Integrate physical and biological sciences.
ABE is collaboration between the Grainger College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES). As a student, you will have access to the faculty and resources in both departments. The ABE major is an ABET-accredited engineering program that teaches fundamental engineering skills so you can design complex systems for food, agriculture, energy, and the environment.
You’ll learn how to design and manage technological solutions to problems in agricultural, food, and other biological systems. Students can choose one of two concentrations - either Agricultural Engineering or Biological Engineering - and one of seven specializations.
Choose Your Specialization
After choosing your concentration, tailor your degree further by selecting one of the following specializations:
Bioenvironmental Engineering
Design systems and structures to ensure desired environmental conditions for animals, people, crop storage, and greenhouses
Ecological Engineering
Design and manage sustainable ecosystems and services to reduce human impact on the natural environment
Food and Bioprocess Engineering
Develop and manage equipment and systems for processing of food and biologically-based materials
Nanoscale Biological Engineering
Develop technologies at the nanoscale for biological applications such as biosensors and particle delivery mechanisms
Off-Road Equipment Engineering
Design, manufacture, and test equipment and control systems for the off-road industries, including agriculture, construction, and mining
Renewable Energy Systems Engineering
Design renewable energy systems, including solar, wind, and geothermal energy
Soil and Water Resources Engineering
Design sustainable systems to manage and conserve water and soil resources, control erosion and sediment, improve water quality, and minimize pollution from nonpoint sources
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Industry-Linked Design Project
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Industry-Linked Design Project
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As a student in ABE, you’ll complete an industry-sponsored senior design project allowing you to partner with a client to solve real-world problems. Student teams develop and prototype marketable solutions for their clients. Students won't just learn about engineering, they'll also put their knowledge and skills to use.
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The undergraduate program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET under both the agricultural engineering and biological engineering criteria.
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Graduation and Beyond
As an ABE major, you’ll graduate with a degree from The Grainger College of Engineering. You'll be prepared for careers as project, test, reliability, civil, environmental, mechanical design, product, agricultural, design, and biological engineers. Our graduates work with Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, academia, government agencies, non-profit groups, and research institutions. The average starting salary for our ABE graduates is $69,000.
Areas of Employment
- Biological Systems Automation
- Bioprocessing
- Ecological Modeling
- Environmental Consulting
- Enzyme Development and Production
- Food Engineering
- Off-Road Equipment Design and Testing
- Precision Agriculture
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainability