Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business (AETB)
Department Head: Dr. Jonathan Pote
Office: 150 Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building
Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business (AETB) graduates can find rewarding careers in a variety of agricultural, environmental, and industrial businesses. Technologists focus on managing, operating, and troubleshooting technology systems (rather than engineering design) by applying their knowledge of technology and business applications. This hands-on curriculum teaches students to manage equipment and machinery, biological processes, computers, and other technologies to create and maintain current and new production systems. A Bachelor of Science degree is offered by the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Students may pursue one of four concentrations within AETB:
- Natural Resources & Environment Management
- Precision Agriculture
- Enterprise Management
- Surveying & Geomatics
The concentrations are achieved by completing 30-32 hours of specific technical electives as approved by an AETB advisor. Concentration descriptions and employment opportunities are discussed below.
Students who plan to attend a community college before transferring to Mississippi State University are strongly encouraged to contact the AETB Undergraduate Coordinator regarding their proposed community college schedule and transfer requirements. 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. Students are required to earn a "C" or better in all ABE core courses.
Internships or co-op experiences are highly encouraged and help students translate their classroom and laboratory experiences into the reality of the business setting.
The Natural Resource & Environmental Management (NREM) concentration is appropriate for students interested in developing skills to manage and solve problems in systems that impact our natural resources and the environment. Skill sets include knowledge in geology, hydrogeology, GIS, water quality, watershed management, and natural resource conservation. A few career paths for NREM Technologists include: Firm Environmental Manager, Conservation District Manager, Mapping/GIS Specialist, Nonpoint Source Pollution Specialist, and Watershed Planner. Employment opportunities include private and public firms with environmental issues, soil and water conservation districts, as well as national, state, county, or city highway and urban planning departments. National government agencies include the USDA NRCS, US EPA, US Army Corps of Engineers, US Geological Survey, US Forest Service, and US Bureau of Land Management to name a few.
The Precision Agriculture (PRAG) concentration is appropriate for students interested in developing skills in global positioning systems (GPS), geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing, and digital mapping technologies. A few career paths for PRAG Technologists include: Food/Fiber Production (Farming), Precision Agriculture Specialist, Mapping/GIS Specialist, Crop Consulting, and Equipment Test Engineer.
The Enterprise Management (EMGT) concentration is appropriate for students interested in acquiring the skills to manage and solve problems for a wide variety of systems. Students will get a broad foundation in the management of machine systems, electricity, soil and water conservation, grain, precision agriculture, biorenewables, and animal production systems. A few career paths for EMGT Technologists include: Banking & Ag Lending, Crop Consulting, and Agricultural Technical Sales. Employment opportunities include small and large agricultural production operations, banking and farm credit lenders, Agri-chimical and machinery sales and consulting to name a few.
The Surveying & Geomatics (SGEO) concentration provides students with the necessary prerequisites to begin a three-step process (academic training, supervised surveying experience, testing) to become a registered Land Surveyor in Mississippi. A few career paths for SGEO Technologists include: Boundary/Construction Surveyor, Hydrographic Surveyor, Mining Surveyor, Mapping/GIS Specialist, and Image Analyst. Employment opportunities include large and small engineering, architectural, and surveying firms as well as national, state, county, or city highway and urban planning departments. National government agencies include the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Bureau of Land Management to name a few.
Degree Requirements
| English Composition | ||
| EN 1103 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or EN 1163 | Accelerated Composition I | |
| EN 1113 | English Composition II | 3 |
| or EN 1173 | Accelerated Composition II | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 1713 | Calculus I 1 | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business Statistical Methods I | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Science | ||
| PH 1113 | General Physics I 1 | 3 |
| PH 1123 | General Physics II 1 | 3 |
| Humanities | ||
| Select from General Education courses | 6 | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| Select from General Education courses | 3 | |
| Social Science | ||
| AEC 2713 | Introduction to Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| Select from General Education courses | 3 | |
| Major Core | ||
| ABE 1073 | Technology Design I. 1 | 3 |
| ABE 1083 | Technology Design II | 3 |
| ABE 1863 | Engineering Technology in Agriculture | 3 |
| ABE 2873 | Land Surveying 1 | 3 |
| ABE 3513 | The Global Positional System and Geographic Information Systems in Agriculture and Engineering 1 | 3 |
| ABE 4263 | Soil and Water Management | 3 |
| ABE 4383 | Building Construction | 3 |
| ABE 4473 | Electrical Applications | 3 |
| ABE 4961 | Seminar | 1 |
| Science Courses | ||
| CH 1043 | Survey of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 1053 | Survey of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH 1051 | Experimental Chemistry | 1 |
| Mathematics or Restricted Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Business Courses | ||
| ACC 2013 | Principles of Financial Accounting 1 | 3 |
| ACC 2023 | Principles of Managerial Accounting 1 | 3 |
| AEC 3133 | Introductory Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| BL 2413 | The Legal Environment of Business 1 | 3 |
| MGT 3513 | Introduction to Human Resource Management | 3 |
| Oral Communication Requirement | ||
| CO 1003 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| or CO 1013 | Introduction to Communication | |
| Writing Requirement | ||
| AIS 3203 | Professional Writing in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences 1 | 3 |
| Computer Literacy Requirement | ||
| Satisfied by successful completion of ABE 1073, ABE 1083, ABE 1863, and ABE 3513 | ||
| Concentration Courses -- see specific lists for courses | 30-32 | |
| Total hours | 122-124 | |
Natural Resource & Environmental Management (NREM) Concentration
| ADS 1113 & ADS 1121 | Animal Science and Animal Science Laboratory | 4 |
| or BIO 1134 | Biology I | |
| PSS 1313 | Plant Science | 3 |
| or BIO 1023 | Plants and Humans | |
| GR 2313 | Maps and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GR 4303 | Principles of GIS | 3 |
| PSS 3303 | Soils | 3 |
| PSS 3301 | Soils Laboratory | 1 |
| NREM Courses - choose 15 hours from the following: 2 | ||
| AEC 3233 | Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy | 3 |
| AEC 4223 | Applied Quantitative Analysis in Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AEC 4233 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| BIO 2503 | Environmental Quality | 3 |
| BL 4263 | Environmental Law | 3 |
| FO 4313 | Spatial Technologies in Natural Resources Management | 3 |
| FO 4353 | Natural Resource Law | 3 |
| FO 4463 | Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management | 3 |
| GG 3133 | Introduction to Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GG 3613 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GG 4613 | Physical Hydrogeology | 3 |
| GR 3113 | Conservation of Natural Resources | 3 |
| PSS 4333 | Soil Conservation and Land Use | 3 |
| PSS 4373 | Geospatial Agronomic Management | 3 |
Precision Agriculture (PRAG) Concentration
| ADS 1113 | Animal Science | 3 |
| PSS 1313 | Plant Science | 3 |
| or BIO 1023 | Plants and Humans | |
| GR 2313 | Maps and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GR 4303 | Principles of GIS | 3 |
| PSS 3303 | Soils | 3 |
| PSS 3301 | Soils Laboratory | 1 |
| PSS 4373 | Geospatial Agronomic Management | 3 |
| PRAG Courses - choose 12 hours from the following: 2 | ||
| ABE 2173 | Principles of Agricultural and Off-Road Machines | 3 |
| ABE 4163 | Agricultural and Off-Road Machinery Management | 3 |
| AEC 4413 | Public Problems of Agriculture | 3 |
| GR 4323 | Cartographic Sciences | 3 |
| GR 4313 | Advanced GIS | 3 |
| GR 4333 | Remote Sensing of the Physical Environment | 3 |
| FO 4453 | Remote Sensing Applications | 3 |
| PSS 4123 | Grain Crops | 3 |
| PSS 4133 | Fiber and Oilseed Crops | 3 |
Enterprise Management (EMGT) Concentration
| ADS 1113 | Animal Science | 3 |
| PSS 1313 | Plant Science | 3 |
| or BIO 1023 | Plants and Humans | |
| PSS 3303 | Soils | 3 |
| PSS 3301 | Soils Laboratory | 1 |
| EMGT Courses - choose 21 hours from the following: 2 | ||
| ABE 2173 | Principles of Agricultural and Off-Road Machines | 3 |
| ABE 4163 | Agricultural and Off-Road Machinery Management | 3 |
| ADS 4323 | Beef Cattle Science | 3 |
| AEC 3213 | International Trade in Agriculture | 3 |
| AEC 3233 | Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy | 3 |
| AEC 4413 | Public Problems of Agriculture | 3 |
| PO 4334 | Broiler Production | 4 |
| PSS 4103 | Forage and Pasture Crops | 3 |
| PSS 4123 | Grain Crops | 3 |
| PSS 4133 | Fiber and Oilseed Crops | 3 |
Surveying & Geomatics (SGEO) Concentration
| CE 2213 | Surveying 1 | 3 |
| CE 4233 | Control Surveys 1 | 3 |
| CE 4243 | Land Surveys 1 | 3 |
| SGEO Courses - choose 21 hours from the following: 2 | ||
| BL 4333 | Real Estate Law 1 | 3 |
| FO 4313 | Spatial Technologies in Natural Resources Management | 3 |
| FO 4453 | Remote Sensing Applications | 3 |
| GR 2313 | Maps and Remote Sensing | 3 |
| GR 3303 | Survey of Geospatial Technologies | 3 |
| GR 4303 | Principles of GIS | 3 |
| GR 4313 | Advanced GIS | 3 |
| GR 4323 | Cartographic Sciences | 3 |
| GR 4333 | Remote Sensing of the Physical Environment | 3 |
| MGT 3323 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| 1 | Partial requirements to take the Fundamentals of Surveying Exam |
| 2 | See advisor for full list of courses |
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 Technology Design I.: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: For AETB majors or Consent of Instructor). One hour lecture. Four hours laboratory. Introduction to design process and parametric solid modeling. Standards for materials, processes and parametric solid modeling. Standards for materials, processes, and documentation. Experimental learning of manufacturing processes within precision measurement, joining, machining, forming
ABE 1083 Technology Design II: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: ABE 1073 or Consent of Instructor). One hour lecture. Four hours laboratory. Teams work on design prototypes to meet real-world constraints (manufacturability, economics, safety). Intermediate parametric solid modeling. Emphasis on project planning, scheduling, oral/written communication
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 Principles of Agricultural and Off-Road Machines: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Operational principles and construction of agricultural and off-road vehicles. Engine, electrical, and fluid power systems. Mechanical power transmission, traction performance, and human factors
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 Agricultural and Off-Road Machinery Management: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: ABE 2173 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Selection, sizing and operation machine systems using cost analysis and systems techniques. Emphasis on agricultural machines used in farming; tillage, planting, harvesting, conveying agricultural materials
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 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 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 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: ABE 2173 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Two hours laboratory. Selection, sizing and operation machine systems using cost analysis and systems techniques. Emphasis on agricultural machines used in farming; tillage, planting, harvesting, conveying agricultural materials
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 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 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 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 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