University introduces online master's degree in bioengineering

University introduces online master's degree in bioengineering

Although higher education may lead to increased salaries and decreased rates of unemployment, college tuition can be a very large investment. In order for students to get their money's worth for their education, many learners are choosing to study fields that are highly profitable. For example, bioengineers have some of the highest starting salaries among bachelor's degree holders, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Bioengineers who wish to advance in their careers may benefit from enrolling in an online master's degree program. The Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland's Clark School of Engineering may be one option, as school officials recently announced that they will offer an online master's degree that is designed for industry professionals.

"Long before recent news articles listed bioengineers as one of the highest demand jobs for the next decade, we saw the signs and began the process to create this new master's program to meet the national need for exceptionally skilled engineering and technology professionals," said William Bentley, Robert E. Fischell distinguished professor and chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering.

The new program will serve professionals who are employed in chemical and materials, electronics and devices, defense and security industries, biotechnology as well as healthcare. It may also benefit those who work in federal agencies such as the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization.

According to the BLS, engineers held approximately 1.5 million jobs during the 2008 fiscal year.

By Mark Danson