Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biosystems Engineering, B.S.


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Biosystems engineering provides an essential link between the biological sciences and the engineering profession. This linkage is essential for the development of production and processing systems involving biological materials that preserve our natural resource base. Students have the latitude to develop an area of specialization related to bioenvironmental engineering, food and bioprocessing, machine systems, or controlled environment engineering. The curriculum is also ideal preparation for those students wanting to pursue a graduate or professional degree in medicine, biomedical engineering or veterinary medicine through pre-medicine, pre-biomedical engineering and pre-veterinary medicine options.

Engineers completing this program of study find employment in industries related to the production and processing of biological products. Opportunities include placement with manufacturers, consulting firms, or state and federal regulatory agencies. Biosystems engineers may work in the areas of biomedical/biotechnology engineering; environmental engineering; agricultural equipment; heating, ventilation and refrigeration equipment; food processing industries; livestock equipment and housing or greenhouse structures; and bioenergy.

The program educational objectives of the biosystems engineering program are based on the intellectual and professional development of our students. Graduates of the biosystems engineering program are expected within a few years of graduation to have:

  • Established themselves as practicing professionals or engaged in advanced study in agricultural, biological, environmental engineering or related area.
  • Demonstrated their ability to work successfully as a responsible professional and function effectively on a professional team.

Degree Requirements


Each student must complete the following:

UK Core Requirements


See the UK Core section of this Bulletin for the complete UK Core requirements . The courses listed below are (a) recommended by the college, or (b) required courses that also fulfill UK Core areas. Students should work closely with their advisor to complete the UK Core requirements.

I. Intellectual Inquiry in Arts and Creativity


II. Intellectual Inquiry in the Humanities


III. Intellectual Inquiry in the Social Sciences


IV. Intellectual Inquiry in the Natural, Physical, and Mathematical Sciences


V. Composition and Communication I


VI. Composition and Communication II


VII. Quantitative Foundations


VIII. Statistical Inferential Reasoning


IX. Community, Culture and Citizenship in the USA


X. Global Dynamics


UK Core hours: 33


Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR)


Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement hours (GCCR): 3


Subtotal: Premajor hours: 44


Subtotal: Major hours: 48


Electives


  • Biological Science Elective Credit(s): 3

Technical Electives


  • (chosen by the student and leading to a concentration in one area of study) Credit(s): 9

Subtotal: Electives: 21


Total Hours: 128


Curriculum


The following curriculum meets the requirements for a B.S. in biosystems engineering, provided the student satisfies the graduation requirements listed earlier.

§ Transfer students will take  EGR 215 - INTRODUCTION TO THE PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS , in place of EGR 101  and EGR 103 .

Δ Students must complete both EGR 101  and EGR 103  to fulfill the UK Core Arts and Creativity requirement. Transfer students may satisfy the UK Core Arts and Creativity requirement by taking EGR 215 .

*A minimum of 9 hours are required from the biosystems engineering core courses:  BAE 417 - DESIGN OF MACHINE SYSTEMS  BAE 427 - STRUCTURES AND ENVIRONMENT ENGINEERING  BAE 437 - LAND AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING , and  BAE 447 - BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS .

***Graduation Composition and Communication Requirement (GCCR) course.

Freshman Year


Sophomore Year


Junior Year


Senior Year


First Semester


Second Semester


Approved technical electives:


**A minimum of 9 hours are to be taken in addition to the 9 core hours selected by the student. The technical electives allow the student an opportunity to concentrate or gain depth in one or more of the various specialty areas of biosystems engineering. The technical electives must be selected from the courses listed below and approved by the student’s academic advisor. Other courses may be considered, each on its individual merit.

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