Agricultural, Biosystems and Mechanical Engineering (Ph.D.)

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Program Information
The Ph.D. in Agricultural, Biosystems and Mechanical Engineering shares a common core between the department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and department of Mechanical Engineering. All students will be required to complete 14 credits of core course work shown below. Core courses will provide a broad foundation covering basic graduate concepts in A.B.M.E., compliance and research ethics. Several core courses are unique in the nation and make this program novel and highly integrated. Elective coursework will provide students with the opportunity for greater depth in a topical area and will usually be directly related to their dissertation research topic. Students entering with a Bachelor’s degree must complete 90 credits (30 coursework and 60 dissertation) and students entering with a master’s degree must complete 60 credits (20 coursework and 40 dissertation).

Students who undertake this graduate degree normally have as their goal a better understanding of the current theories, principles, issues, and problems in agricultural, biological and mechanical systems. Graduate studies improve the student’s ability to think critically and creatively, and to synthesize, analyze, and integrate ideas for decision-making and problem solving.

This program offers students an opportunity to undertake research and advanced study in specialization areas such as:

biorenewable energy and bioresource conversion technologies,
engineering of advanced precision agriculture systems used in production agriculture,
natural resources engineering for utilization and conservation of soil and water resources, and
advanced manufacturing and quality control technologies focused on composition, properties, and integrity of materials.

Course Delivery Format
The program engages students in lecture, laboratory, and in hands-on, field-based learning experiences.

Student Engagement and Support Opportunities
Financial assistance in the form of research assistantships and project assistantships is available on a highly competitive basis.

Available Options for Graduate Degrees

Doctor of Philosophy	60 Credit Plan
	90 Credit Plan

Core Requirements

ABE 763 - Instrumentation Credits: 3
ABME 790 - Seminar Credits: 1
ABME 792 - Topics (Experimental Design and Project Management for ABME) Credits: 3
ABME 898D - Dissertation Credits: 40 (60 Hour Plan), 60 (90 Hour Plan)
GSR 601 - Research Regulations Compliance Credits: 1
ME 735 - Modeling and Simulation Credits: 3
ME 735L - Modeling and Simulation Laboratory Credits: 0
STAT 541 - Statistical Methods II Credits: 3
Electives Credits: 6 (60 Hour Plan), 16 (90 Hour Plan) (Selected by the individual with committee approval.)

Additional Admission Requirements

GRE: Not required
TOEFL: Score of 550 paper-based, 213 computer-based, 79 Internet-based
IELTS: 5.5

General Requirements (PhD)

Graduate students must consult with their advisor before registering for graduate work.

For additional information see Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements .