Bachelor's Degree (BS) in Biosystems Engineering

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Kentucky

Program Overview

The B.S. in Biosystems Engineering combines engineering, biological sciences, agriculture, and environmental applications to prepare students to tackle challenges involving sustainable resources, water systems, renewable energy, food production, and biological materials. It is a strong fit for students who enjoy engineering but want to apply it to real-world environmental, agricultural, and biological problems, with the flexibility to shape technical electives around their career goals.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: Students establish their core engineering and science foundation through EGR 101 Engineering Exploration I, EGR 102 Fundamentals of Engineering Computing, CHE 105 General College Chemistry I, and MA 113 Calculus I. In the second semester, MA 114 Calculus II, PHY 231 General University Physics, and PHY 241 General University Physics Laboratory build the mathematical and experimental skills needed for more advanced engineering work.

Second Year: Students begin specializing in biosystems engineering with BAE 200 Principles of Biosystems Engineering, while continuing advanced mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, and mechanics through courses such as MA 213 Calculus III, BIO 148 Introductory Biology I, and EM 221 Statics. The spring semester introduces practical engineering design through BAE 205 CAD for Biosystems Engineering and BAE 206 Introduction to Biosystems Design & Economics, alongside Calculus IV, physics, and biology.

Third Year: The curriculum moves into more specialized engineering analysis with BAE 202 Statistics Inferences for Biosystems Engineering, ME 220 Engineering Thermodynamics I, EE 305 Electrical Circuits/Electron, and EM 302 Mechanics of Deformable Solids. Students then develop further systems knowledge through BAE 305 DC Circuits/Microelectronics, BAE 310 Heat & Mass Transfer in Biosystems Engineering, ME 330 Fluid Mechanics, and EM 313 Dynamics, while beginning to use technical and biosystems electives to shape their specialization.

Fourth Year: Students bring their engineering knowledge together through BAE 402 Biosystems Engineering Design I, BAE 403 Biosystems Engineering Design II, and BAE 502 Modeling of Biological Systems. BAE 400 Senior Seminar and biological-science, biosystems, and technical electives allow students to refine their interests and develop an individualized academic pathway toward areas such as environmental engineering, food and bioprocess engineering, machine systems, controlled-environment systems, or pre-biomedical applications.

Focus areas

Sustainable resource management, environmental engineering, water resources, agricultural systems, renewable energy, food and bioprocess engineering, biological systems, machine systems, controlled-environment systems, bioengineering

Learning outcomes

Students develop the ability to solve complex engineering problems using engineering, science, and mathematics; design solutions while considering environmental, economic, societal, and public-safety factors; conduct experiments and interpret data; communicate effectively; work in multidisciplinary teams; and apply new knowledge throughout their careers.

Professional alignment (accreditation)

The B.S. in Biosystems Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the criteria for Biological Engineering and similarly named programs. The program's educational objectives prepare graduates to become practicing professionals or pursue advanced study in agricultural, biological, environmental engineering, or related fields.

Reputation (employability rankings)

The University of Kentucky states that it offers the only undergraduate degree in Biosystems Engineering in Kentucky, giving the program a distinctive position within the state. The university's official accreditation data reports 96 Biosystems Engineering students enrolled in Fall 2025–26 and 13 graduates in 2024–25.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students gain practical engineering experience through CAD, engineering design, modeling, laboratory work, experimentation, and technical electives that let them apply engineering principles to biological and environmental systems. The program's design sequence gives students progressively deeper experience in developing biosystems solutions, while undergraduate research provides opportunities to work directly with faculty mentors and translate classroom concepts into real engineering applications.

The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering is based in the Charles E. Barnhart Building, which houses departmental offices and laboratories. Students can also access the wider Pigman College of Engineering facilities and research environment, including engineering computer laboratories, instructional and research facilities, and shared-use technology facilities.

Students can put these resources into practice through:

CAD: BAE 205 – CAD for Biosystems Engineering develops computer-aided design skills directly within the degree curriculum.
Engineering design: BAE 206 – Introduction to Biosystems Design & Economics introduces design thinking alongside economic considerations, followed later by BAE 402/403 – Biosystems Engineering Design I/II.
Biological-systems modeling: BAE 502 – Modeling of Biological Systems gives students advanced exposure to modeling biological processes and systems.
Experimental work: ABET student outcomes specifically require students to develop and conduct appropriate experiments, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
Undergraduate research: Students can work with faculty research groups to apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems, strengthen analytical and problem-solving skills, develop teamwork abilities, and build professional networks.
Faculty-mentored research: The College's undergraduate research program lists Michael Sama from Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering among faculty and research staff who mentor undergraduate researchers.
Specialized technical electives: Students can customize their degree through biosystems and technical electives, allowing them to build expertise aligned with environmental, food and bioprocess, machine systems, controlled-environment, or pre-biomedical interests.
Engineering computing: The first-year curriculum includes EGR 102 – Fundamentals of Engineering Computing, giving students computing experience from the beginning of the degree.
Cooperative education: Engineering students can participate in UK’s cooperative education opportunities, where employer partners provide paid professional experience while students apply their engineering education to workplace challenges.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Biosystems Engineering prepares graduates to work at the intersection of engineering, agriculture, biological systems, food, energy, water, and environmental sustainability. The university describes graduates as being prepared for professional practice or advanced study in agricultural, biological, environmental engineering, and related areas, while the program's flexible technical electives allow students to build a pathway suited to their intended career.

Typical career directions include Environmental Engineer, Agricultural Systems Engineer, Food and Bioprocess Engineer, Water Resources Engineer, with further opportunities in sustainable energy, biological systems, machine systems, and environmental technology:

Career and Co-op Center: The Pigman College of Engineering's Career & Co-op Center helps students pursue co-op and internship opportunities, improve resumes, prepare for interviews, and connect with employers through on-campus recruiting and career fairs. The college reports hosting major career fairs twice a year with approximately 90–120 business and technology companies participating.
Industry connections: The college actively invites companies to meet students interested in co-ops and internships through fall and spring co-op/internship fairs and its Engineering and Computer Science Career Fair.
Professional preparation: ABET's program objectives expect graduates to establish themselves as practicing professionals or pursue advanced study and to function effectively as responsible members of professional teams.
Specialization flexibility: Students can use technical electives to develop career-focused expertise in areas including bioenvironmental engineering, food and bioprocess engineering, machine systems automation, controlled-environment systems, and pre-biomedical engineering.
Research preparation: Undergraduate research provides hands-on experience, faculty mentoring, analytical and problem-solving development, teamwork skills, and professional networking that can support both industry and graduate-study pathways.
Graduate opportunities: The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs, allowing graduates to continue into advanced study in biosystems and agricultural engineering.
Accelerated master's pathway: The B.S. program participates in the University's Accelerated Master's Pathways, allowing eligible students to begin graduate-level coursework while completing their undergraduate degree and potentially reduce the time and cost of earning a master's degree.
Distinctive state position: UK describes this as the only undergraduate Biosystems Engineering degree offered in Kentucky, providing a particularly focused pathway for students seeking this specialization within the state.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the B.S., students can progress to graduate study in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering through the University of Kentucky's M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Depending on their interests, graduates can also use the engineering foundation to pursue advanced study in related agricultural, biological, environmental, or biomedical engineering fields.