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Mechanized Systems Management Curriculum

Curriculum requirements for a B. S. in Mechanized Systems Management.

Each student will study a core curriculum consisting of 30 hours of college and major requirements, 21 hours of science and math, 26 hours of electives related to communication, humanities, economics, social sciences, and 12 credit hours of free electives for personal development. In addition, students must select and meet the requirements (39 hours) of one of the four options listed below. The Achievement-Centered Education (ACE) program provides general education requirements and is built into the MSYM curriculum.

Although the curriculum can be completed in eight semesters, many students take longer due to participation in internships and co-op assignments with companies, international exchange studies, and part-time research projects in the department. These opportunities give MSYM students practical, hands-on experience to learn about careers related to and in agriculture.

Core Curriculum

 

Credit hours

 

College Integrative courses

 6
 

AGRI/NRES 103

Intro. to Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Systems

3

 MSYM 462 Equipment Systems3
 

Mathematics & Statistics

 5
 MATH 102 Trigonometry2
 STAT 218 or
ECON 215 		Intro to Statistics or
Statistics 		3
 

Communication

 8
 BSEN or MECH 130 Computer-aided Design2
 Written Communication elective
select from: JGEN 200, ENGL 150, or ENGL 1513
 Professional Communication electiveselect from: JGEN 300, COMM 209, COmm 210, or COMM 286 3
 

Natural Sciences

 

16
 BIOS 101 and 101LGeneral Biology and Lab 4
 CHEM 109 General Chemistry 4
 MSYM 109 and 109LPhysical Principles in Agriculture and Lab5
 

Natural Sciences electives

 

This area would include an elective: select from biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geography (excluding human and economic), geology, meteorology (excluding 140), or physics and astronomy (excluding 103)
 3
 

Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences

18
 ECON 211Principles of Macroeconomics3
 ECON 212 or AECN 141Principles of Microeconomics or Intro. to Econ. of Ag. 3
 

ACE courses

Select one course each from ACE outcomes 5, 7, 8, and 9 12
 

Major Requirements

 24
 MSYM 162 Equipment Systems Management 2
 MSYM 245 Electrical Service Systems3
 MSYM 312 Engine Power Systems3
 MSYM 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management3
 MSYM 364 Agricultural Products Processing & Handling 3
 MSYM 416 Sensors & Control Systems for Agri-Industries3
 IMSE 206 Engineering Economics 3
 

SOIL 153

Intro to Soil Resources

4
 Personal Development Electives  9

Option Requirements

34

 
 

1. Production Option

 

34

 This option is for students interested in the integration of mechanization and natural resources for production agriculture. Students are prepared to apply principles of mechanization and management in farming and ranching, or in service and consulting. The unique combination of selected courses in animal, crop, soil, and physical sciences, as well as mechanized systems management, prepares students to be successful in production agriculture and related careers. Students in this option may meet teaching certification requirements by early development of an individualized program. 
 AGRO 204 Resource-Efficient Crop Management3
 AECN 201Farm & Ranch Management4
 AECN 325Marketing of Agricultural Commodities3
 ASCI 250 Animal Management 3
 Natural Sciences elective:Select from: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geography (excluding human and economic), geology, meteorology (excluding 140), or physics and astronomy (excluding 103)4
 MSYM Electives Select three courses from the list9
 MSYM 232Equipment Principles
3
 MSYM 342 Animal Housing Systems
 3
 MSYM 412Hydraulic Power Systems
 3
 MSYM 431Site-specific Crop Management
 3
 MSYM 433Equipment & Tractor Testing
 3
 MSYM 452Irrigation Systems Management
 3
 Production Agriculture electives Select from CASNR courses at 200 level or above. 8-11
  
 
 

Option electives
Select from:

 

0-3

 MATH 104Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences3
 MSYM 395Internship in Mechanized Systems Management1-3
 Business or agricultural economics course  
   
 

2. Technical Option

 

36

 Students are prepared for employment as equipment test technicians, service managers, or production supervisors of mechanized systems, regional service representatives, or associates for agricultural research and extension. Students apply additional mathematics and physical sciences to resolve problems in engineering systems. This option will also prepare an individual for graduate study. 
 AGRO 204 or
ASCI 250		Resource Efficient Crop Management or
Animal Management		3
 ENGM 220 Statics3
 ENGM 324 Strengths of Materials 3
 MATH 106Analytic Geometry & Calculus5
 MNGT 245Elementary Quantitative Methods 3
 Management electives 6-7
 

Select courses from the following:

AECN 201 Farm & Ranch Management (4 cr)
AECN 316 Agribusiness Management (3 cr)
MNGT 331 Operations & Supply Chain Management (3 cr)
MNGT 360 Managing Behavior in Operations (3 cr)
MNGT 361 Personnel/Human Resource Management (3 cr)

 

 MSYM electives 9-10
 Select courses from the following:MSYM 232 Equipment Principles (3 cr)
MSYM 342 Animal Housing Systems (3 cr)
MSYM 395 Internship in Mechanized Systems Mgmt. (1-3 cr)
MSYM 412 Hydraulic Power Systems (3 cr)
MSYM 431 Site-specific Crop Management (3 cr)
MSYM 433 Equipment & Tractor Testing (3 cr)
MSYM 452 Irrigation Systems Management (3 cr)
 
 Natural Sciences electives 4
 Select from: additional biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geography (excluding human and economic), geology, meteorology (excluding 140), or physics (excluding 103)  
   
 

3. Processing Operations Option

 

35

 This option provides the principles of mechanization and management for students interested in processing agricultural commodities into food, feed, fiber, or fuel. Employment opportunities include the installation and operation of processing equipment and the management of facilities and personnel. This option will prepare an individual for graduate study. 
 AECN 325Marketing of Agricultural Commodities3
 ASCI 210Animal Products3
 CHEM 110General Chemistry 4
 FDST 205Food Composition & Analysis3
 MATH 104 or
MATH 106 		Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences or Analytical Geometry & Calculus 3 or 5
 MNGT 245 Elementary Quantitative Methods 3
 MNGT 331 or
MNGT 361		Operations & Resources Management or
Personnel/Human Resources Management		3
 MSYM 363Heat & Mass Transfer3
 MSYM 412Hydraulic Power Systems3
 MSYM 465 Food Engineering Unit Operations 3
 Processing electives  4-6
 Select courses from the following:  
  AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial uses of Grain2
  ASCI 410Processed Meats3
  FDST 372 Food Safety & Sanitation 3
  FDST 403 Food Quality Assurance 3
  FDST 412 Cereal Technology3
  FDST 420 Fruit & Vegetable Technology3
 

 FDST 429

Dairy Products Technology3
  MSYM 395 Internship in Mechanized Systems Management1 - 3
   
 

4. Business Option

 36
 This option combines the principles of engineered systems and their management with a focus in business, agriculture, and mechanization. Opportunities for employment include operations managers for grain elevators, fertilizer distributors, or construction enterprises; sales representatives for agricultural machinery manufacturers or commodity handling and processing facilities; and agricultural representatives for financial institutions. 
 ACCT 306Survey of Accounting I4
 AGRO 204 or
ASCI 250		Resource-efficient Crop Management or
Animal Management		3
 MATH 104Calculus for the Managerial & Social Sciences3
 MSYM 232Equipment Principles3
 MSYM 342Animal Housing Systems3
 MSYM 452Irrigation Systems Management3
    
 Business electives
Select one course from any two of the following three areas.		6
    
 Business Law   
 AECN 256

Legal Aspects in Agriculture

3
 AECN 357 Natural Resources & Environmental Law 3
 BLAW 371 Legal Environment 3
    
 Finance  
 AECN 452 Agricultural Finance   3
 ECON 303An Intro to Money & Banking 3
 FINA 361 Finance3
    
 

Marketing

  
 AECN 225Agribusiness & Food Products Marketing3
 AECN 325Marketing of Agricultural Commodities3
 MRKT 341 Marketing 3
    
 Management electives
Select courses from the following:



6-7
 AECN 201 Farm & Ranch Management 4
 AECN 316 Agribusiness Management 3
 MNGT 331 Operations & Resources Management3
 MNGT 360Managing Behavior in Operations3
 MNGT 361Personnel/Human Resource Management3
    
 Natural Sciences elective
Select from: additional biochemistry, biology, chemistry, geography (excluding human and economic), geology, meteorology (excluding 140), or physics (excluding 103)
4
 Option electives
Select from: 		 1-2
 MSYM 395Internship in Mechanized Systems Management1-3
 AGRI 388Employment Seminar1

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation:

120

 
Dr. Jack Schinstock, Coordinator and Academic Advisor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Department of Biological Systems Engineering
201 L.W. Chase Hall
Lincoln, NE 68583-0726
(402) 472-1629
FAX: (402) 472-6338
email: jschinstock1@unl.edu