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Agricultural Engineering Concentration

Photo collage of a cotton picker machine, ag implement agricultural engineering students in a utility vehicle with a gps unit, and a fresh strawberry.

Welcome to the Agricultural Engineering Concentration of the Biological Engineering Degree Program (BE).

This program earns a Bachelor of Science Degree from NC State University. This concentration is about developing and applying technologies to increase agricultural production while minimizing harm to the environment. Please read the Agricultural Engineering Overview to find more information about what Agricultural Engineering is all about and to find additional agricultural program information.

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COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Button links to biological agricultural engineering curriculum.

Photo: An agricultural engineering professor works with a students to adjust the controls of a GPS unit.Dr. Roberson teaches agricultural engineering students about the various agricultural applications of GPS technology.

GPS guided automatic steering in a tractorAgricultural engineering students learn about the latest technologies like GPS guided automatic steering.

Photo: Three students work with the engine lab manager bent over an engine.Agricultural engineering students repair, modify, and design agricultural equipment and machines in the Agricultural Engine Lab shop area.

Teacher explains imputs for agricultural software. Students learn about the types of inputs and options available for agricultural management software.

A tractor is fitted with a pesticide unit spraying a field of crops. Pesticide handling and agricultural safety are part of the agricultural engineering curriculum.

Ag engineering students solve irrigation caculation in class. In this Agricultural Engineering class the students are involved in solving irrigation calculations.

Crops being irrigated by a pipe system. Irrigation, waste management and soil conservation are studied in the Ag. engineering curriculum.

agricultural engineering tudents gather around the mower which they are testing. Dr. Boyette's students test an autonomous mower on Weaver Labs' front lawn. Developments in autonomous vehicles are poised to improve farming.

Tractor team members gather around the skelton of their quater-scale tractor to talk over how to proceed next. Each year the ASABE Club Pack-pullers design a 1/4 scale tractor to compete in the National 1/4 Scale Tractor Competition.

Someone will be engineering agriculture so why not you!

What Students Learn...

Students studying in the agricultural engineering concentration, pursue a challenging curriculum that introduces them to issues, principles and practices related to the production and management of agricultural products.

The concentration offers a solid foundation in the engineering sciences and broad exposure to agricultural engineering practices. Students receive training in the applied technologies for agriculture. This concentration is very hands-on and involves shop and field learning environments.

Agricultural Engineering Curriculum Topics

  • Power and machinery systems
  • Agricultural structures safety, storage and ventilation and cooling systems
  • Product processing and handling
  • Farmland management and conservation
  • Automated product handling
  • Smart machine systems
  • Agribusiness
  • Spraying techniques and compliance
  • Agricultural irrigation and drainage management
  • Agricultural safety design

Many consulting firms and industries with environmental compliance and waste concerns seek our graduates. Positions are in manufacturing and processing where a knowledge of machine systems, structural design, mechanical analysis, ventilation and climate control are needed.

The program's concentration electives allow the student to focus on topics of interest to them. Engineering curriculums can be challenging and the department helps each student to succeed. Students can promote their own success by embracing some of these "Tips for Student Success".

The Capstone Senior Design Course

Senior design dtudents have a dry run of their final presentation in the senior design room.
A senior design team poses as they practice
prior to their professional presentation.

In the last year of study, students work on a Senior Design team project. Senior Design is a two semester capstone engineering course where students are involved with real-world design projects. Students choose their projects which are sponsored by faculty members or private industry with engineering problems to solve. Upon completion of the course students are expected to present the outcomes to sponsors.

Student Projects

Examples of past projects include:

Design and Evaluation of Porous Windbreak Wall for Treating Swine House Emissions

Mobile Automated Biofilter for Mitigating Air Pollutants

Trailer-Mounted Mixer Design for Combining Hog Lagoon Sludge and Biomass

Design of a Low Impact, Self Propelled Seed Planter

Utility Vehicle Maintenance Lift Table

Ultrasonic Anemometry in Tunnel Ventilated Broiler Operations

Learn more about Senior Design

YouTube video of a stirling engine restoration done at NCSU Biological and Agricultural EngineeringView this Stiriling Engine Restoration project that faculty and students worked on. It's now annually displayed at the North Carolina State Fair.

empty Pre-Professional Development

College organizations provide pre-professional development skills. See BAE Student Clubs. Many professional organizations offer students reduced fee memberships.

Agricultural engineers belong to these professional organizations:

American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers (ASABE)
Council on Agricultural and Science Technologies (CAST)
Association of Equipment Manufacturers(AEM)
Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA)
National Fluid Power Association (NFPA)
Agricultural Safety & Health Council of America (ASHCA)

empty PHOTOS...

  1. Students in Action...
  2. Agricultural Machinery

When You Graduate...

Graduates are often hired as:

  • Farming Industry Consultants
  • Agricultural Commodities Processors
  • Farm Equipment Designers
  • Farm or Farm Shop Managers
  • Power Machinery and Automation Engineers
  • Agricultural Land-use Engineering Specialists
  • Agricultural Inspectors
  • Drainage Irrigation Engineers
  • Agricultural Crop Engineers
  • Agricultural GPS Remote Sensing Engineers
  • See more about Job Opportunities & Salaries

Many students go on to graduate school to prepare for higher-level positions or research careers and others choose to earn a Professional Engineering License (PE).

Getting started

Do you have a question or want to apply?
Contact us

Were you looking for a non-engineering program? Please see the Bio & Ag Agricultural and Environmental Engineering Technology program. AET Program information.