Academic Programs Catalog

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers a Minor in Smart Agricultural Systems and a Minor in Technology Systems Management through the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The department also offers a Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in biosystems engineering. 


Minor in Smart Agricultural Systems

The Minor in Smart Agricultural Systems, which is administered by the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, is available for students with majors in Applied Engineering Sciences, Biosystems Engineering, Computational Data Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Technology Engineering, and Lyman Briggs Computer Science who are interested in smart technology for management decision support and who plan to pursue careers in agriculture or natural resources. The minor will provide an opportunity for students to gain a working knowledge of digital technologies necessary to monitor and manage aspects of agriculture, food, natural resources, and bioenergy systems.

With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. 

Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the Smart Agricultural Systems minor program coordinator in the Department of Biosystems Engineering and have their program of study approved in advance and in writing.

Requirements for the Minor in Smart Agricultural Systems

Students must complete a minimum of 16 credits from the following:

1. All of the following courses (10 credits):
BE` 221 Introduction to Smart Agriculture 1
BE 321 Principles of Precision Agriculture 3
BE 421 Sensors and Robotics for Agricultural Systems 3
BE 422 Crop Modeling and Optimization 3
2. Two of the following courses (6 to 8 credits):
BE 449 Human Health Risk Analysis for Engineering Controls 3
BE 456 Electric Power and Control 3
BE 481 Water Resources Systems Analysis and Modeling 3
BE 482 Engineering Ecological Treatment Systems 3
CSE 404 Introduction to Machine Learning 3
CSE 440 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence 3
CSE 480 Database Systems 3
CSE 482 Big Data Analysis 3
CSS 467 Bioenergy Feedstock Production 3
ECE 416 Digital Control 4
ECE 417 Robotics 4
ECE 431 Smart Sensor Systems 3
ECE 434 Autonomous Vehicles 3
ECE 477 Microelectronic Fabrication 3
FOR 419 Applications of GIS to Natural Resources Management 4
ME 417 Design of Alternative Energy Systems 3
ME 451 Control Systems 4
ME 456 Mechatronic System Design 3
TNG 335 Computer Security Fundamentals 3
TNG 355 Networks and Network Security 3
TNG 440 Robotics, Automation, and Controls 3

 

Minor in Technology Systems Management (this program is in moratorium Spring 2024 through Spring 2026)

The Minor in Technology Systems Management, which is administered by the Departments of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, serves students interested in technology for management decision support who are pursuing careers in agriculture and natural resources. The minor provides an opportunity to gain a working knowledge of technologies necessary to monitor and manage aspects of food, agriculture, and natural resource systems.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the minor should consult an undergraduate advisor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering to have their program of study approved in advance and in writing.

Requirements for the Minor in Technology Systems Management

Students must complete a minimum of 15 credits from the following:

1. Four of the following courses (12 credits):
TSM 130 Energy Efficiency and Conservation in Agricultural Systems 3
TSM 222 Fundamentals of Automation and Controls 3
TSM 226 Renewable Energy Systems Management 3
TSM 251 Information Technology in Agricultural Systems 3
TSM 331 Water Management in Agriculture and Food Systems 3
TSM 343 Principles of Precision Agriculture 3
2. One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
ABM 222 Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales (W) 3
ANS 418 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning 3
CSS 424 Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Integration and Synthesis 3
CSUS 354 Water Resources Management 3
FSC 325 Food Processing: Unit Operations 3
FW 419 Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resources Management 4
GEO 221 Introduction to Geographic Information 3
TSM 493 Professional Internship in Technology Systems Management 3