Biosystems Engineering

Clemson's biosystems engineering program is dedicated to studying the footprints our bright ideas may leave on the Earth and developing new designs to achieve our goals and minimize our ecological impact. Students may choose between two main paths of study that include sustainable bioprocess engineering, with its basis in microbiology, and ecological engineering, with its basis in ecology. The field focuses on the sustainable production of biorefinery compounds (biofuels, bioactive molecules and biomaterials) using metabolic pathways found in nature and green processing technologies. Further, biosystems engineering encompasses the design of sustainable communities utilizing low-impact development strategies (bioretention basins, rainwater harvesting) for stormwater retention and treatment -- and ecologically sound food and energy-crop production. 

Freshmen who major in engineering at Clemson are initially admitted into our general engineering program, where you'll have a year to explore many different engineering disciplines, meet faculty from each of our engineering departments and discover which major fits your personal interests and talents. On the admissions application, you will apply as a general engineering major.

A degree in biosystems engineering opens doors to vast career opportunities ranging from biofuel production to ecological design. To prepare you, classes include engineering science, life sciences and biosystems engineering in bioprocessing, biological kinetics, heat/mass transport, hydrology and ecological engineering. 

Sustainable Bioprocess Engineering Emphasis: The sustainable bioprocessing engineering area focuses on the microbial conversion of compounds to high-value products using green processing techniques and recycling waste heat, water and nutrients. This area includes biorefinery design to produce biofuels, nutraceuticals, biomaterials, and extraction and separation of byproducts.

Ecological Engineering Emphasis: The ecological engineering track allows students to apply engineering and ecological principles to conserving and enhancing Earth's resources. Students will learn ecological designs (permeable pavement, bioswales, green infrastructure) and how to integrate biological sustainability concepts into energy, water and food systems.

Combined Bachelor's/Master's Program: With this program, you can apply eight credits of your Bachelor of Science course work toward your Master of Science in biosystems engineering, environmental engineering or bioengineering.

For the 2022 admissions cycle, Clemson has adopted a test-optional policy. Applicants are not required to submit a standardized test score to be considered for admission to Clemson for the 2022-2023 academic year.

If you choose that test scores should be used, your scores must be submitted electronically by the respective testing agency. Clemson’s institutional code for SAT is 5111, and the code for ACT is 3842. Clemson super-scores both the SAT and the ACT. For the SAT, this means that the overall total SAT score will then be derived by taking the highest of the evidence-based reading and writing/math scores.

According to The ACT, superscoring at Clemson means that we “consider a student’s highest ACT section (or subtest) scores regardless of test date. The super composite ACT score is calculated as the average of the best ACT English, Reading, Math, and Science subject scores and is used as one of multiple factors in admission and financial aid.”