College of EngineeringBiological Systems Engineering
Overview
The Biological Systems Engineering program integrates biology, chemistry, and physics with engineering to solve engineering problems associated with the environmentally sound production, processing, and utilization of renewable resources. The curriculum differs from other engineering programs in that it focuses on the sustainable production and management of natural resources and biological materials. The curriculum prepares graduates for a variety of engineering careers. Biological systems engineering graduates are typically employed by environmental consulting firms, state and federal agencies, universities, and food processing, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and energy industries. The Biological Systems Engineering program at Virginia Tech provides a strong, broad-based engineering education with opportunity for limited specialization utilizing the 18 credits of technical electives available in the curriculum. Using these electives, BSE students may specialize in one of the two formal options offered by the department: Land and Water Resources Engineering or Bioprocess Engineering. In addition, the program may also be used as a pre-med or pre-vet program. The Land and Water Resources Engineering Option is designed for students interested in a career in environmental protection and natural resources management. Biological, chemical, and engineering principles are applied to the wise use, conservation, and management of natural resources, particularly land and water. The option is unique in that it addresses nonpoint sources of pollution (water pollution caused by rainfall and runoff from land surfaces such as parking lots, golf courses, agricultural fields, construction sites) that are now responsible for more than half of the water quality problems in the United States. To pursue the Land and Water Resources Engineering Option, students must have junior standing and have completed BSE 2105, 2106. Students must receive a grade of C- or better in each course comprising the required 21 hours of the Land and Water Resources Engineering Option and an overall average of 2.0 or better in these courses. The required courses for the Land and Water Resources Engineering Option include: Those who complete the requirements of this option will have Land and Water Resources Engineering Option noted on their transcript. The Bioprocess Engineering Option is tailored for students interested in the design and development of equipment and processes for environmentally responsible manufacturing of value-added products such as food, feed, biofuels, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, chemicals, polymers, and other biological products from renewable biological materials. To pursue the Bioprocess Engineering Option, students must have junior standing and have completed BSE 2105, 2106. The required courses for the Bioprocess Engineering Option include: Those who complete the requirements of this option will have Bioprocess Engineering Option noted on their transcript. Recognizing the importance of "hands-on" experience in engineering education, instructional laboratories are included in over half the courses in Biological Systems Engineering. These laboratory courses are designed to enhance understanding of theoretical concepts through hands-on activities. In addition to providing a strong and broad-based engineering education, the program emphasizes communication, team work skills, and design experience. The department participates in the Cooperative Education Program, which gives qualified students valuable work experience while pursuing an undergraduate degree. Students are also encouraged to participate in undergraduate research and study abroad programs. Many BSE students are employed in departmental research laboratories. Design and teamwork experiences are integral parts of the program. In the second year, students work in teams to design, build, and test a solution to an assigned design problem. Throughout the junior year, students acquire knowledge and analysis skills required for successful and professional engineering design through course assignments. The senior year design sequence gives students a comprehensive design experience in which they utilize much of the knowledge they have acquired through their other courses. Students work in teams to solve "real-life" engineering problems. The relatively small class sizes in Biological Systems Engineering promote excellent interaction between faculty and students. Mentoring begins early in the second year when each student is assigned a faculty advisor who follows the student's progress through graduation. The bachelor of science in biological systems engineering is offered through the College of Engineering and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, Inc., 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 – telephone: (410) 347-7700. The department offers over 20 endowed scholarships to students enrolled in Biological Systems Engineering; students are also eligible for College of Engineering and other university scholarships. In addition to the undergraduate degree program, programs of study leading to master of engineering, master of science, and Ph.D. degrees are available in the department. The BSE department also participates in the Accelerated Undergradate/Graduate degree program. Through this program, undergraduate students with a GPA of 3.4 or above can apply for admission to the Graduate School during their junior year. If admitted, students may apply up to 12 hours of graduate coursework to both their graduate and undergraduate degree requirements, thus accelerating completion of a master's degree in BSE. Biological Systems Engineering Program (BSE)
Eligibility for continued enrollment: upon having attempted 72 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing, and credit by examination), "satisfactory progress" toward a B.S. degree will include the following minimum criteria: having a GPA of at least 2.0; earning a C- or better in BSE 2106 and passing Phys 2306, Math 2224, 2214. Undergraduate Course Descriptions (BSE)Courses for Engineering Students (See College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for courses for non-engineering students) 2105-2106: INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Introduction to the Biological Systems Engineering profession, overall goals and components of the undergraduate degree program, engineering design process, engineering problem-solving tools and techniques, development of oral and written communication skills, and the importance of professionalism and ethics in Biological Systems Engineering. Pre: ENGE 1016 or ENGE 1104 or ENGE 1114 for 2105; 2105 for 2106. Co: BIOL 1105 for 2105; BIOL 1106 for 2106. (1H,3L,2C) 2984: SPECIAL STUDY Variable credit course. 3134: BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING SEMINAR Critical review of technical and professional articles on current topics in Biological Systems Engineering. Development of oral presentation and technical writing skills. Contemporary ethical, professional, and global issues in Biological Systems Engineering. Pre: 2106. (2L,1C) 3144: ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS USING NUMERICAL METHODS Solving engineering problems related to biological systems using numerical analysis including root finding, numerical integration, differentiation, interpolation and numerical solution of ordinary differential equations. Error analysis and programming with engineering software. Pre: 2106, MATH 2214. (2H,2C) 3154: THERMODYNAMICS OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Fundamental concepts, first and second laws, psychrometrics applied to plant and animal environments, introduction to Gibbs energy, and application of calorimetry to gain basic understanding of energy flow in a biological system. Pre: MATH 2214. (3H,3C) 3305-3306: LAND AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING 3305: Surface and groundwater hydrology, soil physics, irrigation principles, nonpoint source pollution control, land surveying. 3306: Erosion and sediment transport; transport and fate of nutrients, pesticides and pathogens; design of wetlands, detention facilities and other management practices for rural and urban nonpoint source pollution control; design of small dams and reservoirs. Pre: 2106. Co: CSES 3114, ESM 3024 for 3305. (2H,3L,3C) 3314: COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN AND DRAFTING FOR LAND AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING Introduction to computer-aided design and drafting for land and water resources engineering. Representation of features in two and three dimensions for documentation and visualization of land and water resources engineering projects. Create plans, cross sections, detail drawings, and three dimensional visualizations using computer-aided design and drafting tools. Partial duplication of ENGE 2344. Pre: 3305. (3H,2L,2C) 3414 (CEE 3414): DESIGN OF WOOD STRUCTURES Wood as an engineering material, loads, structural lumber, glulam, plywood, design of single structural elements, combined stress design, fastener design, truss design, pole and post-frame structures, shear wall, and diaphragm design. I Pre: CEE 3404. (3H,3C) 3494: ADVANCED WELDING TECHNOLOGY Techniques in welding that include gas, submerged metal arc, metal inert gas, pulsed arc, and tungsten inert gas welding. Design of welding structures, fundamentals of heat treatment, and plasma arc cutting. Consent required. I Pre: ISE 2214. (3L,1C) 3504: TRANSPORT PROCESSES IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS Introduction to material and energy balances in biological systems. Fundamentals of heat and mass transfer in biological systems. One and two dimensional conduction, convection, and diffusion of thermal energy and mass. Heat and mass transfer rates, steady and unsteady state conduction, convection, diffusion; design of simple heat exchangers. Application of these topics and fluid mechanics to fluid handling, bacterial growth, plant nutrient uptake, enzymatic reactions. Pre: 3154, ESM 3024. (3H,3C) 3514: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS Physical characteristics and physical properties to include mechanical, thermal, and electromagnetic properties of whole and processed biological products are studied. Laboratory methods for measuring physical properties are included. Pre: ESM 3024. (2H,3L,3C) II. 3524: UNIT OPERATIONS IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING Unit operations for processing biological materials including heat exchangers, evaporation, drying, mixing, homogenization, extrusion, phase and multi-phase separation, and size reduction. Laboratory hands-on experience in various unit operations. Co: 3504. (2H,3L,3C) 4125-4126: COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN PROJECT 4125: Identify and develop an engineering design project using the team approach; use of literature resources to define project objectives and approach; present project proposal in a professional written and oral manner; engineering ethics, professionalism and contemporary issues. 4126: Complete a comprehensive design project using the team approach and make professional presentations of the final design. Completion of 96 hours and overall GPA of 2.0 or better. Pre: (3306 or 3414 or 3524). 4125: (1H,3L,2C) 4126: (6L,2C) 4144: BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS SIMULATION Study of modeling techniques and application of these techniques to reaction kinetics, crop growth, and systems analysis. Emphasis is on development of basic understanding of methods for defining and evaluating interrelationships between parameters in a biological system. I Pre: 3504. (3H,3C) 4304: NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION MODELING AND MANAGEMENT Concepts, principles and application of modeling and monitoring for assessment and management of nonpoint source pollution. Design and implementation of monitoring systems. Concepts of modeling agroecosystems and land use impacts on hydrologic/water quality response of upland catchments. Model selection, calibration, validation, and application for comparative analysis. Screening models using Geographic Information Systems. Case studies in current watershed management issues, with a focus on agricultural waste and nutrient management, using existing field and watershed models. Pre: 3306. (2H,3L,3C) 4324: NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION Engineering aspects of the sources and magnitudes of nonpoint source pollution, major causative factors, and control techniques. Emphasis on hydrologic factors, erosion, atmospheric deposition, adsorption and degradation of pollutants in soil, disposal of agricultural wastes, and management for the control of urban and agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Pre: CEE 3104. (3H,3C) 4344: GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR ENGINEERS Conceptual, technical, and operational aspects of geographic information systems as a tool for storage, analysis, and presentation of spatial information. Focus on engineering applications in resource management, site selection, and network analysis. Laboratory work and senior standing required. (2H,3L,3C) II. 4394: WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Social, economic and engineering principles of water supply and sanitation in developing countries as affected by climate, cultural and sociological factors, and material and financial resources. Pre: CEE 3104. (3H,3C)II. 4404: DESIGN OF MACHINERY SYSTEMS Functional analysis and engineering design and selection of machinery components and systems for agricultural, food, and processing applications. Design, sizing, and selection of components, power units (internal combustion engines and electronic motors), transmission devices (belts, chains, gears, hydraulics, and drivelines), material handling devices, (pumps, fans, and conveyors), and agricultural equipment (tillage, planting and chemical applications). Pre: ESM 2204, ESM 2304, ESM 3024, BSE 3154. (2H,3L,3C) 4424 (ME 4434): FLUID POWER SYSTEMS AND CONTROLS Design and analysis of industrial and mobile hydraulic systems. Hydrostatic transmissions. Electrohydraulic servovalve characteristics and use in precise position and speed control application. Characteristics of pumps, motors, valves, and activators illustrated in laboratory exercises. Pre: ESM 3024 or ME 3404. (2H,3L,3C) 4504: BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING Study of the engineering concepts for biological conversion of raw materials to food, pharmaceuticals, fuels, and chemicals. Emphasis is placed on enzyme kinetics and technology, bioreaction kinetics, analysis, and control of bioreactors and fermenters, and downstream processing of bioreaction products. Pre: 3504, BIOL 2604, (CHEM 2514 or CHEM 2535 or CHEM 2565 or CHEM 2565H), (CHEM 3615 or CHEM 3615H or CHEM 4615). (3H,3C) II. 4514: INDUSTRIAL PROCESSING OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS Principles of industrial processing of biological materials. Surveys the major food processing and biopharmaceutical industries and the major processing steps involved in the production of vegetable oils, starch, corn sweeteners, biofuels, protein, dairy products, meat and poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables, and biopharmaceuticals. Economics, safety, environmental, and quality control factors involved in the processing of biological materials. Pre: (3524, 4604). (3H,3C) 4524: BIOLOGICAL PROCESS PLANT DESIGN Engineering principles for design of systems for processing biological materials into primary and secondary products. Delivery, scheduling, storage requirements, economic analysis. Process control and instrumentation of bioprocessing plants. Pre: 4504, 4604. (3H,3C) 4544 (CHE 4544): PROTEIN SEPARATION ENGINEERING Concepts, principles and applications of various unit operations used in protein separations. Properties of biological materials, such as cells and proteins, and their influences on process design. Design of processes for protein purification based on the impurities to be eliminated. Concepts and principles of scale-up of unit operations. Case studies in practical protein recovery and purification issues, with a focus on enhanced protein purification by genetic engineering. Protein purification process simulation and optimization using process simulation software. Pre: 3504 or CHE 3144. (3H,3C) 4604: FOOD PROCESS ENGINEERING Analysis and design of food processing operations including thermal pasteurization and sterilization, freezing, extrusion, texturization, and mechanical separation. Pre: 3504, 3524.(3H,3C) 4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY Variable credit course. 4984: SPECIAL STUDY Variable credit course. 4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Variable credit course. College of Engineering Programs of Study Engineering Education | Aerospace and Ocean Engineering | Biological Systems Engineering | Chemical Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering | Computer Science | Electrical and Computer Engineering Engineering Science and Mechanics | General Engineering | Industrial and Systems Engineering Materials Science and Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Mining Engineering |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
