Program Overview

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Biological Engineering (BS): Agricultural Engineering Concentration

The Biological Engineering (BS) program with an Agricultural Engineering Concentration is a joint effort between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering. This program combines the fields of engineering, biology, chemistry, and agriculture to provide students with a comprehensive education in biological engineering.

Overview

The Biological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Graduates of this program are qualified to become registered professional engineers by passing the appropriate examinations and completing the engineering experience requirements.

Plan Requirements

The plan of study for the Biological Engineering (BS) program with an Agricultural Engineering Concentration includes the following courses:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CH 101: Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 (3 hours)
    • CH 102: General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (1 hour)
    • E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 (1 hour)
    • E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments (1 hour)
    • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research 2 (4 hours)
    • MA 141: Calculus I 1 (4 hours)
    • Select one of the following: (3 hours)
      • ARE 201: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
      • ARE 201A: Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
      • EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics
      • EC 205: Fundamentals of Economics
  • Spring Semester:
    • Select one of the following: (4 hours)
      • CH 201 & CH 202: Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
      • CH 220 & CH 222: Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab
      • CH 221 & CH 222: Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab
    • MA 241: Calculus II 1 (4 hours)
    • PY 205 & PY 206: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 (4 hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 200: Computer Methods in Biological Engineering (2 hours)
    • CE 214 or MAE 206: Engineering Mechanics-Statics 2 or Engineering Statics (3 hours)
    • MA 242: Calculus III (4 hours)
    • PY 208 & PY 209: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory (4 hours)
    • BIO 181 or BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 202: Introduction to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Methods (4 hours)
    • CE 215 or MAE 208: 2 or Engineering Dynamics (3 hours)
    • MA 341: Applied Differential Equations I (3 hours)
    • MAE 201: Thermal-Fluid Sciences (3 hours)
    • PB 321 or SSC 200: Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology or Soil Science (3 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 325: Introductory Geomatics (3 hours)
    • BAE 302: Transport Phenomena (3 hours)
    • BAE 305: Biological Engineering Circuits (4 hours)
    • CE 282 or MAE 308: Hydraulics or Fluid Mechanics (3 hours)
    • ENG 331 or ENG 333: Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 401: Sensors and Controls (3 hours)
    • BAE 361: Analytical Methods in Engineering Design (3 hours)
    • ST 370: Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3 hours)
    • CE 225 or MAE 214: Mechanics of Solids or Solid Mechanics (3 hours)
    • Advanced Biology Elective (3 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 451: Engineering Design I (2 hours)
    • BAE 462: Machinery Design and Applications (3 hours)
    • Select one of the following: (3 hours)
      • IDS 201: Environmental Ethics
      • STS 301: Science and Civilization
      • STS 304: Ethical Dimensions of Progress
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 452: Engineering Design II (2 hours)
    • BAE 481: Structures & Environment (3 hours)
    • BAE 488: Postharvest Engineering (3 hours)
    • BAE 322 or BAE 371: Introduction to Food Process Engineering or Fundamentals of Hydrology for Engineers (3 hours)

Advanced Biology Elective

The following courses are available as Advanced Biology Electives:

• FS 462: Postharvest Physiology (3 hours)
• FS 562: Postharvest Physiology (3 hours)
• HS 462: Postharvest Physiology (3 hours)
• HS 562: Postharvest Physiology (3 hours)
• MB 351: General Microbiology (3 hours)
• SSC 332: Environmental Soil Microbiology (3 hours)

Semester Sequence

A sample semester sequence for the Biological Engineering (BS) program with an Agricultural Engineering Concentration is provided below:

• First Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • CH 101: Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 (3 hours)
    • CH 102: General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (1 hour)
    • E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1 (1 hour)
    • E 115: Introduction to Computing Environments (1 hour)
    • ENG 101: Academic Writing and Research 1 (4 hours)
    • MA 141: Calculus I 1 (4 hours)
    • Select one of the following: (3 hours)
      • EC 201: Principles of Microeconomics
      • EC 205: Fundamentals of Economics
      • BAET 201: Shop Processes and Management
  • Spring Semester:
    • Chemistry Elective (4 hours)
    • MA 241: Calculus II 1 (4 hours)
    • PY 205: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 (3 hours)
    • PY 206: Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory (1 hour)
    • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
• Second Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 200: Computer Methods in Biological Engineering (2 hours)
    • MAE 206 or CE 214: Engineering Statics 1 or Engineering Mechanics-Statics (3 hours)
    • MA 242: Calculus III (4 hours)
    • PY 208: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II (3 hours)
    • PY 209: Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory (1 hour)
    • BIO 181 or BIO 183: Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology (4 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 202: Introduction to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Methods (4 hours)
    • MAE 208: Engineering Dynamics 1 (3 hours)
    • MA 341: Applied Differential Equations I (3 hours)
    • MAE 201: Thermal-Fluid Sciences (3 hours)
    • SSC 200: Soil Science (3 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 325: Introductory Geomatics (3 hours)
    • BAE 302: Transport Phenomena (3 hours)
    • MAE 308 or CE 282: Fluid Mechanics 1 or Hydraulics (3 hours)
    • BAE 305: Biological Engineering Circuits (4 hours)
    • ENG 331 or ENG 333: Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 401: Sensors and Controls (3 hours)
    • BAE 361: Analytical Methods in Engineering Design (3 hours)
    • MAE 214 or CE 225: Solid Mechanics 1 or Mechanics of Solids (3 hours)
    • ST 370: Probability and Statistics for Engineers (3 hours)
    • Advanced Biology Elective (3 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall Semester:
    • BAE 451: Engineering Design I (2 hours)
    • BAE 462: Machinery Design and Applications (3 hours)
    • GEP Health and Exercise Studies (1 hour)
    • Ethics (3 hours)
    • GEP Humanities (3 hours)
    • GEP Social Sciences (3 hours)
  • Spring Semester:
    • BAE 452: Engineering Design II (2 hours)
    • BAE 488: Postharvest Engineering (3 hours)
    • BAE 481: Structures & Environment (3 hours)
    • BAE Elective (3 hours)
    • GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives (2 hours)
    • GEP Elective (3 hours)

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Biological Engineering (BS) program with an Agricultural Engineering Concentration are qualified for positions in design, development, and research in industry, government, and public institutions. The curriculum also prepares students for post-graduate work leading to advanced degrees.

Typical positions filled by recent graduates include:

• Stream and wetlands restoration project manager
• Product designer
• Development and testing engineer
• Plant engineering and management
• Engineering analyst and inspector for federal and state agencies
• Engineering consultant
• Research engineer

Entry-level salary ranges for Biological Engineering graduates are similar to those of Civil, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering graduates.

Career Titles

• Stream and wetlands restoration project manager
• Product designer
• Development and testing engineer
• Plant engineering and management
• Engineering analyst and inspector for federal and state agencies
• Engineering consultant
• Research engineer