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Nov 21, 2024
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Biosystems Engineering Major, BS in Biosystems Engineering - Ecological Systems Concentration
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 Return to: Herbert College of Agriculture
Advisors
Burk, Yoder
The Herbert College of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Tickle College of Engineering, offers a four-year curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science in Biosystems Engineering, which is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Biological Program Criteria. Overall goals of the program are emphasized in the educational objectives and program outcomes statements listed below. Program details are given in the showcase curricula and the individual course descriptions.
Career opportunities for graduates include the design, development, or management of practices that protect, enhance, and ameliorate ecological systems, including especially impacted watersheds, streams and rivers, and wetlands. Employment opportunities are available in a wide variety of industries, government agencies, research and testing organizations, and educational and non-profit institutions.
The curriculum provides instruction in the analytical and design skills needed to solve engineering problems related to biological and ecological systems. Comprehensive design of systems and their components is emphasized in the senior year. In addition to the standard biosystems engineering curriculum, a pre-professional concentration is available. The degree program has provisions for elective courses to be taken in specified subject areas. Proper scheduling of courses is very important since prerequisite requirements must be met. Students must consult with their advisors each semester to review their scheduling plan.
Students majoring in biosystems engineering are eligible to participate in the Engineering Cooperative Scholarship Program and other student activities in the Tickle College of Engineering. Biosystems engineering majors interested in the Engineering Cooperative Scholarship Program should consult with their faculty advisor or the head of the Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science Department, 865-974-7266; e-mail bess@utk.edu.
The biosystems engineering program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, provides an exceptional breadth of background in science and engineering, a strong emphasis on design throughout the curriculum, and a focused application of engineering principles to complex biological systems. The program enables its students to perform in a manner that reflects positively on the program and the institution’s reputation.
The Biosystems Engineering Program has Program Educational Objectives that align with the objectives of the University of Tennessee. Graduates are prepared to:
- Successfully apply engineering principles to complex biological systems, with principles grounded in improving ecological systems and water quality, sustainable food and fiber production and processing, renewable energy production and implementation, efficient mechanical designs and automation, innovative instrumentation and sensors, or related fields,
- Continue developing as professionals and leaders in society, through professional involvement and/or lifelong learning, and
- Incorporate a wide range of social and cultural issues and corresponding solutions into engineering and professional activities.
Student Learning Outcomes
Student learning outcomes (SLO) 1-7 have been chosen by the faculty to establish a framework for our students to realize the program educational objectives. For continuous improvement, each outcome has achievement measures taken throughout the course of study. This faculty feedback helps to ensure that our engineering students at their graduation have the necessary career skills and knowledge.
- SLO 1. an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- SLO 2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- SLO 3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- SLO 4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- SLO 5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- SLO 6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- SLO 7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
One of the primary tools engineers bring to the solution of many problems is a mastery of mathematics, so mathematical competence is a critical component of an engineering education. In order to graduate with a major in biosystems engineering, students must display this competence by achieving an average GPA of at least 2.0 in the required mathematics courses. Students have the responsibility to work with their academic advisor to assure that they meet this requirement.
In keeping with the general Tickle College of Engineering requirement, all Biosystems Engineering undergraduate students are expected to have their own laptop computer. Please see the minimum computer requirements described at http://www.engr.utk.edu/ithelp/computers/.
Requirements for Admission, Readmission, and Transfer to the Program
Because the biosystems engineering program is accredited through the Tickle College of Engineering, students entering, being readmitted to, or transferring into the program must meet the conditions specified in the Tickle College of Engineering requirements found on the main Tickle College of Engineering page under the titles of College Admission Requirements, Readmission, and Transfer Students.
Progression Policies and Requirements
Progression of students to departmental upper-division courses is competitive and is based on the space available in the department. Factors considered include overall grade point average, performance in selected lower-division courses and evidence of satisfactory and orderly progress through the prescribed curriculum.
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uTrack Requirements
Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students.
Term 6
- 2 Technical Elective 3 Credit Hours
Total Credit Hours 129-130
Footnotes
- Chosen from the Volunteer Core list after consultation with advisor.
- Technical electives are generally upper-division courses with substantial rigor in science, technology, engineering, or math. The following courses are pre-approved, but other courses suggested by a student may be approved by the advisor on a case-by-case basis. Note that some of these courses have required prerequisites and see individual course descriptions for specific information. BSE 525, BSE 543; CBE 475 , CBE 481 ; CE 381 , CE 430 , CE 485 ; CHEM 260 , CHEM 360 ; CSM 345 , CSM 355 ; EEPS 485 ; ENVE 511, ENVE 512, ENVE 513, ENVE 515, ENVE 516, ENVE 525, ENVE 526, ENVE 527, ENVE 530, ENVE 532, ENVE 533, ENVE 544, ENVE 558, ENVE 561, ENVE 574; ESS 334 , ESS 424 *, ESS 434 , ESS 442 , ESS 444 , ESS 454 , ESS 462 , ESS 462 ; GEOG 311 , GEOG 312 ; IE 304 ; MATH 300 , MATH 411 *, MATH 431 ; ME 363 , ME 366 , ME 391 , ME 405 , ME 451 , ME 466 , ME 472 .
- A student initially placing into MATH 130 may take either MATH 130 (4 hours) + MATH 141 * (4 hours), or MATH 131 (3 hours) + MATH 132 * (3 hours) to qualify to move into MATH 142 *.
- Graduation requirements: a) achieve at least a 2.0 GPA in all BSE courses; b) only one BSE course with a grade of D+ or D may be used towards graduation; c) no BSE course with a grade of D- or F may be used for graduation; d) achieve at least a 2.0 GPA in the required math courses.
* Meets Volunteer Core Requirement.
Biosystems Engineering Major - Ecological Systems Concentration - Honors
In addition to satisfying the requirements for the biosystems engineering major ecological systems concentration, candidates for the honors biosystems engineering ecological systems concentration must also complete the following requirements:
- maintain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 3.4.
- four 100- or 200-level honors courses (14 hours minimum, at least two courses must be from engineering fundamentals, physics, mathematics, chemistry, or biology).
- complete at least two of BSE 417 , BSE 427 , BSE 437 , or BSE 457 .
- satisfy the Breadth Requirements for the Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program.
Biosystems Engineering Major - Ecological Systems Concentration - Five Year BS-MS Program
The department offers especially qualified students a Five-Year BS/MS program with a BS degree (major in biosystems engineering) and an MS degree (major in biosystems engineering). The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 6 hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their BS and MS degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students who intend to complete their MS degree at the University of Tennessee, as other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the BS degree. Significant components of the program are as follows:
- Students must have an overall GPA of 3.4 in required coursework. Conditional admission to the five-year program may be granted after completion of 65 hours of coursework meeting requirements of the BS degree, with at least 24 hours in technical courses required for the major. Full admission may be granted after the completion of 96 hours of required coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.4 and at least 30 hours of technical coursework required by the major. Approval of such coursework is decided on by the BSE Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
- Admission must be approved by the department and the Graduate School. The approval process begins with application to the BSE Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
- Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking courses that receive credit for both the BS and MS degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the BSE Graduate Program Director. Students admitted to the program must also request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit, and must follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School within the BSE program.
- Students will not be eligible for assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.
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Return to: Herbert College of Agriculture
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