What curriculum differences are important enough to choose one engineering department over another?

The most important deciding factor is whether the curriculum lets you study fields relevant to your future interests in sufficient depth and whether its way of learning suits you. Compare the balance of required and elective courses, the emphasis on foundations such as mathematics and programming, the amount of laboratory work, practical training, design and fabrication, and the graduation project, as well as room for interdisciplinary study. Look beyond course titles to the study plan and prerequisites to see whether you can progress realistically toward your preferred specialization.