2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| BSE 2004 | Introduction to Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 2504 | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3144 | Engineering Analysis for Biological Systems using Numerical Methods (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 3154 | Thermodynamics of Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3504 | Transport Processes in Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4125 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 2 |
| BIOL 2604 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| ESM 2104 | Statics | 3 |
| ISE 2014 | Engineering Economy | 2 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| BSE 4126 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| STAT 3704 | Statistics for Engineering Applications | 2 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Option Required Courses | ||
| BSE 2304 | Landscape Measurements and Modeling (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3324 | Small Watershed Hydrology (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3334 | Nonpoint Source Pollution Assessment and Control (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4324 | Applied Fluvial Geomorphology (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5324 | Applied Fluvial Geomorphology | |
| BSE 4344 | Geographic Information Systems for Engineers (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5344G | Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Engineers | |
| BIOL 2804 | Ecology | 3 |
| ENGR 3124 | Introduction to Green Engineering | 3 |
| ENGR 4134 | Environmental Life Cycle Assessment | 3 |
| ENSC 3134 | Soils in the Landscape | 3 |
| Subtotal | 27 | |
| Bridge Experience 2 | ||
| ENGE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Restricted Electives | ||
| Select 1 CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Select 1 EcoE Elective | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Pathways to General Education 3 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing (1F) | 3 |
| ISE 3034 | Technical Communication for Engineers (1A) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| SBIO 1024 | Systems Thinking in a Bioeconomy | 3 |
| Select 3 additional hours in Pathway 3 | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| CHEM 1035 & CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F ; C-) | 4 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable (5F) | 4 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations (5A) | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select three Arts credits in Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| ENGE 1215 & ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering and Foundations of Engineering (6D) | 4 |
| or ENGE 1414 | Foundations of Engineering Practice | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information. | ||
| Pathway 7 should be double-counted with either Pathways 2, 3, or 6a to avoid taking additional credit hours. | ||
| Subtotal | 47 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
(3 credit hours required)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 2514 | Survey of Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| ENSC 4734 | Environmental Soil Chemistry | 3 |
| GEOS 4634 | Environmental Geochemistry | 3 |
(3 credit hours required – students must request to be force-added to major-restricted courses)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BSE 4224 | Field Methods in Hydrology (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5224G | Advanced Field Methods in Hydrology | |
| BSE 4304 | Introduction to Watershed Modeling (C-) 1 | 3 |
| or BSE 5304G | Advanced Watershed Modeling | |
| ECE 4194 | Engineering Principles of Remote Sensing | 3 |
| ECE 4364 | Alternate Energy for Climate Sustainability | 3 |
| ESM 4194 | Sustainable Energy Solutions for a Global Society | 3 |
Students in their senior year, with a 3.0 or better GPA, may enroll in 5000-level courses satisfying undergraduate degree requirements within their department with the permission of the course instructor and the Department Head. The Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree status allows students with certain qualifications to allow certain 5000-level courses to count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Otherwise, for students not pursuing the Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Degree, should the student become a graduate student, these courses may not be used on the Plan of Study for a graduate degree.
Bridge Experiences help prepare students for post- graduation life and develop a professional identity. Internships, Co-ops, and Undergraduate Research are examples of possible Bridge Experiences. Students must participate in a Bridge Experience to complete the BS degree in Biological Systems Engineering. Because some of these experiences are not credit-bearing, the ENGE 3900 course is used to track and assess student participation in Bridge Experience and to record fulfillment of this degree requirement on the transcript. Students enroll in ENGE 3900 during the semester (or one of the semesters) that they undertake the Bridge Experience. Enrollment in ENGE 3900 requires approval of a Bridge Experience Plan.
Further information about acceptable Bridge Experiences and the process for submitting a Bridge Experience Plan are explained in BSE 2004.
Pathways courses can double count with any major requirements, minor requirements, or elective requirements.
University Policy 6305 outlines university-wide minimum criteria to determine if students are making satisfactory progress towards the completion of their degrees. The BSE Department fully supports this policy. Specific expectations for satisfactory progress for BSE majors are as follows:
Additional Notes:
Students are strongly encouraged to take CHEM 1036 General Chemistry first year Spring semester.
Students are encouraged to take BIOL 1105 Principles of Biology and BIOL 1106 Principles of Biology during the first year if their schedule permits.
Foreign Language Requirement
Students must have had 2 years of a foreign language in high school or one year at the college level (6 credit hours) of the same language. College-level credits used to meet this requirement do not count towards the degree.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| CHEM 1035 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHEM 1045 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| ENGE 1215 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1225 | Calculus of a Single Variable (C-) | 4 |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEM 1036 | General Chemistry | 3 |
| ENGE 1216 | Foundations of Engineering | 2 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| MATH 1226 | Calculus of a Single Variable | 4 |
| PHYS 2305 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 2004 | Introduction to Biological Systems Engineering (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 1105 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ESM 2104 | Statics | 3 |
| ISE 2014 | Engineering Economy | 2 |
| MATH 2114 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MATH 2204 | Introduction to Multivariable Calculus | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 2304 | Landscape Measurements and Modeling (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 2504 | Introduction to Fluid Mechanics (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 1106 | Principles of Biology | 3 |
| ENSC 3134 | Soils in the Landscape | 3 |
| MATH 2214 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 3154 | Thermodynamics of Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3324 | Small Watershed Hydrology (C-) | 3 |
| BIOL 2804 | Ecology | 3 |
| PHYS 2306 | Foundations of Physics | 4 |
| CHEM Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 3144 | Engineering Analysis for Biological Systems using Numerical Methods (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 3334 | Nonpoint Source Pollution Assessment and Control (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 3504 | Transport Processes in Biological Systems (C-) | 3 |
| BSE 4344 or BSE 5344G | Geographic Information Systems for Engineers (C-) or Advanced Geographic Information Systems for Engineers | 3 |
| BIOL 2604 | General Microbiology | 3 |
| ISE 3034 | Technical Communication for Engineers | 3 |
| ENGE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BSE 4125 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 2 |
| BSE 4324 or BSE 5324 | Applied Fluvial Geomorphology (C-) or Applied Fluvial Geomorphology | 3 |
| ENGR 3124 | Introduction to Green Engineering | 3 |
| SBIO 1024 | Systems Thinking in a Bioeconomy | 3 |
| STAT 3704 | Statistics for Engineering Applications | 2 |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BSE 4126 | Comprehensive Design Project (C-) | 3 |
| ENGR 4134 | Environmental Life Cycle Assessment | 3 |
| EcoE Elective | 3 | |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Pathways Core Concept 2, 3, 6a, or 7 | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 128 | |
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