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.

Agricultural Engineering Option

Career opportunities for graduates in agricultural engineering are many and diverse. Graduates may work for companies and agencies that design, develop, test, and manufacture power and machine systems; handle, store, and process agricultural commodities; design environmental controls and housing systems for plant and animal production; design equipment and systems for processing, manufacturing, distribution and quality protection of food products; design systems for management of air, land and water resources; design and manage crop irrigation systems; and develop electrical and electronic applications for agricultural problems. Graduates with an agricultural engineering concentration may also pursue graduate degrees in engineering, business, or law. By selecting appropriate elective courses, students may emphasize areas such as agricultural systems, environmental systems, biomaterials and processing systems, or an emphasis area designed by the student in consultation with an adviser.

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: Agricultural

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

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

• A dynamic list of approved general education courses offered by term is available on the NDSU General Education Requirements website.
• General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, if applicable.

Major Requirements - Agricultural Option

SUGGESTED EMPHASIS AREA for the Agricultural Engineering Option:  Consult with adviser when making selections.

• Agricultural Systems - Select electives with emphasis on machine, power, structural, and electrical/electronic systems to solve problems involving engineering aspects of food, feed, and fiber production.
• Environmental Systems - Select electives with emphasis on areas that contribute to solving problems in environmental engineering, natural resources management, hydrology, irrigation, watershed management, and waste management.
• Biomaterial Systems - 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.

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:

Agricultural Option - Program Electives

SUGGESTED EMPHASIS AREA for the Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Option:  Consult with adviser when making selections.

• Agricultural Systems - Select electives with emphasis on machine, power, structural, and electrical/electronic systems to solve problems involving engineering aspects of food, feed, and fiber production.
• Environmental Systems - Select electives with emphasis on areas that contribute to solving problems in environmental engineering, natural resources management, hydrology, irrigation, watershed management, and waste management.
• Biomaterials Systems - 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.
• Advanced Biosciences Electives - 9 credits required. Double count with electives above. A minimum of 3 credits must be from non-ABEN courses in the Advanced Biosciences tab.

Agricultural Systems

Environmental Systems

Biomaterials Systems