<p>I will be applying to Duke ED this fall, so I was perusing majors when I came across biophysics. On the biophysics page it says the major is for, among other things, "who want to study topics related to biomedical engineering but with the flexibility to take the broader range of courses offered by a liberal arts education." This sounds pretty awesome to me, but I was just wondering if anyone is in it or knows anyone in it, as I can't seem to find a lot of information.</p>
<p>It looks like it’s part of the Physics department, although coursework is in collaboration with the biology and chemistry departments. I don’t know anybody who majored in it, although I do know physics majors. It’s a small department and very tight-knit - lots of opportunities for research. At the same time, it’s a very rigorous and demanding curriculum - certainly not for the faint of heart. While Trinity does allow greater course flexibility than Pratt, you’ll still have some demanding courses. And while they mention the comparison with BME on their page, I don’t think you can equate BME with biophysics at all. </p>
<p>BME is, of course, an *engineering *degree, which makes a big difference. While introductory coursework in biology, chemistry and physics may be similar for the two degrees, the biophysics curriculum requires higher level life science electives while BME, of course, requires more math-intensive engineering coursework, especially later on. However, I’d agree there is some overlap, particularly with some of the research. I studied in a synthetic biology lab with a biochem PhD student under the guidance of a BME professor. There were biology/genetics labs all around us as well. So, while the curriculum and coursework may differ, with electives and research opportunities, there could be some similarities. I’d almost say BME is a broader engineering curriculum, while it appears biophysics research is related to a specific subset of the discipline. Seems a bit more focused.</p>
<p>If you are into physics and biology, but aren’t as into taking courses on circuits/biomechanics/engineering, and want a smaller program, then sounds like biophysics would be a good fit. But, again, I don’t know from personal experience. Hope that helps. Good luck.</p>
<p>[Duke</a> Physics](<a href=“http://www.phy.duke.edu/undergraduate/biophysics/]Duke”>http://www.phy.duke.edu/undergraduate/biophysics/)</p>