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Dept of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering University of Arizona 1177 E. Fourth Street Shantz Bldg #38, Room 403 Tucson, AZ 85721-0038 Phone: (520) 621-1753 Fax: (520) 621-3963 Email: abe@arizona.edu Maps: Campus | Tucson |
Home About What is Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering?
What is Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering?
The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) is affiliated with both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering and offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Engineering. Major areas of emphasis merge the physical with the biological sciences and include two main focus areas of Water Resource Engineering and Biosystems/Biological Engineering The emphasis on biology and engineering serves students who wish to obtain industrial positions, continue to graduate school in engineering or biological sciences, or for medical school.
Which types of companies hire our students?
- Environmental and water resource consulting firms
- Biotechnology firms - pharmaceutical production, biomedical devices
- Food and agricultural products processing companies
- Agricultural machinery companies
- And many others including both Federal and State Agencies
Where in the world do they work?
Our students traditionally find jobs all across the country and the world. There are many firms in Arizona and the Southwestern US focusing on Water Resources and Environmental issues. There is a growing Biotechnology industry centered in Phoenix and Tucson. Major machinery firms are located in and around Tucson in addition to across the country.
What classes do our students take?
To achieve a BS in Biosystems Engineering (BE), students are required to take the foundation classes: math through differential equations, two semesters of physics, two semesters of chemistry, two semesters of English, introduction to engineering, two semesters of biology, and engineering analytic computer skill. Next students take fundamental engineering courses: statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and computer aided design. Required upper division classes include , dynamics of biological systems, advanced Biosystems transport phenomena, sensors and controls, and engineering design. The BE curriculum allows each student much flexibility in designing a curriculum which matches their needs and interests. Students can select three ABE electives to focus on their primary area of interest and round these interest out with ten additional credits of technical electives.
What areas of emphasis are available?
- Water resources engineering
- Biological engineering
- Pre-medicine (satisfies all of the U of A medical school entrance requirements)
- Biomedical Engineering
- Bio-environmental engineering
- Students may also develop their own emphasis with their academic advisor
How can students in ABE gain practical experience while in school?
- Industrial internships - students work for several months in the summer (or potentially also through the school year) with a local company in their field of interest. ABE faculty assist placement of students.
- Senior design projects - students are assigned real-world projects similar to those encountered as a newly-hired engineer.
- Laboratory research - many of the ABE faculty maintain active research programs employing and developing new technology to solve tomorrow's problems in agriculture and biological processing. Undergraduate and graduate student assist these research efforts.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Donald Slack
Deptartment Head
ABE Department
(520) 621-1607
slackd@u.arizona.edu
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