Biological Engineering (BS): Agricultural Engineering Concentration
The BE curriculum is jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering and combines the fields of engineering, biology, chemistry, and agriculture. The Biological Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org. BE graduates are qualified to become registered professional engineers by passing the appropriate examinations and upon completing the engineering experience requirements. Specific curriculum requirements are available online.
BAE faculty, in concert with program constituencies, has developed the following undergraduate program objectives. Within the first five years following graduation, NC State's Biological Engineering graduates will:
- Excel in their careers by applying their engineering knowledge, critical-thinking skills, systematic approach to problem solving, and innovation to improve biological and agricultural systems;
- Work effectively both independently and as part of professional teams and demonstrate leadership potential in project management;
- Display professionalism, ethics, equity, and inclusivity in the practice of engineering to safeguard life, health, and public welfare;
- Communicate effectively in a professional environment; and
- Be engaged in life-long learning and professional development.
Plan Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry I Lab | ||
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 200 | Computer Methods in Biological Engineering | 2 |
| CE 214 or MAE 206 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics 2 or Engineering Statics | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| BIO 181 or BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 202 | Introduction to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Methods | 4 |
| CE 215 or MAE 208 | 2 or Engineering Dynamics | 3 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Thermal-Fluid Sciences | 3 |
| PB 321 or SSC 200 | Introduction to Whole Plant Physiology or Soil Science | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 325 | Introductory Geomatics | 3 |
| BAE 302 | Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| BAE 305 | Biological Engineering Circuits | 4 |
| CE 282 or MAE 308 | Hydraulics or Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| ENG 331 or ENG 333 | Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 401 | Sensors and Controls | 3 |
| BAE 361 | Analytical Methods in Engineering Design | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| CE 225 or MAE 214 | Mechanics of Solids or Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| Advanced Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 451 | Engineering Design I | 2 |
| BAE 462 | Machinery Design and Applications | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Environmental Ethics | ||
| Science and Civilization | ||
| Ethical Dimensions of Progress | ||
| Hours | 8 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 452 | Engineering Design II | 2 |
| BAE 481 | Structures & Environment | 3 |
| BAE 488 | Postharvest Engineering | 3 |
| BAE 322 or BAE 371 | Introduction to Food Process Engineering or Fundamentals of Hydrology for Engineers | 3 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Total Hours | 112 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEP Courses | |||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 16 | ||
Advanced Biology Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| FS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS 462 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| HS 562 | Postharvest Physiology | 3 | |
| MB 351 | General Microbiology | 3 | |
| SSC 332 | Environmental Soil Microbiology | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science 1 | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
| Shop Processes and Management | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Chemistry Elective | 4 | |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| PY 205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 3 |
| PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 200 | Computer Methods in Biological Engineering | 2 |
| MAE 206 or CE 214 | Engineering Statics 1 or Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PY 208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 3 |
| PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 1 |
| BIO 181 or BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity or Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 202 | Introduction to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Methods | 4 |
| MAE 208 | Engineering Dynamics 1 | 3 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| MAE 201 | Thermal-Fluid Sciences | 3 |
| SSC 200 | Soil Science | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 325 | Introductory Geomatics | 3 |
| BAE 302 | Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| MAE 308 or CE 282 | Fluid Mechanics 1 or Hydraulics | 3 |
| BAE 305 | Biological Engineering Circuits | 4 |
| ENG 331 or ENG 333 | Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 401 | Sensors and Controls | 3 |
| BAE 361 | Analytical Methods in Engineering Design | 3 |
| MAE 214 or CE 225 | Solid Mechanics 1 or Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Advanced Biology Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BAE 451 | Engineering Design I | 2 |
| BAE 462 | Machinery Design and Applications | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Ethics | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BAE 452 | Engineering Design II | 2 |
| BAE 488 | Postharvest Engineering | 3 |
| BAE 481 | Structures & Environment | 3 |
| BAE Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 2 | |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or higher is required.
Career Opportunities
BE students learn to solve a wide variety of engineering problems and will have opportunities for specialization though selection of a specific concentration. Scientific and engineering principles are applied: to conserve and manage air, energy, soil and water resources; to manage, protect and restore natural ecosystems; to understand and utilize biological, chemical and physical processes for the production and conversion of biomass to bio energy; to analyze, understand and utilize mechanical properties of biological materials; to design and develop machinery systems for all phases of agricultural and food production; to design and evaluate structures and environmental control systems for housing animals, plant growth, and biological product storage; to develop improved systems for processing and marketing food and agricultural products; and to design sensor-based instrumentation and control systems for biological and agricultural applications.
Graduates of the BE curriculum receive a Bachelor’s of Engineering in Biological Engineering, qualifying them for positions in design, development, and research in industry, government and public institutions. The curriculum also prepares students for post-graduate work leading to advanced degrees. Typical positions filled by recent BE graduates include: stream and wetlands restoration project manager; product design; development and testing engineer; plant engineering and management; engineering analysis and inspection for federal and state agencies; engineering consultant and research engineer. Entry-level salary ranges for BE graduates are similar to those of Civil, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering graduates.
The BAET curriculum provides graduates opportunities in technical analysis, application and evaluation of agricultural production systems and environmental systems. The curriculum’s flexibility enables students to specialize technologically in agriculture, the environment, or business management. Careers include technical jobs in production agriculture, environmental systems, agribusiness sales and service, and agricultural extension.
Career Titles
- Stream and wetlands restoration project manager
- Product designer
- Development and testing engineer
- Plant engineering and management
- Engineering analyst and inspector for federal and state agencies
- Engineering consultant
- Research engineer
Learn More About Careers
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