Agricultural Engineering (AGEN)

Description: Design of machine elements. Definition, analysis, and solution of a design problem in agricultural engineering.

Description: Introduction to the basics of embedded controller programming, and the development of Controller Area Network (CAN) bus systems in agricultural applications. Interfacing sensors with analog and digital signals, closed loop control of actuators, transmission and reception of CAN messages, programming of CAN messages in a distributed controller set up for sensor data acquisition, and actuator control will be studied.

Description: Characterization of wastes from animal production. Specification and design of collection, transport, storage, treatment, and land application systems. Air and water pollution, regulatory and management aspects.

Description: Application of heat, mass, and moment transport in analysis and design of unit operations for biological and agricultural materials. Evaporation, drying, distillation, extraction, leaching, thermal processing, membrane separation, centrifugation, and filtration.

Description: Analytical and design consideration of evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and water movement as related to irrigation and drainage systems; analysis and design of components of irrigation and drainage systems including water supplies, pumping plants, sprinkler systems, and center pivots.

Description: A laboratory and field course which emphasizes irrigation water supply and distribution systems. Laboratory topics include performance of surface, sprinkler, and drip irrigation systems; pipeline hydraulics; flow in streams, canals, and irrigation pipelines; irrigation pumping systems; irrigation well hydraulics; and soil water properties. The field trip includes visits to irrigation water supply and hydroelectric power projects; water resources agencies; irrigation field research sites; and manufacturers and installers of agricultural irrigation systems.

Description: Use of GIS to create inputs to models such as HEC-HMS and SWAT. Processes to simulate hydrology and erosion in models. Development and calibration of models based on student's area of interest.

Description: Analysis and design of instrumentation and controls for agricultural, biological, and biomedical applications. Theory of basic sensors and transducers, analog and digital electrical control circuits, and the interfacing of computers with instruments and controls. LabVIEW Programming. Emphasis on signal analysis and interpretation for improving system performance.

Description: Introduction into departmental and campus resources, professionalism, preparation and delivery of presentations, technical writing, and additional topics as arranged by enrolled students.

Description: Subject matter in emerging areas of Agricultural Engineering not covered in other courses within the curriculum. Topics, activities, and delivery methods vary.

Description: Investigation and written report on engineering problems not covered in sufficient depth through existing courses. Topic varies by semester.

Description: Conception, design, development, and completion of a project that requires data collection, synthesis, analysis of results, and the development of a final written report that will be defended in the final oral examination.

Description: Solution of engineering or management problems through a non-academic experience within the private sector or a government agency. The experience entails all or some of the following: research, design, analysis, and testing on an engineering problem. A plan, which documents how the individual will demonstrate creativity during the internship must be approved prior to the internship.

Description: The use of theories of failure, fatigue, stress concentrations, shock and impact analysis in the design of machine members. Laboratory work includes an in-depth study of the testing and analysis of machine components.

Description: Aims to equip with an in-depth knowledge of conservation agriculture systems. Builds on scientific knowledge about the ecological functioning of agricultural landscapes by addressing the parallel influences of social, economic, and civil structures on agricultural system functioning, food security, cultural sovereignty, and environmental health. Explores the historical foundations, motivations, advances, and outcomes in global and local agricultural systems across time. Topics will focus on discovering ways scientific knowledge is correlated with historical occurrences and modern social perceptions. Content is selected to assist in developing multifaceted connections and clarity between their scientific understanding, the organization of agricultural systems, and the historical events that have influenced the development of modern food systems. Emphasis will be placed on harnessing individuals experiences and building discipline-based knowledge to prepare informed and perceptive agriculture science professionals with skills needed to strategically tackle modern agricultural production issues.

Description: Aerobic, anaerobic, and physical-chemical treatment, energy recovery and protein synthesis processes for high-strength organic materials; agricultural applications including composting, ammonia stripping, nitrification, denitrification, and land disposal of organic and chemically treated materials.

Description: This 3-credit, graduate-level course teaches practical approaches in designing, or redesigning, food systems to optimize resource use and enhance agriculture system resilience. Transdisciplinary approaches are applied in solution development by combining concepts of conservation agriculture, agroecology, biodynamic farming, biogeochemistry, permaculture, and biosystems engineering to plan, mediate, and regenerate food systems. Topics center on land mitigation and adaptation methods that protect and conserve natural resources, regenerate and advance agroecosystems, promote land investment, adapt infrastructure, reduce disaster risks and climate vulnerability, and promote value-added incentives for controlling waste and pollution. Investigative analyses focus on ways food production and consumption patterns affect social and environmental sustainability and modern agrifood supply chain influences the economic concepts of circularity and solidarity.

Description: This 3-credit, graduate-level course examines agricultural systems located in diverse geographical locations across the globe. Select agriculture production systems will be individually investigated to understand the environmental history of the area, creation of active production practices, viability of current methods, and value-added benefits from adding enhanced conservation practices. Science-based development plans will be created for the agriculture systems explored, which will have targeted goals, project objectives, theories to change (opportunities, barriers, planned interventions), implementation strategies, and assessment indicators. Improvement plans for each agriculture system will prioritize conservation practices and reflect on economic strengths and limitations of the region, community considerations, and dietary needs of the local population. Agriculture systems examined will include a diverse grouping of large-scale and small-holder food and fiber systems in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Description: Advanced analytical considerations of environmental aspects of soil-plant systems; movement of water in soils; water movement through plants; and irrigation and drainage systems for controlling water in the soil-plant environment.

Description: Modeling of runoff, sediment and nutrients of rural and urban watersheds with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), including model calibration, validation and uncertainty.

Description: Principles and modeling of fluid flow and solute transport in the vadose zone. Topics include hydraulic properties of variably saturated media, application of Darcy's Law in variably saturated media, hydrologic and transport processes in the vadose zone, and solution of steady and unsteady flow problems using numerical techniques including finite element methods. Contemporary vadose zone models will be applied to engineering flow and transport problems. Review and synthesis of classic and contemporary research literature on vadose zone hydrology will be embedded in the course.

Description: Explore BSE career paths; identify necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities; and plan an aligned graduate experience. Become familiar with the professional norms and ethical principles and practices related to research. Build foundational skills for conducting a literature review. Develop oral communication skills appropriate for BSE. Develop reflexive ability to make meaning of graduate experiences.

Description: Individual study in advanced engineering topics that are not covered in regular course work or thesis. Topic varies by term.