Biosystems Engineering

Biological Engineering (BE) applies engineering principles to protect natural resources and to produce food, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other biobased products. BE incorporates foundations of biology with engineering theory and practice to develop sustainable solutions to problems facing a broad range of industries.

About this Program

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

Department Information

The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering is founded on developing, teaching, and applying engineering principles to improve and sustain agricultural and biological systems for current and future generations.
More Info 

CONTACT

352.392.1864 (tel) | 352.392.4092 (fax)

P.O. Box 110570
Frazier Rogers Hall
1741 Museum Road, Bldg. 474
GAINESVILLE FL 32611-0570
Map

Curriculum

Biological engineers pioneer new designs and techniques in such areas as agricultural robotics, remote sensing, bioprocessing, biofuels, precision agriculture, plant space biology, sustainability of natural resources, and packaging product design and development.

Graduates are educated in the biological and environmental sciences as well as in engineering. They will address critical problems involving land and water resources, biological systems, production agriculture and innovations in packaging. Students can choose a focus area based on their courses of specialization and individual selection of electives. Areas of specialization are biosystems engineering, land and water resources engineering, packaging engineering, and agricultural production engineering.

In addition to abundant job opportunities in Florida's agricultural industry, graduates have career opportunities in biotechnology and in fields related to Florida's water quality and water resources, including water management districts, environmental companies, consulting firms, equipment manufacturers, bio-energy, food engineering and the packaging industry.

The BE curriculum can also fulfill requirements for admission to professional programs as well as to graduate programs including biomedical engineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering.

Educational Objectives

Graduates from the University of Florida's undergraduate degree program in biological engineering will be prepared for at least one of the following:

  • Successful careers in the profession of biological engineering or other related fields.
  • Gaining admission to a graduate and/or professional degree program.

Goals

To develop biological engineering professionals with technical proficiency and societal responsibility.

Mission

The department will develop professionals, create and disseminate knowledge, and promote the application of engineering and management principles to meet societal needs with respect to agriculture, packaging, land and water resources, and biological systems.

Biosystems Engineering

Required Courses
ABE 4662Quantification of Biological Processes3
Electives
Department Electives (minimum)8
Engineering Elective (minimum)3
Technical Electives (minimum)6
Total Credits20

courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

Semester 2

  • Complete 1 additional tracking course with a minimum grade of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

  • Complete 2 additional tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

  • Complete 2 additional tracking courses with minimum grades of C within two attempts
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

  • Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses with minimum grades of C in each course within two attempts
  • Complete EGM 3520
  • 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
  • 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 6

Semester 7

Semester 8

Semester 9

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
Quest 1 (Writing Requirement, if needed) 3
Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences; Critical Tracking. Select one: 4
General Chemistry 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
Chemistry for Engineers 1
and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
State Core Gen Ed Humanities with Diversity or International; Writing Requirement, if needed 3
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences with Diversity or International; Writing Requirement, if needed 3
 Credits17
Semester Two
Quest 2 (Writing Requirement, if needed) 3
Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences. Select one: 3
Biology for Engineers
Integrated Principles of Biology 1
State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences; Critical Tracking. Select one: 4
General Chemistry 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
Chemistry for Engineers 2
and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
State Core Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences with Diversity or International; Writing Requirement, if needed 3
 Credits17
Semester Three
ABE 2012C Introduction to Biological Engineering (Writing Requirement; 2,000 words) 3
CGN 2328
Technical Drawing and Visualization
or Computer Aided Graphics and Design
3
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 4
PHY 2048
2048L
Physics with Calculus 1
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 1 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
4
State Core Gen Ed Composition; Writing Requirement: 6,000 words. Select one: 3
Expository and Argumentative Writing (State Core Gen Ed Composition)
Argument and Persuasion (State Core Gen Ed Composition)
 Credits17
Semester Four
EGM 2511 Engineering Mechanics: Statics 3
EGN 2020C Engineering Design & Society 2
EML 3007 Elements of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer 3
MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) 3
PHY 2049
2049L
Physics with Calculus 2
and Laboratory for Physics with Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences)
4
 Credits15
Semester Five
ABE 3612C Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems 4
Select one: 3-4
Computer Methods in Civil Engineering
Computer Programming for Engineers
and Computer Programming for Engineers Laboratory
Computational Methods in Environmental Engineering
CGN 3710
Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering
or Elements of Electrical Engineering
3
EGM 3400 Elements of Dynamics 2
EGM 3520 Mechanics of Materials (Critical Tracking) 3
 Credits15-16
Semester Six
ABE 3000C Applications in Biological Engineering (Critical Tracking) 3
ABE 3652C
Physical and Rheological Properties of Biological Materials
or Civil Engineering Materials
3-4
CHM 2200
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
or Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry
3
EGN 3353C
Fluid Mechanics
or Hydrodynamics
3-4
Engineering elective 3
 Credits15-17
Semester Seven
ABE 4042C Biological Engineering Design 1 (Critical Tracking) 2
ABE 4171 Power and Machines for Biological Systems 3
ABE 4662 Quantification of Biological Processes 3
ENC 3246 Professional Communication for Engineers (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Composition) 3
Department electives 5
 Credits16
Semester Eight
ABE 3212C Land and Water Resources Engineering 4
ABE 4043C Biological Engineering Design 2 (Critical Tracking) 2
Select one: 1
Professional Development of Chemical Engineers
Engineering Ethics and Professionalism
Department and Professional Orientation
Department elective 3
Technical electives 6
 Credits16
 Total Credits128

ABE 3212CLand and Water Resources Engineering4
ABE 4033Fundamentals and Applications of Biosensors3
ABE 4034Remote Sensing in Engineering: Science, Sensors and Applications3
ABE 4231CIrrigation and Drainage Engineering4
ABE 4413CPost-Harvest Operations Engineering3
ABE 4655CBio-Based Products from Renewable Resources3
ABE 4812Food and Bioprocess Engineering Unit Operations4
ABE 4932Special Topics1-4
ABE 4949Work Experience in Biological Engineering1-3
Course with a prefix of AOM or PKG3

The curriculum emphasizes engineering solutions to problems associated with biological and agricultural systems that often are related to renewable natural resources. Students gain knowledge through formal courses, laboratory experimentation and individual experience. Students will learn to utilize math, science and engineering principles to analyze and interpret data, to design and conduct experiments, systems and components and to effectively communicate results within an appropriate presentation style.

The Biological Engineering BS Program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Biological and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Before Graduating Students Must

  • Pass assessment by two or more faculty and/or industry practitioners of student performance on a major design experience.
  • Pass assessment in two courses of individual assignments targeted to each learning outcome.
  • Complete an exit interview in your final semester.
  • Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes | SLOs

Content

  1. Apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering principles to biological engineering problems. Students will be able to apply fundamental concepts, skills, and processes in biological engineering.
  2. Design and conduct biological and/or agricultural engineering experiments, analyzing and interpreting the data in biological engineering.

Critical Thinking

  1. Design a biological and/or agricultural system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability constraints in biological engineering.

Communication

  1. Communicate technical data and design information effectively in writing and in speech to other engineers in biological engineering.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Courses SLO 1 SLO 2 SLO 3 SLO 4
ABE 2012C I, A I, A
ABE 3612C R, A
ABE 4042C R, A I, A I
ABE 4043C R, A R, A R, A

Assessment Types

  • Assignments
  • Exams
  • Design projects and reports