This is an archived copy of the 2014-15 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://bulletin.ndsu.edu.

Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering - Biosystems Option

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Major

The Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABEN) program prepares men and women for careers requiring application of physical, biological, and engineering sciences to develop solutions relating to: the design and production of machine systems; the production and handling of biological materials; processing of food, feed, fiber, and fuel; and the preservation of natural resources and environmental quality. A major in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering can serve a broad range of career interests and can provide excellent career opportunities for men and women from diverse backgrounds.

The program educational objectives of this major are to educate and produce graduates who will become engineers who:

  1. have the ability to use their technical knowledge and design and problem solving skills throughout their careers,
  2. have the interpersonal and collaborative skills and the capacity necessary for productive careers, and
  3. can use their disciplinary knowledge and educational depth and breadth to deal with changing career opportunities in agricultural and related industries.

These objectives support the department mission of developing and extending knowledge through engineering and technology that advances the productivity of agricultural production, the processing and utilization of biological materials, and the management of environmental resources.

Agricultural and biosystems engineering integrates engineering topics, engineering design, and biological sciences in a single program with two concentrations: agricultural engineering and biosystems engineering. While there is considerable overlap between the agricultural engineering (AGEN) and the biosystems engineering (BSEN) concentrations, the BSEN concentration includes a heavier emphasis on fundamental biological and chemical sciences. The AGEN concentration includes a heavier emphasis in the physical sciences. A wide range of electives in related disciplines can be used to compliment the disciplinary course work and to prepare for specific career interests. Although not required by the curriculum, students are encouraged to take advantage of Cooperative Education experiences or the opportunity of paid internships where they gain hands-on experience in engineering.

Biosystems Engineering Option

Graduates in biosystems engineering integrate engineering, biology, and chemistry in a variety of applications. Graduates may work in careers with the following goals: develop innovative green products and industries; convert bio-based resources to food, fuel, and other renewable products; design new generations of devices or systems for biological systems; and control biological systems for natural resource protection, waste remediation, and ecosystem restoration. Graduates may work with industries to create new and improved processes through the innovative use of microorganisms, plant and animal cells, and enzymes or they may develop sensors, control systems and computer models to monitor and control biological processes occurring in industry or the environment. Graduates with a biosystems engineering concentration may also pursue a professional or graduate degree in engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine, management, or law.

The faculty assist with career planning and job placement of graduates. Students interested in careers involving production, delivery, management, and technical support of systems for food, agricultural, or closely related industries rather than engineering or design should consider the Agricultural Systems Management major offered by the College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources .

Major Requirements

Major: Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
Option: Biosystems Engineering

Degree Type: B.S.A.B.En
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 133

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
ABEN 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take ABEN 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
One course in Upper Level Writing. Select one of the following:3
Writing in the Technical Professions
Writing in the Sciences
Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
MATH 165Calculus I4
Science & Technology (S):
CHEM 121
  & 121L
General Chemistry I
   and General Chemistry I Laboratory
4
CHEM 122LGeneral Chemistry II Laboratory1
PHYS 252
  & 252L
University Physics II
   and University Physics II Laboratory
5
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B): Select from current general education list6
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G): Select from current general education list
Total Credits41

Major Requirements - Biosystems Option

General Education Requirements40
ABEN Core Requirements:
ABEN 110Introduction to Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering2
ABEN 255Computer Aided Analysis & Design3
ABEN 263Biological Materials Processing3
ABEN 444Transport Processes3
ABEN 482Instrumentation & Measurements3
ABEN 486Design Project I2
ABEN 487Design Project II2
ABEN 491Seminar1
ABEN 496Field Experience1
ABEN 300-400 Electives: Select 9 credits form the following:9
Electric Energy Application in Agriculture
Numerical Modeling in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Bioprocess Engineering
Bioenvironmental Systems Design
Biobased Energy
Process Engineering for Food, Biofuels and Bioproducts
Resource Conservation and Irrigation Engineering
Agricultural Power
Machinery Analysis & Design
Fluid Power Systems Design
Drainage and Wetland Engineering
MATH Courses:
MATH 128Introduction to Linear Algebra1
MATH 166Calculus II4
MATH 259Multivariate Calculus3
MATH 266Introduction to Differential Equations3
ME Courses:
ME 221Engineering Mechanics I3
ME 222Engineering Mechanics II3
ME 350Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer3
Additional Courses:
BIOL 150General Biology I3
CHEM 122General Chemistry II3
CHEM 240Survey of Organic Chemistry3
CE 309Fluid Mechanics3
ENGR 402Engineering Ethics and Social Responsibility1
IME 440Engineering Economy2
IME 460Evaluation of Engineering Data3
or STAT 330 Introductory Statistics
Program ElectivesThe following program electives may be selected from courses listed in the Program Electives Tab in the 2014-15 Bulletin (http//bulletin.ndsu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/engineering/agricultural-biosystems-engineering/biosystems_option/#programelectivestext)
Engineering ElectivesSelect a minimum of 9 credits from the following department website: www.ndsu.edu/aben/academics9
Chemistry/Biological Science ElectivesSelect a minimum of 6 credits from the following department website: www.ndsu.edu/aben/academics6
Technical ElectivesSelect elective courses from the following department website www.ndsu.edu/aben/academics/aben/. May choose from the ABEN section, Chemistry/Biological Sciences electives, or Engineering electives.7
Computer ElectiveSelect a minimum of 3 credits from the following department website: www.ndsu.edu/aben/academics3
Total Credits133

Degree Requirements and Notes

A student must complete at least 60 semester credits of professional level course work in his/her program while in residence and enrolled in the college.  Students transferring into the college from programs with professional accreditation are exempt from this residency requirement but are subject to the residency requirement of NDSU.

Program Electives for ABEN:

Biosystems Option - Program Electives

Engineering Electives: Select 9 credits from the following:9
Fluid Mechanics Laboratory
Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering Laboratory
Electrical Engineering I
Mechanics of Materials
Materials Science and Engineering
Chemistry/Biological Science Electives: Select 6 credits from the following:6
Animal Genetics
Physiology of Reproduction
Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I
Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II
General Biology I Laboratory
General Biology II
General Biology II Laboratory
Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Genetics
Genetics Laboratory
General Ecology
Plant Systematics
Plant Physiology
Plant Ecology
Elements of Biochemistry
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry I Laboratory
Organic Chemistry II
Organic Chemistry II Laboratory
Introductory Microbiology
Introductory Microbiology Lab
General Microbiology
General Microbiology Lab
General Microbiology II
General Microbiology Lab II
Microbial Ecology
Cell Biology
Technical Electives: Select 7 credits from the following or from additional courses:7
Methods of Biochemical Research
Methods of Recombinant DNA Technology
Introduction to Food Science and Technology
Food Processing I
Cereal Technology
Computer Elective: Select 3 credits from the following:3
Civil Engineering Graphic Communications
Visual BASIC
Computer Science I
Introduction to Computing
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
CAD/CAM for Manufacturing
Fundamentals of Visual Communication for Engineers
Modeling of Engineering Systems
Total Credits25