North Dakota State University

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering - The Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABEN) program prepares students for careers in: 

• Machine Systems 
• Processing Systems (for food, biofuels, and other bioproducts) 
• Natural Resources and Environmental Systems 

Students can choose elective courses in biological or agricultural sciences and other engineering departments based on their professional goals. Graduates design systems and solve problems requiring mathematics and the application of physical, biological, and engineering sciences involving biological systems. Agricultural and biosystems engineers work in a wide variety of industries to address society’s grand challenges in food, energy, and water. 

Civil and Environmental Engineering - Civil engineers plan and design the infrastructure that sustains life and society. This includes planning and design for airports, canals, harbors, roads, bridges, railroads, water and wastewater treatment facilities, water supply and solid waste disposal facilities. Civil engineers are often involved with a wide range of projects in the areas of: 

• structural engineering 
• geotechnical engineering 
• transportation engineering 
• water resources engineering 
• environmental engineering 

In addition to consulting engineering firms, civil engineers are commonly employed with cities, state departments of transportation and federal agencies such as the Corps of Engineers. 

Computer Engineering - Computer engineers work on both hardware and software aspects of computer systems. Students take essential electrical engineering classes along with specialized classes in computer engineering and computer science. Demand for computer engineers is strong due to the growing use of computers in all products and the need for engineers competent with computers in both hardware and software. Areas of specialization for computer engineering: 

• Computer Architecture/Digital VLSI 
• Cyber-Physical Systems 
• Embedded Systems 
• Computer Systems 

Construction Engineering - Construction engineers plan, design and manage construction projects of all types including buildings, highways, bridges, airports, railroads, dams and reservoirs. Responsibilities in construction engineering include design of permanent and temporary structures, cost estimating, project scheduling and control, materials procurement and selection of equipment. Construction engineers must be well versed in engineering design and management principles, business practices, financing and economics, and human behavior. 

Electrical Engineering - Electrical engineers design systems and solve problems relating to all aspects of electricity – from production and storage to transmission to use in computer systems. The profession is broad, encompassing products valued by society in many technical specialties. Areas of specialization for electrical engineering: 

• Biomedical Engineering 
• Communication and Signal Processing 
• Computer 
• Control Engineering 
• Electromagnetics 
• Electronics and Microelectronics 
• Power Systems 
• Optical Engineering 

Industrial Engineering and Management - Industrial engineers design, create and implement better and more productive systems and processes in a wide variety of industries such as manufacturing, service, health, banking, and entertainment. Industrial engineers are responsible for developing and maintaining integrated engineering systems that include people, machines, material, information, and energy. Industrial engineers often are responsible for several functions such as supply-chain management, project management, facilities design, quality and reliability improvement, and healthcare management. They use system integration theory, lean manufacturing, and six sigma concepts to manage organizational operations. Whether it’s streamlining an operating room, managing a worldwide supply chain, manufacturing and designing automobiles, or solving quality and reliability problems, industrial engineers play critical roles in these functions. Industrial engineers are versatile and can be found in every industry type such as manufacturing, health care, hotel, banking and finance, food processing, chemical and oil processing, distribution and logistics. 

Manufacturing Engineering - Manufacturing engineers play a critical role in designing and manufacturing products right from conceptual design to final product launched in the market. Manufacturing engineers use problem-solving tools and techniques to streamline the production process for making high-quality products at a lower cost. They are key team members in the production of a wide range of products including: automobiles, airplanes, agricultural equipment, electronics, surgical instruments, toys, building products, food products, and sports and recreational equipment. In all cases, manufacturing engineers design the processes and systems to make high-quality products with the required functionality with low environmental impact, so that the products are available when and where customers prefer at the best possible price. 

Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical engineers research, develop and design machinery, vehicles, engines, devices and systems that function safely and reliably. From huge turbines and internal combustion engines to miniature robots, mechanical engineers are involved in their design and manufacture. Mechanical engineers also design technology for heating, ventilating and refrigeration systems; develop and characterize advanced materials; optimize the aerodynamic performance of systems; design and test biomedical devices and implants; and develop automated material handling systems. Mechanical engineers also design the tools that other fields of engineering need to perform their work. Mechanical engineers often work for consulting firms, manufacturing firms, energy companies, and various government agencies. 

Engineering programs encourage high school preparation in addition to the minimum core curriculum requirements. Prospective majors in engineering should present four units of high school mathematics including two units of algebra, one unit of geometry, and one-half unit of trigonometry. Science courses should include one unit of physics and one unit of chemistry. Students whose high school credentials or entrance examinations show deficiencies in these subjects will be required to enroll in courses designed to remove such deficiencies and cannot expect to complete a program of study in the number of semesters indicated in the printed curricula. 

Please note this is a sample plan of study and not an official curriculum. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study. .

*Many departments have an introduction course taken during the freshman year.

**Students who are not prepared for MATH 165 - Calculus I or MATH 166 - Calculus II may need to take MATH 103 - College Algebra and/or MATH 105 - Trigonometry, depending on their ACT math sub score, math placement exam results or transfer course work.

View NDSU equivalencies of transfer courses at: www.ndsu.edu/transfer/equivalencies