AMES, Iowa — As new career paths emerge, colleges and universities are making sure they are keeping up with demand.
That's why new programs are being implemented and considered at Iowa State University.
Increasing student interests have led to the Iowa Board of Regents to add curriculum and new programs to Iowa State University, including fall 2023’s brand new biomedical engineering program.
The regents approved the program in February.
Now, the first ISU biomed engineering cohort this fall has 50 students.
"Biomedical engineering was actually the most sought-after degree for incoming prospects and so we were getting a lot of information from the registrar that this is something students wanted," said Ian Schneider, a professor and the program director for the Biomed Engineering major.
Schneider said the addition of the major not only benefits students.
"Having more biomedical engineers in this state helps Iowans,” Schneider said.
New programs often draw in students who otherwise might have chosen a different college, like Sydney Bonnstetter.
"I think it's just really important to kind of nurture people's passions,” Bonnstetter said. “Because I feel like I’m the type of person where I need to be passionate about what I do and to have the opportunity to do biomedical engineering compared to another branch of engineering, it's allowing me to nurture my passion for innovation."
Other academic additions will soon be coming to ISU as well, with the $1.5 million Degrees of the Future initiative.
There are currently six Degrees of the Future planned.
They are Digital Health, Digital Storytelling, Game Design, Integrated Health Sciences, Precision Agriculture and a Master of Finance and Technology.
The six proposed programs focus a lot on digital and technological advances, something initiative leader and associate provost for academic programs Ann Marie VanDerZanden said will meet student interests and career expectations.
"How do we just continually review and update and make it so it is contemporary and is meeting workforce demands?” VanDerZanden said. “We know that the workforce is continuing to change, and we as an institution are working hard to create those programs that will support those needs."
Other new programs and Degrees of the Future are planned to be introduced in the coming semesters and academic years.