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The Biosystems Engineering Department welcomes candidates to apply to our Biosystems Analytics & Technology PhD graduate programs. The Biosystems Engineering Departmental academic programs focus on biological systems and water-related issues such as irrigation and water quality, and biosystems applications, including computer modeling, sensors and controls, and systems design and evaluation. Here are sample curricula for BAT students pursuing an PhD.
Our Biosystems Analytics & Technology graduate degree programs are intended to prepare students for careers in the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is the intersection of science, technology, and analytics. Meeting the grand challenges of tomorrow will require a convergence of new ideas, approaches, and technologies from diverse disciplines. Our Biosystems Analytics & Technology graduate programs builds upon the candidate's undergraduate foundation laid in the sciences, technology, and analytics. Graduate students in the BAT graduate program will be able to use those foundational tools to further develop their skills in meeting technology and data challenges in precision agriculture, remote sensing, water management, statistical informatics, data-mining, and cyberinfrastructure development. Given massive unstructured “big data” streaming from sensors, controls, cloud repositories, and the interactive web, data-driven discovery is now possible.
The goal of the BAT graduate program is to create an inspirational and transformative training experience that integrates intellectual merit with “real world” hands-on experiences across disciplines (genomics, precision agriculture, data science, and engineering technology); scales (molecules to models); and trainees (from undergraduate students to graduate students).
This program will train students to take a systems-level approach to understanding the relationships across food, water, and energy for a sustainable future by providing skills in sensors and remote sensing (data acquisition), statistics and bioinformatics (data management and analytics), and applying these tools to solve real-world problems.
The purpose of the Biosystems Analytics & Technology graduate program is to serve the growing field of technology/biology/analytics. The program will prepare students for an array of career choices from academia to industry, with resume-ready, real-world experience in combining biological, physical, and data sciences with technology and ability to apply these tools to environmental, ecological, biological, agricultural, and human systems through their electives.
Candidates who are seeking an Engineering degree should apply to our Biosystems Engineering graduate degree program.
The Biosystems Engineering Department focuses on biological systems and water-related issues such as irrigation and water quality, and biosystems applications, including computer modeling, sensors and controls, and systems design and evaluation. The Biosystems Engineering Department is developing innovative systems to sustainably feed an increasing population through cutting-edge technology, sustainable practices, and the drive to make a difference in the world. We build sustainable solutions that create resilience among society, the environment, and the economy. We are currently working on many projects, including the following:
Optimizing growth conditions in controlled environment agriculture
Finding alternative fuel and feed sources
Irrigating crops sustainably
Analyzing big data sets generated from using sensors and controls and looking at metagenomics
Our graduate students are developing innovative systems to tackle quality of life issues regarding food and water availability. Equipped with engineering, life science, and data science expertise, our students are prepared to address quality of life challenges and create resiliency among society, the environment, and the economy.
The Biosystems Engineering Department offers the following graduate programs: Accelerated Master of Science (for Current UofA BEUndergraduate students), Biosystems Engineering Master of Science Degree and Biosystems Analytics & Technology Master of Science Degree, the Biosystems Engineering Doctor of Philosophy Degree, and the Biosystems Analytics & Technology Doctor of Philosophy Degree.
Our Biosystems Engineering graduate degree programs can be designed to fit almost any need in the general field of the application of science, technology, or engineering principles.
The flexibility of our graduate programs allows international and domestic students, in consultation with their advisors, to develop programs specifically suited to their needs. The University of Arizona is a diverse institution and therefore provides courses in many different areas to support specific and general applications. Interdisciplinary desires of students are met by taking classes across the broad spectrum available in the College of Engineering and the College of Agriculture and other divisions on campus.
There is an opportunity for study and research in many fields, including the following:
Controlled Environment Agriculture; Water Resources; Biometry and Biosystems Informatics; Food, Bioproducts, and Renewable Energy, precision agriculture, statistical informatics, data-mining, and cyberinfrastructure development.
Candidates who wish to complete an Engineering Degree should apply to either the Biosystems Engineering MS program or the Biosystems Engineering Ph.D. program. The Biosystems Engineering degree programs prepare graduates to design engineering solutions, as well as, utilize technology and data to solve real-world problems in biological field of precision agriculture, remote sensing, water management, statistical informatics, data-mining, and cyberinfrastructure development.
Candidates who wish to complete a Science-based Technology degree should apply to either the Biosystems Analytics & Technology MS program or Biosystems Analytics & Technology Ph.D. program. The Biosystems Analytics & Technology MS and Ph.D. programs prepare graduates to use technology and data to solve biological problems related to precision agriculture, remote sensing, water management, statistical informatics, data-mining, and cyberinfrastructure development.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Required test(s):
International Candidate English Proficiency Evaluation Exam scores:
ALL Candidates are required to send test scores to the University of Arizona Graduate College institutional code 4832.
Please note that 1) the Department is not able to provide a guarantee of funding and 2) the International College requires that all international students provide a Financial Guarantee (see the Proof of Financial Resources located on http://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/admissions-requirements/international-students).
Graduate Tuition scholarships and Fellowships sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the University of Arizona Graduate College and the Department of Biosystems Engineering may be available on a competitive basis.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for institutional funding offered through the UA Graduate College, including Graduate Access Fellowships, UA/SIGP Fellowships, and NASA Scholarships, inaddition to UA Scholarship Universe. Domestic students should submit a Free Application for Federal Student Loans, FAFSA, to qualify for institutional funding http://fafsa.gov/. Detailed information on UA financial aid may be found at http://grad.arizona.edu/financial-resources.
Domestic Applicants:
International Applicants:
Application deadlines may be extended for candidates attending The University of Arizona or Alumni of The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona alums and current UA students need to contact Dava Jondall at davaj@arizona.edu to request permission to extend the application deadline.
International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.
4832
ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 0117, 0119, 0102, 0103, 0107, 0122, 0112, 0114, 0199, 0224, 0226, 0205, 0206, 0212, 0308, 0409, 0405, 0502, 0605, 0631, 0705, 1004, 1001, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1107, 1109, 1199, 1301, 1399, 1501, 1502, 1602, 1615, 1616, 1612, 1699
63
For a PhD in Biosystems Analytics & Technology students must complete a minimum of 63 units, consisting of the following:
1 unit BE 597A (Effective 08-2020; for prior catalogs, can be substituted with 1 unit or BE 593 or Elective course)
1 unit of BE693 (section #under Major Professor/Committee Chair)
2 units of BE501
3 units of BE 513
3 units of BE 534
3 units of STAT571B
3 units of ENVS 508 (students who completed technical writing may request to replace this requirement with an elective course)
4 units of 596B (non-presenting)
4 units of BE 596A (presenting) Any units exceeding the 4 units of BE 596A will not be listed on the student’s Plan of Study.
9-12 units of elective courses perapproval of Major Professor
18 units (minimum) of Dissertation units (BE920)
9-12 units in the minor, the number of units depends on the Minor Department requirements
9-12 units of elective courses perapproval of Major Professor
To be considered for admissions, candidates must complete their graduate application through the University of Arizona Graduate Admissions online Application system, which includes uploading copies of Transcripts, and/or English Proficiency Exam Scores (International applicants only), as well as Letters of Recommendation and supplemental materials.
BAT PhD students are required to complete a minor. The minor subject area may be taken inside or outside of the BE Department, BUT it must be in a different area than the major focus. The student may choose one or two minor areas, which are determined in consultation with his/her Major Professor. The department in which the minor is sought determines specific requirements. The Graduate College requires that the minimum number of minor coursework is nine (9) units, but most minor programs require twelve (12) units of coursework.
The following are some suggested minors for BAT students: Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Controlled Environment Agriculture, Ecology, Health Informatics, Informatics, Management Information Systems, Math, Microbiology, Natural Resources, Remote Sensing, Renewal Natural Resources, Science Information Systems, and Statistics.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
| Program-level Information | |
|---|---|
| Application Acceptance Rate | 66.67% |
| Avg. Time-to-degree (years) | n/a |
| Department-level Information | |
| Enrollment Percent Male | 72.97% |
| Enrollment Percent Female | 27.03% |
| Enrollment Percent International | 18.92% |
| Enrollment Percent URM | 13.51% |