2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
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Joseph Harner, Head
Professors: G. Clark, Harner, Hutchinson, Slocombe, Wang, and Zhang
Associate Professors: Aguilar, A. Sharda, Sheshukov, and Wilken
Assistant Professors: Flippo, Moore, Rahmani, and V. Sharda
Instructor: Brokesh
Ancillary Professor: Sun
Adjunct Professor: Dowell
Adjunct Associate Professor: Casada
Adjunct Assistant Professor: Armstrong
1016 Seaton Hall
785-532-5580
Fax: 785-532-5825
E-mail: bae@k-state.edu
www.bae.k-state.edu
Biological Systems Engineering
Biological systems engineers provide an essential link between the biological sciences and engineering, which uses physical, chemical, and advanced biological sciences to solve practical problems. Biological Systems Engineers develop the techniques and processes to work with living systems, including microbes, plants and animals. They provide input to produce and process food, fiber, energy, chemical feedstock and pharmaceuticals. Engineering fundamentals are applied to achieve the goal of a safe and stable food and renewable energy supply while considering human and environmental factors. Three curriculum options are available.
Program Educational Objectives
The biological systems engineering program prepares students for professional engineering careers relating to the production and processing of agricultural and biomass materials for food, non-food, and fiber products while conserving natural resources and protecting our environment. It is our goal to give students the best possible education toward that end within the program criteria as defined by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org for biological systems engineering.
The biological systems engineering program educational objectives (PEOs) are that: (1) Graduates will apply technical knowledge and skills in their chosen profession; (2) Graduates will become successful practitioners in industry, government, consulting firms, or other diverse careers; and (3) Graduates will pursue continuing education and professional development.
Student Outcomes
While you are a student pursuing a degree in biological systems engineering (BSE) at Kansas State University, you will be taking a variety of courses to provide an educational background that will help you to achieve the BSE PEOs. As you take these courses and participate in other scholastic activities, you will be achieving a variety of Student Outcomes (SO’s) that were developed to help you to become successful. By the time students graduate from the BSE program they will have: (a) An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering; (b) An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data; (c) An ability to design a biological and agricultural engineering system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability; (d) An ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams; (e) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems in agriculture, food, or other biological systems; (f) An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility; (g) An ability to communicate effectively; (h) The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context; (i) A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning; (j) A knowledge of contemporary issues; and (k) An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
Biological option
Biological Systems Engineers with a biological focus work with biological systems in areas such as bio-remediation, bio-materials, bio-based energy, bio-instrumentation or processing. The biological option fulfills the requirements of an engineering degree while providing students the flexibility to place emphasis on biological solutions to global issues. Course selections provide students with the option of a biology minor, or they can opt to meet the requirements for a pre-medical or pre-veterinary program. Graduates in this program area can pursue careers and/or additional studies in fields such as environmental engineering, biological systems engineering, biomedical engineering, food process engineering, medicine, natural resources, and related areas.
Environmental option
The environmental option focuses on design and management of systems that use or affect natural resources. Biological Systems Engineers work at the interface between biology and engineering and utilize this knowledge base to address water quality issues in streams and lakes, soil and water conservation, effective utilization of water resources and air quality issues. Applications in the environmental option include water quality studies of lakes, rivers, and groundwater, soil and water conservation, irrigation and drainage system design and management, waste treatment, management of air quality inside buildings and outside, remediation of land damaged by construction, mining, and other uses.
Machinery Systems option
Many BSE graduates design, test and evaluate machines used in agriculture, construction and related off-highway industries. The machinery option provides graduates with the analytical tools necessary to develop machines that reduce the cost of production in food and fiber systems with an understanding of environmental and energy constraints. This option includes courses that emphasize mechanical design as well as the interaction of machines with soil and plant materials. Related technologies such as fluid power, instrumentation, and electronic controls are also included in this option.
Secondary Majors
Biological Engineering Secondary Major
Kansas State University offers a biological engineering secondary major. Twenty-four credit hours beyond the prerequisites are required with at least 10 of the 24 credit hours having biological content. Courses from a minimum of three departments are required.
NRES Secondary Major
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRES) Secondary Major prepares students to apply broadly-based scientific knowledge to the use, management, sustainability, and quality of soil, air, water, mineral, biological, and energy resources. Students in the NRES secondary major study environmental issues from a variety of academic viewpoints through coursework and interaction with students and professors from multiple disciplines.
Baccalaureate
Concurrent
Major
Secondary Major
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