The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering offers two majors for students to pursue: Agricultural and Biological Engineering/Agricultural Engineering Sciences and Technical Systems Management (TSM). Dr. Alan Hansen serves as the advising coordinator for the Agricultural and Biological Engineering program; Dr. Joe Harper serves in that role for the TSM program.
Agricultural and Biological Engineering/Agricultural Engineering Sciences Major
The Agricultural and Biological Engineering major with the option of a second degree in Agricultural Engineering Sciences is designed to produce graduates who have a basic engineering education for careers of engineering service to the agricultural, food and biofuels industries. The intent of the program is to provide a combination of engineering theory and applications courses to permit students to pursue goals in academia, government or industry. The graduates are expected to provide engineering solutions in agricultural production, bioprocesses and product utilization, natural resources conservation, and are exposed to current social and cultural concepts and ideas. Specific objectives are:
- to develop the student's ability to analyze engineering problems related to agricultural and food processing and to organize a systematic approach to their solutions;
- to develop the student's ability to design, apply, and use specialized equipment, machines, structures, materials, procedures, and operational systems for the agricultural, bioprocessing, and food industries;
- to instill knowledge of an appreciation for physical properties, biological variables, biochemical characteristics, atmospheric phenomena, plant-soil-water relationships, animal/plant response to the environment, and human factors related to engineering problems in agriculture, broadly defined;
- to develop an understanding of and appreciation for the impact of engineering on our renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy, and on the environment, and society; and
- to instill a sense of responsibility for solving engineering problems that have a significant benefit to our society.
Contact
Dr. Alan Hansen
Advising Coordinator
360s AESB
achansen@uiuc.edu
Technical Systems Management
The Technical Systems Management (TSM) program at the University of Illinois is housed in and administered by the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The program is designed to prepare students for careers requiring the application, management, and marketing of engineering technologies. Students study technological systems, business and economics (including organization, operations, management, marketing, and sales), and oral and written communications. Graduates of the TSM program accept positions of employment at competitive salaries.
Technical Systems Management is a relatively small program having approximately 90 students. Many of the students work part-time in the department. The program is recognized by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers and its local affiliate, The Illini Agricultural Mechanization Club. This club has been rated number one in the country (of all competing agricultural mechanization clubs) frequently over the last 15 years. This rating is based on the quality of activities conducted by the clubs. TSM students are very active; thus affording students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to form close working relationships.
"We know our students and our students know us."
The Technical Systems Management program at UIUC was designed to prepare students as problem solvers for systems involving the application, management, and/or marketing of agricultural engineering and construction technologies. Students are interested in engineering and business principles for preparation as technically competent business persons for professional careers as entrepreneurs, marketing representatives, or managers, with service organizations, manufacturers, corporate farms, retail dealers, power suppliers, contractors, and management companies, from production through processing distribution.
Contact
Dr. Joe Harper
Advising Coordinator 360t AESB
jgharper@uiuc.edu
Graduate Advising
email: AGE@uiuc.edu
Graduate program -- ageng@sugar.age.uiuc.edu