<p>I need help deciding between attending FIU or UCF. I enjoy the UCF campus more than FIU and think that Orlando would be a better fit for me, but FIU offers Biomedical Engineering, which UCF doesn’t. Similar programs that UCF offers are Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology. </p>
<p>Are these degrees really that different? Any advice you guys give me would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>anyone?</p>
<p>It’s the difference between an engineering major (that has to meet the ABET criteria) and a more Biological based major. In other words, the curriculums are very different.</p>
<p>This link shows the required/elective courses for FIU’s program. Notice that the basic “engineering” core classes are required, such as the full Calc series, Physics (w/calc), etc. Then you take engineering courses like Circuits and Applied Mechanics.</p>
<p><a href=“http://catalog.fiu.edu/2013_2014/undergraduate/college-of-engineering-and-computing/biomedical-engineering.pdf”>http://catalog.fiu.edu/2013_2014/undergraduate/college-of-engineering-and-computing/biomedical-engineering.pdf</a></p>
<p>The UCF program falls under the UCF college of medicine (not the college of engineering). </p>
<p><a href=“http://med.ucf.edu/biomed/academics/undergraduate-programs/bs-biotechnology/”>http://med.ucf.edu/biomed/academics/undergraduate-programs/bs-biotechnology/</a></p>
<p>It comes down to your goals. Do you want to do engineering? IF so, with Biomedical engineering you really need a master’s degree to work in the industry. You can take almost any engineering major for your BS and then get your MS in Biomedical engineering, so any engineering program can lead to that path. Is your goal medical school? If so, either program would work for you, the Biomedical engineering program wouldn’t give you much of an advantage when applying to med schools, vs. the Biomedical sciences major. </p>
<p>Review the courses required for each major, that may help you determine which one to pursue.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>