Biological systems engineering (BSE), an accredited engineering program in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, applies engineering principles to natural systems and machinery design that impact production of food, water, energy, and more. Uniquely positioned at the intersection of engineering and sustainability with multiple flexible study options to match a wide range of interests, students can follow defined tracks in ecological and environmental engineering, food or bioprocess engineering, machinery systems engineering, or customize their classes using the general option.

Students benefit from a high faculty to student ratio and individualized advising that fosters teamwork. They have access to all resources for UW–Madison students in the College of Engineering, plus those available to students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Admission is not competitive, meaning all students who meet the criteria are admitted. The program provides a broad education in physical sciences and engineering, but also teaching skills in fabrication, electronics, design, product development, and management.

The BSE program, like all undergraduate engineering programs on the UW–Madison campus, is accredited by ABET (the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology) and prepares students for licensure as a professional engineer. Students who graduate from the program are well prepared for research and engineering careers in industry or government, or to continue their studies in graduate school.

How to Get in

Current UW-Madison Students

Entry to this professional program requires students to meet the five admission requirements detailed below. Students are admitted as pre-Biological Systems Engineering until they meet the admission criteria listed below. Admission eligibility must be confirmed by the department.

1.  Must complete a minimum of 24 degree credits.
2. Must complete a minimum of 17 graded credits of calculus, statistics, chemistry, statics, and physics courses required for a BSE degree.
3. Must have a math and science grade point average (M&SGPA) of at least 2.65 with a minimum grade of C in every course used to calculate the M&SGPA. The M&SGPA is based on: 
   1. MATH courses numbered 221 and above (MATH 228 is excluded)
   2. STAT courses numbered 324 and above
   3. CHEM courses (all)
   4. PHYSICS courses numbered 201 and above
   5. E M A 201
   6. BSE 380
4.  For any course that a student repeats, only the most recent grade will be used in the M&SGPA calculation. Any transfer course from another university that is included in the previous list must be included in the GPA calculation. 
5. Must be in good academic standing—i.e., not on academic probation or dropped status.
6. Must successfully complete introductory chemistry (CHEM 103 & CHEM 104, or CHEM 109, or equivalent) and math through MATH 222.

Students must meet the admissions criteria listed above before they receive admission to the Biological Systems Engineering professional degree program. Students with fewer than 30 credits at the time they declare the pre-BSE major must achieve full admission to the professional program within three regular semesters from the time of pre-BSE major declaration. Students with 30 or more credits at the time they declare the pre-BSE major must achieve full admission within two regular semesters of transferring into the program. Students who do not meet full admission criteria according to these time limits will not be allowed to continue in the pre-BSE program.

Prospective UW-Madison Students

All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.

Students interested in this major should select Biological Systems Engineering as the first choice major on their UW–Madison application. Admitted students who enroll at UW-Madison and attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare pre-Biological Systems Engineering at SOAR. More information is available here.

University Requirements

All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later. 

Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.

Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements

For more information see the policy.

University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements

All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements

CALS Graduation Requirements 

In addition to the university's general requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements, CALS college requirements, or major requirements.  A course may count toward university requirements and a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, a course counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.

CALS College Requirements

CALS First-Year Seminars

CALS International Comparisons

Named Options within the Major

Students may complete the Biological Systems Engineering General Program or select a Named Option. The course requirements on this page represent the general program. Students are encouraged to consider one of the Named Options (Food and Bioprocess Engineering; Machinery Systems Engineering; or Ecological and Environmental Engineering). Links to learn more about these options, including the course requirements, are included below.

Major Requirements

Common Requirements

The Biological Systems Engineering program requires completion of a minimum of 125 credits to be eligible for graduation. Note that this is higher than the minimum for other CALS programs.

General Program Requirements

Technical Electives

Select courses from one or more of the following four technical elective categories to bring the total number of credits in the General Program Area or in the selected specialization area to 43.

A. Introduction to Engineering Courses

B. Independent Study/Instruction Courses

CALS or CoE courses with a 001, 299, 399, or 699 course number.  No more than 3 credits of coursework in this category can be used to meet technical elective requirements.

C. Upper-Level Courses

Part 1. Upper-Level Engineering Courses

This includes BSE courses not taken to meet other curricular requirements. This does not include independent study/instruction courses.

Part 2. Upper-Level Science Courses

This includes BSE courses not taken to meet other curricular requirements. This does not include independent study/instruction courses.

D. Lower-Level Science and Engineering Courses, Breadth Courses

Elementary and intermediate biological, natural, and physical science courses except elementary and intermediate math courses; College of Engineering courses numbered 100 through 299; College of Agricultural and Life Sciences courses, Institute of Environmental Studies courses, and/or School of Business courses. Independent study/instruction courses cannot be counted in this category. No more than 12 credits of coursework in this category can be used to meet technical elective requirements.

Capstone

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. Display effective communication with a range of audiences.
4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. Display teamwork skills, functioning effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Four-Year Plan

Sample Biological Systems Engineering Four-Year Plan—General Program

Students must complete at least 125 total credits to be eligible for graduation.

Advising and Careers

Advising

Career Opportunities

BSE graduates have great careers developing new products, processes, and systems to protect soil, air, and water quality while meeting demand for food, materials, and energy. Alumni hold positions in research and engineering in organizations developing off-road equipment, food production, renewable energy systems, animal housing, environmental control systems, irrigation and drainage systems, and with engineering consulting companies. Earning a BSE degree puts students on track to become a professional engineer and take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, the first step toward licensure which opens even more career opportunities. 

Wisconsin Experience

Student Organizations

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Pre-professionals Club connects students to professional development opportunities.

UW–Madison offers many other student groups to encourage networking and development of leadership skills. Some cater to agricultural interests, while others focus on engineering and biosciences. Many food and bioprocess engineering students are active in the Food Science Club. Other options include Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, Engineers for a Sustainable World (UW–Madison Chapter), and more. Many student organizations exist to support engineering students who identify as Native American, Black, Latinx, or part of the LGBTQIA+ community in professional development and academic success.

Find more student organizations.

Competitive Teams

The BSE department is the home of several engineering design teams that compete in one of several National Student Design Competitions through the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE). The Quarter-Scale Tractor Team designs and builds a small-scale tractor judged by industry experts and put to the test in performance events against other national and international university teams. The Robotics Student Design Competition allows students to develop skills in robotic systems, electronics, and sensing technologies by simulating a fully autonomous robotic solution to a common agricultural process.

Many BSE students participate in or hold leadership positions in other engineering design competition teams, such as Formula SAE, SAE Clean Snowmobile, ASCE Concrete Canoe, Human Powered Vehicle Challenge, Collegiate Wind Power Competition, Baja Team, and UW Hybrid.

Internships

Internships are an excellent way for students to ground what they have learned in practical applications. Students also participate in co-operative (co-op) education programs where they earn full-time salaries while working for a company. The program supports students in finding co-ops and internships and provides flexibility in class plans for opportunities that occur during fall or spring semesters. Students learn of pre-professional internships through on-campus career fairs — primarily by those hosted by the CoE and CALS — and through regular email announcements. Students also have opportunities to intern with professors performing research over the summer. Although not a program requirement, school credit may be earned for internships.

Research Experience

Many professors in BSE and across campus provide opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in research labs. Undergraduate researchers learn how knowledge is constructed, gain independence, and increase their self-confidence. These benefits are an advantage in any career path. BSE students are sought out by research groups across campus and governmental agencies because of their unique research experiences.

Global Engagement

The program supports study abroad and international experiences with flexible scheduling. In addition to study abroad programs and internships, students can volunteer with student organizations like Engineers Without Borders. Students can choose to fulfill their CALS International Comparisons requirement with an appropriate study abroad course.

Community Engagement and Volunteering

BSE students participate in campus-wide volunteer programs like Badger Volunteers, offering their expertise in education, sustainability, and public health to support community organizations. In addition, BSE students volunteer through student organizations to work on special projects related to engineering. Past projects included the fabrication of bioreactors for communities in Uganda or Habitat for Humanity projects in Madison.

Resources and Scholarships

Scholarships

Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually from a standard application.

Each year dozens of outstanding Biological Systems Engineering students are awarded scholarships from funds designated exclusively for this major. These funds seek to support students based on many different criteria, such as financial need, specific academic interests, extracurricular involvement, and academic success.

Resources

BSE students have full access to the resources of both the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering, including Career Services, Study Abroad programs, access to specialized engineering software, and computer labs.

The Biological Systems Engineering Shop provides students hands-on experience with machining equipment commonly used in industry. Students can learn machining and metal fabrication techniques, as well as woodworking skills, and improve their understanding of design and assembly processes. Training and support are available for all skill levels. In addition, BSE students have access to all College of Engineering fabrication shops and the UW Makerspace.

Other resources in the Agricultural Engineering Building include a dedicated student computer lab and a student lounge available for group study or individual work. Department-wide social events are also held here.

Accreditation

Accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Biological and Similarly Named Programs.

Program Educational Objectives for the Bachelor of Science in Biological Systems Engineering

1. Develop exceptional problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in the intersecting fields of biological systems and engineering, covering various scales, from microbial to global.
2. Utilize skills to make meaningful contributions to communities in addressing pressing societal and ecological challenges.
3. Be prepared for professional licensure and career development in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors.

Note: Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes, number of degrees conferred, and enrollment data are made publicly available at the Biological Systems Engineering Undergraduate Program website. (In this Guide, the program's Student Outcomes are available through the  "Learning Outcomes" tab.)