Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Overview

Welcome to the Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University. Our mission is to prepare students, citizens, and industry for the future through innovative education and extension/outreach programs and the discovery of knowledge.

Our cross-disciplinary strengths include academic and research programs in agriculture, biology, and engineering, as well as dual degree programs. Agricultural and Biological Engineering offers three degree programs, including two engineering programs: Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (BSAGE) and Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering (BSBE), and one agriculture program: Agricultural Systems Management, BS. ABE’s degree programs also offer multiple majors and concentrations. The job market remains strong for our graduates who have excellent career opportunities, and demand for our graduates is very high.

Our faculty, students and staff are pursuing cutting-edge research that improves quality of life as well as advances scientific and engineering frontiers. Our extension programs are helping citizens of Indiana and beyond improve their lives.

Agricultural Systems Management

The Agricultural Systems Management program prepares graduates to develop and manage technology-intensive agricultural production and processing systems. ASM graduates are problem solvers. They benefit from a diverse applied agricultural curriculum that includes opportunities for extensive career-related experience at home and abroad.

Biological Engineering

This program deals with the applications of basic scientific and engineering principles to the design, development and operation of large scale manufacture of food and biologically-based products. Such products are environmentally friendly, renewable and represent a future wave of consumer demand for better health and environment. In addition to learning the engineering aspects of food and biological processing, you will also learn the basic principles in biochemistry and food sciences.

Dual Degree programs with Biological Engineering and Biochemistry or Pharmaceutical Sciences are also offered - these programs require an additional year of courses leading to two degrees.

Agricultural Engineering - emphasis in Environmental & Natural Resources Engineering

This emphasis area prepares engineers with specialized expertise to design and analyze new and environmentally sound ways to produce food and fiber while conserving our natural resources. Students gain expertise in areas such as watershed management, geographic information systems, computer-based watershed modeling, and contaminant transport models, and soil and water conservation engineering practices.

Agricultural Engineering - emphasis in Machine Systems Engineering

This emphasis area prepares students with a background in mechanical design, hydraulics, instrumentation and control, finite element analysis, electronics and sensors to design, develop, analyze and operate machines and systems for agricultural and biological products and processes, materials handling, construction and mining, forestry, lawn- and ground-care, and food and fiber production and processing.