Agricultural Engineering

Machinery Systems refers to the use of mechanical systems to make food production, handling, storage, processing, and distribution more efficient, to protect and to enhance the quality of the products, and to improve the quality of the human work involved. Activities and technologies include: process automation for field and specialty crops, high value crop mechanization systems, robotics in production and processing, image processing, tillage and soil management systems, traction, soil compaction, pest control technology, chemical application, and human factors and safety engineering. Potential employers include farm and construction machinery manufacturers and distributors and allied industries.

PreVet/PreMed

By capitalizing on the biological emphasis in agricultural engineering, students will prepare themselves for admission to either veterinary medicine or medicine while obtaining a degree in agricultural engineering. The courses required in the pre-professional programs also provide excellent fundamental training for careers in areas such as environmental quality, food engineering, biomechanics, biotechnology, and environmental control.

Food Engineering

Food Engineering refers to the totality of engineering activities associated with processing, packaging and delivery of food products from the farm to the consumer. The discipline requires a strong background in engineering, in particular, transport phenomena, reaction kinetics, food chemistry and microbiology, and an understanding of sanitary considerations in the food industry.

The food engineering program is aimed at students interested in entering either the food processing industry or the food processing equipment manufacturing/plant engineering sectors.

Biological Engineering

Biological engineering covers a wide range of activities that apply the quantitative approach of engineering to biological systems. This specialty develops competencies in such areas as biological kinetics, biomaterials, and bioprocessing applied to the production and processing food, fiber and wastes. Sensors and controls for human and animal systems, bioprocessing to produce products from biomass and the design of new organisms through biotechnology are all possible challenges for biological engineers. Potential employers are focusing on the use of development in biological science to solve engineering problems related to environment, medicine, and food.

Ecological Engineering

Students in the Bioenvironmental area will develop the background and tools to address major environmental quality issues in our society. Both urban point sources and rural non-point sources of air and water pollution, and the relationship between agriculture, industry, and the environment need to be understood. Employers include governmental agencies (EPA, universities, natural resources, as well as city and regional waste management authorities), private industry having waste management concerns (especially the food industry) and consulting firms. Students will e prepared to address air pollution, water quality and solid waste issues as well as biological treatment processes.

Environmental Engineering

Bioenvironmental Engineering students develop the background and skills to address major environmental quality issues in our society. Both urban and rural sources of air, soil and water pollution, and the relationship between agriculture, industry, and the environment need to be understood. Employers include governmental agencies (EPA, universities, natural resources, as well as city and regional water and waste management authorities), private industry with soil, water and waste management concerns (especially the food industry, and consulting firms). Graduates will be prepared to address air pollution, water quality and solid waste issues, as well as biological treatment processes.