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Program Details

Graduate Program: Biosystems Engineering (MS) - Accelerated Master's Program

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Biosystems Engineering (MS) - Accelerated Master's Program  
Program Description

The Biosystems Engineering Department Accelerated Master of Science Degree program offers students the 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.  The flexibility of the program allows students, in consultation with their advisors, to develop programs suited to their needs.

Through the Biosystems Engineering Accelerated Masters Program (BEMSAMP), BEBS majors can leverage their undergraduate work in Biosystems Engineering into a graduate degree through the investment of one additional year of coursework. During the BEBS student’s senior year, the student may complete up to 12 units of graduate-level coursework which will be applied to the BEBS degree and the BEMSAMP degree. AMP students must complete the BEMS graduate application in their final semester in the BEBSAMP program, the student's BEMS graduate application will be processed as soon as the student's BEBS degree is confered.Spring Graduates may elect to start their BEMS program in the Summer or Fall terms, students must notify BE Department Professional Advisor prior to completing BEMS application.

Students who choose this option must meet the University 3.3 GPA requirements.  The BEBS students, who wish to apply to this program, must receive permission from the Department Professional Advisor.

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Biosystems Engineering

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.

Engineering Administration

 
College

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

College of Engineering

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Dava Renee Jondall
520-621-1753
Graduate Program Coordinator
Dava Renee Jondall
520-621-1753
Director of Graduate Studies
Kamel Didan
520-621-8514
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Annie Prisbrey
520-621-0119
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements

Candidates who wish to apply must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. UA majors in the UA Biosystems Engineering B.S. program
  2. Meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirements of 3.3
    • Candidates who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements applications will not be considered for review.
  3. Complete the GRE Exam before starting the BEMS program.
  4. Upload 3 letters of recommendation
  5. Applicants must upload unofficial pdf versions of all transcripts when submitting their application in our GradApp system. 
  6. International students must follow the Graduate College language test requirements.

 

 
Standardized Tests

Required test(s):

International Language test:

International candidates must meet the UA Graduate College Requirements International Student for admittance:https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/requirements/international-applicants. TOEFL scores: Internet-Based 79; Computer-Based 213, Paper Based 550

ALL Candidates are required to send test scores to the University of Arizona Graduate College institutional code 4832. https://grad.arizona.edu/admissions/admin/test-scores

 
Funding Opportunities

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.  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.

 
Admissions Deadlines

UA BEBS Domestic Applicants:

  • Fall:April 30
  • Spring: October 1
  • Candidates seeking funding should apply before the recommended deadlines

UA BEBS International Applicants:

  • Fall: April 30
  • Spring: October 1
  • Candidates seeking funding or Visa Extention, should apply before the recommended deadlines.

Deadlines may be extended for candidates who are currently attending The University of Arizona, or Alumni of The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona alumni and current UA students need to contact Dava Jondall at davaj@email.arizona.edu to request permission to extend the application deadline.

 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 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

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

30 

Core Coursework Requirements

BEAMP programs may complete up to 12 units of Gradaute level course work that will apply towards the BEBS and the BEMS programs. AMP students must complete the BEMS application in their final semester in the BEBSAMP program, the BEMS application will be processed as soon as the student's BEBS degree is conferred.

Miniumum credit requirements

BEBS 128 credit hours wich includes up to 12 units of graduate level course work.  Graduate Course work must be approved by the BE Professional Advisor.

BEMS 30 credit hours, which consist of at least 25 non-thesis units and 5 Thesis (910) units or Report (909).

AMP students must complete a minimum of 30 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 BE 696A (presenting)
  • 2 units of BE 501
  • 3 units STAT 571B
  • 12 units of BE courses (limit of 3 units of house-numbered courses, i.e., 592, 593, 599)
    • AMP students may choose to complete a 1-unit lab rotation (BE 593) in their senior year
  • 6 units of an Elective course (per Major Professor’s approval)
  • 5 units of either BE 910 Thesis (thesis option) or BE 909 Graduate Report (non-thesis option) under his/her Major Professor’s section number

 

All coursework must be in courses graded A, B, or C except for house-numbered courses, i.e., 592, 593, 599.

 

 
Elective Coursework

6 units of an Elective course approved by the BE Professional Advisor or Major Professor.

 
Additional Requirements

AMP students must complete the BEMS graduate application in their final semester in the BEBSAMP program, the student's BEMS graduate application will be processed as soon as the student's BEBS degree is confered.Spring Graduates may elect to start their BEMS program in the Summer or Fall terms, students must notify BE Department Professional Advisor prior to completing BEMS application.

AMP students must complete the GRE exam prior to start of the BEMS program.

Spring Graduates may elect to start their BEMS program in the Summer or Fall terms, students must notify BE Department Professional Advisor prior to completing BEMS application.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Additional Information

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:

  • Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student's GPA falls below 3.30 at the time s/he has completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission.
  • Completion of at least 12 earned units of undergraduate course work in the major at the UA.
  • Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units in the major.
  • Completion or near completion of general education requirements.
  • Submission of a graduate application and payment of a graduate application fee.
  • Demonstration of the maturity necessary for success in an accelerated, highly competitive program.
  • Expectation to complete the undergraduate degree within four years. The undergraduate degree requirements must be completed before the student is eligible to have the Master's degree awarded.
  • Interested students should verify departmental requirements as they may have additional or more stringent requirements than the Graduate College minimum requirements.

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/BEMSBEMSAMP
Last revised 18 May 2022
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