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Jun 17, 2026
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2026-2027 University Catalog
Pre-Agricultural and Biological Engineering
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About the Program
Overview:
The Pre-Agricultural and Biological Engineering program is an alternative to Purdue’s First-Year Engineering program. Students complete the same first-year engineering requirements while beginning their academic experience within the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. This program provides early exposure to ABE resources and faculty and prepares students for entry into one of the department’s professional programs.
Program Highlights: - Required first-year engineering courses, including mathematics, chemistry, and introductory engineering Academic advising and planning tailored to ABE majors
- Access departmental events and industry networking opportunities from the start
- Early connection to faculty and departmental resources
- Eligibility for College of Agriculture scholarships as a first-year student
Transition to Professional Programs: Upon successful completion of the Pre-ABE curriculum, students may enter one of the following majors: - Agricultural Engineering
- Biological Engineering
- Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Pre-Agricultural and Biological Engineering Major Change (CODO) Requirements Pre-ABE Requirements (29-39 credits)
All courses in this area must have a C- or higher. *Upon successful completion of Pre-ABE curriculum, students are eligible to enter their preferred engineering major within ABE. For alternative paths to ABE majors, please visit First-Year Engineering and/or speak with an ABE advisor. Grade Average Requirement
To complete the Pre-ABE program: A GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses. An Engineering Admissions Index (EAI) must be 2.00 or greater. Calculation of the EAI is equivalent to the calculation of GPA for courses used to meet all FYE requirements above. If a student meets a requirement in more than one way, only one will be used to calculate the EAI. The FYE Committee will be responsible for keeping an updated, clear, and universal set of rules for determining which course is used in EAI for these situations. These rules are available to students in the FYE Advising office. For more information click here or talk with an FYE academic advisor.
Grade Requirements
- A grade of C- or better is required for all courses used to meet the First-Year Engineering requirements.
College of Agriculture Core Requirements
Students in College of Agriculture majors must complete the College of Agriculture Core Requirements. These may be satisfied or doublecounted with certain degree requirements. Consult your advisor to determine how best to meet core requirements in your plan of study. For a complete listing of College of Agriculture Core Course Selectives, visit the College of Agriculture Website. Transfer Credit Policy
If you are interested in registering for a course offered by a different institution, please review the information on the Purdue Office of the Registrar Transfer Credit website.
* If you are an incoming transfer student, please review the above Transfer Credit website and then work with your academic advisor to determine exactly how your previous courses might transfer. University Requirements
University Core Requirements
For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website. - AI Working Competency (UCC: AI)
- Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (UCC: BSS)
- Human Cultures: Humanities (UCC: HUM)
- Information Literacy (UCC: IL)
- Oral Communication (UCC: OC)
- Quantitative Reasoning (UCC: QR)
- Science #1 (UCC: SCI)
- Science #2 (UCC: SCI)
- Science, Technology, and Society (UCC: STS)
- Written Communication (UCC: WC)
Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement
To obtain the Civics Literacy credential, all Baccalaureate degree seeking students will complete the Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required quizzes per episode. After the pathway has been successfully completed, students will take the Civics Literacy knowledge test. Civics Literacy does not impact a student’s GPA or bear any financial costs. More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue. 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 Plan of Study
The sample plan of study outlines how a student may meet degree requirements. There may be other course options available. Students plan and register for their courses with the collaboration of their academic advisors.
Fall 1st Year
Requirement #1 - Intro to Engineering - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00
Requirement #3 - Calculus I - Credit Hours: 4.00-5.00 Requirement #5 - Chemistry - Credit Hours: 4.00-6.00 Requirement #8 - Written or Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
Spring 1st Year
Requirement #2 - Intro to Engineering II - Credit Hours: 2.00-4.00 Requirement #4 - Calculus II - Credit Hours: 4.00-5.00 Requirement #6 - Physics - Credit Hours: 4.00 Requirement #7 - First-Year Engineering Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00 Requirement #8 - Written or Oral Communication - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
Note
- Students pursuing Biological Engineering majors should take CHM 11610 and CHM 11620 to ensure degree progress.
- Students pursuing Agricultural Engineering should take CS 17700 (preferred) or CS 15900.
- Students pursuing Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering majors may take CS 17700 (preferred), CS 15900, or CHM 11610 and 11620.
- In-person general chemistry II labs (CHM 11620) are required for degree completion in Biological Engineering and Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering majors.
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. Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. |
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