14 students every year who have a strong interest in pre-medical or other pre-professional health programs. In addition, the UWT pre-med student organization currently has 20 members, further indicating a strong interest among certain students for a focused degree in the biomedical sciences that will prepare them for admission to MDVP and other health- and science-related graduate and professional schools. While some students may prefer the broader curriculum provided by the B.S. in Environmental Science, it is anticipated that many students will be attracted to the proposed program, and that enrollment between the two degree programs will eventually reach a balance. One will serve those students who prefer a curriculum that emphasizes conservation biology and ecology within the environmental sciences, and the other will serve those who prefer a greater emphasis on biomedical sciences.
The proposed Biomedical Sciences degree will distinguish itself from the pre-Allied Health degrees offered at nearby community colleges by offering students the opportunity to engage in cutting edge, authentic research in an environment that fosters strong faculty-student mentorship and provides integrative and experiential learning with more specialized upper-division coursework. In the south Puget Sound region, almost all community colleges offer many of the courses required for admission to MDVP and other health- and science-related graduate or professional schools. These courses include introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, physics, and calculus. However, these community colleges do not offer any of the upper-division courses required for admission to most MDVP schools. In addition, the degrees offered by these institutions prepare students for careers in nursing or other Allied Health fields. Therefore, community college students trying to enter MDVP professional or graduate schools are looking for an avenue to complete their pre-MDVP requirements while pursuing a suitable 4-year degree. A Biomedical Sciences degree at UWT would provide these students with such an avenue.
Judging by the current level of student interest in the biological sciences at UW-Bothell and UW-Seattle, it is expected that a Biomedical Sciences degree at UWT will attract many place-bound students to UWT by offering a local academic program that fits their career choices. The Science and Technology Division at UW-Bothell began offering a B.S. degree in Biology in the fall of 2010. Their enrollment trajectory increased from 19 students in the first year (Fall 2010) to 149 students in the fall of 2013. The fall 2013 enrollment data at the UW-Seattle campus show a total of 1400 students majoring in Biology. Of these, 73 students are from the UWT service area. These numbers indicate potential need and student demand for a Biomedical Sciences degree in the south Puget Sound region.
IIb. Employer Demand
Data from the Washington State Employment Security Department clearly indicates the need for citizens educated in the biomedical and health sciences. Between March 2014 and June 2014, the top three employers (by number of employees) in Pierce County were Catholic Health Initiatives, MultiCare Health System, and Franciscan Health System, with a combined total of 5000+ employees. In the neighboring counties of Lewis and Thurston, the top employer (by number of employees) was Providence Health and Services[7]. The Washington State Employment Security Department (WSESD) also reports that one of the top three industry sectors with vacancies was Healthcare and Social Assistance. Coincidentally, this same sector was also in the top three industry sectors with the most hires[8]. In 2013 there were 25,000 unfilled jobs in the State of Washington due to a lack of qualified candidates. Eighty percent of these jobs were in high-demand health-care and STEM fields[9]. Moreover, the United States Department of Labor is projecting an annual growth rate of up to 5% for 2016-2021 in Washington in occupations served by a degree in the Biomedical Sciences[10]. These numbers emphasize the importance of aligning post-secondary degree programs with employment opportunities and the workforce need of local industries. Filling the job skills gap will have a large impact on the economy in the State of Washington.
Due to the military bases in the greater Tacoma area, many students come to UWT after serving in the military. Many of these former or current military personnel have received medical training, for example as Army medics, and wish to extend their training by earning a four-year degree and attending medical or other professional health schools. It is anticipated that providing access to a local degree program in the Biomedical Sciences will attract former military personnel to UWT and encourage and support their transition to employment in the science and health industry.
III. Fit with Campus and University Mission
The University of Washington-Tacoma’s mission is to educate diverse learners and transform communities by expanding the boundaries of knowledge and discovery.[11]
This degree program will help advance this mission by enhancing access to higher education, by catalyzing the formation of a dynamic core of faculty devoted to cutting edge research in the biomedical sciences, and by enhancing the connection between UWT and the communities it serves.