Curriculum in Agricultural Engineering
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.
Areas of Study
The agricultural engineering program provides four standard Areas of Study.
Specializations
- Bioenvironmental Engineering: the application of engineering principles to design, manufacture, and test systems that provide the desired environmental conditions for animals, human housing, crop storage structures, greenhouses, and other biological systems. Bioenvironmental engineers design equipment for heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, air-quality control, and develop systems to handle and treat biowaste.
- Off-Road Equipment Engineering: the application of engineering knowledge and skill to design, manufacture, and test equipment for the agricultural, construction, forestry, and mining industries. Off-road equipment engineers develop precision machine systems that rely on advanced information and sensing technologies and a high level of automation and control.
- Soil And Water Resource Engineering: the application of engineering principles and practices to design and develop systems for natural resources and environmental protection and utilization. Soil and water engineers design systems to control soil erosion and flooding, and develop ways to handle stormwater and control the movement of sediment into water systems.
Concentration
- Food and Bioprocess Engineering: the application of engineering principles to produce, process and package foods and bioproducts. Food and bioprocess engineers design, develop, and construct new processes, machines, and plants; they develop and test new products; and they manage environmental factors, waste products, and energy conservation.
Educational Objectives and Outcomes
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.
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 become knowledgeable and proficient in an Area of Study.
Job Opportunities
Job opportunities exist with the government, universities, and industrial or 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.
Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation, except for the Concentration in Food and Bioprocess Engineering, which requires 132 hours for graduation. The overall curricular requirements include courses in basic sciences, mathematics, and agricultural engineering, that are specified in the Suggested Sequence below. Elective courses comprise the remainder. Those germane to each of the Areas of Study are outlined in a section following the Suggested Sequence.
For more details or information regarding the curriculum, visit our website or arrange a personal visit to the department.
Suggested Sequence
The first year of the Suggested Sequence is the same for all agricultural engineering students. The second through fourth years vary with the Specialization or Concentration chosen. Refer to the appropriate sequence continuation below.
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 |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I2 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 15-16 | 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 231—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.
Specializations in Bioenvironmental Engineering, Off-Road Equipment Engineering, or Soil and Water Resource Engineering
For the Concentration in Food and Bioprocess Engineering, see below.
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | ABE 221—Agr & Bio Engineering I |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
| 2-(3) | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics
or |
| 17 | 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 |
| 4 | Biological and natural sciences elective6 |
| 16 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective7 |
| 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 I5 or STAT 400/MATH 463—Statistics and Probability I5 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective7 |
| 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 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 2 | ABE 430—Project Management |
| 3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective7 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 4 | Technical elective7 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 15 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective7 |
| 3 | Free elective4 |
| 4 | Technical elective7 |
| 3 | Biological and natural sciences elective6 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 16 | Total |
Concentration in Food and Bioprocess Engineering
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 3 | CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 | MCB 100—Introductory Microbiology |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics |
| 2-(3) | TAM 210—Introduction to Statics or TAM 211—Statics5 |
| 17-18 | 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 Principles3 |
| 3 | Electives in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 3 | Technical elective8 |
| 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 elective4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 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 elective8 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 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 elective4 |
| 3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities3,4 |
| 15 | 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. 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.
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.
6. Students in the Specializations of Bioenvironmental Engineering, Off-road Equipment Engineering, and Soil and Water Resource Engineering must complete seven hours from the approved list of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives.
7. Students in the Specializations of Bioenvironmental Engineering, Off-road Equipment Engineering, and Soil and Water Resource Engineering must have 20 hours of technical electives chosen in consultation with an advisor. 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.
8. Students in the Food and Bioprocess Engineering Concentration must select 6 hours of technical electives from the approved list of Food and Bioprocess Engineering Electives.
Electives
Elective coursework that must be completed to fulfill each Specialization or Concentration falls into the following categories:
For Specializations in Bioenvironmental Engineering, Off-Road Equipment Engineering, or Soil and Water Resource Engineering:
- 7 hours of Biological and Natural Sciences Electives.
- 20 hours of technical electives in one or more of the three Specializations chosen in consultation with an advisor. At least 12 hours must be Agricultural Engineering Technical Electives and the remainder approvedOther Technical Electives.
For the Concentration in Food and Bioprocess Engineering
- 6 hours of Food and Bioprocess Engineering Electives