Biological Engineering Major
Practical, solution-oriented engineering.
A hands-on approach to an engineering education with real-world challenges and sustainability always at the forefront. Grads take leadership roles in manufacturing organizations, engineering firms, nonprofits, and government agencies, and continue on to success in graduate school.
Penn State Engineering. Penn State Ag. Enjoy the best of both worlds.
This is a Penn State engineering degree. You'll benefit from the rigor, depth, prestige, and enormous resources of the College of Engineering and the College of Agricultural Sciences.
Our focus is creating solutions to sustainability challenges in food production, biological processing, and natural resource protection. World-class faculty move from behind the podium and challenge you to roll up your sleeves and harness engineering principles to make our food, fiber, and water systems and products more efficient, sustainable, and healthy, and less wasteful.
Biological Engineering is the right major if you’re:
- interested in applying engineering skills and analyses to biological systems
- looking to advance technology to improve production
- passionate about stewarding the environment
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
View the educational objectives and student outcomes for the Biological Engineering program.
The Biological Engineering major is administered through the College of Engineering. Learn about applying to become an engineering student.
One major. Three options. Infinite destinations.
Agricultural Engineering option
Build your interest in machinery systems and structural design. Grads work for agricultural and industrial equipment manufacturers and engineering firms, and continue to graduate school.
Example Courses
- Design of Fluid Power Systems
- Agricultural Measurements and Control Systems
- Structural Systems in Agriculture
- Machines for Agricultural and Biological Processing
- Design Principles for Bio-Mechatronic Systems
Food and Biological Process Engineering option
Design sustainable and efficient processes to make food and other bioproducts. Grads work for food and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and biotechnology firms, and continue on to grad school.
Example Courses
- Bioenergy Systems Engineering
- Engineering Elements of Biochemistry and Microbiology
- Food and Biological Process Engineering
- Engineering Properties of Food and Biological Materials
- Microbiological Engineering
Natural Resource Engineering option
Explore environmental protection from agricultural runoff, contaminated stormwater and flood water, and other nonpoint source pollution. Grads work for service and regulatory agencies, and environmental consulting firms, and continue on to grad school.
Example Courses
- Measurement and Monitoring of Hydrologic Systems
- Design of Stormwater and Erosion Control Facilities
- Watershed Modeling for Water Quality Design
- Land-Based Waste Disposal
- Principles of Soil and Water Engineering
Ag Journeys
Sometimes you're going to feel like you're stuck. Keep going.
–Cody Whitebread
Out of the classroom and into the world.
At Penn State, there are more opportunities to learn, meet professionals working in your field, network, and have more fun than you can imagine.
The same goes with our internship opportunities. Companies compete to bring Penn Staters onboard for the summer, and many students return to campus with a summer of practical experience and often a job offer waiting in the wings. There are research opportunities, study abroad opportunities, and more to gain experience and academic credit.
Craft your experience.
Related clubs and teams
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (Penn State Branch)
- Penn State Pullers
- Society for Industrial Biotechnology
- Society of Women Engineers
- See all clubs and teams
Recent internships
- Associate engineer
- Drivetrain test engineer
- Hydraulic systems engineer
- Production engineer
- Scientific and technical engineering intern
- Stream restoration intern
Study abroad
- Semester abroad at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia
- Bioproducts tour and workshop, Germany
- Semester abroad at University College Dublin, Ireland
- Summer travel to Africa with Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship (HESE) program—projects such as transforming invasive species into sustainable fuel source (Kenya) and affordable greenhouses (Sierra Leone, Zambia)
- Spring-break travel to Kenya for baobab-processing project as part of Engineering Leadership Development minor
- Summer research intern at the University of Costa Rica
A practical, workforce-ready degree—and a college experience you’ll love.
Penn State Biological Engineering grads are on the job, in the boardroom, out in the field, at the drafting table, in front of the classroom, all over the world, right now.
Our alumni out in the world
- Bio-based product development companies
- Environmental engineering consulting firms
- Food processing companies
- Off-road machinery development companies
- Materials handling companies
- Soil and water protection agencies
Biological Engineering Career Options
Harness the power of a truly unique education at one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Here are just a few career examples in the biological engineering field:
Food process engineer
A food process engineer designs equipment and creates processes for the commercial food industry.
What will I do?
- Design food processing, handling, and packaging equipment
- Ensure all projects are managed properly and delivered within cost and performance success criteria
- Assess the need for new processes or equipment, and observe equipment to see if it is working properly
Natural resource engineer
Natural resource engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, hydrology, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems.
What will I do?
- Design and troubleshoot stormwater and erosion control facilities
- Develop strategies to address environmental issues such as water pollution
Agricultural engineer
Agricultural engineers solve problems concerning power systems, machinery, structures and facilities, and the storage and processing of agricultural products.
What will I do?
- Design equipment, systems, or structures
- Oversee construction and production operations
- Plan and work together with clients, contractors, consultants, and other engineers to ensure effective and desirable outcomes
Biological Engineering Students in the News
March 22, 2023
Penn State student learns about sustainability and conservation efforts in Chile
Penn State student Emma Luksic recently traveled with classmates to Chile and the Patagonia region of South America, where she learned about environmental conservation efforts aimed at protecting Chile’s ecosystems.
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July 29, 2019
Penn State professor co-chairs roadmap to guide synthetic biology investments
Howard Salis, associate professor of biological engineering and chemical engineering at Penn State, helped to draft a technical roadmap recently published by the public-private Engineering Biology Research Consortium that will guide future investments in synthetic biology, including encouraging partnerships to enable these innovations to make the most positive societal impact.
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July 25, 2017
Senior capstone projects teach students skills for the industry
For their senior capstone projects, biological engineering students at Penn State designed possible solutions to real problems in agriculture and the environment.
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May 17, 2017
Innovating Abroad
Robinson Laventure, Penn State student in biological engineering, spent three months helping to redesign 3D-printed prosthetics for TakeaHand, a biotechnology company located in Santiago, Chile.
Read More
Explore more
Resources
- Applying through the College of Engineering
- Tuition and Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Student Life
- Study Abroad
- Internships
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
Contact
- Director of Student Recruitment and Activities
- Email mnm11@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-3942
