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 100Intro to Agr Engineering |
3 | CHEM 102General Chemistry I |
1 | CHEM 103General Chemistry Lab I |
0 | ENG 100Engineering Lecture |
3-4 | GE 101Engineering
Graphics & Design or RHET 105Principles of Composition1 |
5 | MATH 220Calculus I |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities 2,3 |
16-17 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
3 | CHEM 104General Chemistry II* |
1 | CHEM 105General Chemistry Lab II* |
2 | MATH 225Introductory Matrix Theory |
3 | MATH 230Calculus II |
4 | PHYS 211Univ Physics, Mechanics |
4-3 | RHET 105Principles
of Composition, or GE 101Engineering Graphics and Design1 |
17-16 | Total |
*Biological version recommended.
Second year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
4 | ABE 221Agr & Bio Engineering I |
3 | CS 101Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci |
3 | MATH 242Calculus of Several Variables |
4 | PHYS 212Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
2-(3) | TAM 210Introduction to Statics or TAM 211Statics4 |
16 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
4 | ABE 222Agr & Bio Engineering II |
3 | MATH 385Intro Differential Equations |
2 | PHYS 213Univ Physics, Thermal Physics |
3 | TAM 212Introductory Dynamics |
4 | Biological and natural sciences elective5 |
16 | Total |
Third year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective6 |
3 | ECE 205Intro Elec & Electr Circuits |
1 | ECE 206Intro Elec & Electr Ckts Lab |
3 | TAM 251Introductory Solid Mechanics |
3-(4) | CEE 202Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or IE 300Analysis of Data or ABE 440Applied Statistical Methods I4 or STAT 400/MATH 463Statistics and Probability I4 |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities 2,3 |
16 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
3 | Agricultural engineering technical elective6 |
3 | ECON 103Macroeconomic Principles2 |
3 | ME 300Thermodynamics |
4 | TAM 335Introductory
Fluid Mechanics or CHBE 421Momentum and Heat Transfer or ME 310Introductory Gas Dynamics |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities 2,3 |
16 | Total |
Fourth year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
2 | ABE 430Project 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 |
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. 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 362Princ of Animal Physiology |
3 |
ANSC 467Applied Animal Ecology |
3 |
CHEM 232Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
2 |
CHEM 233Elementary Organic Chem Lab I |
3 |
CPSC/NRES 270Applied Entomology |
4 |
CPSC 112Introduction to Crop Sciences1 |
3 |
CPSC 414Forage Crops and Pasture Eco1 |
4 |
GEOL 101Introductory Physical Geology |
3 |
GEOL 250Geology for Engineers |
3 |
MCB 100Introductory Microbiology1 |
2 |
MCB 101Intro Microbiology Laboratory |
4 |
MCB 103Intro to Human Physiology |
2 |
MCB 312Applied Microbiology Methods |
3 |
MCB 434Food & Industrial Microbiology |
4 |
NRES 201Introductory 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 361Princ of Off-Road Machines |
3 | ABE 374Env Control for Bio Buildings1 |
4 | ABE 425Eng Measurement Systems 2 |
3 | ABE 426Applied Machine Vision |
3 | ABE 456Land and Water Resources Eng1 |
3 | ABE 459Drainage and Water Management |
3 | ABE 469Off-Road Industry Design Proj1 |
3 | ABE 466Engineering Off-Road Vehicles1 |
3 | ABE 476Indoor Air Quality Engineering |
3 | ABE 479Design of Agr & Bio Structures |
3 | ABE 483Eng Properties of Food Mat |
2 | ABE 485Food and Process Eng Design1 |
3 | ABE 487Grain Drying and Conditioning |
3 | ABE 489Process 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 311Engineering Surveying
or CEE 312Route Surveying |
3 | CEE 330Environmental Engineering |
3 | CEE 350Water Resources Engineering1 |
3 | CEE 360Structural Engineering1 |
3 | CEE 380Geotechnical Engineering |
3 | CEE 450Surface Hydrology |
3 | CEE 460Steel Structures, I |
3 | CEE 461Reinforced Concrete, I |
3 | CHBE 221Principles of CHE |
4 | CHBE 421Momentum and Heat Transfer |
4 | CHBE 422Mass Transfer Operations |
3 | GE 330OR Meth for Profit & Value Eng |
4 | ME 330Engineering Materials |
3 | ME 350Design for Manufacturability |
3 | ME 370Mechanical Design, I1 |
3 | MFGE 310Intro to Mfg Systems |
3 | MFGE 450Info Mgmt for Mfg Systems |
2 | PHYS 214Univ Physics, Quantum Phys |
Any 200- to 400-level engineering course approved by an advisor. |
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 100Intro to Agr Engineering |
3 | CHEM 102General Chemistry I |
1 | CHEM 103General Chemistry Lab I |
0 | ENG 100Engineering Lecture |
3-4 | GE 101Engineering
Graphics & Design or RHET 105Principles of Composition1 |
5 | MATH 220Calculus I |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3 |
16-17 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
3 | CHEM 104General Chemistry II |
1 | CHEM 105General Chemistry Lab II |
4-3 | RHET 105Principles
of Composition or GE 101Engineering Graphics & Design1 |
2 | MATH 225Introductory Matrix Theory |
3 | MATH 230Calculus II |
4 | PHYS 211Univ Physics, Mechanics |
17-16 | Total |
Second year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
3 | CHEM 232Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
3 | CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci |
3 | MATH 242Calculus of Several Variables |
3 | MCB 100Introductory Microbiology |
2 | PHYS 213Univ Physics, Thermal Physics |
2-(3) | TAM 210Introduction to Statics
or TAM 211Statics4 |
16-17 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
4 | ABE 222Agr & Bio Engineering II |
3 | MATH 385Intro Differential Equations |
2 | MCB 101Intro Microbiology Laboratory |
4 | PHYS 212Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
3 | TAM 212Introductory Dynamics |
16 | Total |
Third year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
3 | CHBE 221Principles of CHE |
3 | FSHN 414Food Chemistry |
3 | TAM 251Introductory 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 321Thermodynamics |
3 | ECE 205Intro Elec & Electr Circuits |
3 | FSHN 471/MCB 434Food & Industrial Microbiology |
3 | Free elective3 |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3 |
16 | Total |
Fourth year
Hours | First Semester |
---|---|
2 | ABE 430Project Management |
3 | ABE 483Eng Properties of Food Mat |
4 | CHBE 421Momentum and Heat Transfer |
3 | FSHN 461Food Processing I |
3 | Technical elective4 |
3 | Elective in social sciences or humanities2,3 |
18 | Total |
Hours | Second Semester |
---|---|
2 | ABE 485Food and Process Eng Design |
4 | CHBE 422Mass Transfer Operations |
3 | FSHN 462Food 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 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 select technical electives from the approved list for
food and bioprocess engineering.
Food and Bioprocess Engineering Electives
Hours | Technical Electives |
---|---|
3-4 | ABE 425Eng Measurement Systems |
3 | ABE 426Applied Machine Vision |
3-4 | ABE 440Applied
Statistical Methods I or CEE 202Engineering Risk & Uncertainty or IE 300Analysis of Data or STAT 400/MATH 463Statistics and Probability I |
3 | ABE 482Package Engineering |
3 | ABE 487Grain Drying and Conditioning |
3 | ABE 489Process Des for Corn Milling |
3 | CHBE 440Process Control and Dynamics |
3 | GE 330OR Meth for Profit & Value Eng |
2 | MCB 312Applied Microbiology Methods |
3.5 | ME 360Signal Proc, Inst and Control |
3 | ME 370Mechanical Design, I |
Other electives, subject to approval |