Agricultural Engineering and Bioengineering in USA

The new bioengineering concentration in the chemical engineering major is designed to enhance employment opportunities for our chemical engineering graduates. 

Over the last three years, we have seen an increase in the number of students entering the chemical engineering program with the specific goal of continuing medical school after graduation or finding job opportunities in bioengineering directly linked with renewable energy, environmental remediation, biomedical applications, or pharmaceutical operations.

A bioengineering concentration will prepare you for employment opportunities in other pharmaceutical applications, but also waste treatment, conversion of biomass into energy, fermentation operations, biomedical engineering, and many other bioengineering applications.

Biological Systems Engineering integrates life sciences with engineering to solve problems related to, or using, biological systems. These biological systems may include microbes, plants, animals, humans and/or ecosystems. Biological systems engineers have a worldview shaped by an understanding of fundamental principles of engineering and life-sciences. They use their understanding of engineering to analyze organisms or ecosystems, and their knowledge of biological systems to inspire and inform their designs. They approach engineering design from a biological systems perspective, appreciating the complexity of biological systems and developing solutions that accommodate and anticipate the adaptability of biological systems.

The major in Engineering Technology and Management for Agricultural Systems is designed to prepare students as problem solvers for systems involving the application, management, and/or marketing of engineering technologies. Students are instructed in engineering and business principles in preparation as technically competent business persons for professional careers as entrepreneurs, marketing representatives, or plant managers working with service organizations, manufacturers, corporate farms, retail dealers, power suppliers, contractors, or management companies from production through processing and distribution.

The agricultural biology course work prepares you for a variety of careers in the biological sciences and agriculture. You will develop your curriculum with an academic advisor to attain your individual goals. Many will pursue advanced degrees in the sciences or prepare for admittance to professional schools (medical, dental, etc.). A diverse program is offered with five separate concentrations that allow you to tailor your program for careers in the commercial sector, such as agricultural consulting, and pest management or for careers with county, state, or federal agencies, such as research technicians, land managers, and extension agents.  A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for graduation. Any undergraduate student majoring in Agricultural Biology must earn a grade of C- or higher in core (EPWS prefix) courses to satisfy degree requirements. Students earning a D or F in a core (EPWS prefix) course will be expected to repeat that course until the student earns a grade of C- or higher. The following courses are required for a major in Agricultural Biology.