Agricultural Engineering
Overview
Agricultural engineering programs teach people ways to grow and produce food crops and other plants.Agricultural engineering programs include topics such as:
- Equipment design and development
- Food processing
- Crop production
- Distribution of food, feed, and fiber
Agricultural engineering programs apply these topics to aquaculture, forestry, human, and natural resources.
Schools
Community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in agricultural engineering. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree, students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in agricultural engineering. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four or five years of full-time study.
Many universities offer graduate degrees in agricultural engineering. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Agriculture, General
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemical Technology
- Chemistry
- Computational Mathematics
- Engineering Physics
- Engineering, General
- Food Science
- Plant Science
- Pre-Engineering
- Water Resources Engineering
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
- Animal Scientists
- Chemical Engineers
- Civil Engineers
- Conservation Scientists
- Environmental Engineers
- Food Scientists
- Foresters
- Mechanical Engineers
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Biology
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- Computer Science and Programming
- English Composition
- Physics
- Trigonometry
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree in engineering (or a significant amount of course work in engineering and agriculture-related courses), good grades, and good test scores.
Additional requirements at some schools include:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- Agricultural Power and Machinery
- Agricultural Process Engineering
- Agricultural Structures Design
- Calculus
- Chemistry
- Dynamics
- Electric Power and Controls
- Electronic Circuits
- Engineering Physics
- English Composition
- Hydrology
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Irrigation System Design
- Linear Algebra
- Linear Differential Equations
- Senior Design Project
- Soil and Water Engineering
- Statistics
- Strength of Materials
- Thermodynamics
Graduate Program Courses
Graduate study in this field typically includes:
- Required courses
- Master's thesis (which usually takes the form of a significant project)
- Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)
Things to Know
Most engineering jobs require a lot of writing and clear communication. Taking writing and other humanities courses will develop your communication skills.
Some bachelor's programs combine work experience with classes and may take five or six years to complete. This work experience teaches skills, helps build job contacts, and you may be paid while you work.
In order to become licensed by your state to work as an engineer, you must have a degree from an accredited engineering program. You also need several years of work experience and must pass an exam. Many people take the exam at the same time they graduate or soon after.
Schools
East Side Area
Washington State University - Pullman
- Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Tri-Cities Area
Washington State University - Tri-Cities
- Biological & Agricultural Engineering