Minors in Agricultural and Biological Engineering
A student pursuing a master’s degree in a field other than ABENG may earn a minor in ABENG by completing at least 9 credits of 4XX or 5XX ABE courses. No more than a total of 3 of the minimum credits may be earned in 49X or 59X courses.
A minor in ABENG for a Ph.D. student must consist of no less than 15 credits of 4XX or 5XX ABE courses. No more than a total of 6 of the minimum credits may be earned in 49X or 59X courses. If the student received a master’s minor in the same field as is being proposed for a Ph.D. minor, the 15 credits taken must be above and beyond those used for the master’s minor. At least one faculty member from the minor field must be on the candidate’s Dissertation committee.
Degrees in Intercollege and Dual-Title Degree Programs
As an alternative or addition to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in ABENG, a student may pursue a graduate degree in an intercollege or dual-title degree programs and be advised by a faculty member in the ABE Department. For example, a number of students in the intercollege Environmental Pollution Control (EPC) program and the dual-title Operations Research (OR) program have been advised by faculty members in ABE. The most recent dual-title program available to ABENG students is the International Agriculture and Development (INTAD). These programs are offered under the supervision of appropriate interdepartmental or intercollege committees.
Students in these programs should consult with the person listed under the major program heading in the Graduate Bulletin for information regarding admission, course selection and degree requirements. When students in such programs are advised by ABE faculty, they must be familiar with, and adhere to, the administrative policies detailed in this handbook. In general, the academic policies also apply to these students, but may be superseded or supplemented by policies promulgated for the students’ specific majors. Students are required to give a seminar on their thesis research and attend all ABE departmental seminars. The required seminar presentation may be in a departmental or program series other than ABE.
Additional information about the EPC, INTAD, and OR can be found at (1) Environmental Pollution Control (EPC) (2) International Agriculture and Development (INTAD) (3) Operations Research (OR) and Operations Research program.
Dual-Title M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and International Agriculture and Development
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.
Graduate students with research and educational interests in international education may apply to the dual-title program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and International Agriculture and Development. The goal of the dual-title program in ABENG and INTAD is to enable graduate students from ABENG to acquire the knowledge and skills of their primary area of specialization in ABENG, while at the same time gaining the perspective and methods needed for work in international agriculture.
Graduate study in this program seeks to prepare students to assume leadership roles in science, engineering, outreach, and project management anywhere in the world. Students acquire a broad perspective on how to apply their research findings in the context of the broader international community. Thus, the dual-title will allow students to master their field of specialization from an international perspective so that they can effectively engage in agricultural development activities within various countries and regions.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in ABENG and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the INTAD dual-title program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the INTAD Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in INTAD prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program.
Degree Requirements for the Dual-Title M.S.
To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the M.S. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title M.S. in INTAD, listed on the INTAD Bulletin page. Up to 6 credits of INTAD approved courses can be applied to fulfilling ABENG program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.
Degree Requirements for the Dual-Title Ph.D.
To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the Ph.D. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title Ph.D. in INTAD, listed on the INTAD Bulletin page. Some courses may satisfy both ABENG program requirements and those of the INTAD program. Up to 6 credits of INTAD approved courses can be applied to fulfilling ABENG program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s Ph.D. committee.
The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from ABENG and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the INTAD program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may service in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both ABENG and INTAD. Dual-title graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed by one semester beyond the normal period allowable.
In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of an ABENG and INTAD dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the INTAD Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may service in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is not also a member of the Graduate Faculty in INTAD, the member of the committee representing INTAD must be appointed as co-chair. The INTAD representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.
Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in ABENG and INTAD. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn a Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, approved by the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.
Dual-Title M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Operations Research
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in GCAC-208 Dual-Title Graduate Degree Programs.
Graduate students with interests in operations research may apply to the dual-title program in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Operations Research. The goal of the dual-title program in ABENG and Operations Research is to enable graduate students from ABENG to acquire the knowledge and skills of their primary area of specialization in ABENG, while at the same time gaining the perspective and methods needed for work systems analysis and modeling. Graduate study in this program seeks to prepare students to utilize the tools, techniques, and methodology of operations research, while maintaining a close association with areas of application. Operations research is the analysis--usually involving mathematical treatment--of a process, problem, or operation to determine its purpose and effectiveness and to gain maximum efficiency.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply and be admitted to the graduate program in ABENG and The Graduate School before they can apply for admission to the dual-title degree program. After admission to their primary program, students must apply for admission to and meet the admissions requirements of the OR dualtitle program. Refer to the Admission Requirements section of the OR Bulletin page. Doctoral students must be admitted into the dual-title degree program in OR prior to taking the qualifying examination in their primary graduate program.
Degree Requirements for the Dual-Title M.S.
To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the M.S. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title M.S. in OR, listed on the OR Bulletin page. Up to 6 credits of OR approved courses can be applied to fulfilling ABENG program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s advisory committee.
Degree Requirements for the Dual-Title Ph.D.
To qualify for the dual-title degree, students must satisfy the degree requirements for the Ph.D. degree, listed on the Degree Requirements tab. In addition, students must complete the degree requirements for the dual-title Ph.D. in OR, listed on the OR Bulletin page. Some courses may satisfy both ABENG program requirements and those of the OR program. Up to 6 credits of OR approved courses can be applied to fulfilling ABENG program requirements. Final course selection must be approved by the student’s Ph.D. committee.
The qualifying examination committee for the dual-title Ph.D. degree will be composed of Graduate Faculty from ABENG and must include at least one Graduate Faculty member from the OR program. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. There will be a single qualifying examination, containing elements of both ABENG and OR. Dualtitle graduate degree students may require an additional semester to fulfill requirements for both areas of study and, therefore, the qualifying examination may be delayed on semester beyond the normal period allowable.
In addition to the general Graduate Council requirements for Ph.D. committees, the Ph.D. committee of an ABENG and OR dual-title Ph.D. student must include at least one member of the OR Graduate Faculty. Faculty members who hold appointments in both programs’ Graduate Faculty may serve in a combined role. If the chair of the Ph.D. committee is also not a member of the Graduate Faculty in OR a member of the Graduate Faculty in OR, the member of the committee representing OR must be appointed as co-chair. The OR representative on the student’s Ph.D. committee will develop questions for and participate in the evaluation of the comprehensive examination.
Students in the dual-title program are required to write and orally defend a dissertation on a topic that is approved in advance by their Ph.D. committee and reflects their original research and education in ABENG and OR. Upon completion of the doctoral dissertation, the candidate must pass a final oral examination (the dissertation defense) to earn the Ph.D. degree. The dissertation must be accepted by the Ph.D. committee, the head of the graduate program, and the Graduate School.
