Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

Undergraduate Program

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in biosystems engineering through the College of Engineering. That program is described below.

The department also offers a Minor in Technology Systems Management through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  For information about that program, refer to the statement on the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section of this catalog.

Students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in biosystems engineering may elect a Minor in Plant, Animal and Microbial Biotechnology.  For additional information, refer to the Minor in Plant, Animal and Microbial Biotechnology statement in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources section of this catalog.


Biosystems Engineering

Bachelor of Science

Biosystems engineers design solutions to technical problems that involve a critical biological component. They apply quantitative skills to create products, processes, and systems that improve human existence. Working at the interface of engineering and biology, biosystems engineers are engaged in the most important challenges of our time.

Biosystems engineers may, for example, design pathogen control processes to protect the safety of our food supply, constructed wetlands to improve water quality and quantity, biomass conversion processes to sustainably supply renewable energy and products, and/or diagnostic and risk modeling systems to protect and enhance human and animal health. Biosystems engineers are sought after by a wide variety of employers that need creative individuals to integrate principles of engineering and biology, including food manufacturers, environmental consulting firms, health industries, and government agencies.

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Biosystems Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in  Biosystems Engineering

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 128 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering.
    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Biosystems Engineering major is met by completing Biosystems Engineering 334 or 485.  These courses are referenced in item 3. a below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Engineering may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Engineering for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses (47 credits):
    BE 101 Introduction to Biosystems Engineering 1
    BE 201 Drafting in Biosystems Engineering 1
    BE 230 Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems 3
    BE 332 Engineering Properties of Biological Materials 3
    BE 334 Biosystems Engineering Laboratory Practice (W) 3
    BE 350 Heat and Mass Transfer in Biosystems 3
    BE 351 Thermodynamics for Biological Engineering 3
    BE 360 Microbial Systems Engineering 3
    BE 385 Engineering Design and Optimization for Biological Systems 3
    BE 485 Biosystems Design Techniques (W) 3
    BE 487 Biosystems Design Project (W) 3
    BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
    BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
    CE 221 Statics 3
    CE 321 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics 4
    CEM 143 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4
    CEM 151 General and Descriptive Chemistry 4
    CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    b. One of the following courses (2 credits):
    BS 171 Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory 2
    BS 172 Organismal and Population Biology Laboratory 2
    c. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    IBIO 341 Fundamental Genetics 4
    IBIO 355 Ecology 3
    MMG 301 Introductory Microbiology 3
    PLB 301 Introductory Plant Physiology 3
    PSL 250 Introductory Physiology 4
    d. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
    CSS 442 Agricultural Ecology 3
    CSS 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics 3
    FOR 406 Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture 3
    FSC 440 Food Microbiology 3
    MMG 365 Medical Microbiology 3
    MMG 404 Human Genetics 3
    MMG 425 Microbial Ecology 3
    MMG 445 Microbial Biotechnology (W) 3
    PLB 402 Biology of Fungi 4
    PSL 425 Physiological Biophysics 3
    e. Four of the following courses (12 credits):
    BE 444 Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics  3
    BE 449 Human Health Risk Analysis for Engineering Controls 3
    BE 456 Electric Power and Control 3
    BE 469 Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3
    BE 477 Food Engineering: Fluids  3
    BE 478 Food Engineering: Solids  3
    BE 481 Water Resources Systems Analysis and Modeling 3
    BE 482 Engineering Ecological Treatment Systems 3
    BE 484 Water Resource Recovery Engineering 3
    CHE 468 Biomass Conversion Engineering 3

Concentrations in Biosystems Engineering

The department offers concentrations for students who wish to focus on a specific application area in the discipline. The concentrations are available to, but not required of, any student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree program in Biosystems Engineering. Courses completed to satisfy requirement 3. above may also be used to satisfy the requirements of a concentration. The concentration will be noted on the students transcript.

Bioenergy and Bioproduct Engineering
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering with a bioenergy and bioproduct engineering concentration, students must complete degree requirements 1., 2., and 3. above and the following:

1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
BE 469 Sustainable Bioenergy Systems 3
CHE 468 Biomass Conversion Engineering 3
CSS 467 Bioenergy Feedstock Production 3
2. Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
CHE 481 Biochemical Engineering 3
CSS 442 Agricultural Ecology 3
CSS 451 Biotechnology Applications for Plant Breeding and Genetics 3
FOR 406 Applied Forest Ecology: Silviculture 3
FOR 427 Biomass and Bioproducts Chemistry 3
FOR 466 Natural Resource Policy 3
FW 444 Conservation Biology 3
GLG 435 Geomicrobiology 4
MC 450 International Environmental Law and Policy 3
ME 417 Design of Alternative Energy Systems 3
ME 422 Introduction to Combustion 3
MMG 425 Microbial Ecology 3
MMG 445 Microbial Biotechnology (W) 3
PLB 402 Biology of Fungi 4

Biomedical Engineering
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering with a biomedical engineering concentration, students must complete degree requirements 1., 2., and 3. above and the following:

1. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
BE 444 Biosensors for Medical Diagnostics  3
BE 449 Human Health Risk Analysis for Engineering Controls 3
2. One of the following courses (3 credits):
MMG 365 Medical Microbiology 3
MMG 404 Human Genetics 3
PSL 425 Physiological Biophysics 3
3. Two of the following courses (5 or 6 credits):
BE 440 Entrepreneurial Engineering for Innovation in Health and Safety 3
BLD 204 Mechanisms of Disease 3
BLD 313 Quality in Clinical Laboratory Practice
BLD 430 Molecular Diagnostics 2
BLD 434 Clinical Immunology 3
ECE 445 Biomedical Instrumentation 3
ME 494 Biofluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer 3
MMG 365 Medical Microbiology 3
MMG 404 Human Genetics 3
MSE 425 Biomaterials and Biocompatability 3
PLB 400 Introduction to Bioinformatics   3
PSL 425 Physiological Biophysics 3
Courses used to fulfill requirement 2. in this concentration may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Ecosystems Engineering
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering with a ecosystems engineering concentration, students must complete degree requirements 1., 2., and 3. above and the following:

1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
BE 481 Water Resources Systems Analysis and Modeling 3
BE 482 Engineering Ecological Treatment Systems 3
BE 484 Water Resource Recovery Engineering 3
2. One of the following courses (3 credits):
CSS 442 Agricultural Ecology 3
MMG 425 Microbial Ecology 3
3. Two of the following courses (5 or 6 credits):
CSS 210 Fundamentals of Soil Science 3
CSS 330 Soil Chemistry 2
CSS 360 Soil Biology 3
CSS 442 Agricultural Ecology 3
CSS 455 Environmental Pollutants in Soil and Water 3
ENE 422 Applied Hydraulics 3
FOR 340 Forest Ecology 3
FW 417 Wetland Ecology and Management 3
FW 420 Stream Ecology 3
FW 444 Conservation Biology 3
GEO 402 Agricultural Climatology 3
MC 450 International Environmental Law and Policy 3
MMG 425 Microbial Ecology 3
PLB 418 Plant Systematics 3
PLB 443 Restoration Ecology 3
Courses used to fulfill requirement 2. in this concentration may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

Food Engineering
To earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Biosystems Engineering with a food engineering concentration, students must complete degree requirements 1., 2., and 3. above and the following:

1. All of the following courses (9 credits):
BE 477 Food Engineering: Fluids 3
BE 478 Food Engineering: Solids 3
FSC 440 Food Microbiology 3
2. Two of the following courses, one of which must be at the 400-level (6 or 7 credits):
BMB 200 Introduction to Biochemistry 4
FSC 211 Principles of Food Science 3
FSC 401 Food Chemistry 3
FSC 430 Food Processing: Fruits and Vegetables  3
FSC 431 Food Processing: Cereals 3
FSC 432 Food Processing: Dairy Foods   3
FSC 433 Food Processing: Muscle Foods   3