September / October, 2004

You asked for it. Now it is here!
Announcing the arrival of our:

TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
A new Bachelor of Science degree program at the
Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering,
Michigan State University

During the late 1990's, Ag Expo exhibitors and others expressed a critical need for a 4-year undergraduate technology program serving the agriculture and natural resource industries. After extensive evaluation of potential employers’ needs, the Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University developed a new program called Technology Systems Management (TSM).

TSM is designed for students that aspire to be practical, “hands on” problem solvers in our food and natural resource industries. Prospective students should have an affinity for physical sciences, computers, and technology; plus an interest in biological systems. Students in the program will develop a strong technical background tempered by an overview of business and economics. Graduates can expect to find employment as managers of processing and production facilities, technical sales representatives, service and marketing managers for equipment manufacturers and service providers, or government and university research technicians.

The TSM program is designed to prepare graduates to respond to changes in technology and will lead in transferring new technologies to business and society. Students will learn to apply these technologies in areas such as:

• environmental systems,
• food technology,
• forest resource management,
• precision agriculture.

Technology Systems Management is a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program focusing on the application and management of technologies such as:

• geographic information systems (GIS),
• global position systems (GPS),
• remote sensing,
• artificial intelligence,
• information technology,
• automation, and controls.

The Technology Systems Management degree from Michigan State University is unique among land grant university technology programs. It begins with four electrical courses during the freshman and sophomore year and continues to build on that knowledge through technology courses in the students’ junior and senior years. The result is that students are more qualified in areas of basic electricity, automatic controllers, microprocessors and GIS/GPS systems.

The curriculum is flexible and will allow students from both all backgrounds to develop a program to meet their personal career objectives. Technology field offers great opportunities for both women and minorities.

The 4-year curriculum consist of the university core requirements (24 credits), math and physical science (18 credits), ten TSM courses ( 33 credits), six courses in the areas of economics, management, business and communications (19 credits), a cognate in a biological area of the student’s selected interest (15 credits), and 11 credits of free electives.

For more information on the TSM program visit us at http://www.egr.msu.edu/age/TSM/
or contact our program advisor:

Dr. Gary R.Van Ee
226 Farrall Hall
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824
517-353-4508

Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Michigan State University
A.W. Farrall Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1323
(517) 355-4720

Questions or comments contact: webmaster

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September 30, 2004