Agricultural Engineering Degree

Program Overview

The Agricultural Engineering major began in fall 2016 and UWRF is currently engaged in the process of obtaining ABET accreditation of the Agricultural Engineering program. Agricultural engineering is also known as biosystems engineering (BSE) at some universities. In this major, students will combine their knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering with creativity to design, manufacture and support machinery and structures used in the agriculture and food processing industries. Agricultural engineering is a very broad field, where students will learn to design machinery such as a tractor, a scrambled egg patty maker or anything in between. Students will also learn about structures, such as grain bins, milking parlors and constructed wetlands. Agricultural engineers work with mechanical engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, manufacturing engineers and others to create new product designs and then turn those designs into reality. There is considerable overlap between the fields of agricultural engineering, biological engineering, biosystems engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering and civil engineering.

Students can choose from one of three options to focus their degree:

Machinery Systems: specialize in mechanical equipment like machines, engines, tractors, trucks and more
Food and Process Systems: specialize in food processing for those interested in food engineering as a career track
Natural Resources and Environmental Systems: specialize in air, water and soil, and the systems that protect those resources

Highlights of the Agricultural Engineering Major

The program is the only one of its kind in a 200-mile radius of UW-River Falls.
Students are taught by professors, never by teaching assistants.
All of our professors hold advanced engineering degrees from Purdue University, Iowa State University, and UW-Madison.
The UWRF engineering program is undergraduate only; therefore our professors can focus on teaching, instead of graduate research.
Our professors have over 22 years of combined industry experience and 68 months of overseas work experience.
There is a demand for agricultural engineers, with research indicating 8-9% job growth from 2010-2020.
The Agricultural Engineering program is part of the Northwest Wisconsin Engineering Consortium, which includes UW-Stout and UW-Eau Claire, in an effort to bring a range of engineering programs to this region of Wisconsin.
Our engineering program is student centered, teaching focused, and industry relevant.

Skills and Learning Outcomes

As a student in this program, you will learn to:

Apply concepts of mathematics, science, and engineering.
Conduct experiments and analyze and interpret data.
Design a component, system, or process within realistic constraints.
Function effectively on multidisciplinary teams.
Identify, formulate and solve engineering problems.
Understand professional and ethical responsibility.
Communicate effectively.
Understand of the impact of engineering solutions in the larger societal context.
Commit to lifelong learning.
Stay abreast of contemporary issues
Use modern engineering skills, tools and techniques.

Career Opportunities

Students can graduate from this program in four years, and will immediately be prepared for a career as an engineer. Below is a list of potential job titles and employers where graduates can expect to find employment or internship opportunities.

Job Titles