Course Descriptions
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
B. W. Auvermann, S. C. Capareda, M. E. Castell-Perez, C. L. Darcey, W. A. Dugas, Jr., C. R. Engler, G. Fipps, J. R. Gilley, P. K. Haan, E. A. Hiler, R. Karthikeyan, A. L. Kenimer, R. E. Lacey, B. J. Lesikar, B. P. Mohanty, R. G. Moreira*, S. Mukhtar, C. L. Munster, Z. Nikolov, C. B. Parnell, R. A. Persyn, G. L. Riskowski (Head), W. Rosenthal, S. W. Searcy, B. W. Shaw, R. Srinivasan, J. M. Sweeten, J. A. Thomasson
* Graduate Advisor
The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering offers graduate studies leading to both engineering degrees and non-engineering degrees. Engineering degrees include Master of Science, Master of Engineering (non-thesis) and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, the department offers courses and faculty supervision for students pursuing the Doctor of Engineering degree. Faculty expertise exists for study in the fields of environmental and natural resource engineering; bioprocess engineering; food engineering; biomaterial science; machine and energy systems; systems analysis; food, feed and fiber processing. Active research programs are ongoing in all of these areas. Minimum preparation for entry into advanced study for engineering degrees would include a baccalaureate degree in engineering. Students with non-engineering degrees can be accepted into an engineering program but must complete some basic engineering prerequisite courses.
A non-engineering degree, Master of Agriculture, in agricultural systems management is offered. This degree is technology oriented with emphasis on systems analysis and management. It requires an internship for practical experience. The faculty also participates in supervision of students pursuing Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from interdisciplinary faculties such as food science and technology. Minimum preparation for entry into advanced study for non-engineering degrees would include a baccalaureate degree in agricultural systems management, food science and technology, or equivalent. Depending on degree and area of study, prerequisite courses may be required to provide the technology background.
Excellent research and study facilities exist which enhance all degree programs. Research facilities include modern laboratories, computer systems, testing equipment, data acquisition systems, technical support and areas for field studies. Supporting courses are available in a wide variety of disciplines as well as within the department. No foreign language is required for a PhD in Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
(BAEN)
610. Spatial Technology for Site-Specific Crop Management. (2-3). Credit 3.
Techniques and technologies of precision crop management with emphasis on commercial practices; includes global positioning system, mapping software, variable rate technologies and decision support systems. Prerequisites: AGRO 301; graduate classification.
615. Measurement Techniques in Agricultural Engineering. (2-3). Credit 3.
Agricultural measurement systems; soil, water and humidity devices and instruments for quality evaluation and control of agricultural products; measurement of product maturity and ripeness, inspection of grains and seeds, animal carcass quality and milk fat analysis. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
616. Engineering Signal Analysis and Processing of Remotely Sensed Images. (2-2). Credit 3.
Engineering principles of digital signal analysis; multispectral remotely sensed images; image classification, feature extraction, and interpretation of data from agricultural, biological and environmental systems; digital images from both satellite and airborne platforms. Prerequisites: BAEN 615, MATH 601 or approval of instructor; graduate classification.
620. Food Rheology. (2-3). Credit 3.
Principles of elasticity, viscous flow and visco-elasticity applied to solid and liquid food materials; experimental determination of rheological properties using fundamental methods and empirical textural measurements; applications to food engineering research, textural measurement and quality control. Prerequisites: FSTC 315; PHYS 201; graduate classification.
625. Advances in Food Process Engineering. (3-0). Credit 3.
Application of engineering fundamentals to the design of novel/advanced food processing systems including food irradiation, advances in thermal process, food freezing, food dehydration. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
627. Engineering Aspects of Packaging. (3-0). Credit 3.
Introduction to properties and engineering aspects of materials for use as components of a package and/or packaging system; principles of design and development of packages; evaluation of product-package-environment interaction mechanisms; testing methods; environmental concerns; regulations. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
651. Geographic Information System. (2-2). Credit 3.
Design, planning and implementation of geographic information systems; computer hardware and software evaluation; practical experience in data entry analysis and update of spatial and characteristic data; linkages of GIS and artificial intelligence; use of maps and remotely sensed data as data inputs. Prerequisites: RENR 444 and GEOG 398 or approval of instructor. Cross-listed with FRSC 651.
652. Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Systems. (2-1). Credit 3.
Advanced GIS topics with a focus on modeling actual GIS applications including relational and database theory, design and implementation and its connection to GIS; surface analysis with digital terrain models; and an introduction to spatial statistics. Prerequisite: BAEN 651.
653. Bioreactor Design. (3-0). Credit 3.
Kinetics of enzyme reactions and cell growth applied to bioreactor design, media formulation, cell culture conditions, oxygen transfer and sterilization. Prerequisite: CHEN 651 or approval of instructor.
662. Statistical Methods in Biological and Agricultural Engineering. (3-0). Credit 3.
Statistical methods applied to problems in biological and agricultural engineering; parameter estimation; probability distribution fitting; time-series analysis; random variable generation; uncertainty analysis. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
665. Design of Biological Waste Treatment Systems. (3-0). Credit 3.
Management and treatment of organic wastes, with emphasis on human, agricultural and food processing wastes; engineering design of biological waste treatment processes; regulatory aspects affecting management of organic waste. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
669. Water Quality Engineering. (3-0). Credit 3.
Nonpoint source pollution processes including transport mechanisms and contaminant fate; design of best management practices for abating nonpoint source pollution. Prerequisites: AGEN 350 or equivalent; AGRO 301; ENGR 214; graduate classification.
670. Air Pollution Engineering. (3-0). Credit 3.
Current topics in air pollution engineering including design and operation of air pollution abatement systems (cyclone, bag filters and scrubbers), emission factors, dispersion modeling, permitting, odor sensing and control, EPA/State Air Pollution Regulatory Agency (SAPRA), TSP, PM10, and PM2.5. Prerequisites: AGEN 477 or MEEN 477; MEEN 328 and 344; or approval of instructor.
672. Small Watershed Hydrology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Hydrology of small agricultural watersheds; precipitation frequency analysis; infiltration; runoff; erosion theory; sediment transport theory; evapotranspiration, and use of hydrological models. Prerequisites: AGEN 350, AGRO 301 and MATH 308 or their equivalent; graduate classification.
673. Modeling Small Watersheds. (3-0). Credit 3.
Transport of water and chemicals in small agricultural watersheds; simulation using hydrologic models coupled with geographical information systems (GIS); impact of land use on the quality of surface water and groundwater evaluated. Prerequisites: Basic hydrology course and graduate classification.
674. Vadose Zone Hydrology. (3-0). Credit 3.
Fundamental concepts and advanced mathematical and experimental techniques for quantifying water, chemical, microorganism, and heat transport in the vadose zone (between soil surfaces and groundwater); provides a common platform for addressing issues related to soil and water resources, hydrology, geochemistry, microbiology, ecology, hydrogeology, and environmental engineering. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
681. Seminar. Credit 1 each semester.
Reviews, reports and discussion of ideas, recent advances and current topics.
683. Peer-Review Process and Publication. (1-0). Credit 1.
Techniques for communicating results of research that are defendable in a peer review process; student and advisor will select a research topic, identifying an appropriate target refereed journal; no thesis/dissertation preparation as a writing project accepted; critique other papers; prepare paper for review by instructor. Prerequisite: Graduate classification in Biological and Agricultural Engineering only.
684. Professional Internship. Credit 1 to 4.
An on-the-job supervised experience program, conducted on an individual basis in the area of the student’s specialization in mechanized agriculture. Prerequisite: Graduate classification or approval of instructor.
685. Directed Studies. Credit 1 to 4 each semester.
Advanced laboratory or field problems not related to student’s thesis. Prerequisite: Graduate classification.
689. Special Topics in... Credit 1 to 4.
Selected topics in an identified area of agricultural engineering. May be repeated for credit.
690. Theory of Research. (1-0). Credit 1.
Development of research inquiry and discussion of applicable experimental design, theoretical techniques and methodological principles of conducting original research; evaluation of current research of faculty and students and in engineering and scientific literature. Communication of research proposals and results. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Graduate classification and approval of department head.
691. Research. Credit 1 or more each semester.
Research for thesis or dissertation.