DESCRIPTION OF TEXAS A&M PROGRAM
The Texas A&M University Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering, one of the largest in North America, ranks among the best in the nation as evidenced by the accomplishments of the students, graduates, former students and faculty. The department is jointly administered by the Dwight Look College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Biological systems engineers apply their knowledge of physical and biological sciences and engineering principles to biological systems and processes, e.g., design of ecological processes, processing of food, design of fermentation and enzyme processes, and design of greenhouse and animal housing systems. Graduates are sought by a wide variety of employers including food processing industries, nursery and greenhouse industries, concentrated animal production industries, biotechnology companies, environmental consulting firms, and governmental agencies.
This ABET-accredited program features hands-on learning experiences, open-ended design, and a capstone design project presented by private and public organizations outside the university.
http://baen.tamu.edu/
CAREER FOCUSED SPECIALTIES
Graduates of the agricultural engineering program are sought by a wide variety of employers including feed processing industries, equipment manufacturers, cotton products industries, electric utility companies, chemical and petroleum companies, environmental consulting firms, and governmental agencies.
Bioenvironmental Engineering:
Design and develop systems to control ecological processes for the benefit of mankind and the environment. Examples of bioenvironmental engineering include analyzing the fate of fertilizers and pesticides as they move in the environment to determine their effect on the living ecosystem; designing processes to remove pollutants using biological treatments such as plants and microbes; designing systems to recycle wastes and nutrients in an enclosed biological system such as for aquaculture.
Food Engineering:
Apply engineering principles and techniques to the production, processing, packaging, storing and distribution of food. Food engineers are involved in many phases of food processing: process design, plant engineering, distribution and marketing, quality evaluation and control, sanitation and waste disposal, and by-product development and utilization.
Bioprocess Engineering:
Design and develop processes utilizing biological cells or cell components to carry out reactions, e.g., fermentations, tissue culture and enzyme-catalyzed reactions, and devise processes for separation and purification of biological compounds. Bioprocess engineers are needed in fermentation industries and many of the new biotechnology companies.
Bioproduction Engineering:
Design systems for intensive agricultural production such as greenhouses and concentrated animal feeding operations.
SALARY INFORMATION
Survey Results
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
See department website for multiple organizations (http://baen.tamu.edu/undergraduates/student_organizations.asp).
