2013-14 Academic Catalog

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

This is an archived copy of the 2013-14 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business (AETB)

Interim Department Head: Dr. Jonathan Pote
Office: 150 Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building

The AETB program provides an educational opportunity for students interested in applying technical, business, and management skills to problems in agricultural production, processing, commodity related business and finance, and natural resources utilization. A Bachelor of Science degree is offered by the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The AETB program provides the industry with men and women possessing excellent skills in the engineering technologies, as well as a thorough background in business and management. This combination allows the AETB graduate to excel in virtually any business enterprise. The AETB Base Curriculum prepares the graduate for the many diverse opportunities afforded by the industrial and agricultural industries. In addition to the broad background in agricultural technologies and business, students may concentrate on a particular career-path by completing an AETB concentration. The AETB Base Curriculum provides six concentrations:

  1. Aquacultural Systems,
  2. Enterprise Management,
  3. Gin Management & Technology,
  4. Natural Resources & Environment Management,
  5. Precision Agriculture, and
  6. Surveying/Geomatics.
     

These concentrations are achieved by completing 12-18 hours of specified technical electives as approved by an AETB advisor. In addition, the Surveying/Geomatics concentration is supported through a unique AETB curriculum.

The Aquacultural Systems concentration provides an enhanced background in fishery management, fish disease, and water quality. The Enterprise Management concentration is designed to provide skills for agricultural and business enterprise management. The curriculum provides a broad background including both animal and plant sciences, agricultural technology, economics, business and management. The Gin Management and Technology concentration provides graduates with a thorough education in cotton gin management and fiber processing. Courses emphasize technologies that are specific to the fiber processing industry including: hydraulics, pneumatics, industrial controls, seed technologies, biological materials handling, industrial safety and human relations. The Natural Resources and Environmental Management concentration provides an enhanced background in geology, hydrogeology, resource conservation, and water quality for students pursuing careers that require environmental training. The Precision Agriculture and Surveying/Geomatics concentrations provide courses in remote sensing, GPS, GIS, and surveying to enhance the student’s abilities for careers involving spatial technologies. The Surveying/Geomatics students take an additional 12 hours of surveying courses. The jobs available in several of these concentrations exceed the supply of graduates.

Transfer credits with a grade of C or higher will be considered toward fulfillment of the degree requirements in the AETB curriculum. A maximum of 12 transfer hours of technical credit can be applied toward degree requirements.

Employment for AETB graduates includes the following agricultural industries/government agencies: food/fiber production (farming), agri-chemical, agricultural lending, aquaculture, banking, cotton ginning, seed & grain processing, crop consulting, agricultural equipment manufacturers and sales, farm management, land surveying in both the public and private sectors, food processing, and hydrographic surveying and map development via the use of remote sensing, GIS, GPS, photogrammetry, etc. data.

General Education Requirements

English Composition
EN 1103English Composition I3
or EN 1163 Accelerated Composition I
EN 1113English Composition II3
or EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II
Mathematics
MA 1313College Algebra3
MA 1323Trigonometry3
Science
PH 1113General Physics I3
PH 1123General Physics II3
CH 1043Survey of Chemistry I3
Humanities
Select from General Education courses3
Select from General Education courses3
Fine Arts
Select from General Education courses3
Social Science
AEC 2713Introduction to Food and Resource Economics3
Select from General Education courses3
Major Core
ABE 1073Agricultural Mechanics3
ABE 2873Land Surveying3
ABE 3513The Global Positional System and Geographic Information Systems in Agriculture and Engineering3
ABE 4263Soil and Water Management3
ABE 4383Building Construction3
ABE 4473Electrical Applications3
ABE 4961Seminar1
EG 1143Graphic Communication3
Technical Elective3
AETB Elective
Choose one of the following:3
Internal Combustion Engine Technology
Machinery Management for Agro-Ecosystems
Science Courses
CH 1053Survey of Chemistry II3
CH 1051Experimental Chemistry1
Business Courses
ACC 2013Principles of Financial Accounting3
ACC 2023Principles of Managerial Accounting3
BL 2413The Legal Environment of Business3
MGT 3513Introduction to Human Resource Management3
Financial Elective
Choose one of the following:3
Personal Money Management
Financial Systems
Oral Communication Requirement
CO 1003Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Writing Requirement
AIS 3203Professional Writing in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences3
Computer Literacy Requirement
EG 1143Graphic Communication3
ABE 3513The Global Positional System and Geographic Information Systems in Agriculture and Engineering3
ABE 4473Electrical Applications3
Choose one of the following concentrations:
Aquaculture Systems (ACSY)
ABE 1863Engineering Technology in Agriculture3
PSS 3303Soils3
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
ADS 1114Animal Science4
or BIO 1134 Biology I
PSS 1313Plant Science3
or BIO 1023 Plants and Humans
AEC 3133Introductory Agribusiness Management3
MA 1613Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I3
or ST 2113 Introduction to Statistics
Electives - Choose from the following: 218
Biology of Vertebrates
Aquatic Animal Health Management
Principles and Practices of Aquaculture
Approved Electives - consult advisor
Enterprise Management (EMGT)
ABE 1863Engineering Technology in Agriculture3
PSS 3303Soils3
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
ADS 1114Animal Science4
or BIO 1134 Biology I
PSS 1313Plant Science3
or BIO 1023 Plants and Humans
AEC 3133Introductory Agribusiness Management3
Electives - Choose from the following: 218
Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I
Introduction to Statistics
International Trade in Agriculture
Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy
Enterprise Mgt Elective - consult advisor (3 hours)
Enterprise Mgt Elective - consult advisor (3 hours)
Precision Agriculture (PRAG)
ABE 1863Engineering Technology in Agriculture3
PSS 3303Soils3
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
ADS 1114Animal Science4
or BIO 1134 Biology I
PSS 1313Plant Science3
or BIO 1023 Plants and Humans
AEC 3133Introductory Agribusiness Management3
MA 1613Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I3
or ST 2113 Introduction to Statistics
Electives - Choose from the following: 118
Remote Sensing Applications
   and Remote Sensing Applications Laboratory
GIS for Natural Resource Management
   and GIS for Natural Resource Management
Maps and Remote Sensing
Geospatial Agronomic Management
Precision Ag Elective - consult advisor (3 hours)
Approved Elective - consult advisor
Gin Management and Technology (GMT)
ABE 1863Engineering Technology in Agriculture3
PSS 3303Soils3
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
ADS 1114Animal Science4
or BIO 1134 Biology I
PSS 1313Plant Science3
or BIO 1023 Plants and Humans
AEC 3133Introductory Agribusiness Management3
Electives - Choose from the following: 218
Cotton Ginning Systems and Management
Fiber and Oilseed Crops
Industrial Fluid Power
Industrial Control Systems
Internship in Gin Management and Technology
Approved Electives - consult advisor
Surveying/Geomatics (SGEO)
ABE 4803Biosystems Simulation3
CE 2213Surveying3
CE 4233Control Surveys3
CE 4243Land Surveys3
MA 1713Calculus I3
or ST 2113 Introduction to Statistics
BL 4333Real Estate Law3
MGT 3323Entrepreneurship3
or BL 4243 Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship
GR 2313Maps and Remote Sensing3
HS 4733Computer-Aided Design for Human Sciences3
Emphasis Electives 312
Natural Resource & Environmental Management (NREM)
ABE 1863Engineering Technology in Agriculture3
PSS 3303Soils3
PSS 3301Soils Laboratory1
ADS 1114Animal Science4
or BIO 1134 Biology I
PSS 1313Plant Science3
or BIO 1023 Plants and Humans
AEC 3133Introductory Agribusiness Management3
MA 1613Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I3
or ST 2113 Introduction to Statistics
Electives - Choose from the following: 218
Environmental Quality
Geospatial Agronomic Management
Introduction to Environmental Geology
Water Resources
Physical Hydrogeology
Approved Elective - consult advisor
Total hours124

1

 The ABE Department will offer ABE 4990 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering courses periodically. Depending on the subject matter of the course, ABE 4990 may be an approved concentration elective.

2

For approved Emphasis Electives, consult advisor.


Courses

ABE 1001 First Year Seminar: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. First year seminars explore a diverse array of topics that provide students with an opportunity to learn about a specific discipline from skilled faculty members

ABE 1073 Agricultural Mechanics: 3 hours.

One hour lecture. Four hours laboratory. Developing skills in hot and cold metal work; welding, carpentry practices, painting and finishing wood, concrete and concrete masonry; and basic electric wiring

ABE 1863 Engineering Technology in Agriculture: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Introductory course emphasizing use of fundamentals for solving problems related to soil and water management, electrical power and control, agricultural machinery, and environmental control

ABE 1911 Engineering in the Life Sciences: 1 hour.

(Open to freshmen and sophomores or first-semester transfer students only). One hour lecture. Introduction to agricultural and biological engineering; survey of the engineering profession; elementary analysis of biological systems; creative engineering and design and synthesis

ABE 1921 Introduction to Engineering Design: 1 hour.

(Prerequisite: ABE 1911). Two hours laboratory. Introduction to the process of engineering design, including project management, prototype assembly, engineering graphics, technical writing and oral presentation

ABE 2173 Internal Combustion Engine Technology: 3 hours.

Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Principles of operation of gasoline, diesel and LP gas engines; engine types; ignition, fuel, valve, and cooling systems; transmission; power trains; power measurement; and tune-up

ABE 2421 Analytical Methods: 1 hour.

Two hours laboratory. The application of biostatistics to real experimental problems with emphasis on experimental design, sampling distribution, statistical hypotheses and decision rules

ABE 2873 Land Surveying: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: MA 1323 or equivalent). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Fundamentals of measurements and traverse computations. Public land surveys. Surveying practice in traverse and topographic surveys

ABE 2990 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ABE 3303 Transport in Biological Engineering: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: PH 2233 and CS 1213 or CS 1233 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. Principles of steady state and unsteady state energy and mass transfer as applied to biological systems

ABE 3413 Bioinstrumentation I: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: PH 2223 or equivalent). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Applied circuit analysis, electrodes and transducers, stress and strain, temperature measurements, human physiology, digital and programmable instrumentation

ABE 3513 The Global Positional System and Geographic Information Systems in Agriculture and Engineering: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: MA 1313 and MA 1323, or equivalent). Two hours lecture. Four hours laboratory. Basic theory and hands-on application of global positioning system (GPS) technology/hardware, and geographic information systems (GIS) software, for precise positioning in agriculture and engineering

ABE 3700 Internship in Gin Management and Technology: 1-6 hours.

(Prerequisite: Minimum of junior standing or permission of instructor). Credits to be arranged. Work experience in approved cotton gins for Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business majors with an emphasis in Gin Management and Technology

ABE 3813 Biophysical Properties of Materials: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: PH 2213). Two hours lecture . Two hours laboratory. Physical properties of biological products and materials. Primary emphasis on measurement and evaluation of dimensional, mechanical, rheological, transport, thermal, electrical, and optical properties

ABE 4000 Directed Individual Study in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-6 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ABE 4163 Machinery Management for Agro-Ecosystems: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: Junior standing and consent of the instructor ).Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Basic principles of operation and management of agricultural, landscape, and turf power machinery; selection of machinery based on power requirements, economy, and suitability for Agro-Ecosystems

ABE 4263 Soil and Water Management: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ABE 2873. Students with credit in ABE 2263 will not receive credit in this course). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Introduction to soil and water management principles; elementary hydrology, basic fundamentals of erosion control, surface and subsurface drainage, and water control for irrigation

ABE 4313 Biological Treatment of Nonpoint Source Pollutants: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Fundamental principles and design of biologically based treatment systems used to remove pollutants and protect receiving waters from agricultural and urban/suburban storm water runoff

ABE 4323 Physiological Systems in Biomedical Engineering: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: BIO 1504 or equivalent; EM 3313 or equivalent; ABE 3813; ABE 4803 or equivalent). Three hours lecture. Mathematical description and modeling of the behavior of physiological systems significant to biomedical engineers

ABE 4383 Building Construction: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: EG 1143, junior standing.) Three hours lecture. An introduction to building terms, construction materials, structural components, construction methods, and mechanical systems pertaining to residential and commercial structures

ABE 4423 Bioinstrumentation II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ABE 3413 or graduate standing). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Theory; application of automated measuring and control systems in biological sciences. Includes design/use of transducer interfaces; electronic signal conditioning; data logging; microprocessor based systems

ABE 4453 Cotton Ginning Systems and Management: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. An in-depth exposure to the modern cotton ginning industry, including the basics of the operation of a cotton gin and management of the ginning process

ABE 4473 Electrical Applications: 3 hours.

Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Fundamental electricity, wiring, and control of agricultural operations. Includes use of computer tools, intruments, safety, and hardware

ABE 4483 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing, or consent or instructor). Three hours lecture. Electromagnetic interactions, passive sensors, multispectral and hyperspectral optical sensors, active sensors, imaging radar, SAR Lidar, digital image processing, natural resource applications. (Same as ECE 4423/6423 and PSS 4483/6483)

ABE 4513 Dynamics of Aging: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: BIO 1123 or BIO 1504 or consent of the instructor). A broad based systematic, quantitatively oriented introduction to the dynamics of aging. Systems physiology of aging in relation to biomedical engineering

ABE 4523 Biomedical Materials: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: One of the following: ABE 3813, CHE 3413, or ME 3403). Three hours lecture. Emphasis is on applications, composition, testing, and biocompatibility of biomedical materials used in implant devices. This course may be used for honors credit

ABE 4533 Rehabilitation Engineering: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior standing in College of Engineering). Three hours lecture. An introduction to rehabilitation engineering emphasizing applications of technology in prosthetics, orthotics, mobility, and sensory augmentation. This course may be used for honors credit

ABE 4613 Biomechanics: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: EM 2413 and EM 2433). Three hours lecture. Force, motion, and deformation analysis of organisms and biological structures. Mechanical modeling techniques unique to biological materials

ABE 4624 Experimental Methods in Materials Research: 4 hours.

(Prerequisites:CHE 3413 or ABE 3813 or ME 3403 or permission of instructors).Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. An introduction to research methodologies commonly used in the evaluation of treatments, and mechanical testing. ( Same as CHE 4624/6624 and ME 4624/6624)

ABE 4723 Tissue Engineering and Regeneration: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite:ABE 3813) . Three hours lecture. A comprehensive course covering the fundamental concepts, multidisciplinary approaches, and clinical applications of tissue engineering/regeneration

ABE 4803 Biosystems Simulation: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Spring semester. Application of engineering analysis, modeling and simulation to biological systems

ABE 4813 Principles of Engineering Design: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: senior standing in engineering) Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. First semester of the senior capstone design sequence. Students learn the fundamentals of the design process, select a design project, and complete a preliminary design

ABE 4823 Capstone Surveying: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. The course teaches students proper selection of equipment for a given job, how to make correct field decisions and proper preparation of accompanying client reports

ABE 4833 Practices of Engineering Design: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ABE 4813). One hour lecture. Two hours laboratory. Second semester of the senior design sequence. Students continue learning about engineering design as they complete, construct, and test the design began in ABE 4813

ABE 4844 Sustainable Communities: 4 hours.

Three hours lecture. Two hours laboratory/studio. Theory and practices that minimize resource use and pollutant production in the human landscape (same as LA 4844/6844)

ABE 4911 Engineering Seminar: 1 hour.

(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). One hour lecture. Discussion of current engineering developments, professional developments, ethics and their relation to agriculture and the life sciences

ABE 4961 Seminar: 1 hour.

(Prerequisite: Consent of instructor). One hour lecture. Review of current literature dealing with the technical problems in the agricultural industry

ABE 4990 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ABE 6163 Machinery Management for Agro-Ecosystems: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: Junior standing and consent of the instructor ).Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Basic principles of operation and management of agricultural, landscape, and turf power machinery; selection of machinery based on power requirements, economy, and suitability for Agro-Ecosystems

ABE 6263 Soil and Water Management: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ABE 2873. Students with credit in ABE 2263 will not receive credit in this course). Two hours lecture . Three hours laboratory. Introduction to soil and water management principles; elementary hydrology, basic fundamentals of erosion control, surface and subsurface drainage, and water control for irrigation

ABE 6383 Building Construction: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: EG 1143, junior standing.) Three hours lecture. An introduction to building terms, construction materials, structural components, construction methods, and mechanical systems pertaining to residential and commercial structures

ABE 6423 Bioinstrumentation II: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: ABE 3413 or graduate standing). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Theory; application of automated measuring and control systems in biological sciences. Includes design/use of transducer interfaces; electronic signal conditioning; data logging; microprocessor based systems

ABE 6453 Cotton Ginning Systems and Management: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. An in-depth exposure to the modern cotton ginning industry, including the basics of the operation of a cotton gin and management of the ginning process

ABE 6473 Electrical Applications: 3 hours.

Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Fundamental electricity, wiring, and control of agricultural operations. Includes use of computer tools, intruments, safety, and hardware

ABE 6483 Introduction to Remote Sensing Technologies: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing, or consent or instructor). Three hours lecture. Electromagnetic interactions, passive sensors, multispectral and hyperspectral optical sensors, active sensors, imaging radar, SAR Lidar, digital image processing, natural resource applications. (Same as ECE 4423/6423 and PSS 4483/6483)

ABE 6513 Dynamics of Aging: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: BIO 1123 or BIO 1504 or consent of the instructor). A broad based systematic, quantitatively oriented introduction to the dynamics of aging. Systems physiology of aging in relation to biomedical engineering

ABE 6523 Biomedical Materials: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: One of the following: ABE 3813, CHE 3413, or ME 3403). Three hours lecture. Emphasis is on applications, composition, testing, and biocompatibility of biomedical materials used in implant devices. This course may be used for honors credit

ABE 6533 Rehabilitation Engineering: 3 hours.

(Prerequisite: Senior standing in College of Engineering). Three hours lecture. An introduction to rehabilitation engineering emphasizing applications of technology in prosthetics, orthotics, mobility, and sensory augmentation. This course may be used for honors credit

ABE 6613 Biomechanics: 3 hours.

(Prerequisites: EM 2413 and EM 2433). Three hours lecture. Force, motion, and deformation analysis of organisms and biological structures. Mechanical modeling techniques unique to biological materials

ABE 6624 Experimental Methods in Materials Research: 4 hours.

(Prerequisites:CHE 3413 or ABE 3813 or ME 3403 or permission of instructors).Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. An introduction to research methodologies commonly used in the evaluation of treatments, and mechanical testing. ( Same as CHE 4624/6624 and ME 4624/6624)

ABE 6723 Tissue Engineering and Regeneration: 3 hours.

ABE 6803 Biosystems Simulation: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Spring semester. Application of engineering analysis, modeling and simulation to biological systems

ABE 6844 Sustainable Communities: 4 hours.

Three hours lecture. Two hours laboratory/studio. Theory and practices that minimize resource use and pollutant production in the human landscape (same as LA 4844/6844)

ABE 6990 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ABE 7000 Directed Individual Study in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-6 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ABE 8000 Thesis Research/ Thesis in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged

ABE 8314 Corrosion of Biomedical Implants: 4 hours.

(Prerequisite: Graduate Standing). Three hours lecture & three hours laboratory. Basic concepts of electronics, especially related to corrosion. Development of corrosion mechanisms and evaluation of corrosion susceptibility of implant metals/alloys in dentistry and orthopaedics

ABE 8501 Journal Reviews in Biomedical Engineering: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. Current Journal articles relevant to Biomedical Engineering topics are read and reviewed

ABE 8511 Journal Reviews in Biomedical Engineering: 1 hour.

One hour lecture. Current journal articles relevant to Biomedical Engineering topics are read and reviewed

ABE 8723 Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics: 3 hours.

Three hours lecture. Fundamental concepts, experimental and theoretical approaches of biomechanics and their applications in modern biomedical engineering (e.g. mechanotransduction,tissue engineering/regeneration, surgical intervention)

ABE 8801 Clinical Experience for Biomedical Engineering: 1 hour.

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in the Biomedical Program and permission of the instructor. Three hours experiential learning. This course will provide graduate students with exposure, understanding, and insight into the clinical environment and/or treatment modalities of clinical (human and/or animal) patients

ABE 8911 Agricultural and Biological Engineering Seminar: 1 hour.

Discussion of research needs, review of literature, and development of research work plans

ABE 8921 Agriculturual and Bio Engineering Seminar: 1 hour.

Discussion of research needs, review of literature, and development of research work plans

ABE 8990 Special Topics in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-9 hours.

Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)

ABE 9000 Dissertation Research/ Dissertation in Agricultural and Biological Engineering: 1-13 hours.

Hours and credits to be arranged