Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Major

Degree Requirements

Major: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Degree Type: B.S.A.B.En.

Minimum Required Credits: 120

University Requirements and General Education Apply

ABEN Core Requirements

Core Requirements
ABEN 110Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering3
ABEN 255Computer Aided Analysis & Design3
ABEN 263Biological Materials Processing3
ABEN 348Agricultural Technology Exposition 11
ABEN 358Electric Energy Application in Agriculture3
ABEN 391Seminar1
ABEN 444Transport Processes3
or ABEN 452 Bioenvironmental Systems Design
ABEN 479Fluid Power Systems Design3
ABEN 482Instrumentation & Measurements3
ABEN 484Drainage and Wetland Engineering3
or ABEN 464 Resource Conservation and Irrigation Engineering
ABEN 486Design Project I3
ABEN 487Design Project II3
BIOL 150General Biology I3
or BIOL 111 Concepts of Biology
or BIOL 124 Environmental Science
or MICR 202 Introductory Microbiology
BIOL 150LGeneral Biology I Laboratory1
or CHEM 121L General Chemistry I Laboratory
or MICR 202L Introductory Microbiology Lab
CHEM 121General Chemistry I3
CHEM 122General Chemistry II3
CE 309Fluid Mechanics3
or ME 352 Fluid Dynamics
CSCI 122Visual BASIC3
or ME 213 Modeling of Engineering Systems
or GEOG 455 Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
or PAG 215 Mapping of Precision Ag Data
ENGR 327Ethics, Engineering, and Technology3
IME 440Engineering Economy3
IME 460Evaluation of Engineering Data3
MATH 128Introduction to Linear Algebra1
MATH 165Calculus I4
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
ME 212Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Engineers3
ME 221Engineering Mechanics I3
ME 222Engineering Mechanics II3
ME 223Mechanics of Materials3
ME 350Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer3
PHYS 252
252L
University Physics II
and University Physics II Laboratory
5
Program Electives
Select 13 credits from the following: (At least 3 of the 13 credits must be selected from the courses with a 3 footnote.)13
Introduction to Controlled Environment Agriculture (Natural Resource/General Focus)
Finite Element Analysis in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (Machinery/Natural Resource/General Focus) 3
Biobased Energy (Processing Focus) 3
Process Engineering for Food, Biofuels and Bioproducts (Processing/General Focus)
Agricultural Power ( Machinery Focus)
Field Experience (All Focus Areas) 2
Machinery Analysis & Design (Machinery Focus)
Introduction to Animal Sciences (Natural Resource Focus)
Livestock Production (Natural Resource Focus)
Natural Resource Management Systems (Natural Resource Focus)
Post-Harvest Technology (Machinery/Processing Focus)
Machinery Principles and Management (Machinery Focus)
Introduction to Biomedical Engineering (Processing Focus)
Introduction to Food Science and Technology (Processing Focus)
Food Processing I (Processing Focus)
Surveying (Natural Resource Focus)
Soil Mechanics (General Focus) 3
Structural Engineering and Analysis (General Focus) 3
Water Resources and Supply (Natural Resource Focus) 3
Slope Stability and Retaining Walls (General Focus) 3
Open Channel Flow (Natural Resource Focus) 3
Basic Dynamics of Structures (General Focus) 3
Applied Hydrology (Natural Resource Focus) 3
Survey of Organic Chemistry (Processing Focus)
Digital Design (Machinery Focus)
Electrical Engineering I
and Electrical Engineering Lab I (Machinery Focus) 3
Manufacturing Processes (Processing Focus) 3
Welding Technology (Machinery Focus) 3
Program and Project Management (All Focus Areas) 3
Materials Science and Engineering (Machinery Focus) 3
Theory of Vibrations (Machinery Focus) 3
Plastics and Polymer Processing in Manufacturing (Processing Focus) 3
Machine Design I (Machinery Focus) 3
Introduction to Precision Agriculture (Machinery/Natural Resource Focus)
Electronic Systems in Precision Ag (Machinary Focus)
Applications of Precision Agriculture (Machinery Focus)
World Food Crops (Processing/Natural Resource Focus)
Principles of Crop Production (Processing/Natural Resource Focus)
Introduction to Soil Science (Natural Resource Focus)
Soils and Land Use (Natural Resource Focus)
Total Credits105
1

ABEN 348 - AG Tech Exp (1 add'l cr.) may be used as a Program Elective.

2

ABEN 496 - Field Exp./Internship (1 - 3 cr.) may be used as a Program Elective. A maximum of three credits of ABEN 496 Field Exp./Internship may be counted towards degree requirements.

3

Students must select at least 3 cr. of upper-division College of Engineering courses to satisfy the 13 cr. Program Elective requirement.

Degree Requirements and Notes

SUGGESTED FOCUS AREAS:  Consult with adviser when making selections.

  • Machinery Focus - Select electives with emphasis on machine, power, robotic/autonomous, and electrical/electronic systems.
  • Natural Resource Focus - Select electives with emphasis on areas that contribute to solving problems in environmental engineering, natural resources management, hydrology, irrigation, watershed management, and waste management.
  • Processing Focus - Select electives with emphasis on combining engineering, biological, and physical sciences in the application of engineering principles to handling and processing of biomaterials for food and non-food products.
  • General Focus - Select electives from any of the above focus areas. Includes courses in structural and environmental aspects of agricultural facilities.

Degree Requirements for the Accelerated M.S. Program in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Students pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in ABEN must complete the following requirements:

  • 30 credits after the B.S is required. However, a maximum of 15 graduate credits earned during the combined/accelerated degree program may also be counted toward the graduate degree.
  • 20-24 credits are from didactic course work, while 6-10 credits are typically devoted for a master's thesis based on research
  • A minimum of 6 credits of NDSU ABEN courses numbered 601-689 and 700-789 is required.
  • ABEN Graduate Seminar (ABEN 790).