Graduate program leading to the Master of Science with a major in biosystems engineering is available to graduates of a recognized curriculum in engineering, mathematics, or one of the physical or biological sciences. The program emphasizes the application of engineering to agricultural and other biological systems. Major focus areas of the program are machinery systems; environmental quality and resource conservation; instrumentation, sensor, and control systems; and bioprocessing. Depending upon the applicant’s academic background and interest area within the program, prerequisite courses may be required.

Options Available

Thesis Option
Project Option

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

To the Office of Graduate Admissions submit online application, application fee, and official transcripts. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is recommended but not required for admission to the program. Scores from the general GRE test are given different weights by various faculty advisors, so applicants are encouraged to directly contact their desired faculty advisor to determine the importance of this indicator to the success of their application. The online application procedure will also direct the applicant to submit an updated resume, three letters of reference (or three Graduate Rating Forms) from persons capable of assessing the applicant’s suitability for graduate work, and a statement of professional goals, research interests, and reasons for applying (less than one page). Each applicant will be advised about any prerequisite courses before entering a program. The student’s program of study must be approved by his/her advisory committee and must comply with the requirements of the Graduate Council. Prerequisite courses are selected based on the standards described in the BESS Graduate Student Handbook.

Academic Standards

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.

Thesis Option

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• ESS 503  (1 credit hour), the last enrollment must be in the student’s final semester before graduation (3 credit hours)
• BSE 519  and two other graduate courses in biosystems engineering technology (BSET) and biosystems engineering (BSE) (9 credit hours)
• Coursework in computational methods selected from mathematics (MATH), computer science (COSC), statistics (STAT), or any course containing appropriate computational components that may be approved by the department (6 credit hours)
• Program Electives, chosen in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee (6 credit hours)
• BSE 500  Thesis (6 credit hours)

Non-Course Requirements

• A significant aspect of graduate education beyond formal courses and thesis projects is active participation in the professional community which exists within academic departments at universities. Student/faculty seminars are one of the professionally rewarding activities of the community. Accordingly, all graduate students are encouraged to participate in ESS 503   and other departmental seminars regardless of whether they are registered for seminar credit.
• Students must pass a final oral examination covering the thesis, related areas, and graduate coursework.

Project Option

Credit Hours Required

33 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• ESS 503  (3 times each for 1 credit hour), BSE 519  and two other graduate courses in biosystems engineering technology (BSET) and biosystems engineering (BSE) (12 credit hours)
• Coursework in computational methods selected from mathematics (MATH), computer science (COSC), statistics (STAT), or any course containing appropriate computational components that may be approved by the department (6 credit hours)
• Program Electives, chosen in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee (6 credit hours)
• Coursework in special emphasis area, chosen in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee (6 credit hours)
• Capstone Experience (project and report, typically BSE 530 ) (3 credit hours)

Non-Course Requirements

• A significant aspect of graduate education beyond formal courses and thesis projects is active participation in the professional community which exists within academic departments at universities. Student/faculty seminars are one of the professionally rewarding activities of the community. Accordingly, all graduate students are encouraged to participate in ESS 503  and other departmental seminars regardless of whether they are registered for seminar credit.
• 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.
   

Five-Year BS-MS Program – Biosystems Engineering Major, MS

The department offers especially qualified students a Five-Year BS/MS program with a BS degree (major in biosystems engineering) and an MS degree (major in biosystems engineering). The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 6 credit hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their BS and MS degrees at the University of Tennessee. This program is designed for students who intend to complete their MS degree at the University of Tennessee, as other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the BS degree. Significant components of the program are as follows:

• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.40 in required coursework. Conditional admission to the five-year program may be granted after completion of 65 credit hours of coursework meeting requirements of the BS degree, with at least 24 credit hours in technical courses required for the major. Full admission may be granted after the completion of 96 credit hours of required coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.40 and at least 30 credit hours of technical coursework required by the major. Approval of such coursework is decided on by the BSE Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
• Admission must be approved by the department and the Graduate School. The approval process begins with application to the BSE Undergraduate Program Coordinator.
• Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking courses that receive credit for both the BS and MS degrees. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the BSE Graduate Program Director. Students admitted to the program must also request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit and must follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School within the BSE program.
• Students will not be eligible for assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.