Level 1: AI-Exposure Requirement
Complete the First Engineering Requirement by following one of the four pathways:
- ENGR 13100 and ENGR 13200
- ENGR 13000
- ENGR 13300 + VIP/EPICS
- ENGR 16100 and ENGR 16200
Topics covered: Knowledge about how AI works; Critical thinking; Assess and evaluate AI responses; Data-informed decision making; Ethical aspects of AI.
Level 2: AI-Knowledge Requirement
Biological Engineering: Take the following courses
- CS 177 or CS 159 Programming
- CHE 320 Statistical Modeling and Quality Enhancement
- MA 262 Linear Algebra
Agricultural Engineering: Take the following courses:
- ABE 205, CS 177, or CS 159 Programming
- ABE 205 Computations for Engineering Systems
- MA 262 Linear Algebra
Level 3: AI-Subject Requirements
All Agricultural Engineering and Biological Engineering students need to take
ABE 490 Senior Seminar: AI focused case studies and professional ethics discussions
Biological Engineering: Take at least two of the following courses:
- ABE 226 Biotechnology Lab 1
- ABE 327 Biotechnology Lab 2
- ABE 301 Modeling and Computational Tools in Biological Engineering
- ABE 303 Physical Chemistry in Biological Engineering
- ABE 304 Biological Engineering Laboratory
- ABE 314 Design of Electronic Systems
- ABE 440 Cell and Molecular Modeling and Biological Engineering
- ABE 450 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis in Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering: Take at least two of the following courses:
- ABE 314 Design of Electronic Systems
- ABE 325 Soil and Water Resource Engineering
- ABE 426 Ecological Engineering
- ABE 450 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis in Agricultural Engineering
Level 4: AI-Builder Requirement
Biological Engineering:
ABE 558 Biological Engineering Design 1.
In senior design, AI tools are incorporated as support tools within the engineering design process. Students use AI to:
- Brainstorm and refine project ideas
- Assist with literature searches and summaries
- Support coding, algorithm development, and debugging
- Aid preliminary data analysis and interpretation
- Improve clarity and organization of written design reports
AI is explicitly framed as an assistant rather than an authority, with clear expectations for ethical use, verification, and retention of engineering responsibility.
Agricultural Engineering:
ABE 484, 485 / 486 Senior Design.
In capstone, students are explicitly introduced to ethical and responsible use of AI within the engineering design process. Under instructor guidance, AI tools are used to:
- Brainstorm ideas and collect information, including early-stage concept generation and preliminary exploration of design alternatives
- Support math and data tasks, such as troubleshooting simulations, interpreting results, and checking intermediate calculations
- Assist with coding, particularly when students are learning new software tools or scripting environments and need help generating or refining code
- Support writing and documentation, including proofreading design reports and improving clarity and structure of technical communication