BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING (BAEG)
Ivan Berry, Interim Chair of the Department, 203 Engineering Hall, 575-2351
PROFESSORS BERRY, GRIFFIS, SIEBENMORGEN, WALKER; PROFESSORS EMERITI BRYAN, HARRIS, McNEAL, NELSON; ASSOCIATE PROFESSORS COSTELLO, VORIES; ASSISTANT PROFESSORS LI, MARKS, TAO
Biological and agricultural engineering is the application of engineering to biological systems. The curriculum is structured to address the wide range of problems associated with protecting the environment, managing natural resources and the manufacturing, processing, and production of biological products. Students may concentrate in one of the following areas: food and process engineering, bio-environmental resource engineering, structures and environment, power and machinery, and the pre-medical option.
Biological and agricultural engineering prepares a student for a wide variety of engineering positions related to biosystems in general and agriculture in particular. Careers are available in both the public and private sector, and include environmental protection, natural resource utilization, food processing, machine development, structural design, teaching, research, and consulting.
Departmental goals include:
| 1. Providing undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to pursue education and careers involving the application of engineering principles to biological systems. These careers may include environmental protection, food process engineering, structures for controlled environments, power and machinery systems, and medicine. |
| 2. Providing undergraduate and especially graduate students with opportunities to participate in research projects that apply engineering principles to the solution of problems in biological systems. |
| 3. Development and nurturing of both undergraduate and graduate students so that they can make significant contributions to the creation and application of technology in our dynamic super-technological society, or in under-developed countries. |
The curriculum is under the joint supervision of the Dean of the College of Engineering and the Dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. However, the Bachelor of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering degree is conferred by the College of Engineering and is granted after the successful completion of 135 hours of approved course work.
Areas of Specialization
Each student is required to complete 22 semester hours of approved electives in his or her area of specialization. Ten of these hours must be from the biological sciences. The remaining twelve hours are classified as technical electives and consist mainly of upper-division courses in engineering, mathematics, and the sciences. A list of approved electives is maintained by the department.
Major areas of technical specialization and the recommended elective courses for each are listed here. One or more biological science electives are given for some areas.
| Bio-Environmental Resource Engineering | Food and Process Engineering |
Biological Science electives: Technical electives: |
Biological Science electives: Technical electives: |
| Structures and Environment | Power and Machinery |
Biological Science electives: Technical electives: |
Biological Science electives: Technical electives: |
| Pre-Medical | |
Biological Science electives: Technical electives: |
RECOMMENDED PROGRAM IN BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
| Freshman Year - First Semester | Second Semester |
3 ENGL 1013, Composition I 16 semester hours |
2 BAEG 1022, Design Fundamentals II 17 semester hours |
| Sophomore Year - First Semester | Second Semester |
2 BAEG 2602 Biological Systems Analysis 17 semester hours |
3 PHYS 2073, University Physics II 17 semester hours |
| Junior Year - First Semester | Second Semester |
3 BAEG 4613, Plant and Animal Systems 16 semester hours |
3 BAEG 4703, Food Process Engineering 18 semester hours |
| Senior Year - First Semester | Second Semester |
4 BAEG 4404, Design Structures for Agri. 17 semester hours |
3 BAEG 4103, Instrumentation in Biological Systems 17 semester hours |
135 Total hours required
Courses: Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAEG)
BAEG1010L Engineering Design Fundamentals for Biological Systems Laboratory(FA) Corequisite: BAEG 1012.
BAEG1012 Engineering Design Fundamentals for Biological Systems (FA) Introduction to the profession of Biological and Agriculture Engineering. Basic engineering methodologies, including analysis and design, as applied to biological systems. Introduction to problem solving and data analysis utilizing computers. Group activities and team design efforts. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 1010L.
BAEG1022 Engineering Design Fundamentals for Biological Systems II (SP) Continuation of BAEG 1012. Emphasis on applying computer tools to problem solving and engineering design with biological systems. Lecture 4 hours per week. Prerequisite: BAEG 1012.
Satisfactory completion of the pre-professional curriculum is a prerequisite for enrollment in any 2000-level or higher engineering course.
BAEG2100L Electronic Applications in Biological Systems Laboratory (SP) Corequisite: BAEG 2103.
BAEG2103 Electronic Applications in Biological Systems (SP) Basic circuit theory and introductory applications of DC circuits, AC circuits and electro-mechanical components in actuating, monitoring and controlling processes involving biological materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 2100L.
BAEG2600L Biological Systems Analysis Laboratory (FA, Odd years) Corequisite: BAEG 2602.
BAEG2602 Biological Systems Analysis (FA, Odd years) An introduction to systems methodologies of addressing complex problems involving biological systems. Soft systems analysis to assess social climate and human values. Hard systems analysis to predict the performance of well-defined bio-physical systems via computer modeling. Systemic methods of resource allocation. Environmental impact assessment techniques. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 2600L. Prerequisite: BAEG 1022 (or BAST 2903 or other computer programming).
BAEG3710L Engineering Properties of Biological Materials Laboratory (SP) Corequisite: BAEG 3713.
BAEG3713 Engineering Properties of Biological Materials (SP, Odd years) Physical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of food and other biological materials necessary for the design of food processing and storage systems. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 3710L. Prerequisite: PHYS 2073.
BAEG3800L Mechanical Components for Biological Systems Laboratory (FA, Even years) Corequisite: BAEG 3803.
BAEG3803 Mechanical Components for Biological Systems (FA, Even years) Principles, selection, and design of mechanical components and systems for equipment used in biological and agricultural industries; combined stress analysis, materials, fasteners, power transmission, power hydraulics, pneumatics, atomization, size reduction. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 3800L. Prerequisite: MEEG 2013 and MEEG 3013.
BAEG4001 Seminar (FA) Oral and written reports on current literature and topics based on research. Prerequisite: senior standing.
BAEG4100L Instrumentation in Biological Systems Laboratory (SP, Odd years) Corequisite: BAEG 4103.
BAEG4103 Instrumentation in Biological Systems (SP, Odd years) Continuation of BAEG 2103. Theory and advanced applications of analog circuits, digital circuits, and commercial instrument involving biological materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 4100L. Prerequisite: BAEG 2103 (or ELEG 2103 or ELEG 3903).
BAEG4400L Design of Structures for Agriculture Laboratory (FA) Corequisite: BAEG 4404.
BAEG4404 Design of Structures for Agriculture (FA) Environmental, functional, and structural requirements of building for agricultural production and science. Analysis and design of structural members and frames. Heat and moisture problems in agricultural buildings and their control. Lecture 3 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 4400L. Prerequisite: MEEG 3013.
BAEG450V Special Problems (1-4) (FA, SP) Selected problems in agricultural engineering are pursued in detail. Prerequisite: senior standing.
BAEG4613 Engineering Analysis of Plant and Animal Systems (FA, Odd years) An engineering quantification of basic physiological processes of plant and animal growth and reproduction. Integration of process models into organism models that respond to environment and management. Applications of models to system design and management through computer-aided tactical and strategic decision support. Lecture 3 hours per week. Co- or Prerequisite: MATH 3404.
BAEG4700L Food Process Engineering Laboratory (SP) Corequisite: BAEG 4703.
BAEG4703 Food Process Engineering (SP) Basic engineering principles involved in the design of systems for handling, conditioning, and storage of agricultural materials. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 4700L. Prerequisite: (MEEG 2403 and MEEG 3503) or CVEG 3213.
BAEG4810L Equipment Design for Biological Systems I Laboratory (FA, Even years) Corequisite: BAEG 4813.
BAEG4813 Equipment Design for Biological Systems I (FA, Even years) Design concepts for equipment used in biological and agricultural industries. Initiation of comprehensive 2-semester team-design projects; design objectives, development of functional and mechanical criteria, standards, reliability, safety, ethics issues. Design of mechanisms and consideration of vibrations using computer-aided techniques. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Co- or Prerequisite: BAEG 3803. Corequisite: BAEG 4810L.
BAEG4822 Machine Design for Biological Systems II (SP, Odd years) Design concepts for equipment used in biological and agricultural industries. Completion of 2-semester team design projects. Construction, testing, and evaluation of prototypes. Written and oral design reports. Discussion of manufacturing methods, safety, ergonomics, analysis/ synthesis/design methods as appropriate for particular design projects. Laboratory/design 4 hours per week. hours per week. Prerequisite: BAEG 4813.
BAEG4900L Water Resource Engineering Laboratory (SP, Even years) Corequisite: BAEG 4903.
BAEG4903 Water Resource Engineering (SP, Even years) Engineering principles for the design of systems for utilization of surface water and ground water. Includes frequency analysis of rainfall, infiltration, runoff, evapotranspiration, hydraulic control structures, ground water pumping, drainage and irrigation. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 4900L. Prerequisite: CVEG 3213 or MEEG 3503.
BAEG4910L Bio-Environmental Engineering Laboratory (SP, Even years) Corequisite: BAEG 4913.
BAEG4913 Bio-Environmental Engineering (SP, Even years) Engineering principles for the design of systems for the biological treatment and utilization of organic by-products from animal and crop production and food and crop processing. Design of best management practices to protect bio-environmental resources by minimizing non-point pollution (off-site movement of sediment, nutrients and other constituents) and by minimizing nuisance odors associated with land applied organic residues, inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Emphasis on economic utilization of beneficial components of typical wastes. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Co- or Prerequisite: BAEG 4903 or CVEG 3223. Corequisite: BAEG 4910L.
BAEG500V Advanced Topics in Agricultural Engineering (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) Special problems in fundamental and applied research. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG5100L Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory (SP, Even years) Corequisite: BAEG 5103.
BAEG5103 Advanced Instrumentation (SP, Even years) Familiarizes students in engineering with applications of advanced instrumentation in agriculture. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 5100L. Prerequisite: BAEG 4103.
BAEG5403 Agricultural Environment Engineering (IR) Effects of environmental variables-temperatures, air velocity, radiant energy flux, humidity, light, and air pollutants-on the growth, reproduction, and conversion efficiency of domestic animals and poultry. Physiological responses. Physical environment for storage of grains, seeds, and food materials. Environmental design; principles and methods of controlling environment, design for specific environmental factors heating, cooling, control of radiation. Specialized problems in animal housing, food and feed storage, plant growth chambers, etc. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG5413 Micrometeorology (IR) Energy-flow approach to studying the plant-soil-water atmosphere complex. Soil environment including moisture and heat flow. Plant responses to and effects on the microenvironment. Energy exchange between the plant and the surrounding environment. Environmental requirements of plants. Engineering for a desirable plant micro-climate. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG5700L Design and Analysis of Experiments for Engineering Research Laboratory (IR) Corequisite: BAEG 5703
BAEG5703 Design and Analysis of Experiments for Engineering Research (IR) Principles of planning and design of experiments for engineering research. Propagation of experimental error. Improving precision of experiments. Analysis of experimental data for optimal design and control of engineering systems using computer techniques. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 5700L. Prerequisite: INEG 4333.
BAEG5710L Food Product and Process Development Laboratory (FA, Odd years) Corequisite: BAEG 5713.
BAEG5713 Food Product and Process Development (FA, Odd years) Multidisciplinary approaches for developing new food products and processes, in the context of an industry- sponsored project. Group dynamics and interpersonal skills. Factors that influence product and process development. Analysis and modeling applied to food process design. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 6 hours per week. Corequisite: BAEG 5710L. Prerequisite: BAEG 4703.
BAEG5723 Engineering Methods for Food Safety (FA, Even years) Principles of engineering methods applied to food and safety and sanitation. Discussion of thermal, chemical, electrical pasteurization or sterilization in food processing. Demonstration of monitoring and detecting techniques for food safety, including image analysis, biosensors and modeling. Lecture 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: BAEG 4103 and FDSC 4124 (or equivalent).
BAEG5801 Graduate Seminar (FA) Reports presented by graduate students on topics dealing with current research in agricultural engineering. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG5903 Groundwater Modeling and Management (FA, Even years) Analytical techniques and computer models used in describing groundwater systems and the use of such models in groundwater management. Prerequisite: training in groundwater hydrology and graduate standing.
BAEG5913 Mathematical Modeling of Water Quality Processes (IR) Application of simulation, numerical solution, and optimization techniques to water quality related processes such as infiltration, overland flow, erosion, groundwater flow, and pollutant transport. Integration of subprocess models, model calibration, and introduction to currently available hydrologic/water quality models for natural resource management. Prerequisite: (MEEG 4713 and BAEG 4903) or CVEG 3223.
BAEG5923 Optimization in Water Management (IR) Application of techniques of simulation and systems analysis in optimizing the use of water for agricultural production. Recitation 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: training in irrigation, FORTRAN, linear and dynamic programming.
BAEG5933 Methods of Irrigation System Performance Analysis (IR) Use of simulation in system design. Evaluation of advanced design techniques as applied to surface, overhead and drip irrigation. Prerequisite: BAEG 4903.
BAEG600V Master's Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG6702 Moisture Migration in Foods (SP, Even years) Biological structure in foods, particularly cereal grains, is studied as pertains to the residence and flow of moisture. Heat and mass transfer laws are utilized to describe moisture migration within products. Psychrometric principles are additionally applied to describe moisture transfer to/from the product surface to surrounding air. Prerequisite: BAEG 4703 and BAEG 3713 and MEEG 4413.
BAEG6710L Advanced Properties of Biological Materials Laboratory (IR)
BAEG6713 Advanced Properties of Biological Materials (IR) An advanced treatment of the physical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of food and other biological materials. Special emphasis on the microscopic bases for physicochemical properties. Modeling of material properties and behavior. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours per week. Prerequisite: graduate standing.
BAEG700V Doctoral Dissertation (1-18) (FA, SP, SU) Prerequisite: candidacy.
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