Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Department Office: 338 Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building, 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, (217) 333-3570
The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering offers a four-year degree program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering through the College of Engineering that is described below.
The Department also offers a five-year dual degree program through both the College of Engineering and the College of ACES. Students who successfully complete this five-year academic program receive the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering degree from the College of Engineering as well as the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree with a major in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from the College of ACES. Both degree programs are joint between the College of Engineering and the College of ACES with students beginning as new freshmen in the College of ACES.
Curriculum in Agricultural and Biological Engineering
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural and biological engineering is the application of mathematics, physical and biological science, and engineering to agriculture, food systems, energy, natural resources, the environment, and related biological systems. This ABET-accredited program has special emphasis on environmental protection and the biological interface of plants, animals, soils, and microorganisms with the design and performance of environments, machines, mechanisms, processes, and structures.
Concentrations
The agricultural and biological engineering program provides two concentrations: Agricultural Engineering and Biological Engineering. Each concentration has specific areas of specialization related to career interest.
Agricultural Engineering Concentration
The B.S. Degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering provides a concentration in Agricultural Engineering. This concentration includes the integration of physical and biological sciences as a foundation for engineering applications in agriculture, food systems, energy, natural resources, the environment, and related biological systems. Students pursuing this concentration are involved in the design of systems for renewable energy, off-road equipment, water quality, and the utilization and protection of soil and water resources. Important design constraints are economics, conservation of materials and energy, safety, and environmental quality. Within this concentration, students are strongly encouraged to select a set of coherent courses that constitutes a specialization in their area of career interest either from the following list or a customized area chosen in consultation with an advisor:
- Renewable energy Systems
- Off-Road Equipment Engineering
- Soil and Water Resources Engineering
Biological Engineering Concentration
The B.S. Degree in Agricultural and Biological Engineering also provides a concentration in Biological Engineering. This concentration integrates biology and engineering to provide solutions to problems related to living systems (plants, animals, and microorganisms). Engineered biological systems vary widely in scale. At the molecular level, nanometer-scale devices consist of a few biomolecules inside individual cells. At the other extreme, regionally-scaled complex ecosystems depend upon multiple species of interacting living organisms. Such systems are becoming increasingly important in areas such as bioenergy, bioprocessing, nanotechnology, biosensing, bio-informatics, and bioenvironment. Within this concentration, students are strongly encouraged to select a set of coherent courses that constitutes a specialization in their area of career interest either from the following list or a customized area chosen in consultation with an advisor:
- Bioenvironmental Engineering
- Ecological Engineering
- Food and Bioprocess Engineering
- Nanoscale Biological Engineering
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation. The curriculum is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources that your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 1 | ABE 100—Agric & Biological Engrg1 |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 1 | Total |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I1 |
| 2 | MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 34 | Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of agricultural and biological engineering and the background for the technical courses and electives in each student's concentration.
For Both Concentrations
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 141 - ABE Principles: Biological |
| 2 | ABE 223—ABE Principles: Machine Syst |
| 2 | ABE 224—ABE Principles: Soil & Water |
| 2 | ABE 225—ABE Principles: Bioenvironment |
| 2 | ABE 226—ABE Principles: Bioprocessing |
| 2 | ABE 430—Project Management |
| 4 | ABE 469—Industry-Linked Design Project |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 3 | GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or TAM 211—Statics1 |
| 3 | TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics |
| 30 | Subtotal for both concentrations. See additional technical core requirements below. |
For the Agricultural Engineering Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CEE 202—Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or IE 300—Analysis of Data or ABE 440—Applied Statistical Methods I1 or STAT 400—Statistics and Probability I1 |
| 1 | ECE 206—Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 3 | TAM 251—Introductory Solid Mechanics |
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory Fluid Mechanics or CHBE 421—Momentum and Heat Transfer or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 14 | Subtotal |
| 44 | Total for the Agricultural Engineering Concentration |
1. The extra hour of credit for this course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
For the Biological Engineering Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | ABE 341—Transport Processes in ABE |
| 4 | CHBE 321—Thermodynamics |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I 1 |
| 4 | MCB 150— Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 14 | Subtotal |
| 44 | Total for the Biological Engineering Concentration |
Technical Electives
This elective course work must be completed to fulfill each Concentration. The subjects build upon the agricultural and biological engineering technical core.
For the Agricultural Engineering Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Biological and natural sciences electives chosen from a departmentally approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives – Group A
|
| 15 | Technical electives chosen in consultation with an advisor. At least 8 hours must be Agricultural and Biological Engineering Technical Electives – Group A, and the remainder approved Other Technical Electives – Group A. |
| 21 | Total |
For the Biological Engineering Concentration
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Biological and natural sciences electives chosen from a departmentally approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives – Group B
|
| 15 | Technical electives chosen in consultation with an advisor. At least 8 hours must be Agricultural and Biological Engineering Technical Electives - Group B, and the remainder approved Other Technical Electives – Group B |
| 21 | Total |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles1 |
| 3 | Electives from the campus General Education social & behavioral sciences list. |
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education humanities & the arts list. |
| 6 | Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. |
| 18 | Total |
1. ECON 102 or ACE 100 may be substituted by petition.
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition (satisfied by completing ABE 469 in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Technical Core) | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
|
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows for each concentration is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken. Refer to the appropriate sequence below for each concentration.
For the Agricultural Engineering Concentration
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 1 | ABE 100—Intro Agric & Biological Engrg |
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 3-4 | GE 101—Engineering
Graphics & Design or RHET 105—Principles of Composition1 |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I2 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 15-16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 141 - ABE Principles: Biological |
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II* |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II* |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4-3 | RHET 105—Principles
of Composition or GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design1 |
| 17-16 | Total |
*Biological version recommended.
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 223—ABE Principles: Machine Syst |
| 2 | ABE 224—ABE Principles: Soil & Water |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 225—ABE Principles: Bioenvironment |
| 2 | ABE 226—ABE Principles: Bioprocessing |
| 2 | MATH 225 - Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 2 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 3 | TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics |
| 3 | Biological and natural sciences elective6a |
| 17 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CEE 202—Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or IE 300—Analysis of Data or ABE 440—Applied Statistical Methods I5 or STAT 400—Statistics and Probability I5 |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 1 | ECE 206—Elec & Electronic Circuits Lab |
| 3 | TAM 251—Introductory Solid Mechanics |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7a |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles3 |
| 3 | ME 300—Thermodynamics |
| 4 | TAM 335—Introductory
Fluid Mechanics or CHBE 421—Momentum and Heat Transfer or ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7a |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 430—Project Management |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7a |
| 3 | Other technical elective7a |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 14 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ABE 469—Industry-Linked Design Project8 |
| 3 | Biological and natural sciences elective6a |
| 3 | Other technical elective7a |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 16 | Total |
For the Biological Engineering Concentration
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 1 | ABE 100—Intro Agric & Biological Engrg |
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 3-4 | GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design or RHET 105—Principles of Composition1 |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I2 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 15-16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 141—ABE Principles: Biological |
| 3 | CHEM 104—General Chemistry II* |
| 1 | CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II* |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4-3 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition or GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design1 |
| 17-16 | Total |
*Biological version recommended.
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 223—ABE Principles: Machine Syst |
| 2 | ABE 224—ABE Principles: Soil & Water |
| 2 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212— University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or TAM 211—Statics5 |
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 225—ABE Principles: Bioenvironment |
| 2 | ABE 226—ABE Principles: Bioprocessing |
| 2 | MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations |
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I9 |
| 2 | PHYS 213— Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 3 | TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics |
| 17 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | ABE 341—Transport Processes in ABE |
| 3 | ECE 205—Elec & Electronic Circuits |
| 4 | MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7b |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4
|
| 17 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | CHBE 321—Thermodynamics |
| 3 | ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles3 |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7b |
| 3 | Biological and natural sciences elective6b |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 430—Project Management |
| 3 | Agricultural and biological engineering technical elective7b |
| 3 | Other technical elective7b |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 14 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ABE 469—Industry-Linked Design Project8 |
| 3 | Biological and natural sciences elective6b |
| 3 | Other technical elective7b |
| 3 | Liberal education elective3,4 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 16 | Total |
1. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is GE 101. Students may take SPCM 111 and 112 in place of RHET 105.
2. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
3. Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. ECON 103 (or ECON 102 or ACE 100 by permission) must be one of the social & behavioral sciences courses, recommended to be taken early. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
4. One elective course must satisfy the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
5. The extra hour of credit for this course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
6a. Students in the Agricultural Engineering concentration must complete 6 hours from the approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives – Group A.
6b. Students in the Biological Engineering concentration must complete 6 hours from the approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives – Group B.
7a. Students in the Agricultural Engineering concentration must complete 15 hours of technical electives chosen in consultation with an advisor. At least 8 hours must be from the approved list of Agricultural Engineering or Biological Engineering Technical Electives – Group A, and the remainder selected from the approved list of Other Technical Electives – Group A.
7b. Students in the Biological Engineering concentration must complete 15 hours of technical electives chosen in consultation with an advisor. At least 8 hours must be from the approved list of Agricultural Engineering or Biological Engineering Technical Electives – Group B, and the remainder selected from the approved list of Other Technical Electives – Group B
8. Satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
9. May be taken for 4 credit hours; the extra hour may be used to help meet free elective requirements.