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BSE

Biological Systems Engineering

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The department at a glance

All recorded grades
average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades

How grades break down

Grades over time

Red: department · Gray: UW–Madison

About these statistics

GPA and percentages are weighted by recorded letter grades. UW comparisons use the same terms. Cross-listed courses count once within this department and once across UW; department totals should not be added together. Grade counts are not unique students. Offering counts reflect captured records, not a complete historical schedule.

Fall 2026

Recorded this term
courses with offerings
instructors recorded

Grades have not been recorded for this term. Historical results remain in the overview above.

Find your next class

20 courses

Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Grade sorting prioritizes courses with at least 100 letter grades.

BSE 1 is a full-time off-campus work experience combining classroom theory with practical operations knowledge to build a professional career background.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Applies basic engineering principles like mass/energy balances and fluid flow to agricultural and biological systems.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Jessica Drewry, Troy Runge: Runge's homework requires EES software and can be challenging, though exams are often considered manageable with practice. Drewry's course was rated difficult, with students finding her lectures hard to follow.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

Introduction to computer aided design (CAD) concepts, techniques, and design synthesis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Students should expect 3-6 hours of weekly work, with exams described as hard but curved, and all assignments completed online.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

BSE 299 is an independent study course allowing students to conduct research in Biological Systems Engineering under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

BSE 301 introduces land information management using geospatial technologies, surveying, and remote sensing for data analysis.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

Introductory data science course teaching coding and numerical analysis for agricultural and life sciences challenges.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

BSE 399 is a coordinative internship where students arrange and complete work under faculty and site supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

Covers principles of mechanics, fluid dynamics, and heat/mass transfer applied to food and bioprocessing unit operations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2024 · limited sample

BSE 473: Water Management Systems covers engineering and management applications of soil-plant-water relationships for efficient water use.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Anita Thompson: Reviewers rate the difficulty low, but emphasize that attending lectures and listening to examples is essential.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

BSE 509 is a design practicum where students work on biological systems engineering projects, focusing on problem identification, solution analysis, and selection methodology.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Jessica Drewry: Reviewers report that grading appears uncorrelated to effort, with unclear assignment expectations and nitpicking leading to low grades regardless of time invested.

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025

BSE 681 is an individual study course for Honors students to complete a thesis in Biological Systems Engineering.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

BSE 691 is an individual study course for undergraduates completing a senior thesis in Biological Systems Engineering under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

BSE 799 is a practicum in agricultural engineering teaching that provides hands-on experience improving pedagogical skills through course planning, delivery, and evaluation under instructor guidance.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sample

BSE 900 provides an overview of research activities and resources for graduate students, covering proposal development, thesis writing, and presentations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample
BSE 990

Research

1–12 credits

BSE 990 is a research course for graduate thesis preparation under faculty supervision.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

No recorded grade history

Covers on-site treatment and dispersal of wastewater for homes and small communities, including constructed wetlands and regulations.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

Covers state-of-the-art renewable energy applications and engineering calculations for power availability and system integration.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

Historical reviews of Doug Reinemann, Troy Runge: The RETScreen group project is a major time commitment. Exams require substantial preparation, with some reviewers noting questions outside lecture scope, while others find them similar to homework.

historical GPA · grades

Spring 2022–Spring 2026

Covers engineering design principles for agricultural machinery used in crop production, processing, and handling.

Offering recorded · Fall 2026

historical GPA · grades

Fall 2022–Fall 2025 · limited sample

Across course levels

Recorded this term

No released grades for this term.

Recorded offerings over time

Offering snapshots currently cover Fall 2026. Earlier grade records do not provide a complete offering history.