For the undergraduate curriculum in agricultural engineering leading to the degree bachelor of science. The Agricultural Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org/.
Goal: To educate students in the analysis and design of machinery, animal housing, and environmental systems for the production, processing, storage, handling, distribution, and use of food, feed, fiber and other biomaterials, and the management of related natural resources, by integrating basic physical and biological sciences with engineering design principles.
Student Learning Outcomes: Graduates of the Agricultural 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 agricultural 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.
Graduates find employment in diverse ag- and bio-related industries and government agencies dealing with agricultural machines and buildings, animal and environmental control, grain processing and handling, soil and water resources, food, biorenewables, and biotechnology. Their work involves engineering design, development, testing, research, manufacturing, consulting, sales, and service. Students are highly encouraged to participate in either cooperative education or internship programs.
The department also offers a bachelor of science curriculum in biological systems engineering. Additionally, the department offers bachelor of science curricula in agricultural systems technology and in industrial technology.
Well-qualified juniors and seniors in agricultural 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 agricultural engineering and a master of science degree in agricultural engineering. A concurrent bachelor of science and master of business administration program is also offered by the department. Refer to Graduate Study for more information.
Curriculum in Agricultural Engineering
Administered by the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
Leading to the degree bachelor of science.
Total credits required:
126.0 cr Land and Water Resources Engineering Option
128.0 cr Power and Machinery Engineering Option
128.0 cr Animal Production Systems Engineering 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. Diversity: 3 cr.1
Communication Proficiency/Library requirement :
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| ENGL 250 | Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 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. 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 Agricultural Engineering Basic Program, students are required to complete CHEM 167 and CHEM 167L or the sequence of CHEM 177, CHEM 177L, and CHEM 178. This is a departmental requirement within the College of Engineering Basic Program requirements. CHEM 178 credits can then be applied to the Math/Science Elective within the options of Power and Machinery Engineering and Animal Production Systems Engineering of the Agricultural Engineering major requirements.
| A B E 160 | Systematic Problem Solving and Computer Programming 3 | 3 |
| CHEM 167 | General Chemistry for Engineering Students | 4 |
or CHEM 177 | ||
and | ||
| General Chemistry II | ||
| ENGL 150 | Critical Thinking and Communication (Must have a C or better in this course) | 3 |
| ENGR 101 | Engineering Orientation | R |
| LIB 160 | Introduction to College Level Research | 1 |
| MATH 165 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 166 | Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 231 | Introduction to Classical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 231L | Introduction to Classical Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Math and Physical Science: 7 cr.
| CHEM 167L | Laboratory in General Chemistry for Engineering | 1 |
| or CHEM 177L | Laboratory in General Chemistry I | |
| MATH 266 | Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| STAT 305 | Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
Ag Engineering Core: 35 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).
| A B E 216 | Fundamentals of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| A B E 218 | Project Management & Design in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 2 |
| A B E 316 | Applied Numerical Methods for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| A B E 363 | Agri-Industrial Applications of Electric Power and Electronics | 4 |
| A B E 378 | Mechanics of Fluids | 3 |
| A B E 404 | Instrumentation for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 3 |
| A B E 415 | Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Design I | 2 |
| A B E 416 | Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Design II | 2 |
| C E 274 | Engineering Statics | 3 |
| E M 324 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
| E M 327 | Mechanics of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| I E 305 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| M E 231 | Engineering Thermodynamics I | 3 |
| Total Credits | 35 | |
Other Remaining Courses: 11 cr.
| A B E 110 | Experiencing Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | 1 |
| A B E 170 | Engineering Graphics and Introductory Design | 3 |
| A B E 201 | Preparing for Workplace Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 250 | 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:
Land and Water Resources Engineering Option: 37 cr.
| A B E 431 | Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems | 3 |
| AGRON 181 | Introduction to Crop Science | 3 |
| AGRON 182 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| BIOL 251 | Biological Processes in the Environment | 3 |
or BIOL 211 | ||
| C E 326 | Principles of Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| C E 372 | Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics | 3 |
| GEOL 201 | Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists | 3 |
| MICRO 201 | Introduction to Microbiology | 2 |
| MICRO 201L | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory | 1 |
| A B E 273 | CAD for Process Facilities and Land Use Planning | 1 |
| GIS Elective (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Geospatial Technologies | ||
| Introduction to GIS | ||
| GIS for Geoscientists | ||
| Natural Resource Photogrammetry and Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Integrating GPS and GIS for Natural Resource Management | ||
| Subsurface Systems Elective (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Geotechnical Engineering | ||
| Groundwater Hydrology | ||
| Water Quality Elective (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Nonpoint Source Pollution and Control | ||
| Watershed Modeling and Policy | ||
| A B E Breadth (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Functional Analysis of Soil, Crop, and Machine Systems | ||
| Principles of Biological Systems Engineering | ||
A B E 424 (3 different 1cr modules) | ||
| Air Pollution: Air quality and effects of pollutants | ||
| Air Pollution: Climate change and causes | ||
| Air Pollution: Transportation Air Quality | ||
| Air Pollution: Off-gas treatment technology | ||
| Air Pollution: Agricultural sources of pollution | ||
| Engineering for Grain Storage, Preservation, Handling, and Processing Systems | ||
| Controlled Environments for Animals and Plants (offered Spring even years) | ||
| Wood Frame and Agri-Industrial Structures (offered Spring odd years) | ||
| Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
Power and Machinery Engineering Option: 39 cr.
| A B E 340 | Functional Analysis of Soil, Crop, and Machine Systems | 3 |
| A B E 342 | Agricultural Tractor Power | 3 |
| A B E 410 | Electronic Systems Integration for Agricultural Machinery | 3 |
| A B E 413 | Fluid Power Engineering | 3 |
| AGRON 182 | Introduction to Soil Science | 3 |
| BIOL 251 | Biological Processes in the Environment | 3 |
or BIOL 211 | ||
| MAT E 273 | Principles of Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| M E 324 | Manufacturing Engineering | 3 |
| M E 324L | Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory | 1 |
| M E 325 | Mechanical Component Design | 3 |
| M E 345 | Engineering Dynamics | 3 |
| Computer Graphics (Two of the following): | 2 | |
| Engineering Applications of Parametric Solid Modeling | ||
| Parametric Solid Models, Drawings, and Assemblies Using Creo Parametric | ||
| CAD for Process Facilities and Land Use Planning | ||
| A B E Elective (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems | ||
| Engineering for Grain Storage, Preservation, Handling, and Processing Systems | ||
| Controlled Environments for Animals and Plants (offered Spring even years) | ||
| Wood Frame and Agri-Industrial Structures (offered Spring odd years) | ||
| Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems | ||
| Math/Science Elective | 3 | |
| Introduction to Crop Science | ||
| General Chemistry II (In combination with CHEM 177) | ||
| Matrices and Linear Algebra | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Introduction to Classical Physics II | ||
| Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Animal Production Systems Engineering Option: 39 cr.
| A B E 327L | Animal Production Systems Design Lab | 1 |
| A B E 469 | Engineering for Grain Storage, Preservation, Handling, and Processing Systems | 3 |
| A B E 472 | Controlled Environments for Animals and Plants (offered Spring even years) | 3 |
| A B E 478 | Wood Frame and Agri-Industrial Structures (offered Spring odd years) | 3 |
| BIOL 251 | Biological Processes in the Environment | 3 |
or BIOL 211 | ||
| C E 332 | Structural Analysis I | 3 |
| C E 333 | Structural Steel Design I | 3 |
| C E 334 | Reinforced Concrete Design I | 3 |
| TSM 327 | Animal Production Systems | 3 |
| Animal Science/Horticulture Elective (One of the following): | 3 | |
| Poultry Science | ||
| Swine Science | ||
| Beef Cattle Science | ||
| Sheep Science | ||
| Dairy Cattle Science | ||
| Principles of Horticulture Science | ||
| Computer Graphics (One of the following): | 1 | |
| Engineering Applications of Parametric Solid Modeling | ||
| Parametric Solid Models, Drawings, and Assemblies Using Creo Parametric | ||
| CAD for Process Facilities and Land Use Planning (Preferred) | ||
| A B E elective (One of the following): 2 | 3 | |
| Design and Evaluation of Soil and Water Conservation Systems | ||
| Functional Analysis of Soil, Crop, and Machine Systems | ||
| Engineering Analysis of Biological Systems | ||
| Animal Production Systems Engineering Elective | 4 | |
| Geotechnical Engineering | ||
| Heat Transfer | ||
| Math/Science Elective | 3 | |
| Introduction to Crop Science | ||
| Introduction to Soil Science | ||
| General Chemistry II (In combination with CHEM 177) | ||
| Geology for Engineers and Environmental Scientists | ||
| Greenhouse and Nursery Operations and Management | ||
| Matrices and Linear Algebra | ||
| Calculus III | ||
| Introduction to Classical Physics II | ||
| Introduction to Classical Physics II Laboratory | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
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. 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 A E or BSE are required to have a minimum of 18 credits of 300-level and 400-level ABE courses taken at Iowa State University (excluding 490, 415, and 416), and must complete the two-semester ABE Capstone sequence (ABE 415 & 416) 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.
See also: A 4-year plan of study grid showing course template by semester.
Agricultural Engineering, B.S. - power & machinery option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 101 | R | A B E 110 | 1 |
| A B E 170 | 3 | A B E 160 | 3 |
| CHEM 167 | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| CHEM 167L | 1 | PHYS 231 | 4 |
| MATH 165 | 4 | PHYS 231L | 1 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 216 | 3 | A B E 218 | 2 |
| C E 274 | 3 | A B E 201 | 1 |
| MAT E 273 | 3 | E M 324 | 3 |
| AGRON 182 | 3 | MATH 266 | 3 |
| Math/Science Elective | 3 | STAT 305 | 3 |
| International Perspectives Elective | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 340 | 3 | A B E 316 | 3 |
| A B E 363 | 4 | A B E 342 | 3 |
| E M 327 | 1 | A B E 378 | 3 |
| M E 231 | 3 | M E 324L | 1 |
| M E 345 | 3 | BIOL 251 (OR BIOL 211) | 3 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | Computer Graphics Elective | 2 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 415 | 2 | A B E 416 | 2 |
| A B E 404 | 3 | A B E 410 | 3 |
| A B E 413 | 3 | A B E Elective | 3 |
| M E 324 | 3 | I E 305 | 3 |
| M E 325 | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| US Diversity Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 17 | ||
Agricultural Engineering, B.S. - animal production systems engineering option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 101 | R | A B E 110 | 1 |
| A B E 170 | 3 | A B E 160 | 3 |
| CHEM 167 | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| CHEM 167L | 1 | PHYS 231 | 4 |
| MATH 165 | 4 | PHYS 231L | 1 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 216 | 3 | A B E 218 | 2 |
| C E 274 | 3 | A B E 201 | 1 |
| MATH 266 | 3 | E M 324 | 3 |
| TSM 327 | 3 | M E 231 | 3 |
| A B E 327L | 1 | STAT 305 | 3 |
| US Diversity Elective | 3 | BIOL 211 (OR BIOL 251) | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 316 | 3 | A B E 478 | 3 |
| A B E 363 | 4 | C E 333 | 3 |
| A B E 378 | 3 | I E 305 | 3 |
| C E 332 | 3 | Computer Graphics Elective | 1 |
| E M 327 | 1 | Communication Elective | 3 |
| Math/Science Elective | 3 | International Perspective Elective | 3 |
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 415 | 2 | A B E 416 | 2 |
| A B E 404 | 3 | A B E 469 | 3 |
| A B E Elective | 3 | A B E 472 | 3 |
| AN S/HORT Elective | 3 | C E 334 | 3 |
| Animal Production Systems Engineering Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
Agricultural Engineering, B.S. - land and water resources engineering option
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGR 101 | R | A B E 110 | 1 |
| A B E 170 | 3 | A B E 160 | 3 |
| CHEM 167 | 4 | MATH 166 | 4 |
| CHEM 167L | 1 | PHYS 231 | 4 |
| MATH 165 | 4 | PHYS 231L | 1 |
| ENGL 150 | 3 | ENGL 250 | 3 |
| LIB 160 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 216 | 3 | A B E 218 | 2 |
| C E 274 | 3 | A B E 201 | 1 |
| MATH 266 | 3 | E M 324 | 3 |
| AGRON 181 | 3 | M E 231 | 3 |
| AGRON 182 | 3 | STAT 305 | 3 |
| BIOL 251 (OR BIOL 211) | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 316 | 3 | A B E 273 | 1 |
| A B E 363 | 4 | C E 326 | 3 |
| A B E 378 | 3 | C E 372 | 3 |
| E M 327 | 1 | MICRO 201 | 2 |
| GIS Elective | 3 | MICRO 201L | 1 |
| Communication Elective | 3 | ABE Breadth Elective | 3 |
| US Diversity Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| A B E 415 | 2 | A B E 416 | 2 |
| A B E 404 | 3 | I E 305 | 3 |
| A B E 431 | 3 | Subsurface Systems Elective | 3 |
| GEOL 201 | 3 | Water Quality Elective | 3 |
| Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 | Social Science or Humanities Elective | 3 |
| International Perspectives Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 14 | ||
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering has concurrent Bachelor of Science /Master of Science (BS/MS) programs designed especially for departmental seniors who wish to pursue advanced studies. Concurrent BS/MS programs are: agricultural engineering (BS) with agricultural and biosystems engineering (MS) and biological systems engineering (BS) with agricultural and biosystems engineering (MS).
The concurrent BS/MS program allows seniors to:
- Become eligible for a research assistantship during their senior year
- Complete an MS degree (with thesis) within 18 months of BS 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.
The department also participates in interdepartmental majors in environmental science, sustainable agriculture, human computer interaction, and toxicology (see Index).