Oct 07, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering, BSAGE


About the Program


Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering prepares engineers to understand environmental and economic sustainability challenges. You learn about ecosystem processes (the water cycle, nutrient transformation processes, and biological systems), how human activities such as agriculture affect these complex systems, and how to design sustainable solutions. You will also gain the background in chemistry and biology necessary to understand the influences of contaminants on the environment. Basic engineering principles, as well as some of the newest technological approaches such as geographical information systems, finite element analysis, sensor design, hydrologic modeling, and soil and water remediation are applied to solve challenges related to soil and plant environments, surface and ground water quality, air quality, animal environments, and food safety. 

Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering Focus Areas 

  • Water and Soil Conservation: Ensuring adequate supplies of clean water through sustainable methods by integrating environmental processes into engineering design (examples include: rain gardens, constructed wetlands, water and sediment control structures, and stream restoration). 
  • Sensor Technology for Environmental Monitoring: Integration of sensors and control systems into machinery and control systems for environmental monitoring (examples include: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and self-driving equipment monitoring soil and moisture conditions in real time). 
  • Simulation and Forecasting of Environmental Processes: Using numerical simulation models to predict changes to flood and drought frequency, stream flow, and water quality due to land use, land management and climate change. 
  • Resource Management:  Animal waste treatment and management, drainage system design and water quality management and irrigation system design and water management. 
  • Systems Approach for Environmental Resource Management: Applying tools and techniques such as life cycle analysis and other modeling approaches to study systems level environmental impacts associated with resource management focused on establishing connections between natural systems and agricultural-based industries 

Some of the factors that contribute to Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University being a top ranked program: 

  • Multiple opportunities for interaction with faculty in laboratories and in classes 
  • Student Competitions, Clubs, Global Experiences 
  • Personalized advising and attention from faculty 
  • Practical curriculum for industrial careers 
  • Great opportunities for internships and undergraduate research. 
  • Numerous departmental scholarships 
  • Excellent placement record and starting salaries 

Watch a video and take a look at some senior projects.  We hope to see you in ABE soon!

Current Students - Click here for advising and degree requirement resources.
Prospective Students - Click here to learn more and schedule a visit. 

The Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

 

Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering

Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering Major Change (CODO) Requirements   

Degree Requirements


128 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (25 credits)


Other Departmental/Program Requirements (101-105 credits)


First-Year Engineering Requirements (29-39 credits)


Click here for First-Year Engineering  requirements.

  • Requirement #1 - Intro to Engineering I (2-4 credits)
  • Requirement #2 - Intro to Engineering II (2-4 credits)
  • Requirement #3 - Calculus I (4-5 credits) (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) 
  • Requirement #4 - Calculus II (4-5 credits) (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) 
  • Requirement #5 - Chemistry I (4-6 credits) (satisfies Science #1 for core)
  • Requirement #6 - Physics (4 credits) (satisfies Science #2 for core)
  • Requirement #7 - First-Year Engineering Selective (3-4 credits)
  • Requirement #8 - Written and Oral Communication (6-7 credits) (could satisfy Written Communication, Information Literacy or Oral Communication for core)

Other Departmental Courses (101-105 credits)


Electives (0-2 credits)


  • Electives - Credit Hours: 0.00-2.00

College of Agriculture & University Level Requirements


College of Agriculture Pass/No Pass Policy


College of Agriculture Undergraduate Pass/No Pass Policy 

Courses Not Applicable in Agricultural Plans of Study


The following courses are not applicable as credit toward graduation in any College of Agriculture baccalaureate degree program:

  • CHM 10000; ENGL 10000, 10900, 11100; ENGR 19100, 19200, 19300; MA 11100, 12300, 13300, 13400, 15100; 15555, PHYS 14900; STAT 11300, 11400; and all General Studies courses except GS 49000 - Discovery Park Undergraduate Research. 

Credits earned in one of the following course - MA 15200, 15300, 15400 or MA 15800 - may be used as an unrestricted elective in the College of Agriculture undergraduate plans of study, but may not be used as a Mathematics and Sciences Selectives.

 

GPA Requirements


  • 2.0 GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree.

Transfer Credit Policy


Transfer courses listed in the Purdue Transfer Equivalency Guide with specific Purdue Subject codes (e.g. BIOL) may be used to fulfill degree requirements at the discretion of the College of Agriculture. However, Agriculture transfer courses listed with “UND” Purdue Subject codes cannot be used for any requirements in the College of Agriculture at Purdue.

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course).

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Sample 4-Year Plan


Sample First Year Engineering Plan of Study


Fall 1st Year


13-14 Credits


Spring 1st Year


16 Credits


Sample 3-Year Plan


Course Options in First Year Engineering:


These courses need to be incorporated in the remaining 6 semesters if not taken in First Year Engineering

18 Credits


17 Credits


17 Credits


Spring 3rd Year


16 Credits


Fall 4th Year


17 Credits


Spring 4th Year


  • Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering Technical Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Humanities or Social Science Selective - Credit Hours 3.00
  • Humanities or Social Science Selective (30000+ level) - Credit Hours 3.00
  • Electives - Credit Hours 0.00-2.00

14-15 Credits


Pre-Requisite Information


For pre-requisite information, click here.

World Language Courses


World Language proficiency requirements vary by program. The following list is inclusive of all world languages PWL offers for credit; for acceptable languages and proficiency levels, see your advisor. (ASL-American Sign Language; ARAB-Arabic; CHNS-Chinese; FR-French; GER-German; GREK-Greek(Ancient); HEBR-Hebrew(Biblical); HEBR-Hebrew(Modern); ITAL-Italian; JPNS-Japenese; KOR-Korean; LATN-Latin; PTGS=Portuguese; RUSS-Russian; SPAN-Spanish)

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.