For the undergraduate curriculum in Biological Systems Engineering leading to the degree Bachelor of Science. The Biological Systems Engineering Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biological and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
Biological Systems Engineering integrates life sciences with engineering to solve problems related to, or using, biological systems. These biological systems may include microbes, plants, animals, humans and/or ecosystems. Biological systems engineers have a worldview shaped by an understanding of fundamental principles of engineering and life-sciences. They use their understanding of engineering to analyze organisms or ecosystems, and their knowledge of biological systems to inspire and inform their designs. They approach engineering design from a biological systems perspective, appreciating the complexity of biological systems and developing solutions that accommodate and anticipate the adaptability of biological systems.
Goal: To educate students to solve problems related to biorenewables production and processing, water quality, environmental impacts of the bioeconomy, food processing, and biosensors, and in so doing to prepare students for professional practice and post-graduate educational opportunities.
Student Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the Biological Systems Engineering curriculum should have at the time of graduation:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Program Educational Objectives: Three to five years after graduation, our graduates will be using the knowledge, skills, and abilities from their biological systems engineering degree to improve the human condition through successful careers in a wide variety of fields. They will be effective leaders, collaborators, and innovators who address environmental, social, technical, and business challenges. They will be engaged in life-long learning and professional development through self-study, continuing education, or graduate/professional school.
Well-qualified juniors and seniors in biological systems engineering who are interested in graduate study may apply for concurrent enrollment in the Graduate College to simultaneously pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in biological systems engineering and a Master of Science degree in agricultural engineering. Under concurrent enrollment, students are eligible for assistantships and simultaneously take undergraduate and graduate courses.
A concurrent Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration program is also offered by the department.
The department also offers a Bachelor of Science curriculum in agricultural engineering. See College of Engineering. Additionally, the department offers Bachelor of Science curricula in agricultural systems technology and in industrial technology. See College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
The department also participates in interdepartmental majors in environmental science, sustainable agriculture, human computer interaction, and toxicology (see Index).
Curriculum in Biological Systems Engineering
Administered by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
Leading to the degree Bachelor of Science.
Total credits required:
127.0 cr Ecological Engineering Option
128.0 cr Food & Bioprocess Engineering Option
128.0 cr Open Option.
Any transfer credit courses applied to the degree program require a grade of C or better (but will not be calculated into the ISU cumulative GPA, Basic Program GPA or Core GPA). See also Basic Program and Special Programs.
International Perspectives: 3 cr.1
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity): 3 cr.1
Communication Proficiency/Library requirement:
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| Communication Elective: One of the following (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 | |
| Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Advanced Professional Selling | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Business and Professional Speaking | ||
Social Sciences and Humanities: 12 cr. 1,2
| 3 credits from international perspectives-university approved list | 3 | |
| 3 credits from U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)-university approved list | 3 | |
| 6 credits from Social Sciences and Humanities courses-department approved list | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Basic Program: 24 cr.
A minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses (please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Basic Program GPA). See Requirement for Entry into Professional Program in College of Engineering Overview section. Within the Biological Systems Engineering Basic Program, students are required to complete CHEM 1670 and CHEM 1670L or the sequence of CHEM 1770, CHEM 1770L, and CHEM 1780. This is a departmental requirement within the College of Engineering Basic Program requirements. The CHEM 1780 course will show as completing the chemistry portion of the Basic Program and the credits will be applied towards a student's classification.
| ABE 1600 | Systematic Problem Solving and Computer Programming 3 | 3 |
| CHEM 1670 | General Chemistry for Engineering Students | 4 |
| ENGL 1500 | Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| Engineering Orientation | ||
| LIB 1600 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| MATH 1650 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 1660 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 2310 | Introduction to Classical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 2310L | Introduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Biological, Math and Physical Science: 23 cr.
| BIOL 2120 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| CHEM 1670L | Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering | 1 |
| or CHEM 1770L | Laboratory in General Chemistry I | |
| Chemistry Sequence I (select from list of lecture with corresponding lab) | 4 | |
| Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
| Laboratory in Elementary Organic Chemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
| Laboratory in Organic Chemistry I | ||
| MATH 2670 | Elementary Differential Equations and Laplace Transforms | 4 |
| MICRO 3020 | Biology of Microorganisms | 3 |
| MICRO 3020L | Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| STAT 3050 | Engineering Statistics (Chemistry Sequence I) | 3 |
| Chemistry Sequence II (select from list of lecture with corresponding lab) | 4 | |
| Quantitative and Environmental Analysis | ||
| Quantitative and Environmental Analysis Laboratory | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Laboratory in Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Food Chemistry | ||
| Food Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Biological Systems Engineering Core: 42 cr.
(A minimum GPA of 2.00 required for this set of courses, including any transfer courses; please note that transfer course grades will not be calculated into the Core GPA).
| ABE 2160 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 2180 | Project Management & Design in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 2 |
| ABE 2730 | CAD for Process Facilities and Land Use Planning | 1 |
| ABE 3160 | Applied Numerical Methods for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 3630 | Agri-Industrial Applications of Electric Power and Electronics | 4 |
| ABE 3780 | Mechanics of Fluids | 3 |
| ABE 3800 | Principles of Biological Systems Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 4040 | Instrumentation for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 4150 | Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Design I | 2 |
| ABE 4160 | Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Design II | 2 |
| ABE 4800 | Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems | 3 |
| CE 2740 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| EM 3240 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| EM 3270 | Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| or ABE 3780L | Mechanics of Fluids Laboratory | |
| IE 3050 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| ME 2310 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
Other Remaining Courses: 11 cr.
| ABE 1100 | Experiencing Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 1 |
| ABE 1700 | Engineering Graphics and Introductory Design | 3 |
| TSM 2010 | Preparing for Workplace Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 2500 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| Communication Elective: One of the following (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 | |
| Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences | ||
| Proposal and Report Writing | ||
| Technical Communication | ||
| Advanced Professional Selling | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking | ||
| Business and Professional Speaking | ||
| Total Credits | 11 | |
Complete remaining courses from one of the following options:
Ecological Engineering Option: 15 cr.
| ABE 4310 | Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems | 3 |
| ABE 4340 | Ecosystem Restoration Engineering | 3 |
| CE 3720 | Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics | 3 |
| Ecological Elective 2 | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Food & Bioprocess Engineering Option: 16 cr.
| ABE 4510 | Food and Bioprocess Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 4500 | Emerging Technologies in Biomanufacturing | 3 |
| ABE 4690 | Engineering for Grain Storage, Preservation, Handling, and Processing Systems | 3 |
| ME 4360 | Heat Transfer | 4 |
| Food Elective (select 3 cr from the following): | 3 | |
| Biorenewable Systems | ||
| Food Microbiology | ||
| Food Processing | ||
| Supply Chain Management | ||
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Open Option: 16 cr.
| ABE 4510 | Food and Bioprocess Engineering | 3 |
| ME 4360 | Heat Transfer | 4 |
| Sequence I, II & III Elective 2 | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
Co-op/Internships (Optional)
- These university requirements will add to the minimum credits of the program unless the university-approved courses are also approved by the department to meet other course requirements within the degree program.
U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity), International Perspectives and Social Science/Humanities courses may not be taken Pass/Not Pass. - Choose from department approved list.
- See Basic Program for Professional Engineering Curricula for accepted substitutions for curriculum designated courses in the Basic Program.
TRANSFER CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
Students graduating with a degree in AE or BSE are required to have a minimum of 18 credits of 3000-level and 4000-level ABE courses taken at Iowa State University (excluding 4900, 4150, and 4160), and must complete the two-semester ABE Capstone sequence (ABE 4150 & 4160) at Iowa State University. The Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering requires a grade of C or better for any transfer credit course that is applied to the degree program.
Biological Systems Engineering, B.S. - Ecological Engineering Option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 1010 | R | ABE 1100 | 1 |
| ABE 1700 | 3 | ABE 1600 | 3 |
| CHEM 1670 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670L | 1 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | ENGL 2500 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 2160 | 3 | ABE 2180 | 2 |
| CE 2740 | 3 | TSM 2010 | 1 |
| BIOL 2120 | 3 | ABE 2730 | 1 |
| CHEM 2310 | 3 | ME 2310 | 3 |
| CHEM 2310L | 1 | MATH 2670 | 4 |
| U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Elective | 3 | CHEM 2110 | 2 |
| CHEM 2110L | 2 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 3160 | 3 | ABE 3630 | 4 |
| ABE 3780 | 3 | ABE 3800 | 3 |
| MICRO 3020 | 3 | CE 3720 | 3 |
| MICRO 3020L | 1 | EM 3240 | 3 |
| STAT 3050 | 3 | IE 3050 | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 4150 | 2 | ABE 4160 | 2 |
| ABE 4040 | 3 | ABE 4340 | 3 |
| ABE 4310 | 3 | EM 3270 or ABE 3780L | 1 |
| ABE 4800 | 3 | Ecological Elective | 3 |
| Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 | Ecological Elective | 3 |
| International Perspectives Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
Biological Systems Engineering, B.S. Food & Bioprocess Engineering Option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 1010 | R | ABE 1100 | 1 |
| ABE 1700 | 3 | ABE 1600 | 3 |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670 | 4 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670L | 1 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | ENGL 2500 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 2160 | 3 | ABE 2180 | 2 |
| CE 2740 | 3 | TSM 2010 | 1 |
| BIOL 2120 | 3 | ABE 2730 | 1 |
| CHEM 2310 | 3 | MATH 2670 | 4 |
| CHEM 2310L | 1 | MICRO 3020 | 3 |
| U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Elective | 3 | MICRO 3020L | 1 |
| ME 2310 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 3160 | 3 | ABE 3630 | 4 |
| ABE 3780 | 3 | ABE 3800 | 3 |
| STAT 3050 | 3 | ABE 4690 | 3 |
| FSHN 3110 | 3 | EM 3240 | 3 |
| FSHN 3110L | 1 | IE 3050 | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 4150 | 2 | ABE 4160 | 2 |
| ABE 4040 | 3 | ABE 4510 | 3 |
| ABE 4800 | 3 | EM 3270 or ABE 3780L | 1 |
| ABE 4500 | 3 | ME 4360 | 4 |
| Option Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| International Perspectives Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
Biological Systems Engineering, B.S. - Open Option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 1010 | R | ABE 1100 | 1 |
| ABE 1700 | 3 | ABE 1600 | 3 |
| CHEM 1670 | 4 | MATH 1660 | 4 |
| CHEM 1670L | 1 | PHYS 2310 | 4 |
| MATH 1650 | 4 | PHYS 2310L | 1 |
| ENGL 1500 | 3 | ENGL 2500 | 3 |
| LIB 1600 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 2160 | 3 | ABE 2180 | 2 |
| CE 2740 | 3 | TSM 2010 | 1 |
| BIOL 2120 | 3 | ABE 2730 | 1 |
| CHEM 3310 | 3 | CHEM 3320 | 3 |
| CHEM 3310L | 1 | CHEM 3320L | 1 |
| U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity) Elective | 3 | MATH 2670 | 4 |
| ME 2310 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 3160 | 3 | ABE 3630 | 4 |
| ABE 3780 | 3 | ABE 3800 | 3 |
| MICRO 3020 | 3 | EM 3240 | 3 |
| MICRO 3020L | 1 | IE 3050 | 3 |
| STAT 3050 | 3 | Sequence I Elective | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ABE 4150 | 2 | ABE 4160 | 2 |
| ABE 4040 | 3 | ABE 4510 | 3 |
| ABE 4800 | 3 | EM 3270 or ABE 3780L | 1 |
| Sequence II Elective | 3 | ME 4360 | 4 |
| International Perspectives Elective | 3 | Sequence III Elective | 3 |
| Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has concurrent Bachelor of Science /Master of Science (B.S./M.S.) programs designed especially for departmental seniors who wish to pursue advanced studies. Concurrent B.S./M.S. programs are: agricultural engineering (BS) with agricultural and biosystems engineering (M.S.) and biological systems engineering (B.S.) with agricultural and biosystems engineering (M.S.).
The concurrent B.S./M.S. program allows seniors to:
- Become eligible for a research assistantship during their senior year.
- Complete an M.S. degree (with thesis) within 18 months of B.S. graduation.
For more information about our concurrent undergraduate and graduate programs in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, visit: https://www.abe.iastate.edu/graduate-students/abe-concurrent-degrees/.
Graduate Study
The department offers Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with a major in agricultural and biosystems engineering. Within the agricultural and biosystems engineering major the student may specialize in advanced machinery engineering, animal production systems engineering, biological and process engineering, occupational safety engineering, or water and environmental stewardship engineering. Details on current research programs available at http://www.abe.iastate.edu/.
For the Master of Science program, at least 30 credits of acceptable graduate work must be completed with a minimum of 22 credits of course work; corresponding numbers for the Master of Engineering program are 32 and 27. For the Doctor of Philosophy degree, at least 72 credits of acceptable graduate work must be completed with a minimum of 42 credits of course work. All Ph.D. students must complete a teaching/extension experience prior to graduation.
The department also offers both master of science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in industrial and agricultural technology.