College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Biological Systems Engineering

Students doing researchwww.bse.vt.edu/


M. L. Wolfe, Head
Professors: B. L. Benham; R. D. Grisso; W. C. Hession; K. Mallikarjunan;
S. Mostaghimi; M. L. Wolfe; C. Zhang; Y. Zhang
Associate Professors: J. Arogo Ogejo; J. R. Barone; C. D. Heatwole; D. Scott; T. M. Thompson
Assistant Professors: Z. M. Easton; X. Feng; L.-A. H. Krometis; D. J. Sample; R. S. Senger; V. R. Sridhar
Instructor: S. C. Mariger

Overview

    The mission of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) is to develop and disseminate engineering knowledge and practices that protect natural resources and improve sustainable production, processing, and utilization of biological materials.

    The teaching program in BSE offers engineering B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs for students enrolled in the College of Engineering and service courses for students enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and other colleges. The degree programs in BSE are administered by the College of Engineering; therefore, the curriculum and courses offered for the B.S. in biological systems engineering are listed in the College of Engineering section of this catalog. Students interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree program in Biological Systems Engineering must first be admitted to the College of Engineering.

    Service courses designed to meet the needs of students enrolled in different programs in CALS are listed in the following section. These courses generally are not taken to meet engineering degree requirements except as free electives.

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Undergraduate Course Descriptions (BSE)

Courses for Non-Engineering Students
(See College of Engineering for courses for engineering students)

2094: INTRODUCTION TO METAL FABRICATION
Introduction to metal working tools, equipment, and processes.  Fundamentals of gas and arc welding. (3L,1C)

2294: ANIMAL STRUCTURES AND ENVIRONMENT
Functional considerations in facilities development for production agriculture.  Concepts of farmstead planning and system development emphasized.  Techniques for providing production animal environment, especially for confinement facilities. Pre: (MATH 1016 or MATH 1025).
(3H,3C)

2384: SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Fundamental principles involved in the management of soil and water resources are presented.  Emphasis is placed on the planning and management of irrigation systems and the control of soil erosion on agricultural lands. Non-engineering students. I Pre: (MATH 1016 or MATH 1025). (3H,3C)

2484: ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN TECHNOLOGY
Fundamentals of the construction and operation of current internal combustion power units.  Control of power utilizing clutches, transmissions, drive shafts, and differentials. Pre: (MATH 1016 or MATH 1025). (2H,3L,3C)

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

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)

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.



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