Basic concepts of sensors and controls for biological systems. Study of transducers and circuits utilized in biological and agricultural engineering applications. Demonstration of concepts of error, accuracy and precision, linearity and other instrument characteristics by electronic models. Provision of hands-on experience for reinforcing lecture concepts in laboratories. Credit will not be given for both BAE 401 and BAE 501.

Prerequisite: BAE 305

Typically offered in Spring only

Basic theory of instruments and measurements. Physical parameters of interest, available methods and sensors for assessment. Sensor characteristics. Dataloggers and sensor-datalogger communications. Data transfer, management, and processing. Emphasis on hydrologic and water quality research applications. Course offered by Distance Education only.

Prerequisite: MA 341, BAE 401 or ECE 331, ST 370 or ST 511

Typically offered in Spring only

Introduction to the structure and functions of microbial cells and their cultivation and utilization in Biological engineering processes. Topics covered include Fermentation systems and downstream processing methods. Enzyme kinetics, production and application. Biomanufacturing of fuels, industrial chemicals, food additives and food products such as beer, wine, cheese and yogurt, Microbial biomass production, Introduction to environmental biotechnology including wastewater treatment and bioremediation. Field trip is an essential educational component of the course and is are required. Credit will not be given for both BAE 425 and BAE 525.

Prerequisite: Junior or higher standing in CALS or COE; MB 351

Typically offered in Spring only

This course will introduce fundamental principles and practical applications of biomass-to-renewable energy processes, including anaerobic digestion of organic wastes for biogas and hydrogen production, bioethanol production from starch and lignocellulosic materials, biodiesel production from plant oils, and thermoconversion of biomass and waste materials. Restricted to engineering seniors and graduate standing in COE, CALS, PAMS or CNR.

Prerequisite: Introductory Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry

Typically offered in Fall only

Overview of technology available for implementation of a comprehensive precision agriculture program. Topics include computers, GPS, sensors, mechanized soil sampling, variable rate control system, yield monitors, and postharvest processing controls. Applications of precision agriculture in crop planning, tillage, planting, chemical applications, harvesting and postharvest processing. Credit may not be received for BAE 435 and BAE 535.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or Senior standing

Typically offered in Spring only

Exploration of geographic information systems (GIS) and its applications in precision agriculture. Topics will include file structure and formatting, interfacing with precision agriculture equipment, georeferencing maps, merging and clipping farm data, data field calculations, designing management zones, variable rate prescriptions, and basic data analysis.

Prerequisiste: GIS 410 or GIS 510 or BAE 435 or BAE 535

Typically offered in Spring only

This course provides students with foundational coding skills in R, an open-source statistical software environment, as well as instruction on best practices for tidying, managing, and analyzing environmental and agricultural data, including geospatial, tabular, and time series observations. As this is an introductory course, prior programming experience is not required or expected. Coding approaches taught in the course will be targeted towards developing skills needed for summarizing data, creating data visualizations, and applying simple statistical models for analysis of environmental and agricultural data.

P: ST 311, or ST 370, or ST 512, or ST 515

Typically offered in Fall only

This course is designed for students who have a desire to work in the area of air quality. It will provide students with fundamental knowledge of aerosol properties, behavior and physical principles, and with hands-on experience in applying this knowledge to aerosol/PM measurements and control.

Prerequisite: MA 341

Typically offered in Fall only

This course will prepare students to identify agricultural air pollutants and their sources, understand the on-farm and off-farm impacts of these pollutants, measure these pollutants, characterize and model the fate of these pollutants, and select and/or design cost-effective remediation measures. This course is restricted to seniors in engineering and MEAS, and graduate students in CALS, PAMS, and CNR.

Prerequisite: MA 341

Typically offered in Spring only

This course provides students with a fundamental and practical understanding of data science and modeling approaches for environmental and agricultural systems analysis. The course is organized into three modules: (1) data retrieval, management, documentation, and visualization; (2) process-based modeling; and (3) data mining through statistical analysis and machine learning. Rather than develop a strong knowledge base in a specific methodology, students will gain broad and introductory understanding of a range of contemporary quantitative approaches and learn to think critically about the use of data analytics and models.

Prerequisite: Introductory statistics (e.g. ST 515) and experience coding in R (e.g. BAE 555)

Typically offered in Spring only

Design, management and evaluation of irrigation and drainage systems; concepts and processes of system design. Credit will not be given for both BAE 472 and BAE 572.

Prerequisite: BAE 371

Typically offered in Spring only

Concepts in basic hydrologic, erosion and chemical transport used in modeling. Evaluation of typical hydrologic and water quality models on watershed systems. Project examples using state-of-the-art models. Credit will not be given for both BAE 473 and BAE 573.

Prerequisite: BAE 371

Typically offered in Spring only

This course presents the theory of water movement and storage in poorly drained soils and applies the drainage/water management model DRAINMOD to a wide range of problems. Technical issues related to evaluation, design and management of drained soils and to wetland hydrology are analyzed. A series of problem sets provides experience in using the model, and demonstrates how the model may be applied to describe the complex interactions of multiple processses affecting hydrology of shallow water table soils.

Prerequisite: One of the following: BAE 471, BAE 472, BAE 573, BAE 771, or SSC 511

Typically offered in Spring only

The design of structural stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) used in the urban and suburban environments is reviewed, including stormwater wetlands, bio-retention areas, sand filters, innovative wet ponds, green roofs, permeable pavement, and reinforced grass swales. The course is application oriented and includes a pair of field trips.

Prerequisite: BAE 471 or CE 383

Typically offered in Spring only

Water measurement and structure sizing. Identification of water quality problems and water quality variable selection. Monitoring design, water quality sampling equipment, and sample collection and analysis. Statistical analysis and presentation of water quality data.

Prerequisite: [AES323 (SSC323/BAE323) or BAE471 or FOR429 (NR420) or CE586, and ST311 or ST361 or ST511

Typically offered in Fall only

Fundamental understanding of hydrology, soils and ecology of natural wetland systems will be developed to serve as the basis for designing wetland systems for water treatment and restoring degraded natural wetland systems. Stormwater and wastewater treatment wetland design and implementation concepts will be emphasized. Wetland restoration will also be studied with emphasis on current wetland regulations, design, and implementation techniques. Engineered wetland concepts will be supplemented with relevant case studies. Basic understanding of biology, soils , hydrology, and soil and water engineering is required.

Typically offered in Spring only

This course covers principles of managing, handling, treating and applying animal and poultry manures and organic byproducts from an engineering perspective. Topics include waste characterization, descriptions of systems and technology, land application principles, preparation of waste management plans, biochemical/biological processes, and potential impacts to the environment. Assignments include homework, quizzes, projects, and discussion that emphasize problem solving and analysis.

Prerequisite: AEC/PB 360 or PB 321 or SSC 332 or MB 351

Typically offered in Fall only

This distance course introduces students to concepts of the hydrologic cycle, water quality, precipitation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, watershed delineation, surface runoff and open channel flow. Students will apply these concepts to an engineering design problem. This course is designed for non-engineering distance graduate students and lifelong education students and students from engineering disciplines outside of BAE. It will not substitute for BAE 471. The course is only open to students with senior standing or higher.

Prerequisite: MA 241

Typically offered in Fall only

Theory and applications of hydraulics to open channels with an emphasis on natural streams and rivers. Course will introduce and develop principles of flow regimes (subcritical/critical/supercritical), and types (uniform flow, gradually varied and rapidly varied flow). Application will include hydraulics of flow measuring devices, step-backwater analysis and rating curve development, and flood studies using hydraulic models. A lab-scale flume will be used to illustrate concepts. Laptops will be used in class to learn and apply HEC-RAS (water surface profiles model). CE 382 or equivalent required. CE 381 recommended.

Prerequisite: CE 282 or equivalent. CE 381 recommended.

Typically offered in Fall only

This course defines uncertainty and risk pertaining to stream restoration structures and identifies and quantifies sources of such. Students will review various in-stream structures and, using an example study of the rock cross vane as a guide, will investigate a structure of their choice applying the concepts of risk and uncertainty. Modules include: Introduction to structures and definitions; Types and modes of failure; Uncertainty in Stream Restoration Design; Probability of failures, cost of failures; and Failure modes and effects.

Prerequisite: CE 382 or MAE 308 or equivalent

Typically offered in Spring only

Overview of stream ecological and functional processes that structure stream corridors. Explore human interactions with streams including stream restoration structures and watershed scale practices that impact hydraulic, hydrologic, chemical, sedimentary and biotic functions. Discuss failure and risk analysis, policy and rights, and ethical use of our freshwater resources. As we move from a microscopic study of stream benthos to global-scale water concerns, students will develop a fluency in communicating human impacts on streams. Independent visits by students to a local stream required.

Restriction: Graduate or Senior Standing

Typically offered in Spring only

This distance course provides an introduction to applied fluvial geomorphology as it relates to natural physical stream processes. Students will learn about watershed hydrology, stream gage data analysis, bankfull stage identification, hydraulic geometry relationships, stream channel assessment and classification, stream stability and channel evolution.

Prerequisite: BAE 471 or BAE 580

Typically offered in Fall only

This course starts with a general background of aquaculture, both theoretical and practical. Based on this, engineering applications for both extensive (e.g. pond based) and intensive (e.g. recirculating aquaculture systems) culture systems are studied. Unit operations including biofiltration, aeration, degassing, sedimentation, pumps, piping and related topics, as well as mass balances provide quantitative engineering design tools. Transport, harvest, processing and food safety are discussed, and sustainability (ecological and environmental aspects of aquacultural engineering design) as well as cutting edge research in the area are covered. Field trips; guest lectures/discussion, and hands on work is included to provide practical applications and experience.

Prerequisite: CE 282 or MAE 308; Restrictive Statement: Senior Standing

Typically offered in Spring only

The course provides the advanced theoretical knowledge of biogeochemical processes at play in man-made and natural filter systems, such as wetlands and other buffer systems, alleviating common pollutants associated with non-point source pollution, both in rural and suburban watersheds. Particular emphasis is put on the fate of excess nitrogen in these systems. This emphasis serves as a model for describing ecological engineering principles and quantifying processes at play for all pollutants. 20 students max. This course puts together biological, chemical, biochemical, and hydrological knowledge in one ensemble. Minimum proficiency in each of these is necessary to be able to follow the class with ease.

Typically offered in Fall only

Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in biological and agricultural engineering.

Prerequisite: Senior standing or Graduate standing in Biological and Agricultural Engineering

This is the first in a series of research methods courses for MS students majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Students will develop research questions to be answered by their thesis project and produce a literature review focusing on those questions. Students will also observe formal seminar presentations, providing critiques and participating in discussions of proper seminar delivery. This course is restricted to MS students majoring in BAE.

Typically offered in Fall only

This is the second in a series of research methods courses for MS students majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Students will develop a research proposal for their thesis work and will present the proposal in a final seminar. This course is restricted to MS students majoring in BAE.

Prerequisite: BAE 591

Typically offered in Spring only

This course introduces graduate students to the process of reading, analyzing, and communicating, in writing and multiple presentation formats, the findings of scientific literature searches. Students will progress from superficial reading to critical analysis of literature and will present their analyses in written, poster, presentation, and video formats. Related issues in research and professional communication will be discussed.

Prerequisite: Graduate Students in BAE Only

Typically offered in Fall only

A study of topics in the special fields of interest of graduate students under the direction of the graduate faculty.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing

Typically offered in Fall only

Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in biological and agricultural engineering.

Prerequisite: Senior standing or Graduate standing in Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall only

For students in non-thesis master's programs who have completed all other requirements of the degree except preparing for and taking the final master's exam.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall only

Thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Summer only

For students who have completed all credit hour requirements and full-time enrollment for the master's degree and are writing and defending their thesis.

Prerequisite: Master's student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Special topics in BAE.

This is the first in a series of research methods courses for PhD students majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Students will develop PhD level research questions to be answered in their dissertation project and will produce a PhD level literature review on those questions. Students will also observe seminars, providing critiques and discussions of proper seminar delivery. This course is restricted to PhD students majoring in BAE

Typically offered in Fall only

This is the second in a series of research methods for PhD students majoring in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. Students will develop a research proposal appropriate for their dissertation project and will present the proposal in both a practice and final seminar. The course is restricted to PhD students majoring in BAE.

Prerequisite: BAE 791

Typically offered in Spring only

Elaboration of subject areas, techniques and methods peculiar to professional interest through presentations of personal and published works; opportunity for students to present and critically defend ideas, concepts and inferences. Discussions to point up analytical solutions and analogies between problems in biological and agricultural engineering and other technologies, and to present relationship of biological and agricultural engineering to socio-economic enterprise.

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in BAE

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

A study of topics in the special fields of interest of graduate students under the direction of the graduate faculty.

Typically offered in Fall only

Selection of a subject by each student on which to do research and write a technical report on the results. The individual may choose a subject pertaining to his or her particular interest in any area of study in biological and agricultural engineering.

Prerequisite: Senior standing or Graduate standing in Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Typically offered in Spring only

Teaching experience under the mentorship of faculty who assist the student in planning for the teaching assignment, observe and provide feedback to the student during the teaching assignment, and evaluate the student upon completion of the assignment.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

For students who are preparing for and taking written and/or oral preliminary exams.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

Instruction in research and research under the mentorship of a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall and Spring

Dissertation research

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer

For graduate students whose programs of work specify no formal course work during a summer session and who will be devoting full time to thesis research.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Summer only

For students who have completed all credit hours, full-time enrollment, preliminary examination, and residency requirements for the doctoral degree, and are writing and defending their dissertation.

Prerequisite: Doctoral student

Typically offered in Fall, Spring, and Summer