BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, B.S. at University of Wisconsin

Biological systems engineering (BSE) is the application of engineering principles to biological and agricultural systems which greatly impact our food, fiber, and renewable energy resources. Since biological systems engineering programs focus heavily on the protection and conservation of natural resources, it is not uncommon for them to be described as sustainable engineering programs.

Within the BSE program a student must enroll in either the General Program area or in one of the following three specialization areas: Machinery Systems Engineering, Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, or Food and Bioprocess Engineering. The specialization in Food and Bioprocess Engineering is split into a Food Engineering track and a Bioprocess Engineering track.

Students who complete all degree requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Science–Biological Systems Engineering degree. A student who completes one of the three program specializations will have the area of specialization identified on the official transcript. The BSE program, like all undergraduate engineering programs on the UW–Madison campus, is accredited by ABET. Accreditation by ABET is an indication of program quality and has major benefits for individuals seeking registration as a licensed professional engineer. A UW–Madison BSE graduate may apply for licensure as a registered professional engineer once they have passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, obtained four years of qualifying engineering work experience, and have passed the Professional Engineering (PE) exam. To obtain a BSE degree from UW–Madison, a student must have taken (but is not required to have passed) the FE exam as part of their Senior Design sequence. Information about the FE exam can be found at Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

Graduates work in career fields associated with the growth, harvest, transportation, processing and storage of food, feedstuffs, biomass for energy production and forestry products. This includes, but is not limited to, jobs involving the design, construction and management of: bio-energy production facilities, greenhouses, food processing plants, soil management systems and erosion control structures, irrigation and drainage systems, wastewater and solid waste treatment/recycling operations, animal housing facilities, aquaculture enterprises, systems for improved air quality, and equipment for agricultural production, material handling, processing, and packaging. Job opportunities for BSE graduates remain plentiful and show no signs of decreasing given (1) the increase in world population and corresponding increasing need for food, fiber and renewable energy, (2) the measurable shortage of highly trained technical personnel in the United States, and (3) the constantly expanding emphasis on protection and conservation of natural resources.

The UW–Madison BSE program is traditionally known for its emphasis on undergraduate education which is reflected in outstanding one-on-one advising and smaller class sizes.

The BSE program requires completion of a minimum of 125 credits to be eligible for graduation. Note that this is higher than the minimum for other CALS programs.