Program Overview

Agricultural Engineering Program

The Agricultural Engineering (AE) program at Purdue University is highly ranked and offers a practical curriculum, providing excellent career opportunities in stable industries. The program prepares students for critically needed positions over the next 50 years.

Program Description

Agricultural engineers apply their knowledge of agricultural systems, natural resources, and engineering to equipment design and environmental compatibility. The AE curriculum offers great breadth, with specialization choices in Machine Systems Engineering and Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering. Subject areas include:

• Computer-aided engineering
• Fluid power
• Finite element analysis
• Natural resource conservation
• Engineering properties of biological materials

Career Opportunities

Excellent career opportunities exist in:

• Product engineering
• Equipment research and design
• Facilities design
• Environmental consulting
• Engineering management

Environmental & Natural Resources Major

Environmental and economic sustainability are key to the future. The Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering (ENRE) program at Purdue University helps prepare students to meet this challenge. In ENRE, students learn about:

• Ecosystem processes
• Human activities affecting complex systems
• Designing sustainable solutions
• Background in chemistry and biology to understand environmental contaminants

Program Description

ENRE applies basic engineering principles and technological approaches, such as:

• Geographical information systems
• Finite element analysis
• Sensor design
• Hydrologic modeling
• Soil and water remediation to solve challenges related to:
• Soil and plant environments
• Surface and ground water quality
• Air quality
• Animal environments
• Food safety

Career Opportunities

ENRE training prepares graduates for careers in:

• Federal, state, and local government
• Engineering consulting firms
• Industry
• Graduate study opportunities

Agricultural Engineering Major

The Agricultural Engineering major prepares professional engineers for rewarding careers focusing on systems, processes, and machines used to generate or utilize energy, food, and water.

Program Description

The program provides students with a background in:

• Mechanical design
• Hydraulics
• Instrumentation and control
• Finite element analysis
• Electronics and sensors to design, develop, analyze, and operate machines and systems for:
• Agricultural and biological products and processes
• Materials handling
• Construction and mining
• Forestry
• Lawn-and ground-care
• Food and fiber production and processing

Specializations

The program offers specializations in:

• Machine Systems Engineering
• Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering

Research Areas

Research areas include:

• Agricultural systems
• Natural resources
• Engineering
• Environmental compatibility
• Ecosystem processes
• Human activities affecting complex systems
• Sustainable solutions
• Soil and plant environments
• Surface and ground water quality
• Air quality
• Animal environments
• Food safety