Agricultural & Biological Engineering: Soil and Water Resources Engineering, BS
Overview
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering Concentration
Graduates design sustainable systems to manage and conserve soil and water, control erosion and sediment, improve water quality, and minimize pollution.
Degree Requirements
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering Concentration
Graduation Requirements
Minimum Overall GPA: 2.0
Minimum hours required for graduation: 128 hours.
University Requirements
Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.
The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.
General Education Requirements
Students must complete the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements, including the campus Gen Ed language requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
fulfilled by ABE 469 | ||
| Humanities & the Arts (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: US Minority Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course) | 3 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I) | 6-10 | |
| Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required) | 0-15 | |
Orientation and Professional Development
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABE 127 | Introduction to Agricultural & Biological Engineering | 2 |
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar (External transfer students take ENG 300.) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 3 | |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus I (MATH 220 may be substituted. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. 4 of 5 credit hours count towards degree.) | 4 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 257 | Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 3 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Foundational Economics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ECON 102 | Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| ACE 100 | Introduction to Applied Microeconomics | 4 |
| ACE 210 | Environmental Economics & Policy | 3 |
| ACE 251 | The World Food Economy | 3 |
| ACE 255 | Economics of Food and Environmental Justice | 3 |
Agricultural and Biological Engineering Technical Core
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABE 128 | Applied Biology for Agricultural and Biological Engineers | 3 |
| ABE 227 | Computer-Aided Problem-Solving for ABE I | 3 |
| ABE 228 | Computer-Aided Problem-Solving for ABE II | 3 |
| ABE 340 | Thermodynamics for Agricultural and Biological Engineering | 3 |
| ABE 430 | Project Management | 2 |
| ABE 469 | Capstone Design Experience | 4 |
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci | 3 |
| ECE 205 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| SE 101 | Engineering Graphics & Design | 3 |
| IE 300 | Analysis of Data | 3 |
| or STAT 400 | Statistics and Probability I | |
| TAM 211 | Statics | 3 |
| TAM 212 | Introductory Dynamics | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Concentration Requirements: complete a minimum of 30 hours from courses below
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required courses | ||
| ABE 454 | Environmental Soil Physics | 3 |
| ABE 456 | Land & Water Resources Engrg | 3 |
| TAM 335 | Introductory Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 10 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ABE 425 | Engrg Measurement Systems | 4 |
| CEE 458 | Water Resources Field Methods | 4 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: | ||
| ABE 458 | NPS Pollution Modeling | 2 |
| ABE 459 | Drainage and Water Management | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following two sets: | ||
| CPSC 112 & CPSC 437 | Introduction to Crop Sciences and Principles of Agroecology | 7 |
| NRES 201 & NRES 475 | Introductory Soils and Environmental Microbiology | 7 |
| or NRES 488 | Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least six additional hours from the following | ||
| ABE 452 | Engineering for Disaster Resilience | 3 |
| ABE 457 | NPS Pollution Processes | 2 |
| ABE 458 | NPS Pollution Modeling | 2 |
| ABE 459 | Drainage and Water Management | 3 |
| CEE 330 | Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 350 | Water Resources Engineering | 3 |
| CEE 380 | Geotechnical Engineering | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Minimum Concentration Hours | 30 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free Electives | 10 | |
| Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 hours earned toward the degree. | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Total Hours of Curriculum to Graduate | 128 | |
Sample Sequence
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering Concentration
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree and General Education Requirements.
Free Electives: Additional course work, subject to the Grainger College of Engineering restrictions to Free Electives, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree.
First Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 127 - Introduction to Agricultural & Biological Engineering | 2 |
| ENG 100 - Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar | 1 |
| MATH 221 - Calculus I or MATH 220 - Calculus | 4 |
| CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| Composition I or General Education course | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 128 - Applied Biology for Agricultural and Biological Engineers | 3 |
| PHYS 211 - University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| MATH 231 - Calculus II | 3 |
| CHEM 104 - General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 105 - General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| General Education course or Composition I | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
Second Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 227 - Computer-Aided Problem-Solving for ABE I | 3 |
| CS 101 - Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci | 3 |
| MATH 241 - Calculus III | 4 |
| SE 101 - Engineering Graphics & Design | 3 |
| TAM 211 - Statics | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 228 - Computer-Aided Problem-Solving for ABE II | 3 |
| PHYS 212 - University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| MATH 285 - Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| MATH 257 - Linear Algebra with Computational Applications | 3 |
| TAM 212 - Introductory Dynamics | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
Third Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 340 - Thermodynamics for Agricultural and Biological Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 205 - Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| NRES 201 - Introductory Soils or CPSC 112 - Introduction to Crop Sciences | 4 |
| TAM 335 - Introductory Fluid Mechanics | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 17 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| IE 300 - Analysis of Data or STAT 400 - Statistics and Probability I | 3 |
| ABE 425 - Engrg Measurement Systems or CEE 458 - Water Resources Field Methods | 4 |
| ABE 454 - Environmental Soil Physics | 3 |
| ABE 456 - Land & Water Resources Engrg | 3 |
| Foundational Economics course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
Fourth Year
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 430 - Project Management | 2 |
| ABE 459 - Drainage and Water Management or ABE 458 - NPS Pollution Modeling | 3 |
| Choose 3 hours from 'Select 6 hours' list | 3 |
| General Education course (choose one course that fulfills two categories) | 3 |
| Language Other Than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 15 |
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| ABE 469 - Capstone Design Experience | 4 |
| NRES 475 - Environmental Microbiology, NRES 488 - Soil Fertility and Fertilizers, or CPSC 437 - Principles of Agroecology | 3 |
| Choose 3 hours from 'Select 6 hours' list | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 16 |
Total Hours
Total hours for all requirements: 128
Learning Outcomes
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering Concentration
- 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.
Contact Information
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Soil and Water Resources Engineering Concentration
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Faculty
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Grainger College of Engineering