The Master of Science degree, biosystems engineering major, has both thesis and non-thesis options. Students are required to choose between these options in their first semester of study, in consultation with their major professor. Once an option is selected, it may only be changed with written approval of both the major professor and department head.
Requirements
Thesis Option
Applicants accepted into the program must complete at least 30 graduate credit hours to earn a degree. Of these 30 credit hours, 20 must be in courses numbered 500 or above (6 credit hours of thesis plus 14 credit hours of other courses). ESS 503 must be taken three times during the course of the program, the last of which must be in the student’s final semester before graduation. Other specific requirements for the 30 credit hours are
| |
Credit Hours |
| ESS 503 (3 times – 1 hour), BSE 519 , BSE 543 , and other major subject course work1 |
12 |
| 2Course work in computational methods |
6 |
| Program Electives |
6 |
| Thesis BSE 500 |
6 |
| |
Total 30 |
|
1Includes all BSET and BSE graduate courses.
2Mathematics, computer science, statistics, or any course containing appropriate computational components that may be approved by the department.
|
In addition to completing the 30 graduate credit hours, master’s students must pass a final oral examination covering the thesis, related areas, and graduate course work.
Non-Thesis Option
A non-thesis option in biosystems engineering is available to qualified students. Applicants accepted into the program must complete at least 33 graduate credit hours to earn a degree. Of these 33 credit hours, 22 must be in courses numbered above 500. ESS 503 must be taken three times during the course of the program, the last of which must be in the student’s final semester before graduation. Other specific requirements for the 33 credit hours are listed below.
| |
Credit Hours |
| ESS 503 (3 times – 1 credit hour), BSE 519 , BSE 543 , and other major subject course work1 |
12 |
| 2Course work in computational methods |
6 |
| Program Electives |
6 |
| Course work in special emphasis area |
6 |
| Capstone Experience (project and report, typically BSE 530 ) |
3 |
| |
Total 33 |
|
1Includes all BSET and BSE graduate courses.
2Mathematics, computer science, statistics, or any course containing appropriate computational components that may be approved by the department.
|
In addition to completing the 33 graduate credit hours, non-thesis students must pass a comprehensive written final examination covering the graduate program, including the capstone experience. At the discretion of the candidate’s committee, an oral examination may also be required.
The advisory committee approves the research problem. Satisfactory completion of this requirement requires a written, original research report that is acceptable to the student’s committee.
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