Engineering is the discipline that deals with art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems. The scientific study of living things (biology), agriculture, bioresources, natural resources,resulted into various branches of engineering called Agricultural, Biological, Biosystems, Bioresource, and/or Bioenvironmental Engineering. Addition of Bioresources to the department’s name is to broaden the objectives of the department in developing the area of food, fibre, and timber products.
The study of Agricultural Engineering can be specialized in the following options namely: Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Farm Power and Machinery Engineering as well as Agricultural Products Processing and Food Engineering. Agricultural Engineering combines all these options to produce broad trained graduates that are versatile for professional jobs in both the public and private sectors.
Agricultural Engineering adds a biotechnological dimension to engineering technology by studying and understanding the principles of crop and livestock production as well as the strength and properties of soils, plant and animal materials and possible energy generations from biomaterials. But like any other engineering field, Agricultural Engineering education must have a strong physical science base, with special attention to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. It requires an understanding of and ability in the engineering science particularly in the areas of materials, fluid and heat flow, computations and mechanisms.
In pursuance of the above, specific features have been incorporated into the programme. These include:
i. Common foundation year at 100 and 200 levels for all engineering students
ii. Workshop practice, laboratory work, tutorials, seminars on specific topics, farm machinery and field operations.
iii. Broad based engineering and interaction between students and professionals
iv. Adequate knowledge in the areas of engineering management, economics and law.
v. Design projects with bias towards local applications.
vi. Supervised SIWES experience at the 400 level of study
vii. Final year projects in which students work alone under supervision in specific options of Agricultural Engineering.
The academic programme has been placed to offer challenges and to encourage the development of ingenuity and originality in the students.
The department offers a five year programme for the Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) Honours Degree in Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering.
(i) The admission requirement for UME candidates into the course is a minimum of 5 (ordinary) credit passes in West African Senior Secondary School Certificate (WASSSCE) or General Certificate of Education (GCE) or National Examination Council Ordinary level (NECO) in not more than two sittings. The credits must be obtained in English language, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. The remaining one is preferably Biology or Agricultural Science. A pass in JAMB that meets the departmental cut off mark determined by the university. The candidate must not be below 16 years of age.
(ii) Direct entry candidates: Direct entry admission is based on a combination of O’Level results with the following qualifications:
(a.) G.C.E or HSC(A Level two papers)
(b.) OND (Upper credit)
(c.) HND (Upper credit).
Candidates with qualifications as in (a) and (b) above may be admitted into the 200 level and those with the qualifications in (c) may be admitted into the 300 level. All must meet the basic minimum requirement of 5 ‘O’ level ccredit passes in relevant subjects specified in (ii) above.
The university runs a two semester calendar in one session with about 15 weeks. Departmental course of study is structured in such a way that a minimum of five years is required. The first year is devoted to preliminary university courses. The second and third year courses expose the student to some related courses and basic foundation college courses, design to broaden his/her knowledge and appreciate engineering. The remaining two years are devoted to specialized courses in the field of agricultural engineering. Year 2 and 3 students go for 3 months industrial training at the end of the session. Year 4 undertake a 6 months industrial training from the beginning of Year 4 second semester in places related to their area of specialization. Excursion is taken during each academic year. Final year students do projects as a partial fulfilment of the award of B.ENG.