Biomedical Engineering versus chemical engineering

mustang06333 · 08-12-2006, 05:15 PM

I am interested in both chemical engineering and biomedical engineering, but I am having trouble with choosing between the two majors. What are the Pros/Cons of each of the majors?

toronto_guy · 08-12-2006, 06:08 PM

I would suggest an undergrad of ME or EE and then taking BME at the grad level. I think that EE is probably the most applicable to BME but this will depend on your ultimate area of research. However, if you are interested in BME I would suggest you go into medicine for all the effort either after BME or as co-studies in the MD program.

Puppetzz · 08-12-2006, 09:21 PM

go for EE and then take biomed classes. EE is alot more versatile then Biomed

pippyvan · 08-12-2006, 10:30 PM

EE is versatile if you want to research in medical devices in biomed. However, biomed is a huge field encompassing many concentrations (some more bio based than engineering).

Even going BME for undergrad and BME for grad and concentrating in medical devices is fine. You may just have to take some EE/ME classes as a grad student. If you go EE/ME for undergrad and then BME for grad, you will definitely have to take bio classes as a grad student. However, bio classes are easier than engineering classes IMHO, i wouldn't really want to take many EE/ME classes as a grad student.

aswat12389 · 08-12-2006, 10:45 PM

If you wish to go to grad school in a different area than you studied undergrad, you will likely have to take some "catch up classes." I personaly plan on doing EE undergrad and then possibly BioMed in grad school, but that may still change...

nshah9617 · 08-13-2006, 12:37 AM

I love how EE pops into the question even though mustang never mentions it

The general consesus is that go into a core engineering field (ChemE for you) and pursue BME in graduate school.

BME is a relatively new field and hasn't officially found its place in the real world. ChemE has been tried and proved, making it a very versatile major no matter what your goals are.

s1185 · 08-13-2006, 01:04 AM

Generally, ChemE at the undergraduate level will give you better options than BME. But this varies from program to program. See Avoid bioengineering, if you can!

scorp · 08-13-2006, 01:58 AM

What if the guy wants to do biocomputation, would you suggest that he does EE? Come on guys.

M4gici4n · 08-13-2006, 07:24 AM

Hey guys also: Difference between computer engineering and EE? was wondering

mustang06333 · 08-14-2006, 02:05 AM

I would like to personally thank you all for your great advice. I am a student at Uconn, and I was thinking of majoring in biomedical engineering after I spoke to Dr. John Enderle, who is the director of BME at Uconn. I was fascinated by the overall quality of the program as well as the fact that Dr. Enderle wrote the introductory text commonly used in the field. However, upon further analysis of the field, I have come across one major dilemma- where am I going to get a job with a degree in biomedical engineering! I think I would be forced to live in a very populated area, and even then, I think I will have trouble finding a job. (Note: I am not overly concerned about salary, but finding a job would be nice!) Biotechnology is in a nascent stage of growth. My best guess is that this could be the next big field, and probable will be. But, a degree in chemical engineering will allow me to get into the biotech field, as well as give me something to fall back on. I think at this point that I will go into Chemical Engineering

Best Regards,

mustang06333

cherrybarry · 08-14-2006, 01:03 PM

keep in mind that there are often BME concentrations or even biochemical degrees within chemE so if you planned to go to grad school, the
chemE--->BME transition is not too difficult.

Carthaginian · 08-20-2006, 03:25 AM

get the chem engr degree b.s. (which is enough to "guarantee" you a job) then if you want biotech then get a masters in biotech (which you'll need for a job in that field anyway).

also, you'll find that many professors wrote the book they teach from (and a lot of them are poorly written)...it's not as impressive as it may sound to you.

biotech will likely be the next big learning curve in engineering which makes it a great field if you want to do research. If you are looking for a comfortable career outside of research, chemical engineering has more to offer currently. It also is much more flexible and leverageable into other fields if you decide neither is where you wish to end up.

Carth

bigndude · 08-20-2006, 03:34 PM

mustang I also go to UConn and am in the BME program. Didn't Enderle tell you that our program has nearly a 100% job placement rate upon graduation? There are jobs all over the place in the field, but whatever company you do get a job for will most likely send you to grad school so you can be of more use to them.

scorp · 08-20-2006, 05:44 PM

no no bigndude there are no BME jobs out there, stop the propoganda. You are brainwashing the masses. Let them study something more exciting.

</sarcasm>

Musikalgeak · 08-30-2006, 12:44 PM

At most colleges, if you take BioMed, you're going to have a lot of courses in Chemical engineering, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Princeton actually has a BioMed track through Chemical Engineering. It ultimately depends on the schools you look at. What I am doing is comparing all the course catalogs from MIT, Princeton, Uof Hartford, Worcester Polytech, Rensselaer and Brown.