| | Figure 1: Students collecting background research on a Sugarcane Harvester for BE 4292 Senior Design |
| | | | Figure 3: Students socializing at the Annual BESO crawfish boil |
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Biological and Agricultural
Engineering
is
"Engineering for Life"
The Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering
(BE) from LSU provides an opportunity to apply the principles of
analysis, synthesis, and design to physical problems and processing
systems associated with plants, animals, humans, and their respective
environments. Biological Engineering integrates applied biology into
the fundamental principles of engineering for the purpose of designing
processes and systems that influence, control, or utilize biological
materials and organisms to benefit humanity. An undergraduate education
in BE is excellent preparation for professional studies in various
fields of engineering (including biomedical engineering), human or
veterinary medicine, and dentistry. The curriculum is designed to teach
students the practical skills needed for professional engineering and
the understanding to adapt to new and dynamic situations.
The
Biological Engineering curriculum is offered through the College of
Engineering and is accredited by the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology (ABET). Graduates are well prepared to take
the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination during their senior
year, which is the first step toward obtaining a license to practice
engineering professionally.
The BE curriculum includes the
study of basic sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology),
humanities (arts, economics, and social sciences), applied biology
(organic chemistry, microbiology, and physiology), engineering sciences
(statics, dynamics, strength of materials, fluid mechanics, electrical
principles, and thermodynamics), and engineering design. Students can
select technical and engineering electives that enable them to pursue
specific career objectives. Elective courses can be used to complete
the requirements for minor programs in environmental engineering,
mechanical engineering, surveying, or technical sales.
Departmental Facilities:As a student in Biological
Engineering, one can use a state-of-the-art computer lab that has 50
engineering workstations. (See Figure 2.) This lab is also used for
instruction in the areas of Computer Aided Design (CAD/CAM), Computer
Modeling and Artificial Intelligence Expert Systems (AI/ES).
The
department's student-teacher ratio is about 15:1, and this results in a
close, personal instructional atmosphere in Biological Engineering
classes. This personal instruction is enhanced by providing access to
modern equipment for use and study in laboratory classes.
Students also complete a senior design project that requires one-on-one
direction from a faculty member. Numerous social activities with
faculty, staff, and graduate students foster camaraderie that extends
beyond the classroom. (See Figure 3.) Students may gain
professional insight and potential employment contacts through
participation in national engineering and technical organizations. The
department also sponsors a student club and encourages students to
become involved in professional activities.
Opportunity to gain
valuable experience is provided by working in internships with faculty
members. Some internships are paid. Several scholarships are available
to upperclass students who are seeking the Biological Engineering
degree. A graduate program leading to the M.S. degree is available in
the department. A Ph.D. in Engineering Science through the College of
Engineering, administered by the BE department, may also be pursued.
Career Opportunities:The demand for Biological Engineers
continues to exceed the supply, due to the need for increased food and
fiber production and the increasing sophistication of biological
systems and processing practices. Environmental quality; health,
medical care, and safety concerns; increased use of biotechnology;
constraints on energy availability, and the demand for a better life by
an increasing portion of the world's population will further strengthen
the future demand for biological engineers.
Career opportunities
in Biological Engineering include design, development, and
implementation of technologies: to recycle municipal wastes and
agricultural byproducts, to clean contaminated water and soil, to
develop equipment and procedures that prevent repetitive motion
injuries, processing operations to ensure high quality foods, and to
develop machinery or sensors applied to human, animal, plant, and
ecological systems. Graduates of the BE program have the opportunity
for local, national, or international work. Recent graduates are
employed in engineering and consulting companies and state or federal
governmental agencies. Many are pursuing graduate degrees.
An
education from LSU in Biological Engineering provides students with the
skills needed to solve today's problems and the knowledge required to
master the rapid changes in technology and address the problems of
tomorrow.
Faculty:Our faculty members have varied training and
educational backgrounds. Many major universities in the U.S. are
represented, including University of Canterbury (New Zealand), Cornell
University, University of Illinois, Louisiana State University,
University of Nebraska, North Carolina State University, University of
Northern Colorado, Oklahoma State University, Ohio State University,
Purdue University, University of Tennessee, and Vanderbilt University.
Fourteen Professors have Ph.D. degrees and one has a Dr. of Education
degree.
Financial Aid:Scholarships and assistantships are available on
a competitive basis to qualified students. Students are encouraged to
apply for University-wide financial assistance by contacting the Dean's
office, College of Agriculture; Dean’s Office, College of Engineering; or the LSU Office of Student Aid & Scholarships.
Student jobs help offset the expenses incurred while receiving an outstanding college education.
LSU Campus:Louisiana State University
is located in Baton Rouge, a Sun Belt city with a metropolitan-area
population of about 500,000. Summers are warm and humid, but a
delightful fall extends from September until late December, and a
beautiful spring begins in late February.
LSU is nationally
recognized for its commitment to preeminence and is designated by the
Carnegie Foundation as a Category I Research University, placing it in
the top 2 percent of the nation's colleges and universities. LSU is
both a land-grant and sea-grant institution and is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Enrollment is more
than 31,000, with a faculty of about 1,300. The campus, located on more
than 2,000 acres in the southern part of Baton Rouge, is bordered on
the west by the Mississippi River.
For More Information:
If you would like more information about the Biological Engineering program at LSU, contact:
Undergraduate Coordinator, Biological Engineering
E.B. Doran Building, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
PHONE: 225-578-3153
FAX: 225-578-3492
For information about LSU admissions, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, 110 Thomas Boyd Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, 225-578-1175.
For information about financial aid, contact the Office of Student Aid & Scholarships, 202 Himes Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, 225-578-3103.
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