ABE’s undergraduate program is consistently ranked amongst the top programs in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. The four degree programs are split, two and two, between two of the strongest and most respected colleges at ISU: The College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. And while we are part of a large campus community, the small size of our department allows for frequent student/faculty interaction and a truly family-like atmosphere. And not only do student like their experiences – the job market recognizes the excellence of our students. Recent placement rates for the department have been above 95%, with students helping solve some problems in the agriculture, food, manufacturing, environment, and energy sectors.
The department offers two popular technology degree programs: agricultural systems technology (AST) and industrial technology (ITec). The technology students are required to do internships prior to graduation, and rate these experiences among the most useful parts of their overall educational experience. The technology programs are both accredited by Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE) and departmental faculty and administrators are preparing for the upcoming 2014 accreditation visit. Technology students participate in a required two-semester, 6-credit capstone project experience, allowing students to dive into the details of an industrially-relevant project. For the past three years, ABE has been hosting a department-wide Capstone Day at the end of each semester, where students in the engineering and technology capstone courses present their work.
The department offers two undergraduate degree paths for engineers, agricultural engineering (A E) and biological systems engineering (BSE). Both curricula offer flexibility so that students can customize their studies to suit their career and research interests – there are three options in A E and four in BSE. With a recent decision by the Iowa Board to recognize the BSE program as effectively accredited, both A E and BSE students can take the fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam as a first step on their way to becoming licensed professional engineers. Both programs underwent ABET accreditation.