Campuses:
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
Twin Cities Campus
Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering B.B.A.E.Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
College of Science and Engineering
The mission of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering is to conduct research and educate people to solve engineering problems in agricultural and biological environments. Educational objectives for the program are to produce graduates with the following:
? A broad fundamental engineering background including mathematics, physical science, biological science, engineering science, and computational skills needed for their future practice of biosystems and agricultural engineering.
? The skills necessary to carry out an effective design process including the ability to think creatively, work cooperatively, formulate problems, synthesize information, develop and evaluate alternatives, implement solutions, and communicate effectively at all stages of the process.
? The ability to address issues of ethics, safety, professionalism, and social and economic impacts in engineering practice and design.
? Specific abilities to pursue careers that integrate engineering and biology to design efficient, economical systems to produce and deliver high quality, safe food to consumers; to design sustainable systems that protect the environment, humans, plants, and animals; and to design safe and efficient machines, processes, and practices for biological systems.
? Opportunities to develop in-depth background in one of the following areas of emphasis: Bioprocessing and Food, Environment, or Machinery Systems.
Program Delivery
This program is available:
Admission Requirements
Students must complete
10 courses
before admission to the program.
Freshman and transfer students are usually admitted to pre-major status
before admission to this major.
A GPA above 2.0 is preferred for the following:
For information about University of Minnesota admission requirements, visit the
Office of Admissions
website.
Required prerequisites
Mathematics
Required prerequisites
Biological and Physical Sciences
BIOL 1009 - General Biology
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
or
BIOL 1009H - Honors: General Biology
[BIOL]
(4.0 cr)
CHEM 1021 {Inactive}
[PHYS]
(4.0 cr)
or
CHEM 1031H {Inactive}
[PHYS]
(4.0 cr)
CHEM 1022 {Inactive}
[PHYS]
(4.0 cr)
or
CHEM 1032H {Inactive}
[PHYS]
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 1301W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering I
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 1401V - Honors Physics I
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 1302W - Introductory Physics for Science and Engineering II
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
or
PHYS 1402V - Honors Physics II
[PHYS, WI]
(4.0 cr)
Required prerequisites
Statics and Dynamics
Take 1 or more course(s) from the following:
·
AEM 2021 - Statics and Dynamics
(4.0 cr)
General Requirements
All students in baccalaureate degree programs are required to complete general University and college requirements including writing and liberal education courses. For more information about University-wide requirements, see the
liberal education requirements.
Required courses for the major, minor or certificate in which a student receives a D grade (with or without plus or minus) do not count toward the major, minor or certificate (including transfer courses).
Program Requirements
Major Courses
BBE 1011 {Inactive}
(1.0 cr)
BBE 2113 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
BBE 3013 - Engineering Principles of Molecular and Cellular Processes
(3.0 cr)
BBE 3023 - Ecological Engineering Principles
(3.0 cr)
BBE 4013 - Transport in Biological Processes II
(3.0 cr)
BBE 4023W - Process Control and Instrumentation
[WI]
(3.0 cr)
BBE 4114W {Inactive}
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
BBE 5212 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
AEM 3031 - Deformable Body Mechanics
(3.0 cr)
CEGE 3502 - Fluid Mechanics
(4.0 cr)
EE 3005 - Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering
(4.0 cr)
ME 3331 - Thermodynamics
(3.0 cr)
WRIT 3562W - Technical and Professional Writing
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
STAT 3021 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics
(3.0 cr)
Electives
Students who wish to have a concentration within their elective coursework must take at least two courses belonging to the same designated emphasis. The designated emphases and the courses which comprise them are as follows: Bioprocessing and Food (BAE 4713, 4723); Environment (BAE 4523, 4533, 5513); and Machinery Systems (BAE 4313, 4323).
Take 3 or more course(s) from the following:
·
BBE 4313 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 4323 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 4523 - Ecological Engineering Design
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 4533 - Sustainable Waste Management Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 4713 - Biological Process Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 4723 - Food Process Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
BBE 5513 - Watershed Engineering
(3.0 cr)
Technical Electives
Complete 8 credits of engineering electives, 6 credits of biology electives, and at least 3 credits of technical electives (computer science or 3 additional credits of engineering or biology electives). Any of the emphases (sub-plans) may be completed as part of the requirement. See an adviser for a list of courses that fulfill electives or visit www.bae.umn.edu/teaching/ugrad/electives.html.
Technical Elective
Program Sub-plans
A sub-plan is not required for this program.
Bioprocessing and Food
Processing of agricultural and biological materials yields many important products, from foods to pharmaceuticals. In this emphasis, students are prepared for careers in the design and development of systems for processing, storing, and distributing food and agricultural products; processes to recover and purify products such as proteins produced through biotechnology; processes to make products such as biodegradable plastics from biological materials; new food products as a member of a team of food scientists and marketing specialists; and systems to ensure food safety and quality.
With completion of an additional 3 credits, this subplan fulfills the Technical Electives requirement.
Engineering Electives
Any non-required BAE course not used as a BAE elective.
Take 8 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
CHEN 5754 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEN 5759 {Inactive}
(2.0 cr)
·
EE 5821 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
IE 5531 - Engineering Optimization I
(4.0 cr)
·
IE 5541 - Project Management
(4.0 cr)
·
MATS 3011 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
(3.0 cr)
·
ME 5381 {Inactive}
(4.0 cr)
Biology Electives
See an adviser for other options.
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
BIOC 3021 - Biochemistry
(3.0 cr)
·
CHEM 2301 - Organic Chemistry I
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 4111 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
FSCN 4121 - Food Microbiology
(3.0 cr)
·
VBS 2022 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
VBS 2032 - General Microbiology With Laboratory
(5.0 cr)
EIP
This option provides students with a hands-on work experience after the freshman year of the degree program. Students can take up to two semesters of intern work with one or more employers. An example may be two summers and one semester. This may be adjusted to suit individual needs. Students have an opportunity to assist in design work and apply their knowledge to practical problem solving. The experience helps students choose a career and select electives for the degree.
During the academic portion of the intern program students are expected to take a normal load of 11-13 credits. Graduation may be delayed because of the intern experience. It is important to plan ahead, since biosystems and agricultural engineering classes are usually offered only once per year, and in some cases in alternating years. Students registering for BAE 4900 must first submit a proposed plan of study with the intern coordinator.
Internship
A total of 4 BAE 4900 intern Experience credits may be taken and applied toward the degree program as general engineering electives, but not as BAE electives.
BBE 4900 - Intern Reports
(2.0 cr)
Environment
The world is faced with important environmental and natural resource issues affecting soil, water, and air. In this emphasis, students are prepared for careers in the design or development of systems to control runoff and flooding in agricultural and small urban watersheds; systems to manage water (drainage or irrigation) to enhance crop production; practices to improve water quality and control soil erosion; plans and practices to restore wetlands; systems to store, treat, and use livestock or food processing wastes; and processes for bioremediation of polluted areas.
With completion of an additional 3 credits, this Sub-plan fulfills the Technical Electives requirement.
Engineering Electives
See an adviser for other options.
Take 8 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
CEGE 3202 - Surveying & Mapping
(2.0 cr)
·
CEGE 3301 - Soil Mechanics I
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 3402 - Civil Engineering Materials
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 3501 - Introduction to Environmental Engineering
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4301 - Soil Mechanics II
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4351 - Groundwater Mechanics
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4501 - Hydrologic Design
(4.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4502 - Water and Wastewater Treatment
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4511 - Hydraulic Structures
(3.0 cr)
·
CEGE 4512 - Open Channel Hydraulics
(3.0 cr)
Biology Electives
See an adviser for other options.
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
PMB 3007W - Plant, Algal, and Fungal Diversity and Adaptation
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3407 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 3001 - Ecology and Society
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 5601 - Limnology
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 3612W - Soil and Environmental Biology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 3416 - Plant Nutrients in the Environment
(3.0 cr)
Honors
This is an honors sub-plan.
For cum laude, students must complete a thesis and one honors experience and have a cumulative GPA of 3.50. To graduate magna cum laude, students must complete a thesis and two honors experiences and have a cumulative GPA of 3.66. For summa cum laude, students must complete a thesis and three honors experiences and have a cumulative GPA of 3.75. Consult an academic adviser for a list of possible honors experiences.
Machinery Systems
Machines are important components of systems for production and processing of food and other biological materials. In this emphasis, students are prepared for careers in the design and development of machines for agricultural, horticultural, and landscape industries; machines and systems that incorporate operator safety, health, and comfort; machines for food processing and handling; automated systems for identification, sorting, or grading; agricultural and other off-road vehicles to improve performance and minimize adverse impact to the soil; and systems for precision agriculture that use technologies such as global positioning systems and geographical information systems
With completion of an additional 3 credits, this sub-plan fulfills the Technical Electives requirement.
Engineering Electives
See an adviser for other options.
Take 8 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
MATS 2001 - Introduction to the Science of Engineering Materials
(3.0 cr)
·
ME 3221 - Fundamentals of Design & Manufacturing
(4.0 cr)
·
ME 3222 - Mechanisms & Machine Design
(4.0 cr)
·
ME 3281 - System Dynamics and Control
(4.0 cr)
·
ME 5243 - Advanced Mechanism Design
(4.0 cr)
·
ME 5247 - Applied Stress Analysis
(4.0 cr)
·
ME 5248 - Vibration Engineering
(4.0 cr)
Biology Electives
See an adviser for other options.
Take 6 or more credit(s) from the following:
·
AGRO 4005 {Inactive}
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
AGRO 4605 - Strategies for Agricultural Production and Management
(3.0 cr)
·
PMB 2022 - General Botany
(3.0 cr)
·
PMB 3007W - Plant, Algal, and Fungal Diversity and Adaptation
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
BIOL 3407 {Inactive}
(3.0 cr)
·
EEB 3001 - Ecology and Society
[ENV]
(3.0 cr)
·
ESPM 3612W - Soil and Environmental Biology
[WI]
(4.0 cr)
·
SOIL 3416 - Plant Nutrients in the Environment
(3.0 cr)
|
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1281/Math 1371/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1271/Math 1281/Math 1371/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1272/Math 1282/Math 1372/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 1272/Math 1282/Math 1372/ |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 2243/Math 2373/Math 2574H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 2243/Math 2373/Math 2574H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 2263/Math 2374/Math 2573H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Math 2263/Math 2374/Math 2573H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1009/Biol 1009H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 1009/Biol 1009H |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1201W/1301W/1401V/1501V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 1202W/1302W/1402V/1502V |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4023/BBE 5023/CEGE 4416/CE |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ME 3321/ME 3331 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Writ 3562V/Writ 3562W |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | STAT 3021/STAT 3021H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4523/BBE 5523 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4713/BBE 5713 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BBE 4723/BBE 5723 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | IE 4541/IE 5541 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | BioC 3021/BioC 3022/BioC 4331/ |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Chem 2301/Chem 2331H |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | OPT No Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 5.0 [max 5.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Biol 2032/MicB 3301/VBS 2032 |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 2.0 [max 2.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | CEGE 4351/GeoE 4351 |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3612W/Soil 5611 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | ESPM 3612W/Soil 5611 |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |