Programs of Study Spring 2005 illinois home
 

Curriculum in Agricultural Engineering

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
338 Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building
1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3570
Fax: (217) 244-0323
E-mail: age@uiuc.edu

For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering

Agricultural engineering is the application of science, mathematics, and engineering to agriculture, food systems, natural resources, the environment, and related biological systems. This program has special emphasis on environmental protection and the biological interface of plants, animals, and soils with the design and performance of environments, machines, mechanisms, processes, and structures.

Educational Objectives

The agricultural engineering program develops graduates with a comprehensive education for engineering careers in industry, consulting, government, and academia. The program provides a combination of courses in engineering theory and application for students seeking careers in agricultural production, bioprocess systems, environmental protection, and product utilization.

Students will be provided the opportunity to:

  • develop knowledge and appreciation of biological and agricultural systems as a basis for engineering applications,

  • identify and analyze engineering problems related to these systems and organize a systematic approach to their solution and evaluation,

  • design machines, systems, and processes considering economic, social, and environmental impacts,

  • develop communication, learning, and teamwork skills,

  • develop a sense of social and professional responsibility for solving engineering problems that benefit society.

Educational Outcomes

Engineering design, teamwork, and communication are integrated throughout the curriculum, culminating in a capstone design experience. By choice of electives, students not only meet all the outcomes listed in the College of Engineering introductory description but are also provided with the opportunity to specialize in bioenvironmental engineering, food and bioprocess engineering, off-road equipment engineering, or soil and water resource engineering. The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation, except for the specialization in food and bioprocess engineering, which requires 132 hours for graduation. For more details or information regarding the curriculum, visit our web site or arrange a personal visit to the department.

Specialization in Bioenvironmental Engineering, Off-Road Equipment Engineering, or Soil and Water Resource Engineering


Suggested Sequence

First year

Hours First Semester
1 ABE 100—Intro to Agr Engineering
3 CHEM 102—General Chemistry I
1 CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I
0 ENG 100—Engineering Lecture
3-4 GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design or
RHET 105—Principles of Composition1 
5 MATH 220—Calculus I
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2, 3
16-17 Total

Hours Second Semester
3 CHEM 104—General Chemistry II*
1 CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II*
2 MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory
3 MATH 230—Calculus II
4 PHYS 211—Univ Physics, Mechanics
4-3 RHET 105—Principles of Composition, or
GE 101—Engineering Graphics and Design1
17-16 Total

*Biological version recommended.

Second year

Hours First Semester
4 ABE 221—Agr & Bio Engineering I
3 CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci
3 MATH 242—Calculus of Several Variables
4 PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
2-3 TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or TAM 211—Statics4
16 Total

Hours Second Semester
4 ABE 222—Agr & Bio Engineering II
3 MATH 385—Intro Differential Equations
2 PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
3 TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics
3 Biological and natural sciences elective5
15 Total

Third year

Hours First Semester
3 Agricultural engineering technical elective6
3 ECE 205—Intro Elec & Electr Circuits
1 ECE 206—Intro Elec & Electr Ckts Lab
3 TAM 251—Introductory Solid Mechanics
3-4 CEE 202—Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or
IE 300—Analysis of Data or
ABE 440—Applied Statistical Methods I4 or
STAT 400/MATH 463—Statistics and Probability I4
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2, 3
16 Total

Hours Second Semester
3 Agricultural engineering technical elective6
3 ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles2
3 ME 300—Thermodynamics
4 TAM 335—Introductory Fluid Mechanics or
CHBE 421—Momentum and Heat Transfer or
ME 310—Introductory Gas Dynamics
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2, 3
16 Total

Fourth year

Hours First Semester
2 ABE 430—Project Management
3 Agricultural engineering technical elective6
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2, 3
4 Technical elective6
3 Free elective3
15 Total

Hours Second Semester
3 Agricultural engineering technical elective6
3 Free elective3
4 Technical elective6
3 Biological and natural sciences elective5
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2, 3
17 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. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering, including ECON 103 (or either ECON 102 or ACE 100 by permission), and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.

3. One elective course must satisfy the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.

4. The extra hour of credit for this course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.

5. Students must complete seven hours from the approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives.

6. Students must have 20 hours of technical electives. At least 12 hours must be from the approved list of Agricultural Engineering Technical Electives and the remainder selected from the approved list of Other Technical Electives.



Biological and Natural Sciences Electives

Hours  
7 min Choose from
4
ANSC 362—Princ of Animal Physiology
3
ANSC 467—Applied Animal Ecology
3
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I
2
CHEM 233—Elementary Organic Chem Lab I
3
CPSC/NRES 270—Applied Entomology
4
CPSC 112—Introduction to Crop Sciences1
3
CPSC 414—Forage Crops and Pasture Eco1
4
GEOL 101—Introductory Physical Geology
3
GEOL 250—Geology for Engineers
3
MCB 100—Introductory Microbiology1
2
MCB 101—Intro Microbiology Laboratory
4
MCB 103—Intro to Human Physiology
2
MCB 312—Applied Microbiology Methods
3
MCB 434—Food & Industrial Microbiology 
4
NRES 201—Introductory Soils

1. Students must take at least one of these courses.

Technical Electives

A total of 20 hours, must be taken. These should be chosen in consultation with an advisor to achieve a concentration in one or more of the three areas: Bioenvironmental Engineering; Off-road equipment Engineering; or Soil and Water Resource Engineering.

Agricultural Engineering Technical Electives

Choose at least 12 hours from:

Hours  
3 ABE 361—Princ of Off-Road Machines
3 ABE 374—Env Control for Bio Buildings1
4 ABE 425—Eng Measurement Systems 2
3 ABE 426—Applied Machine Vision
3 ABE 456—Land and Water Resources Eng1
3 ABE 459—Drainage and Water Management
3 ABE 469—Off-Road Industry Design Proj1
3 ABE 466—Engineering Off-Road Vehicles1
3 ABE 476—Indoor Air Quality Engineering
3 ABE 479—Design of Agr & Bio Structures
3 ABE 483—Eng Properties of Food Mat
2 ABE 485—Food and Process Eng Design1
3 ABE 487—Grain Drying and Conditioning
3 ABE 489—Process Des for Corn Milling

1. Students must take at least one of these courses. Includes major design experience.

2. This course is strongly recommended.

Other Technical Electives

Choose the remainder of the 20 hours from:

Hours  
4 CEE 311—Engineering Surveying or
CEE 312—Route Surveying
3 CEE 330—Environmental Engineering
3 CEE 350—Water Resources Engineering1
3 CEE 360—Structural Engineering1
3 CEE 380—Geotechnical Engineering
3 CEE 450—Surface Hydrology
3 CEE 460—Steel Structures, I
3 CEE 461—Reinforced Concrete, I
3 CHBE 221—Principles of CHE
4 CHBE 321—Thermodynamics
4 CHBE 421—Momentum and Heat Transfer
4 CHBE 422—Mass Transfer Operations
3 GE 330—OR Meth for Profit & Value Eng
4 ME 330—Engineering Materials
3 ME 350—Design for Manufacturability
3 ME 370—Mechanical Design, I1
3 MFGE 310—Intro to Mfg Systems
3 MFGE 450—Info Mgmt for Mfg Systems
2 PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
  Any 200- to 400-level engineering course approved by an adviser.

1. One of these courses is strongly recommended.

Specialization in Food and Bioprocess Engineering

Food and bioprocess engineering is the application of engineering principles to produce, preserve, process, package, and distribute foods. Food and bioprocess engineers develop, design, and construct new machinery, processes, and plants; they develop and test new products; they preserve and distribute foods; and they manage environmental factors, waste products, and energy. Food and bioprocess engineers participate in nearly every phase of food processing. Graduates are prepared for positions in a variety of industries, including food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Job opportunities also exist with the government, universities, and consulting firms. Career possibilities include research and development; project, process, and plant engineering, which can include design, optimization, and construction; technical sales and service; and supervision and management. Those who continue their education in graduate school will have a strong background for further study in the sciences or engineering.

Suggested Sequence

First year

Hours First Semester
1 ABE 100—Intro to Agr Engineering
3 CHEM 102—General Chemistry I
1 CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I
0 ENG 100—Engineering Lecture
3-4 GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design or
RHET 105—Principles of Composition1
5 MATH 220—Calculus I
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3
16-17 Total

Hours Second Semester
3 CHEM 104—General Chemistry II
1 CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II
4-3 RHET 105—Principles of Composition or
GE 101—Engineering Graphics & Design1
2 MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory
3 MATH 230—Calculus II
4 PHYS 211—Univ Physics, Mechanics
17-16 Total

Second year

Hours First Semester
3 CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I
3 CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci
3 MATH 242—Calculus of Several Variables
3 MCB 100—Introductory Microbiology
2 PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2-3 TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or
TAM 211—Statics4
16-17 Total

Hours Second Semester
4 ABE 222—Agr & Bio Engineering II
3 MATH 385—Intro Differential Equations
2 MCB 101—Intro Microbiology Laboratory
4 PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
3 TAM 212—Introductory Dynamics
16 Total

Third year

Hours First Semester
3 CHBE 221—Principles of CHE
3 FSHN 414—Food Chemistry
3 TAM 251—Introductory Solid Mechanics
3 ECON 103—Macroeconomic Principles2
3 Electives in social sciences or humanities2,3
3 Technical elective5
18 Total

Hours Second Semester
4 CHBE 321—Thermodynamics
3 ECE 205—Intro Elec & Electr Circuits
3 FSHN 471/MCB 434—Food & Industrial Microbiology
3 Free elective3
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities 2,3
16 Total

Fourth year

Hours First Semester
2 ABE 430—Project Management
3 ABE 483—Eng Properties of Food Mat
4 CHBE 421—Momentum and Heat Transfer
3 FSHN 461—Food Processing I
3 Technical elective4
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3
18 Total

Hours Second Semester
2 ABE 485—Food and Process Eng Design
4 CHBE 422—Mass Transfer Operations
3 FSHN 462—Food Processing II
3 Free elective3
3 Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3
15 Total

1. Students may take SPCM 111 and 112 in place of RHET 105. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is GE 101.

2. Each student must satisfy the social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering, including ECON 103 (or either ECON 102 or ACE 100 by permission), and the campus general education requirements of social sciences and humanities.

3. One elective course must satisfy the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.

4. The extra hour of credit for this course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.

5. Students select technical electives from the approved list for food and bioprocess engineering.

Food and Bioprocess Engineering Electives

Hours Technical Electives
3-4 ABE 425—Eng Measurement Systems
3 ABE 426—Applied Machine Vision
3-4 ABE 440—Applied Statistical Methods I or
CEE 202—Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or
IE 300—Analysis of Data or
STAT 400/MATH 463—Statistics and Probability I
3 ABE 482—Package Engineering 
3 ABE 487—Grain Drying and Conditioning
3 ABE 489—Process Des for Corn Milling
3 CHBE 440—Process Control and Dynamics
3 GE 330—OR Meth for Profit & Value Eng
2 MCB 312—Applied Microbiology Methods
3.5 ME 360—Signal Proc, Inst and Control
3 ME 370—Mechanical Design, I
  Other electives, subject to approval