About this Program
- College: Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering
- Specializations: Agricultural Production Engineering | Biosystems Engineering | Land and Water Resources Engineering | Packaging Engineering
- Credits for Degree: 128
- More Info
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.
Packaging Engineering
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses | ||
EMA 3010 | Materials | 3 |
EMA 3066 | Introduction to Organic Materials | 3 |
PKG 3001 | Principles of Packaging | 3 |
PKG 3103 | Food Packaging | 3 |
PKG 4008 | Distribution and Transport Packaging | 3 |
PKG 4101C | Computer Tools for Packaging | 3 |
PKG 4011 | Packaging Production and Processing | 3 |
Engineering Electives (minimum) | 3 | |
Technical Electives (minimum) | 3 | |
Total Credits | 27 |
Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in 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
- Complete 1 of 8 tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts: CHM 2045 or CHM 2095, CHM 2046 or CHM 2096, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048, PHY 2049
- 2.5 GPA required for all critical-tracking courses
- 2.0 UF GPA required
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
- Complete ENC 3246
Semester 7
- Complete ABE 3000C
Semester 8
- Complete ABE 4042C
Semester 9
- Complete ABE 4043C
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.
Semester One | Credits | |
---|---|---|
Quest 1 (Writing Requirement, if needed) | 3 | |
Select one: | 4 | |
General Chemistry 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) |
||
Chemistry for Engineers 1 and General Chemistry 1 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Biological Sciences and Physical Sciences) |
||
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 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Semester Two | ||
Quest 2 (Writing Requirement, if needed) | 3 | |
ABE 2062 or BSC 2010 |
Biology for Engineers or Integrated Principles of Biology 1 |
3 |
Select one: | 4 | |
General Chemistry 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) |
||
Chemistry for Engineers 2 and General Chemistry 2 Laboratory (Critical Tracking; State Core Gen Ed Biological and Physical Sciences) |
||
MAC 2312 | Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Mathematics) | 4 |
Gen Ed Social and Behavioral Sciences (with Diversity or International and Writing as needed) | 3 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Semester Three | ||
ABE 2012C | Introduction to Biological Engineering | 3 |
State Core Gen Ed Composition, Writing Requirement: 6,000 words. Select one: | 3 | |
Expository and Argumentative Writing | ||
Argument and Persuasion | ||
ENC 3246 | Professional Communication for Engineers (Critical Tracking; Gen Ed Composition) | 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 and Physical Sciences) |
4 |
Credits | 17 | |
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 and Physical Sciences) |
4 |
Credits | 15 | |
Semester Five | ||
ABE 3612C | Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems | 4 |
EGM 3400 | Elements of Dynamics | 2 |
EGM 3520 | Mechanics of Materials | 3 |
Select one: | 3-4 | |
Computer Methods in Civil Engineering | ||
Computer Programming for Engineers and Computer Programming for Engineers Laboratory |
||
Computational Methods in Environmental Engineering | ||
PKG 3001 | Principles of Packaging | 3 |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Semester Six | ||
ABE 3000C | Applications in Biological Engineering (Critical Tracking) | 3 |
CGN 3710 or EEL 3003 |
Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering or Elements of Electrical Engineering |
3 |
EMA 3010 | Materials | 3 |
PKG 4101C | Computer Tools for Packaging | 3 |
PKG 4011 or ABE 4812 |
Packaging Production and Processing or Food and Bioprocess Engineering Unit Operations |
3-4 |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Semester Seven | ||
ABE 4042C | Biological Engineering Design 1 (Critical Tracking) | 2 |
ABE 4171 | Power and Machines for Biological Systems | 3 |
EGN 3353C or CWR 3201 |
Fluid Mechanics or Hydrodynamics |
3-4 |
Select one: | 1 | |
Professional Development of Chemical Engineers | ||
Engineering Ethics and Professionalism | ||
Department and Professional Orientation | ||
EMA 3066 | Introduction to Organic Materials | 3 |
PKG 3103 | Food Packaging | 3 |
Credits | 15-16 | |
Semester Eight | ||
ABE 4033 or ABE 4413C |
Fundamentals and Applications of Biosensors or Post-Harvest Operations Engineering |
3 |
ABE 4043C | Biological Engineering Design 2 (Critical Tracking) | 2 |
CHM 2200 or BCH 3023 |
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry or Elementary Organic and Biological Chemistry |
3 |
PKG 4008 | Distribution and Transport Packaging | 3 |
Engineering elective | 3 | |
Technical elective | 3 | |
Credits | 17 | |
Total Credits | 128 |
Technical Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
AEB 3300 | Agricultural and Food Marketing | 3 |
AEB 3133 | Principles of Agribusiness Management | 3 |
AEC 3414 | Leadership Development | 3 |
AEC 3070C | Digital Media Production in Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
AEC 4036 | Advanced Agricultural Communication Production | 3 |
AOM 4062 | Principles of Food Engineering | 4 |
FOS 3042 | Introductory Food Science | 3 |
FOS 4427C | Principles of Food Processing | 4 |
FOS 4731 | Government Regulations and the Food Industry | 2 |
PKG 4941 | Work Experience in Packaging Engineering | 3 |
Engineering Electives
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
EGN 4641 | Engineering Entrepreneurship | 3 |
EGN 4643 | Engineering Innovation | 3 |
EGN 4912 | Engineering Directed Independent Research | 0-3 |
EMA 3011 | Fundamental Principles of Materials | 3 |
EMA 3513C | Analysis of the Structure of Materials | 4 |
EMA 3800 | Error Analyses and Optimization Methodologies in Materials Research | 3 |
EMA 4062 | Biopolymers: Manufacture, Stability and Biocompatibility | 3 |
EMA 4223 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
EMA 4666 | Polymer Processing | 3 |
PKG 4941 | Work Experience in Packaging Engineering | 3 |
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
- 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.
- Design and conduct biological and/or agricultural engineering experiments, analyzing and interpreting the data in biological engineering.
Critical Thinking
- 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
- 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