Biological systems engineering is the intersection between engineering and sustainability
Biological systems engineering (BSE) is an ABET-accredited engineering program that applies engineering principles to natural systems and machinery design that impact production of food, water, energy, and other essential human needs.
As a Biological Systems Engineering major you will:
- Explore core concepts in the physical sciences and engineering while learning skills in fabrication, electronics, design, product development, and management
- Follow defined tracks in natural resources and environmental engineering, food and bioprocess engineering, machinery systems engineering, or take a broader approach with the general option
- Understand engineering using both technology and biology and consider solutions that meet the needs of the environment and public health, safety, and welfare
Career Paths
Biological systems engineering graduates are prepared for careers developing new products, processes, and systems to protect soil, air, and water quality while meeting demands for food, materials, and energy.
Here are just a few examples of what our biological systems engineering graduates are doing with their careers:
Your CALS Experience
Get involved. Find your people.
The UW–Madison student chapter of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) is for any student interested in engineering for agriculture, food, and biological systems. You can meet professionals, tour companies, explore career paths, and participate in national design competitions.
Explore a few of the other biological systems engineering-related student organizations at UW–Madison:
Study abroad and gain a global perspective
Gain cross-cultural skills, international understanding, and flexible independence with a study abroad program. Learn about food and bioprocess engineering in Denmark, machinery systems in Germany, environmental engineering in Iceland, and so much more.
You can also choose from one of UW–Madison’s many semester, summer, and short-term study abroad programs and map your study abroad experience as a biological systems engineering major.
Join a competitive design team
Build a small-scale tractor and put it to the test against other national and international university teams with the Quarter-Scale Tractor Team, or brainstorm a fully autonomous robot solution to a common agricultural process in the Robotics Student Design Competition. These two competitive teams are hosted by the Department of Biological Systems Engineering.
Other engineering design competitions are found on campus, including:
Customize your path
You’ll take core engineering courses and then choose which focus area you’d like to specialize in.
- Food and bioprocess engineering: where you’ll learn to develop and manage systems that process and distribute food and other biologically based materials.
- Machinery systems engineering: you’ll be trained to design machines for production agriculture and construction.
- Natural resources and environmental engineering: you’ll work with natural resources, including water, soil, plants, and air to create solutions for a better environment.
- General program: for students who are interested in a combination of the specialization areas. Some examples include aquaculture engineering, forest engineering, and biomaterials engineering.
Step outside the classroom and into the lab
Explore new possibilities in agriculture and production in one of the many biological systems engineering labs on campus.
Gain hands-on experience while learning about topics such as:
- Crop production technologies
- Water quality and waste mitigation and utilization
- Biosensors and nanotechnology for food safety
- Dairy facilities operations and milking technologies
- Biofuel and biorefining
- Precision agriculture
100%
Students who participate in workplace based experience
74%
Students who complete an internship
100%
Seniors who complete a capstone experience
Advisor & Contact Information
Advisors can answer your questions, help you create a degree plan that meets your personal and professional goals, and connect you to resources across the UW–Madison campus.
Incoming students should reach out to CALS Academic Affairs to direct your questions. Current UW–Madison students should schedule with their assigned advisor using Starfish.
CALS Academic Affairs
116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706
academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu
(608) 262-3003
Biological Systems Engineering
115 Agricultural Engineering Building
460 Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706
bse@wisc.edu
(608) 262-3310
Want to learn more about biological systems engineering?