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The primary objective of the SBB track is to prepare students for jobs as research professionals in the field of bioenergy, biofuels, and novel agricultural systems research as part of a sustainable regional and global bioeconomy. Students will be interested in research towards selecting and improving appropriate feedstock; producing feedstock in a sustainable manner; researching conversion of the feedstock to biofuels, bioenergy and value-added coproducts; and in developing techno-economic and sustainability models to evaluate paths to commercialization and socioeconomic impacts. Students completing the SBB track will seek employment in public or private research organizations (including universities) that conduct research in these fields; private companies (from bioenergy startups to established multinationals in the existing energy industries) that are interested in sustainable bioenergy research and implementation; governmental agencies that regulate the biofuels industry; and in nonprofit organizations that evaluate the environmental and societal impact of these industries. Just as the other PSM-ABS emphases, the SBB track will provide a rigorous but student-tailored and student-centered science training that is complemented by integration of important knowledge from the disciplines of management, economics, business practices, and law. Just as students in the existing tracks, SBB students will complete an internship at a company (preferably in the Tucson-Phoenix corridor) or at a UofA lab appropriate for their career goals, in order to obtain invaluable on-the-job training, experience and knowledge. This real world know-how obtained in the internship is unique and cannot be emulated in the classroom nor by taking on-line courses. As part of their graduate program, students will prepare, present and defend an internship report in lieu of a thesis (ABS is a non-thesis MS degree). This report will describe the field of research the student was engaged in; details their contributions to this field; and discusses future directions such research may take. Students graduating in the SBB program will typically do research during their professional career “at the bench” (including the “virtual bench” of the computer, in case of research in socioeconomic modeling), with the perspective of eventually managing a laboratory at a university or in industry. With knowledge gained in business and legal fields, our trained scholars can also become involved in the business side of the bioenergy industry, becoming project managers, regulatory agency employees, marketing and analysis professionals.
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
Students who wish to apply to in the Applied Biosciences -Professional Science Master's degree 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
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 PSM in 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
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
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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36
In common with other ABS tracks, the SBB track requires the successful completion of 36 units (credit hours), within the course of a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 6 years.
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 Coursework Requirements
Core Coursework for the Science Module (9 units minimum)
BE 523 Biosystems Analysis and 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
CHEE 581A Engineering of Biological Processes, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
EIS 536 Agro-Ecology, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLS 548A Plant Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLS 549A Plant Genetics and Genomics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLS 575A Physiology of Plant Production under Controlled Environment, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
Core Coursework in the Internship Module:
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
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.
ACBS 556 Aquaculture, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 513 Applied Biostatistics, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 534 Biosystems Analytics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 555 Soil and Water Resources Engineering, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 556 Irrigation Systems Design, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 558 Soils, Wetlands and Wastewater Reuse, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 579 Applied Instrumentation for Controlled Environment Agriculture, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BE 583 Controlled Environment Systems, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BIOC 565 Proteins and Enzymes, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BIOC 568 Nucleic Acids, Metabolism and Signaling, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BIOS 576A Biostatistics in Public Health, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BIOS 576B Biostatistics for Research, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
BME 510 Biology for Biomedical Engineering, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ECOL 553 Functional and Evolutionary Genomics, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
ECOL 575 Freshwater and Marine Algae, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
ECOL 600B Fundamentals of Ecology, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
ENVS 501 Sustainable Management of Arid Lands & Salt-Affected Soils, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MCB 516A Statistical Bioinformatics and Genomic Analysis, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
MCB 573 Recombinant DNA Methods and Applications, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
MCB 580 Introduction to Systems Biology, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLP 528R Microbial Genetics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLP 550 Principles of Plant Microbiology, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLP 560 Advanced Plant Biology, 4 units, minimum required grade A or B
PLS 539 Methods in Cell Biology and Genomics, 3 units, minimum required grade A or B
PSIO 572 Quantitative Modeling of Biological Systems, 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 Student 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.