BS in Agricultural Engineering in the Philippines

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Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (BSAE) is a five year degree program

that provides students with knowledge and skills on how to design agricultural
machinery, agricultural equipment and agricultural structures, how to develop ways
to conserve soil and water, how to improve the processing of agricultural products
and how to work in research and development, production, sales and management
in the agricultural sector.

Subjects and Curriculum

The subjects in the BSAE curriculum are divided into the following categories:

o General Education courses: Language and Humanities Cluster, Mathematics,

Computer and Natural Science Cluster, Social Sciences Cluster, Mandated Subjects
o Fundamental Agricultural courses: Introduction to Animal Science, Principles of
Crop Science, Principle of Fishery Science, Principles of Soil Science, Agricultural
Entrepreneurship and Management
o Basic Engineering courses: Engineering Graphics, Principles of Electricity and
Electronics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanics of Deformable Bodies, Farm Shop
Practice, Fluid Mechanics, Engineering Economy, Computer Applications in
Engineering, Surveying, Materials of Engineering, Thermodynamics and Heat
Transfer, Computer Applications in Engineering, Introduction to Operations
Research, Agricultural Engineering Law and Professional Ethics
o Professional courses:
o Agricultural Power and Machinery: Agricultural Power and Energy Sources,
Agricultural Mechanization and Machinery Management, Agricultural
Machinery Design, Tractor and Agricultural Equipment Operation
o Agricultural Structures and Environment: Agricultural Waste Management,
Agricultural Structures Engineering, Design and Management of Agricultural
Buildings and Structures, Forest Products Engineering
o Soil and Water Resources: Hydrology, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Soil
and Water Conservation Engineering, Aquaculture Engineering
o Other professional coursesAgricultural Processing, and Electrification:
Agricultural Electrification, Processing, Handling and Storage of Agricultural
Products-1, Processing, Handling and Storage of Agricultural Products-2,
Refrigeration Engineering
o Undergraduate Seminar
o Thesis or Field Practice
The BSAE program is taught to students in a variety of teaching methods - classroom
lectures, hands-on practical exercises, seminars and visits to government agencies
and private institutions involved in agriculture, farms and Agribusinesses.

The revised BSAE curriculum has two options, the thesis and non-thesis option. A
student inclined to research may choose to do a thesis, while those who do not like
research may go into field practice (non-thesis option). In the field practice option,
the student is required to enroll in 6 more units or two elective non-major subjects.
Comparing BS in Agricultural Engineering, BS in
Agriculture and Bachelor of Agricultural Technology

BS in Agricultural Engineering is a five year program that concentrates on the

technical aspect of Agriculture. Its curriculum revolves around the application of
engineering principles in the production, processing, handling and storage of food,
fiber and materials. It also covers areas such as irrigation and drainage of agricultural
land, soil erosion control, the planning of agricultural buildings and structures, post-
harvest technology and agricultural waste management. It has a board examination.
Students have the option whether to complete and On the Job Training (OJT) or
prepare an undergraduate thesis paper

BS in Agriculture is a four year program that is mainly focused on topics such as

animal science, soil cultivation, crop production, livestock raising and the preparation
and marketing of Agri-products. It has a board examination. Students are required to
undergo an On the Job Training (OJT).

Bachelor of Agricultural Technology is a four year program that deals with the
manual labor aspect of Agriculture, its emphasis is on the application of agricultural
techniques in the production and processing of food and agricultural products. There
is not board examination. Students are requires to undergo an On the Job Training
(OJT).

As for admission requirements, all three programs have more or less the same basic
requirements.

Is Agricultural Engineering a profession?

Agricultural Engineering is a profession. A graduate of BSAE who passes

the Agricultural Engineer Licensure Examination is called a Licensed Agricultural
Engineer.
The responsibilities of an Agricultural Engineer include:

o Work in the agricultural industry to design structures, equipment, and processes

o Work in areas such as power systems and machinery design, structural and
environmental engineering, and food and bioprocess engineering
o Develop ways to conserve soil and water
o Improve the processing and storage of agricultural products
o Test products thoroughly for safety issues and defects
o Ensure designed systems function reliably and for a long time
o Design products to increase the production of farm products
o Design farmhouses, barns, and other shelters
o Create power machines used for tilling, fertilization, and harvesting
o Develop pesticide control products and machinery
o Design an electric power system
o Develop ways to use power for curing and drying crops
o Design irrigation, drainage, and flood control systems
What are the admission requirements for the BSAE
program?

Requirements at each school may differ, but generally the requirements are the
basic college admission requirements:

o Must be a high school graduate.

Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend
Alternative Learning System (ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement
Test (PEPT) to qualify for college. However, some universities only offer selected
courses for PEPT passers
o College entrance exam: some colleges conduct an entrance exam. You need to
pass the college entrance exam with a specified rating set by the school.
o Interview: must pass the interview conducted by the college.
(See sources 1, 2)
What skills, traits and attitude will help you succeed in
this course?

o Good Mathematical skills – math is the fundamental tool of almost all

engineering courses; majority of subjects use both basic and complicated forms of
mathematical equation therefore it’s very important to have strong foundation in
mathematics.
o Scientific Inclination – science and math go hand in hand in Agricultural
Engineering, your knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells,
functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the
environment will play a major role to survive this course
o Excellent Mechanical Inclination – the craft of farming really is about solving
problems using your hands in combination with equipment. Even the simplest of
hand plantings need a basic level of mechanical inclination; to keep your row
straight, to space rows, to get a seed furrow, etc.
o Technical skills – the knowledge and ability required to achieve specific tasks as
well as other duties such as mathematical, engineering, scientific or computer-
related tasks.
o Critical Thinking – the use of logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
o Analytical skills – the ability to determine how a system should work and how
changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes
o Love for the outdoors – much of the work of an agricultural engineer is done
outdoors, in all weather conditions.
o Tolerance for manual labor – in the course of the study, you will be asked to
perform manual labor and be exposed in farms where you have to do manual
labor. A person who is not inclined to performing tiresome and dirty work cannot
survive this course.
o Computer Proficiency – a wide knowledge on computer applications is critical to
succeed in this course because much of the actual work is done with the use
computers to produce and analyze designs.
o Planning skills – the ability to organize and prioritize activities/tasks effectively;
must be able to think of ways on how to do a job efficiently
How difficult is BS in Agricultural Engineering?

BS in Agricultural Engineering is a difficult course. Aside from the General Education

subjects, most subjects involve the use of math and technical skills. Students who are
not good in math will find it hard to deal with the BSAE program.

The workload for this course is quite heavy; aside from the long hours of classroom
lectures, students are also simultaneously exposed to laboratory activities and
practicum exercises in agri-business companies and agencies.

Some students believe that when they take up BSAE they will not be exposed to
manual labor and field work like Agriculture students, however, Agricultural
Engineering students are exposed to these kinds of activities as well. One positive
aspect of this program is the fact that students have the option to choose which
requirement for graduation they want to take: whether to complete an
undergraduate thesis paper or to finish the specific number of hours for Field
Practice.

How long does it take to complete the BSAE program in

the Philippines?

The BS in Agricultural Engineering program takes five years to complete (Note: this
may change due to the K-12 integration). The program may be completed in a
shorter time in schools that follow the trimestral curriculum.

Thesis

Students who are research inclined may choose the thesis option while those who
are not may choose the Field Practice/Non-thesis option.
If a student chooses the thesis option he/she will select a topic of interest related to
current trends/issues on Agriculture which will be approved by the Research Adviser.
Upon completion, the student will defend his/her work in front of a panel where
he/she will be graded on a certain criteria.

Field Practice

A student of the BSAE program who chooses Field Practice will be assigned in a farm,
plant or laboratory, agri-business companies or other establishments which will
provide practical experience. The Field Practice is done under the supervision of a
Licensed Agricultural Engineer in the establishment which will evaluate the student
periodically and submit the evaluation form to the assigned faculty member. The
number of hours required for the Field Practice varies from one school to
another.(See source)

Areas of Concentration

o Soil and Water Resources – an area of Agricultural Engineering that concentrates

on the design of systems to control soil erosion and flooding, development of
irrigation systems and, consultation of crop nutrition management and the design
of ways to handle storm water and control sediment
o Agricultural Power and Machinery – concentrates on teaching students the
application of mechanical, physical, biological and electronic principles to the
solution of real-life problems or issues in crop/fruit/vegetable production and
processing.
o Agricultural Processing, Storage and Electrification – teaches students the
essentials of handling, processing, drying and storage of agricultural products, and
non-conventional energy and technologies; rural electrification, and farm
buildings.
o Agricultural Structures and Environmental Science and Protection – includes the
planning, design and management of land and environment, food science and
technologies and the conservation of land, environment, and landscape.
(See source)
Agricultural Engineer Licensure Examination

To become a Licensed Agricultural Engineer in the Philippines, a graduate of BS in

Agricultural Engineering needs to pass the Agricultural Engineer Licensure
Examination. The examination is conducted by the Board of Agricultural
Engineeringunder the supervision of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC).
The exam is conducted once a year.

In order to pass the examination, a candidate must obtain a weighted average of at

least 70% with no rating below 55% in any subject. (See source)

You can view the passing rates of the Agricultural Engineer Licensure
Examination here.