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The Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) a subplan of the Applied Biosciences GIDP is designed to prepare students who wish to possess a graduate-level education that integrates science and engineering-based approach to provide specific controlled environments for plant productivity while optimizing resources including water, energy, space, capital and labor, and more specifically incorporate knowledge in management and business. Graduates of this track will be prepared for careers in controlled environment agriculture industry, academia and government.
The CEA is an agricultural production practice for year round continuous production of nutritionally high quality foods, with crop yields that can exceed field production by as much as 10-fold, and with the potentials to utilize local renewable energy resources, and optimize water, energy, space, capital, and labor resource use efficiency well above field traditional capabilities. This production technology, can employ crop production systems, provide harvest much less dependent of season, and can generate higher crop yields, quality, safety, nutritional value, with consistency and predictability, while utilizing less land in an environmentally friendly way.
There has been significant advancement in agriculture due to enhanced cultivars by plant breeding, minimized use of chemicals and effects of pests by integrated pest management, improved production quality, produce uniformity and reduced labor via automation and mechanization. These continuous advancements in production practices and technology have maintained an acceptable food quality and low cost food supply, however, resulted in more demand for highly educated and skilled employees. The controlled environment agriculture systems are integrated systems consisting of hydroponics, mechanization and automation, climate control, production management processes which demand continuous system monitoring and control. Thus, technical understanding and crop production skills are needed for specific crop needs and through understanding of plant and microclimate interactions are needed so the systems can be effectively operated and precisely controlled to improve growth, production quality, and resource use efficiency. This necessitates potential graduates to acquire technical, production, management, people, business skills.
Therefore, the CEA track will prepare students for rewarding employment in the controlled environment agriculture sector with technology, science and engineering, business and management oriented education and training to prepare current and future employees to meet the needs of this important industry segment to successfully compete in the global market place.
Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs
The Graduate College sponsors several Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) in addition to the many interdisciplinary possibilities available through regular graduate degree programs. GIDPs transcend departmental boundaries by facilitating cutting edge teaching and research at the nexus of traditional disciplines. The high value placed on interdisciplinary research and education is indicative of The University of Arizona's enthusiasm and commitment to fostering innovation and creativity among its faculty and students.
Graduate College/GIDP
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
The same as all Applied Biosciences track:
Students who wish to apply to the Applied Biosciences program must have the minimum qualifications:
A Bachelors (or equivalent) degree with a major in an area of biosciences from an accredited institution.
A minimum 3.0 GPA
A desire to pursue a professional career in the applied biosciences.
Admissions Process
Students should apply directly to the specific track in the program they wish to pursue. The application should be submitted online (only) via the Graduate College website (http://grad.arizona.edu). Be prepared to submit the following materials:
Scans of all transcripts (official versions will be requested if you are selected for admission)
GRE scores (recommended but not required; general test only)
Proof of English proficiency is required for any international applicant born in a country where English is not the official language.
Acceptable English Proficiency Credentials can be found at:
https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants#english-proficiency
GPAs for all undergraduate work
A one to two page statement of interests, which outlines your background (including any professional experience) and your professional goals.
You should separately arrange with two references (typically former or current professors or work supervisors) who can comment on your skills, training and potential for the Applied Biosciences. You will need to include their names and email addresses in your online application.
Required test(s):
Required GRE Subject tests: general test only (optional)
Minimum GRE Verbal: 130-170, in 1 point increments
Minimum GRE Quantitative: 130-170, in 1 point increments
Minumum GRE Written: 0-6, in half point increments
Minimum MAT:
Minimum TOEFL: 79 internet based (IBT) 550 paper based (PB) required for international students or
Minimum IELTS: 7 (no subject area below a 6) for international students
Minimum Pearson PTE Academic: 60
Minimum Minimum CEPT: 110 on Full Academic test for international students
For more information on the English Proficiency requirement, please click here
There is no funding support directly available from this program.
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
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All Tracks have the following general structure:
Science Module...................................................15 Units
Professional Preparation Module............................12 Units
Internship Module (including the Final Report)..........9 Units
Total.................................................................36 Units
Core Course Requirements:
Science Module: 15 Units Required (9 Core + 6 Electives)
Core Science Classes: Choose 9 Units
BE 575a Physiology of Plant Production under Controlled Environment, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 579 Applied Instrumentation in Controlled Environmental Agriculture, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 583 Controlled Environment Systems, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
Core Coursework for the Internship Module (9 units minimum)
ABS 593A Internship, 8 units, minimum required grade S or P
ABS 909 Master’s Report, 1 unit, minimum required grade S or P
Core Coursework for the Professional Preparation Module (2 units minimum)
BE 501 Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering, 2 units, minimum required grade A or B
CBIO 595D Scientific Writing, Presentations and Bioethics, 2 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENVS 508 Scientific Writing for Environmental, Agricultural and Life Sciences, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MSE 502 Research Proposal Preparation, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
OPTI 597B Technical writing and communication, 3 units,minimum required grade A or B
Minimum GPA in Core coursework: 3.0
Science Electives: Choose 6 Units
Courses not listed here may also be chosen but require an agreement with the Director of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Committee.
BE 513 Applied Biostatistics, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 523 Biosystems Analysis and Design, 3 units minimum grade A or B
BE 547 Sensors and Controls, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 556 Irrigation System Design, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 582 Integrated Engineered Solutions in the Food-Water-Energy Nexus, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
AME 545 Renewable Engineering Systems, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
CHEE 574 Transport Processes in Environmental Engineering, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
CHEE 577R Microbiology for Engineers, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
CHEE 581A Engineering of Biological Processes,3 units, minimum required grade A or B
EIS 597C Greenhouse Pest Management: Methods and Practice, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENVS 525 Environmental Microbiology, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MATH 522 Advanced Applied Mathematics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MATH 571B Design of Experiments, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SIE 531 Simulation Modeling and Analysis, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SIE 545 Fundamentals for Optimization, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SLHS 649 Survival Skills and Ethics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
Requirements for Elective Coursework for the Professional Preparation Module:
Elective Coursework for the Professional Preparation Module (Choose 9 to 10 units to reach a total of 12 units for the Module)
ACBS 568A Bioeconomy, Marketing and Business Principles, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ACBS 568B Bioeconomy, Marketing and Business Principles II, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ACBS 571 Risk Assessment, Management and Communication, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ABE 552 Globalization, Sustainability Innovation, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ACCT 521 Business Law for Accountants, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ALC 509 Team Organizational Leadership, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ALC 510 Entrepreneurial Leadership in Agriculture and the Life Sciences, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ALC 511 Principles and Application of Organizational Development, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ALC 522 Communicating Knowledge in Agriculture and Life Sciences, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
AREC 550 Financial Management for Agribusiness, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BIOS 675 Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BNAD 597B Advanced Consulting Projects, 3-4 units, minimum required grade A or B
CBIO 597C Grant Writing for Graduate Students,1 unit, minimum required grade A or B
CTS 595C Responsible Conduct of Research, 1 unit, minimum required grade A or B
ECON 578 Energy, the Environment, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
EHS 575 Environmental and Occupational Health, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENGR 512A Management of Technology, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENGR 514 Law for Engineers/Scientists, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENTR 506 Introduction to Entrepreneurship, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENTR 515 Strategic Planning, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENTR 548 Healthcare Entrepreneurship, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENTR 557 Project Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENTR 581A Assessing Early Stage Medical Technologies for Commercialization, 2 units, minimum required grade A or B
GRAD 595D Regulatory Issues in Laboratory Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
IMB 521 Scientific Grantsmanship, 2 units, minimum required grade A or B
LAW 695D Regulatory Science, 1 unit, minimum required grade A or B
LAW 576A Drug, Discovery, Development and Marketing Obligations, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
LAW 578A Legal and Regulatory Aspects for Health Care Delivery, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
LAW 589A Regulatory Science Case Study Project, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MCB 695E Science, Society, and Ethics, 1 unit, minimum required grade A or B
MGMT 535 International Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MGMT 538 Health Organization and Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MGMT 563 Doing Business In/With Africa, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MIS 506 Healthcare Information Systems, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MIS 578 Project Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MKTG 510 Marketing-Based Management, 2 units, A or B
MSE 502 Research Proposal Preparation, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PCOL 5 84 Fundamentals in Industrial and Environmental Health, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PHPM 506 Economic Foundations for Health Sciences, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PHPM 562 Health Services Administration, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PHPM 569 Fundamentals of Health Budgeting and Financial Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PHPM 574 Public Health Policy and Management, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PHSC 513 Health Technology Assessment, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SIE 515 Technical Sales and Marketing, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SIE 567 Financial Modeling for Innovation, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
SLHS 649 Survival Skills and Ethics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
Minimum GPA in Elective coursework: 3.0
Students need to do an oral presentation and submit a written report of the internship
See our Studnet Handbook for detailed information: https://abs.arizona.edu/current-students/student-handbook
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.