Skip Navigation

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Mechanized Systems Management

Taglines - We Do The Heavy Lifting

Mechanized Systems Management Curriculum

Curriculum requirements for a B. S. in Mechanized Systems Management. MSYM pages from Undergraduate Bulletin.

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.

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 Systems 3
 

Mathematics & Statistics

  5
  MATH 102 Trigonometry 2
  STAT 218 or
ECON 215 		Intro to Statistics or
Statistics 		3
 

Communication

   8
  BSEN or MECH 130 Computer-aided Design 2
  Written Communication elective
Select from: JGEN 200, 300 or
ENGL 150, 151		   3
  Professional Communication elective select from: JGEN 300; COMM 286 3
 

Natural Sciences

16
  BIOS 101 and 101L General Biology and Lab 4
  CHEM 109 General Chemistry 4
  MSYM 109 and 109L Physical Principles in Agriculture and Lab 5
 

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 211 Principles of Macroeconomics 3
  ECON 212 or AECN 141 Principles 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 Systems 3
  MSYM 312 Engine Power Systems 3
  MSYM 354 Soil Conservation & Watershed Management 3
  MSYM 364 Agricultural Products Processing & Handling 3
  MSYM 416 Sensors & Control Systems for Agri-Industries 3
  IMSE 206 Engineering Economics 3
 

SOIL 153

Intro to Soil Resources

4
  Personal Development Electives   12

Option Requirements

39
 
 

1. Production Option

  

39
  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 Management 3
  AECN 201 Farm & Ranch Management 4
  AECN 325 Marketing of Agricultural Commodities 3
  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 list 9
  MSYM 232 Equipment Principles (3 cr)  
  MSYM 342 Animal Housing Systems (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)  
  Production Agriculture electives Select from CASNR courses at 200 level or above. 8-13
   
 
 

Option electives
Select from:

 

0-5
  ENTO 115 Insect Biology 3
  ENTO 116 Insect Identification 1
  MATH 104 Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences 3
  MATH 106 Analytic Geometry & Calculus I 5
  MSYM 395 Internship in Mechanized Systems Management 1-3
  Business or agricultural economics course    
     
 

2. Technical Option

 

39
  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 Statics 3
  ENGM 324 Strengths of Materials 3
  MATH 106 Analytic Geometry & Calculus 5
  MNGT 245 Elementary 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   11-12
  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

  

39
  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 325 Marketing of Agricultural Commodities 3
  ASCi 210 Animal Products 3
  CHEM 110 General Chemistry 4
  FDST 205 Food Composition & Analysis 3
  MATH 104 or
MATH 106 		Calculus for Managerial & Social Sciences (3 cr) or
Analytical Geometry & Calculus (5 cr) 		3 - 5
  MNGT 245 Elementary Quantitative Methods 3
  MNGT 331 or
MNGT 361		 Operations & Resources Management or
Personnel/Human Resources Management		 3
  MSYM 363 Heat & Mass Transfer 3
  MSYM 412 Hydraulic Power Systems 3
  MSYM 465 Food Engineering Unit Operations 3
  Processing electives   7- 9
  Select courses from the following:    
    AGRO 437 Animal, Food & Industrial uses of Grain 2
    ASCI 410 Processed Meats 3
    FDST 372 Food Safety & Sanitation 3
    FDST 403 Food Quality Assurance 3
    FDST 412 Cereal Technology 3
    FDST 420 Fruit & Vegetable Technology 3
 

 

 FDST 429 Dairy Products Technology 3
    MSYM 395 Internship in Mechanized Systems Mgmt. 1 - 3
     
 

4. Business Option

  39
  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 306 Survey of Accounting I 4
  AGRO 204 or
ASCI 250 		Resource-efficient Crop Management or
Animal Management 		3
  MATH 104 Calculus for the Managerial & Social Sciences 3
  MSYM 232 Equipment Principles 3
  MSYM 342 Animal Housing Systems 3
  MSYM 452 Irrigation Systems Management 3
       
  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 303 An Intro to Money & Banking 3
  FINA 361 Finance 3
       
 

Marketing

    
  AECN 225 Agribusiness & Food Products Marketing 3
  AECN 325 Marketing of Agricultural Commodities 3
  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 Management 3
  MNGT 360 Managing Behavior in Operations 3
  MNGT 361 Personnel/Human Resource Management 3
       
  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: 		  3-4
  MSYM 395 Internship in Mechanized Systems Management 1-3
  AGRI 310 Study Tours in International Agriculture 2-5
  AGRI 388 Employment Seminar 1
  Business Course    

Total Credit Hours Required for Graduation:

128
 
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