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Office of the University Registrar

2005-06 Undergraduate Catalog

Majors

Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Colleges: Engineering and Agricultural and Life Sciences cooperatively
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering
Hours for Degree: 128
Specializations: Agrisystems Engineering; Land and Water Resources Engineering; Biological Engineering
Minor: No
Combined-Degree Program: Yes
Website: www.agen.ufl.edu

Agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) links engineering sciences to the life sciences. ABE applies engineering principles to the biological sciences to produce food, feed, fiber and other agricultural products from renewable bio-resources. It also aims to protect the environment and conserve and replenish our natural resources in addition to pioneering new techniques in areas such as agricultural robotics, remote sensing and precision agriculture.

Agricultural and biological engineers are educated in the biological and environmental sciences as well as in engineering to acquire the unique qualifications required by this profession.

As the largest single industry in the United States and Florida, food and agribusiness is the most highly sophisticated and technologically advanced industry in the world, due in part to the successes of agricultural and biological engineers.

The curriculum in ABE addresses the engineering problems of agricultural and related biological systems. Graduates in this field will address critical problems involving land and water resources, biological systems and production agriculture. Individual selection of electives allows the student to focus on academic and career interests.

In addition to abundant job opportunities in Florida's large agricultural industry, there are many opportunities related to Florida's water quality and water resources, with government agencies, environmental companies, consulting firms and manufacturers of agriculture equipment and supplies, and food processing companies.

The ABE curriculum also provides students with the potential for admission to professional programs including medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, as well as to graduate programs such as biomedical engineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering.

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 agricultural, biological, and land and water resource systems.

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

Educational Objectives: The department offers undergraduate students a curriculum designed to accomplish four educational objectives:
  • To provide students with the fundamental knowledge needed to practice agricultural and biological engineering
  • To train students to design, test and analyze agricultural and biological systems, processes and components
  • To train students to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems, and to use modern and appropriate computational and experimental equipment
  • To provide a well-rounded education that enhances communication skills, imparts a sense of professional and societal responsibility and an awareness of the global and international impact of engineering decisions.

Critical Tracking Requirements

Semester 1:

  • 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
  • 2.5 GPA on all critical-tracking course work for semesters 1-5
  • Complete 1 of 8 tracking courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts (CHM 2045, CHM 2046, MAC 2311, MAC 2312, MAC 2313, MAP 2302, PHY 2048, PHY 2049)

Semester 2:

  • Complete 1 additional course with a minimum grade of C within two attempts

Semester 3:

  • Complete 2 additional courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts

Semester 4:

  • Complete 2 additional courses with a minimum grade of C within two attempts

Semester 5:

  • Complete all 8 critical-tracking courses with a minimum grade of C in each course within two attempts

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which will be bold.

Suggested semester-by-semester plan

Semester 1Credits
If you do not place out of ENC 1101, take it in the fall.
CHM 2045 General Chemistry 1 3
CHM 2045L General Chemistry Laboratory 1 (GE–P)1
MAC 2311 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 (GE–M)4
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)3
Humanities (GE–H)3
Total 14
Semester 2Credits
CHM 2046 General Chemistry 2 (biological engineering specialization also requires CHM 2046L)3
MAC 2312 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 2 (GE–M)4
Humanities (GE–H)3
ENC 2210 Technical Writing (GE–C) or
ENC 3254 Professional Writing in the Discipline (GE–C)
3
Total 13
Semester 3Credits
PHY 2048 Physics with Calculus 1 (GE–P)3
MAC 2313 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 34
PHY 2048L Laboratory for PHY 2048 (GE–P)1
ABE 2012C Introduction to Agricultural and Biological Engineering3
Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE–S)3
Total 14
Semester 4Credits
PHY 2049 Physics with Calculus 2 (GE–P)3
PHY 2049L Laboratory for PHY 2049 (GE–P)1
MAP 2302 Elementary Differential Equations (GE–M)3
EGM 2511 Engineering Mechanics - Statics3
Humanities or Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE)3
EML 3007 Elements of Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer3
Total 16

Agrisystems Engineering
Land and Water Resources Engineering
Biological Engineering

Specialization: Agrisystems Engineering

Agrisystems engineering is involved in biological analysis to include designing microbes to clean the environment, converting raw biological materials into useful products, or evaluating gene expression of biological systems. In addition, this specialization provides an excellent background for pre-med, pharmaceuticals and advanced students in biomedical fields.

Semester 5Credits
EGM 3400 Elements of Dynamics2
CGN 3421 Computer Methods in Civil Engineering4
ABE 3042C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 12
ABE 3612C Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems4
Biological Sciences (ABE 2062, BSC 2007, BSC 2010 or BOT 2010 – GE)3
Total 15
Semester 6Credits
ABE 3652C Physical and Rheological Properties of Biological Materials (3) or
CGN 3501C Civil Engineering Materials
3-4
ABE 3212C Land and Water Resources Engineering4
EML 2023 Computer Aided Graphics and Design or
SUR 2322C Project Development and Visualization
3
ABE 4303C Structural and Environmental Design3
Biological science electives *2
Total 15-16
Semester 7Credits
EGM 3520 Mechanics of Materials3
CGN 3710 Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering or approved instrumentation elective3
Technical elective *3
Biological science elective *3
Total 12
Semester 8Credits
SOS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment3
SOS 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment Lab1
ABE 4171C Power and Machines for Biological Systems4
EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics (3) or
CWR 3201 Hydrodynamics (4)
3-4
Technical elective *3
Total 14-15
Semester 9Credits
ABE 4413C Post harvest Operations Engineering3
ABE 4931 Professional Issues in Agricultural and Biological Engineering1
ABE 4043C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 22
Biological sciences electives *4
Technical electives *5
Total 15

Specialization: Land and Water Resources Engineering

Land and water resources is concerned with water and rural environmental management, including irrigation, water conservation, drainage, water control and structures, soil erosion, waste and waste water recycling, water quality, ecosystems preservation and environmental quality.

Semester 5Credits
EGM 3400 Elements of Dynamics2
CGN 3421 Computer Methods in Civil Engineering4
ABE 3042C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 12
EML 3023 Computer Graphics and Design or
SUR 2322C Project Development and Visualization
3
ABE 3612C Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems4
Total 15
Semester 6Credits
ABE 3652C Physical and Rheological Properties of Biological Materials or
CGN 3501C Civil Engineering Materials
3
CWR 3201 Hydrodynamics4
SUR 2101C Geomatics3
ABE 3212C Land and Water Resources Engineering4
Engineering and technical science elective*2
Total 16
Semester 7 **Credits
EGM 3520 Mechanics of Materials3
CGN 3710 Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering or approved instrumentation elective3
Biological sciences (ABE 2062, BSC 2007, BSC 2010 or BOT 2010 – GE)3
Engineering and technical science elective *3
Total 12
Semester 8Credits
SOS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment3
ABE 4231C Irrigation and Drainage 4
CWR 4202 Hydraulics3
Engineering and technical science electives *4
Total 14
Semester 9Credits
ABE 4931 Professional Issues in Agricultural and Biological Engineering1
ABE 4043C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 22
Engineering and technical science electives *11
Total 14

Specialization: Biological Engineering

Biological engineering integrates the fundamental engineering sciences with the biological sciences. The curriculum prepares students for advanced studies in biomedical engineering, bioprocess engineering, food engineering and agricultural engineering.

The specialization also fulfills requirements for admission to professional programs in UF's colleges of medicine, veterinary medicine and pharmacy.

Semester 5Credits
CGN 3421 Computer Methods in Civil Engineering4
ABE 3042C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 12
ABE 3612C Heat and Mass Transfer in Biological Systems4
CHM 2210 Organic Chemistry 13
EGN 3353C Fluid Mechanics (3) or
CWR 3201 Hydrodynamics (4)
3-4
Total 16-17
Semester 6Credits
CHM 2211 Organic Chemistry 23
CHM 2211L Organic Chemistry Laboratory2
CHM 2046L General Chemistry Laboratory 2 (GE–P)1
EGM 3400 Elements of Dynamics2
ABE 3652C Physical and Rheological Properties of Biological Materials3
Biological sciences (BSC 2010 or 2011)3
ABE 3062L Biological Engineering Laboratory2
Total 16
Semester 7 **Credits
EGM 3520 Mechanics of Materials3
CGN 3710 Experimentation and Instrumentation in Civil Engineering3
ABE 4812 Food and BioProcess Engineering Unit Operations4
EML 2023 Computer Aided Graphics and Design or
SUR 2322C Project Development and Visualization
3
Total 13
Semester 8Credits
BCH 4024 Introduction to Molecular Biology or
BCH 3025 Fundamentals of Biochemistry
4
ABE 4662 Quantification of Biological Processes3
Biological science electives *5
Engineering electives *2
Total 14
Semester 9Credits
ABE 4931 Professional Issues in Agricultural and Biological Engineering1
ABE 4043C Agricultural and Biological Engineering Design 22
Biological science electives *6
Engineering electives *3
Total 12

* Select from approved list

** A 9-hour summer registration is required for graduation.