Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College · Courses
ABSM
34 courses with the subject ABSM, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
ABSM 100Growing Your Future--First-Year Seminar1
This first-year seminar introduces students to the university in general and to the breadth of the Biological Engineering (BE) and Agricultural e and Biorenewable Systems Management (ABSM) programs. Students participate in hands-on lab activities in the program focus areas, including food processing, bioproducts, machinery, agricultural systems, and natural resources. Through these lab activities and a group project, students learn how the profession is critical to providing a growing world population with food, fiber, fuel, and water under increasing environmental constraints. In addition to being introduced to Penn State as an academic community, students also become familiar with the resources, tools, and opportunities available to them. Through lab activities and in-class discussions on research, internship, and international opportunities, students meet and establish relationships with faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students affiliated with the BE and ABSM programs. Cross-listed with: BE 100
This course is an interdisciplinary study of the central role played by agriculture in a global history of art. We will pay attention to cultural objects made of plants and animals affected by human intervention: cordage and textiles from fibers (flax, sisal, silk, cotton, wool); dye colors from plants, trees and insects; clothing and shelter from leather; writing surfaces from hide; engineered objects from fast-growing plants like bamboo. We will consider definitions of agriculture by examining n perceived distinctions between foraging and farming. Exploring images of farms and farmers, we will study fundamental preconceptions of agricultural design. The course will employ concepts and methods drawn from the natural sciences and the humanities. Cross-listed with: ARTH 104N
ABSM 309Measurement & Monitoring of Hydrologic Systems3
This course is an introduction to measurement and monitoring equipment/techniques commonly used in analyses and design of hydrologic systems and will provide students the opportunity to learn and apply basic measurement techniques that serve as critical tools in professional practice in water resources. During the first part of the course, the instruments and techniques commonly used in water resources assessment, including rainfall monitoring, flow monitoring, and interest as part of the Sustainability Institute's Sustainable Communities Collaborative. Data generated over the course of the semester are used to develop a report that is shared, along with the data with a community partner. In the second part of the course, mapping development is explored, which serves as a critical aspect of water resources engineering and planning. ArcGIS serves as a primary software tool used in engineering design and water resources planning, and students will learn to develop maps to present and process various watershed - data including land use data, soils data, and hydrography data. Various aspects of the course will coalesce around the concept of the watershed being the basic unit of water resources analyses and design, and students will experience how various measurement techniques and approaches are necessary tools for practicing professionals. This course will be useful to any undergraduates seeking degrees in a major related to water resources planning, engineering, or technology. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: CHEM 110. Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: PHYS 211 or PHYS 250 Cross-listed with: ERM 309
After successful completion of ABSM 310, students will apply the physical principles of mechanical power transmission system components such as shafts, belts, chains, gears, and clutches by selecting suitable mechanical drives and specifying proper maintenance procedures. Students will be able to read hydraulic and pneumatic schematics, size fluid power components such as pumps, valves, cylinders, and troubleshoot hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Students will also be able to explain the electrical and physical principles of AC and DC electric motor operation. They will be able to identify torque, speed, voltage, and current operating characteristics and will be able to select controls and circuit protection devices necessary to achieve proper performance. Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: ABSM 301
After successful completion of ABSM 320, students will explain and evaluate the theoretical and practical aspects of internal combustion engines. Students will evaluate and compare alternative engine thermodynamic cycles, alternative fuels (gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, compressed natural gas), performance enhancing attachments (turbochargers, intercoolers), and supporting systems (fuel injection, lubrication, starting, cooling, emissions cleansing). Students will be able to properly select engines and related systems for mobile applications. Students will employ important maintenance procedures required for economical useful life and proper operation. Students will be able to troubleshoot engine systems. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: ME 300 or ABSM 301
This course delves into the expanding importance of sustainable agriculture, focusing on the plan of agricultural structures that can improve livestock and crop management, reduce soil erosion and runoff, and protect stream quality. You will identify the needs of various conservation-related structures on farms, such as fence, stream crossing, roofed heavy-use area, waste storage facility, mortality composting facility, livestock watering system, and agrochemical handling facility. You will learn how to survey these structures to solve water and soil issues while meeting farmers' needs. You will gain agricultural conservation professional skills to understand how various structures are planned through real-world visits and hands-on practices. Specific topics covered include but are not limited to: - Heavy-use area protection practices - Waste storage facilities - Mortality composting facilities -
ABSM 326Conservation and management practices in agriculture and3
natural resources This course provides a foundation for understanding natural resource challenges with a specific focus on water and soil. You will learn to inventory resource challenges on farms using aerial photos, GIS tools, and other digital resources and real-world visits. You will analyze how agricultural activities such as tillage, fertilization, and irrigation affec soil health (organic matter, structure, and erosion) and water quality (nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment levels). You will identify various best management practices (BMPs) to address the resource challenges and understand how to properly plan the practices, including no/reduced till, crop rotation, diversion, terrace, waterway, prescribed grazing, silvopasture, cover crop, stripcropping, and filter strip. You will gain hands-on planning experience by developing a site-specific conservation plan that serves both the environment and the farmer's needs. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: (PHYS 250 or PHYS 211) and (MATH 110 or MATH 140)
This course will provide students with an understanding of how environmental and sustainability issues are impacting business strategies and ultimately profits. We will also examine the external stakeholders, such as environmental groups, policy-makers, and "green" consumers, that impact business management. Business students will benefit by a better understanding of environmental/sustainability issues that impact their operations and strategies. Non-business students will benefit by understanding how business decisions can impact the natural environment. An emphasis will be on a thorough understanding of making a business case for sustainability. We will also discuss the triple bottom line and its use. Some Specific Issues to Cover: 1. How are organizations shifting business models to work with sustainability trends? 2. How can we make a business case (justification) for being "green"? 3. Can firms differentiate themselves by being responsible/ sustainable? Do consumers and other stakeholders care? 4. Thorough understanding of stakeholders and how they impact operations. 5. How can the "business" side of the world work with the "environmental" side? 6. Use of packaging as an example of where parts of the supply chain are working together to be more sustainable. 7. How "waste" in its many forms can be seen as a surrogate for unsustainable practices. 8. Pros and cons of metrics used to measure sustainability. 9. Impacts of business operations on the environment. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: (AGBM 101 or ECON 102 or
This course investigates fundamental aspects of biorenewable polymers (bioproducts) and ties their underlying chemical structure to macroscale properties. These bioproducts are created from biologically derived, renewable industrial feedstocks such as wood, cotton, grasses, and bast fibers (e.g. jute, hemp, kenaf, sisal, etc.). The course begins with an overview of descriptive organic chemistry that is relevant to biorenewable polymers. Students will build on this knowledge to identify, compare, and contrast various industrially relevant plastics. Material science of polymers, including determining molecular weights and measuring mechanical properties of bioproducts is then investigated. These properties are relevant to compare the performance of existing plastics with emerging bioproducts. A survey of the several classes of synthetic and natural polymers, fibers, and composites is the focus of the third unit in the class. Final course subjects include manufacture of soft materials and their decomposition to form recalcitrant waste and microplastics. These will be discussed in the context of 21st-century western culture predicated on the existence of cheap and disposable plastic products, and how design and deployment of new bioproducts could eliminate plastic waste, reduce the environmental impact of plastics, and enhance the economics of industrial biorefining. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: CHEM 110 and ABSM 350
ABSM 417Processing and Manufacturing Systems for Bioproducts3
Overview of systems and processes used in the manufacture of bioproducts. This course reviews major bioproducts and details how they are manufactured industrially. A fundamental understanding of petrochemical refining, pulp and papermaking, and sawmill operations is the foundation of the beginning of the course, since the majority of existing and emerging bioproducts are manufactured using these processes or new hybrids of these. Next, thermochemical conversion of biomass is covered, including existing technologies such as torrefaction and barrel production, and emerging technologies such as catalytic fast pyrolysis and biomass gasification. Students will then prepare and deliver presentations on traditional and emerging wood and paper products. The final portion of the course will include biomass fractionation technologies that provide cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin to produce fuels and chemicals in a manner analogous to petrochemical refining. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: ABSM 300 and ABSM 301
ABSM 420 covers the technical aspects of off-road power machinery, such as tractors, self-propelled harvesters, and military, logging and construction equipment. Upon successful completion, students will understand the many facets of design and management of such vehicles (such as mechanical power generation, power allocation, power transmission, traction, operator enclosures, and electrical and electronic systems). Laboratory exercises will involve full-scale equipment with instrumentation used to measure performance. While ABSM 420 is not a prerequisite for any other course, it complements engineering and technology courses related to machinery. This course is a technical selection in the Biological Engineering and Agricultural and Biorenewable Systems Management majors and is required for the Off-Road Equipment minor. It complements other courses for anyone interested in the off-road machinery industries. ABSM 420 covers several aspects of function and design related to off-road machinery. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: BE 306 or ABSM 310 or ME 360
ABSM 422Energy Analysis in Agricultural and Biorenewable Systems3
This course focuses upon first understanding the various forms of energy in common use today and then analyzing the energy equivalents of various forms of energy. Forms of energy to be studied most extensively include electricity, fossil fuels, and renewable energy sources. Principles and applications of engineering economic analyses will be emphasized because these principles are needed to evaluate the feasibility of converting from one energy form to another. Applications will focus on the biorenewable systems chain, from field and forest production through green product development and distribution. For each application area, there will be discussion of the alternatives available for using energy in a more efficient and economical manner. The infrastructure systems needed for providing energy to a specific location will be described as well as typical rate structures for the energy provided. Alternatives to the conventional energy systems will be identified and the course will conclude with discussion of energy strategies throughout the 21st century. Local, national, and international perspectives on energy resources will be infused throughout this course.
ABSM 423Deterioration and Protection of Bioproducts3
Timber, wood, and bioproduct deterioration from fungi, insects, fire; treatment of bioproducts for in-service protection. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: ABSM 300 Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: ABSM 411
Precision agriculture is a data-based approach to optimize crop production and reduce environmental footprint. This course provides an overview of major concepts in precision agriculture (such as GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and spatial variability) and case studies illustratin decisions and management. In this course, computer processing, data analysis and management, robotics, and other related advancements in technologies will be emphasized to provide necessary technical skills in precision agriculture to students. The first part of the course will cover agricultural machinery combined with GPS such as planters, combines, fertilizer application equipment, and sprayers. Students will learn how to manage these tools efficiently. The second part of the course will emphasize how to manage and analyze field variability data including yield data, soil properties with real-time sensors and create prescriptions based on actual data. The last part of the course will emphasize how precision agriculture technology can benefit a farm's financial sustainability. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: BE 301 or ME 330 or STAT 240 or STAT 200 or STAT 250
ABSM 426Safety and Health in Agriculture and Biorenewable Industries3
BRS 426 explores management aspects of occupational safety and health specifically as it pertains to both the agricultural and biorenewabl systems industry sectors. Employers are increasingly demanding students have training in safety and health. Topics to be covered include principles of safety and health, hazard analysis, hazard prevention and control, human behavior and safety, training and education, safety and health regulations, agricultural emergencies and developing a written safety program. Enforced Concurrent at Enrollment: 5th Semester standing or higher
Nearly every facet of our modern society relies on electricity and electronics. Whether engaged in product development, manufacturing, production, testing, or management, graduates of technical programs benefit from a fundamental understanding of electrical/electronic systems. This course prepares students to analyze electrical/electronic systems applicable to agricultural and biorenewable industries. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: demonstrate correct use of common electronic measurement tools including multimeters, oscilloscopes and others; demonstrate sound electrical construction techniques including cable preparation, soldering, circuit board construction, and others; demonstrate sound troubleshooting skills Undergraduate - The Pennsylvania State University 2026-2027 3535 for electrical and electronic systems; understand common elements of power distribution systems; understand simple measurement and control circuits represented by schematics or ladder diagrams; understand and apply various sensors to measure temperature, pressure, strain, force, proximity, speed etc.; understand the application of dataloggers, programmable logic controllers, and computer software to collect data and/or control simple processes; understand the function of common circuit components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, op- amps, transistors, and transformers in simple circuits; understand basic maintenance and safety requirements for facility electrical systems. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: ABSM 301
Additional Specialization 3 Additional Specialization 3 ABSM Selection 3 16 14 Total Credits 122 * Course requires a grade of C or better for the major ‡ Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education # Course is an Entrance to Major requirement † Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement University Requirements and General Education Notes: US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures). W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better. All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits. Advising Note: A list of 'selection' courses can be found in the ABSM Advising Manual (https://abe.psu.edu/undergraduate/resources/advising/absm-manual/ options). Students should consult with an academic adviser to discuss appropriate course selection.
/Maximum of 6 Independent study directed by a faculty supervisor that culminates in the production of a BioRenewable Systems honors thesis. Enforced Prerequisite at Enrollment: Junior or senior standing in the Schreyer Honors College and permission of a BioRenewable Systems honors advisor
/Maximum of 18 Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.
