| |  | | Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering | Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1390 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108-6005 (612-625-7733; fax 612-624-3005; bbe@umn.edu; www.bbe.umn.edu).
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the General
Information section of this catalog for Graduate School requirements that apply
to all major fields.
Note: The biosystems and agricultural engineering program will change its name in 2007 and admit students for fall 2008 under its new name. At the time this catalog was published, the new name had not been finalized.
Curriculum—Areas of emphasis include
focusing on bioprocessing and food topics such as, renewable
energy, biofuels, bioproducts, bioprocessing, biorefining,
food engineering, packaged food shelf life extension, and
grain quality; environment topics such as water quality,
surface and subsurface flow, contaminant transport, animal
environment and air quality, waste and manure management,
and resource utilization; and machinery systems design
topics such as precision agriculture, biosensors, urban
land care, BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or "mad
cow disease") and slaughter equipment, and safety
engineering. Programs usually include study in at least
one other engineering discipline as well as study or research
in a biological or agricultural discipline. Students have
flexibility in planning individualized programs to support
their research interests, and courses from other disciplines
may be included for credit in the major area.
The program offers the following degrees: M.B.A.E., M.S.B.A.E. Plan A or Plan B, and Ph.D.
The master of biosystems and agricultural engineering (M.B.A.E.) is primarily a design-oriented professional degree intended for students who are already employed in engineering design positions, but the degree is also open to students who are not currently employed and students may select a coursework only option. The M.B.A.E. is normally considered to be a terminal degree; students who think they might pursue a Ph.D. would usually take the M.S., Plan A.
Graduate education in biosystems and agricultural engineering develops a strong foundation in engineering principles that are applied to problems involving biological and agricultural systems. The master of science in biosystems and agricultural engineering (M.S.B.A.E.) degree is for students with a bachelor's degree in a biological, biosystems, agricultural, or related engineering field. Emphases are outlined above. Programs usually include study in at least one other engineering discipline as well as study or research in a biological or agricultural discipline. Students can select a Plan A, or thesis program, or Plan B without a thesis.
The Ph.D. degree is for students with exceptional research and problem-solving capabilities. It should build upon a strong undergraduate program in engineering, biology, and agricultural systems, and progress in rigor to prepare the student to research advanced biosystems and agricultural engineering problems. Emphases are outlined above. Programs usually include study in at least one other engineering discipline as well as study or research in a biological or agricultural discipline.
Prerequisites for Admission—Students having lower grade point averages or having non-engineering degrees may be admitted subject to conditions agreed upon by the adviser and the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Graduate Program Committee.
Special Application Requirements—The GRE is not required, but GRE scores are highly recommended for students who do not have engineering degrees, have degrees from institutions outside the United States, or have a low GPA. Students are admitted each semester.
Key to test abbreviations (GRE, TOEFL, GMAT, MELAB).
 For an online application or for more information about Graduate School admissions, see the General Information section in this catalog, or visit the Graduate School Web site.
Courses—Refer to Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering (BBE) in University Courses for courses pertaining to the program.
Use of 4xxx Courses—Degree programs are expected to include mostly 5xxx and 8xxx courses. If the program contains more than three 4xxx courses in the M.S. program, or more than two 4xxx courses beyond the courses taken for the master's degree in the doctoral program, students and their advisers are asked to include a letter of explanation when the degree program is submitted for approval. |
M.B.A.E Degree Requirements | | Students are required to complete a minimum of 14 course credits in the major field, 6 course credits in a related field or a minor, and a design project of a minimum of 10 credits. The design project is expected to be of professional caliber. As an alternative, students may opt for a coursework (30 credits) only program. The coursework program must be approved by the biosystems and agricultural engineering director of graduate studies and the chair of the graduate program committee.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—Students must present a seminar and pass a final oral exam. Students must also meet all Graduate School requirements regarding the final exam.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A minor consists of at least 6 credits of BBE courses numbered 4xxx or higher. | M.S.B.A.E. Degree Requirements | | The M.S.B.A.E. may be completed as either a Plan A (thesis) or Plan B (project). Plan A students must complete a minimum of 14 course credits in the major field, 6 course credits in a related field or a minor, and 10 thesis credits. Plan B students must complete a minimum of 14 course credits in the major field, 6 course credits in a related field or a minor, 10 other credits, and at least one Plan B project. All coursework programs must be approved by the biosystems and agricultural engineering director of graduate studies and the chair of the graduate program committee.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—Students must present a seminar and pass a final oral exam. Students must also meet all Graduate School requirements regarding the final exam.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A minor consists of at least 6 credits of BBE courses numbered 4xxx or higher. | Ph.D. Degree Requirements | This degree is intended to move students to the cutting edge of research in their subject matter area. Students develop skills that enable them to define problems or research questions, plan research, conduct research and/or lead research efforts, analyze data, and communicate research results to a variety of audiences. All Ph.D. degree programs must include a minimum of 45 graduate course credits beyond the B.S. and a minimum of 24 doctoral thesis credits (BBE 8888). A minimum of 12 course credits must be in a minor field or in a supporting program. Ph.D. degree programs should contain a minimum of 9 course credits in a concentrated area of scientific or mathematical theoretical development that is related to the student's research.
Language Requirements—None.
Final Exam—Students must pass preliminary written and oral exams, write a dissertation, and pass a final oral exam. Students must also meet all Graduate School requirements regarding the final exam.
Minor Requirements for Students Majoring in Other Fields—A minor consists of at least 12 credits of BBE courses numbered 4xxx or higher. |
Faculty | | For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>. Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).
Professor
Mrinal Bhattacharya, SM
Charles J. Clanton, SM
Forrest T. Izuno, SM
Larry D. Jacobson, SM
Kevin A. Janni, SM
Theodore P. Labuza, Food Science and Nutrition, SM
R. Vance Morey, SM
John L. Nieber, SM
Rongsheng R. Ruan, SM
John M. Shutske, SM
William F. Wilcke, SM
Bruce N. Wilson, SM
Associate Professor
James J. Boedicker, M2
Jonathan Chaplin, SM
Philip R. Goodrich, SM
Gary R. Sands, SM
Ulrike W. Tschirner, SM
Ping Wang, SM
Jun Zhu, SM | | | | | |
