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The Accelerated Master's Program in Biosystems Engineering (BEAMP) is designed to enable exceptional undergraduate students the ability to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in as few as five years.
The Biosystems Engineering graduate 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. Biosystems engineers use engineering, math, and life science to design systems to manage soil and water resources, produce food, develop biological products, and manage and analyze large data sets. They work on projects involving the wise use of energy, materials, biochemicals, and recyclable wastes. They combine technical knowledge, computer techniques, and control systems for a deeper understanding of agriculture and biology. Our BEMS Graduate program may be designed to fit almost any need in the general field of the application of engineering principles to the solution of agricultural and biological engineering problems. The program flexibility allows students, in consultation with their undergraduate and graduate advisors, the opportunity to choose a field of study and research specifically suited to their needs from the following areas: Bioproducts; Biosensors; Controlled Environment; Mechanization & Automation; Remote Sensing & Precision Agriculture; Sensors & Controls; Renewable Energy; Water Resources & Irrigation systems.
UA AMP policies:
BE-AMP Students may complete up to 12 units of 500-level coursework approved by the BE Academic Program Manager, which will count towards their BS degree and the BEMS degree program requirements. Students admitted into the BEAMP program will be considered undergraduates until they complete their Bachelor's degree requirements. Students will be charged at the undergraduate rate during the final year of their BS and retain eligibility for undergraduate scholarships. An Undergraduate Enrollment in Graduate Courses (link is external) form must be submitted to the Registrar with the needed signatures to enroll in the 500-level course.
BEAMP students are required to apply for the BEMS program in the final semester of their BS program. After the student's BS degree is conferred (with a Cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher), their BEMS application will be processed for admittance and granted graduate student status. After admittance, students will receive permission to enroll in their remaining MS program Graduate course requirements. The 500-level coursework completed in their BS will automatically apply to the BEMS 30-unit degree requirement. BEAMP students who complete 12 units in the final year of their Bachelor of Science degree must complete 13 units of Graduate level course work and 5 units of either Report or Thesis to meet the MS degree 30 unit requirements. BEMS students will be charged graduate tuition rates for these remaining 18 units.
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
College of Engineering
University of Arizona - Main - Tucson
Candidates are NOT required to complete Qualifying exams to qualify for the BEAMP or BEMS program.
BEBSAMP Undergraduate and BEMS Graduate Scholarships, sponsored by the Biosystems Engineering Department, Biosystems Engineering Alumni, College of Ag. & Life Sciences and the College of Engineering are available through Scholarship Universe.
Graduate Tuition scholarships and Fellowships sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, the University of Arizona Graduate College and the Biosystems Engineering Department are 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. 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.
Fall: January
Spring start- October: Candidates who wish to start in Spring, must have a secured research project with one of the Biosystems Engineering Faculty prior to admittance.
Application deadlines may be extended; 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
30
Students in the BEAMP program may complete up to 12 units of graduate-level coursework that applies to their BS and the BEMS program requirements. AMP students must complete the BEMS application in their final semester in the BEAMP program. The student's BEMS application will be processed as soon as the student's Cum GPA of 3.0 is verified and their UA BS degree is conferred.
Minimum credit requirements
AMP candidates must meet the 3.3 Cum GPA requirement to qualify for the BEAMP program. Admitted BEAMP students must maintain a Cum GPA of 3.0 or higher to qualify for the BEMS program.
The Graduate coursework must be approved by the BE Academic Program Manager-Dava Renee Jondall.
BEMS 30 credit hours, which consist of at least 25 non-thesis units and 5 Thesis (910) units or 5 Report (909) units.
BEBSAMP students must complete a minimum of 30 units consisting of the following:
All coursework must be in courses graded A, B, or C except for house-numbered courses, i.e., 592, 593, 599.
NOTE: BEAMP students enrolled in Other Engineering degree programs and students who are enrolled in related STEM majors, need to meet with their BS Major Academic advisor to determine how the BEAMP Graduate course requirements will be applied to their BS major degree requirements.
3 units of an Elective course. BEAMP and BEMS students must receive approval from the BE Academic Program Manager or BE Major Professor prior to enrolling.
AMP students must complete the BEMS graduate application in their final semester in the BEBSAMP program. All BEMS applicants must meet the BEMS Cum GPA requirement of 3.0. The student's BEMS graduate application will be processed as soon as the student's Cumulative GPA is verified and their Bachelor of Science degree is conferred.
Graduates may elect to start their BEMS program in the Summer or Fall terms or Spring term, students must meet with the BE Academic Program Manager prior to applying to the BEMS program in their final semester of the BEAMP (undergraduate program).
Spring start: Candidates who wish to start in Spring, must have a secured research project with one of the Biosystems Engineering Faculty prior to admittance into the AMP.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.
This is an Accelerated Master's Program (AMP).
The Graduate College offers exceptional undergraduate students in selected majors the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in as few as 5 years. The Accelerated Master's Program is for the top undergraduates in participating majors who plan to continue in a graduate program in the same, or closely related, UA discipline.
Programs will select from among a qualified pool, based on the following criteria. Individual programs may have more stringent or additional requirements: