2023-24 Academic Catalog

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

This is an archived copy of the 2023-24 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business (AETB)

Department Head: Dr. J. Alex Thomasson
Office: 150 J. Charles Lee Agricultural and Biological Engineering Building

The curriculum in Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business (AETB) is designed to provide students the academic and technical background on the operation and management of current and emerging agricultural production systems, technologies, and businesses. Students gain real-world experience by participating in community-based immersive learning projects or field studies. 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, computer simulations, 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:

  1. Precision Agriculture (PRAG)
  2. Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)
  3. Enterprise Management (EMGT)
  4. Surveying and Geomatics (SGEO)
     

The concentrations are achieved by completing 36-38 hours of restricted and free electives. PRAG, NREM, and SGEO concentrations provide students a pathway to complete the requirements of the Geospatial and Remote Sensing Minor.

Students are required to earn a "C" or better in all AETB major core courses. 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. A maximum of 12 transfer hours of technical credit from a community college can be applied toward degree requirements. Concentration descriptions and employment opportunities are discussed below. 

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 primary emphases of the Natural Resource & Environmental Management (NREM) concentration are on resource conservation, best management practices, and environmental impacts of human activities on urban and agricultural landscapes. 

The Precision Agriculture (PRAG) concentration provides students the background and technical skills in current and emerging technologies in decision-based agricultural planning and implementation. Technologies include communication networks, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Artificial Intelligence (AI), sensors, robotics, and other advanced machinery and often draws on the principles of the Internet of Things (IoT).

The Enterprise Management (EMGT) concentration is designed to provide the students the academic and technical training to apply engineering technology in an agricultural enterprise setting. 

The Surveying & Geomatics (SGEO) concentration provides the students the knowledge and training in property/boundary survey, topographic and construction survey, and control survey. This concentration is designed to provide the necessary prerequisites to begin a three-step process (academic training, supervised surveying experience, testing) to become a registered land surveyor.