Department Information

AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING (ABE )

Contact Information:

Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering The University of Arizona Shantz Building, 403 PO Box 210038 Tucson, AZ 85721-0038

Phone: (520) 621-1607 Fax: (520) 621-3963 Email: dcastro@email.arizona.edu Web: Department Homepage

General Information:

ABE  Course Descriptions

Faculty Members

The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is affiliated with both the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering and Mines.

Degrees, Majors, Minors, and Options:

Baccalaureate Degrees

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (B.S.A.B.E.)*

Graduate Degrees -- consult the Graduate Catalog or department office for details.

• Master of Science (M.S.)*
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)*

Majors and Degrees -- undergraduate degrees link to the Degree/Academic Program Requirements Reports (APRRs).

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (B.S.A.B.E., M.S., Ph.D.)*
• Agricultural Systems Management (B.S.)**

Undergraduate Minor -- minors link to Minor Requirement Reports.

Students may select an optional minor from the list of approved minors.  Minors available within the department are:

• Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Minor*

* Jointly administered by the College of Engineering & Mines and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
** Administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Agricultural and biosystems engineers integrate mathematics and the biological, physical and engineering sciences with engineering design principles. These principles are applied to the design, analysis, construction, and management of equipment, systems, and facilities for the efficient production, processing, and utilization of food, fiber, and biological/biochemical products. The curriculum is based on a core of courses required of all students with electives to place emphasis in areas such as agricultural engineering, biological engineering, bioenvironmental engineering, irrigation engineering and water resources management, and energy applications. Modern developments in control systems, expert systems, robotics, sensors, microprocessors, materials science, and computer-based analyses are emphasized throughout the program as appropriate. The major in agricultural and biosystems engineering assumes substantial knowledge of mathematics.

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering:

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering emphasizes several areas including: agricultural engineering, irrigation engineering and water resources management, bioenvironmental engineering, biological engineering, and agri-biosystems. The program includes a basic science core merging biological and physical sciences. Included in the major areas as appropriate are: energy issues and alternatives; biosystems analysis and design; biotechnology engineering developments; hazardous waste management and water quality control; soil, water, plant relationships; applications of sensors, control systems, digital imaging, computer vision, artificial intelligence and multispectral analysis; robotics; and other emerging technologies. Emphasis is placed upon the design of systems, processes and equipment to serve the engineering needs of the agricultural/biological industries and the water resources/environmental engineering needs of various government, industry, community and engineering consulting organizations.

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.  (ABET Accredited)

For more information contact the department office listed above.