What is the difference between bioengineering and biochemical engineering

Some biomedical engineers work primarily in the research and development of new engineering solutions, while others install and maintain these technologies in medical facilities and train health care professionals in their use. Subspecialties within the field of biomedical engineering include biomechanics, clinical engineering, bioinstrumentation, systems physiology, and rehabilitation engineering.

The biomedical engineering subspecialties most similar to chemical engineering are biochemical engineering and biomaterials. Engineers who specialize in biomaterials work with the materials that are used as medical implants or to build medical devices, according to the BLS. However, there is a good deal of variance in the salaries in this field.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers working in navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments manufacturing earned the most money in , with the BLS reporting a six-figure salary for this industry.

About 26, chemical engineers work in America as of , with employment fields such as manufacturing industries seeing the most rapid rise in job growth, the BLS reported. While there is some overlap between the subjects of study in chemical and biomedical engineering curricula and in the potential job duties and work settings of engineers in these fields, there are also important differences. Students debating between these two branches of engineering should give some thought to what they would like to do with their degree and which educational background best fits their strengths and interests.

In terms of the focus on application, chemical engineering is the broader field of study, while biomedical engineering has a narrower focus on medical and health applications. However, in terms of discipline-specific preparation, biomedical engineering is the broader field of study due to its interdisciplinary makeup, while practitioners who are chemical engineers by training approach the field from a background that consists of more extensive study in a more limited area.

Neither degree option is necessarily better or worse than the other. If you prefer to keep your career options open beyond applications that pertain to the health care industry, you might prefer to major in chemical engineering.

However, if you know you want to work in biomedical applications, majoring in biomedical engineering will provide you with a more comprehensive foundation in the different types of engineering principles and practices that apply to this area, without limiting you to the perspective of a single engineering discipline.

In some roles and on some projects in biomedical engineering, practitioners who majored in chemical engineering and biomedical engineering may end up working together and performing many of the same job functions. AD Degreequery. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us.

This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site. Got it! What degree should I get for medical school? Which degree is better: BA or BS? Which degree is better: AA or AS? Chemical Engineering Chemical engineering is the engineering discipline that focuses on using chemistry, physics, biology and mathematical concepts to develop chemical substances that solve problems, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS.

Bioengineering vs. Chemical Engineering Coursework The content of your major coursework will change considerably depending on whether you choose to major in bioengineering or chemical engineering. Biomedical Engineering Curriculum Unlike traditional branches of engineering, including chemical engineering, biomedical engineering is considered an interdisciplinary field. But joining non-STEM extracurriculars, like piano, taekwondo, or tutoring, is also important since it will show colleges that you are well-rounded and have a lot to offer.

Our chancing engine will even offer tips to help you improve your profile! When creating your school list, look at the different courses offered within each major and see if the classes interest you.

After all, you will be at the school for four years, so make sure you are signing up for a degree that is going to be enjoyable, not just work! Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering are not always offered at the same schools.

Below is a list of schools that offer bioengineering and biomedical engineering as majors so that you can narrow your school list. University of California, Los Angeles. Note: these courses were taken from a variety of schools and do not depict courses offered at just one university. As you can see, many of these courses overlap between bioengineering and biomedical engineering since it is important that students in both majors are aware of different biological systems as well as their interactions with one another.

Furthermore, both the bioengineering and biomedical engineering industries function similarly and have comparable processes for approving new technology. In addition to these courses, it is important to get involved in other extracurriculars. Try to join one major related club to gain valuable advice from mentors , one club that gives you experience in engineering, one research lab, and one social club that helps you destress.

For example, you could join a Biomedical Engineering Society, a design team that forces you to think analytically in a biotech setting, an electrical and bioengineering research lab, and a dance team to destress.

There are a multitude of opportunities that exist for people that get either a bioengineering degree or a biomedical engineering degree. Others choose to go directly into industry or research full time. Overall, the job prospects for both types of engineering are plentiful and salaries prove to be competitive. If you are interested in going into industry after college, it is a good idea to attend as many info sessions and career fairs as possible.

Ultimately, different career paths are available for bioengineering and biomedical engineering majors. A bioengineer can work in research, gene therapy, tissue engineering, drug delivery, or pharmaceuticals while a biomedical engineer can work in research or medical devices. With that said, both majors allow for a variety of career options.

It is important to reemphasize that the lines between bioengineering and biomedical engineering are blurred since the fields are so related. I was interested in these two topics, and I actually designed a water recycling system for the first aerospace run, which was tested at UCLA. And it actually worked, to my total amazement. I devised and developed the wick evaporator, so that you could reuse the water in a space capsule. Eventually, I changed my focus from water to biotech, and I have not looked back since.

There are four main engineering fields: chemical, mechanical, electrical and civil. All other engineering fields are derivatives of applications or other areas.

Electrical engineering has subsets like biomedical, and so do mechanical engineering and chemical engineering, so biomedical sort of crosses all of these four areas. And then there is a difference between biomedical engineering and biochemical engineering. Biomedical engineering focuses mainly on health directives and health-related projects. Biochemical engineering does not deal directly with the human body, but may involve other areas that are related to the human body. As I look at it, biochemical engineers are people who design plants for production of drugs, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology products.

Let me give you some examples of some fields that biochemical engineers work on. There are areas that are inside cells. We can use cells whether they are bacteria, fungi, live mammalian cells, or Chinese hamster ovary cells. These cells are production lines.

They make products for you, very valuable products like antibodies and growth hormones for example. The inside metabolic processes of how they work, is a topic heavily evolved by chemical engineers. The other area is how to build a plan to make these materials. That is called biochemical engineering processing.

This field is highly valued. For example, you get high pay if you join one of these biotech companies. I think the other benefits are that you can basically deal with healthcare.