Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at OSU treats each person seeking an advanced degree as an individual, and everyone is encouraged to develop a program of study based on his or her personal and professional goals. Two degrees are offered: Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.

We have four general areas for study: Biomechanical Systems, Bioprocessing and Biotechnology, Environmental and Natural Resources, and Food Processing. None of the Department’s degrees have a set curriculum requirement. Students work with their advisor to develop a plan of study that includes courses from engineering, mathematics, computer science, statistics, agriculture and related disciplines that will suit their particular needs and interests. Individual research is the most important element in our graduate program. It allows students to develop a close working relationship with the faculty, a hallmark of our program. We pride ourselves on our excellent research labs.

Graduates of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering program at OSU find a variety of jobs in universities, private companies and government agencies. Our graduates can be found in almost every state in the United States and many foreign countries.

How to Apply

To complete the application, you will need to attach copies of transcripts from all colleges you have previously attended. You will also be prompted to enter TOEFL and/or GRE test scores and the names of three references. As a part of the online application, you will be asked to upload your résumé or CV and and a one page personal statement of academic objectives. Through this application system there is no need to mail anything to the BAE department.

If you have graduated with a B.S. in engineering from an ABET accredited program (most in the USA), we do not need a GRE.

If you have graduated from a foreign university, GRE scores are not required but are helpful in evaluating applications. There is no minimum required GRE score. We only use the score together with your transcripts and references. However, we seldom grant foreign students financial assistance unless they report their GRE scores.

The OSU TOEFL Institution Code is 6546 and the BAE Department Code is 99.

The OSU GRE Institution Code is 6546 and the BAE Department Code is 1602.

When to Apply

Applications for admission to the BAE Graduate Program are processed as they come in. There is no deadline.

• We accept applications from US citizens and residents up to the first day of the semester. However, the sooner you apply, the better your chances of receiving financial assistance.
• Foreign students without visas are encouraged to apply three months before the start of the semester to allow for the time needed to obtain a visa after admission.

The BAE Department does not respond to inquiries concerning the availability of financial assistance before a Graduate Application for Admission has been submitted.

Admission Requirements

Usually students with an B.S. degree from an ABET accredited Biosystems or Agricultural Engineering program (most U.S. programs) are admitted automatically if their grade point average is 3.0 or higher. Persons with a grade point average less than 3.0 will be considered, particularly if they have two or more years of professional engineering experience. Since BAE is a broad discipline, we look favorably on degrees from other engineering fields. Usually, persons with degrees in Mechanical, Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering are admitted without condition. Electrical and Industrial Engineering majors may be required to take one or more “make-up” undergraduate classes.

Students with undergraduate degrees in closely-related scientific fields such as Chemistry, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics are also invited to apply for admission to our graduate program. Such applications are evaluated on an individual basis, and specific plans of study are developed for each student. Students with a Bachelor of Science who have already taken calculus through differential equations, physics, chemistry and biology will typically have two to four additional undergraduate engineering courses required in addition to their normal graduate work.

We are a tradition-based engineering department. People with degrees in agriculture, the life sciences and biology-based biotechnology programs, who have not taken college level calculus, physics and at least some applied technology (electronics, fluid mechanics, material sciences, etc) will usually not be accepted. Graduates from three-year undergraduate programs (some foreign institutions) will not be accepted.

Students with only a B.S. will be considered for the M.S. degree program. To be considered for the Ph.D. program, a student should have a MS. We do not generally allow a student to obtain a Ph.D. without obtaining a M.S. first. It is common for students who successfully complete their M.S. to be admitted to the Ph.D. program.

Teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified applicants. In the past we have provided financial support to about 90 percent of new graduate students with engineering degrees from American institutions. Only about 10 to 20 percent of students with degrees from foreign schools are offered financial aid.