The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biosystems Engineering is designed to prepare graduates for advanced careers that require demonstrated research skills and comprehensive knowledge of the discipline. The program is suitable only for those students who have shown outstanding ability and potential in the field, either by high quality work in a Master of Science degree or by exceptional achievement in a Bachelor of Science degree and additional technical and professional accomplishments. During teaching and training experiences, the student is expected to demonstrate in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and skills essential to the dissemination of that knowledge. Additionally, the student must be able to plan, conduct, manage, and publish independent, original research via the dissertation and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, students must meet the requirements specified below.
Admission
To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in biosystems engineering, an applicant must take the Graduate Record Examination General Test and have the scores sent to the department.
Regular Status. Admission to the doctoral degree program in biosystems engineering with regular status may be granted by the department, subject to the availability of resources and to the approval of the dean.
To be admitted to the doctoral program in biosystems engineering, an applicant should have a master's degree and must:
- Have either a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or a master's degree in engineering.
- Demonstrate evidence of ability and resolution to complete a doctoral program, as attested by the department upon review of the applicant's academic record, test scores, experience, reference statements, professional qualifications, proposed studies, and other relevant information.
Admission to the doctoral program without a master's degree, or the equivalent thereof, requires special approval by the department and the dean.
Provisional Status. Admission to the doctoral degree program in biosystems engineering with provisional status may be granted by the department, subject to the approval of the dean:
- To an applicant qualified for regular admission except that collateral courses are deemed necessary, or
- To an applicant whose record is incomplete.
A student who is admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program without a Master of Science degree in engineering may be required to complete collateral courses, in addition to the courses that are required for the doctoral degree. If collateral courses are required, they will be specified on the admission form. Biosystems Engineering 490 and 890 may not be used to satisfy collateral course requirements.
The provisional status will be changed to regular status when the conditions specified on the admission form have been met, as determined by the department and approved by the dean.
Guidance Committee
The student's guidance committee consists of at least four regular faculty members and is appointed by the department chairperson in consultation with the student and the appropriate faculty members, and with the approval of the dean. At least two members of the guidance committee shall be from the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and at least one member shall be from a different department preferably in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources or the College of Engineering. The chairperson of the guidance committee will be appointed by the department chairperson after consultation with the student and the person recommended to chair the committee.
Guidance Committee Report
The student's program of study shall be submitted for approval to the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering and to the dean by no later than the end of the student's second semester of enrollment in the doctoral program. The subject matter and instructor must be specified for every independent study, special problems, or selected topics course that is included in the student's approved program of study.
The student's program of study must be approved in order for the student to continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program beyond the second semester.
Modification of Program
The following changes are not permitted in a student's approved program of study:
- Adding or deleting a course for which a grade has already been assigned under any of the three grading systems (numerical, Pass–No Grade, or Credit–No Credit).
- Adding or deleting a course for which grading was postponed by the use of the DF–Deferred marker.
- Adding or deleting a course which the student dropped after the middle of the semester and for which “W” or “N” or “0.0" was designated.
- Adding or deleting a course during the final semester of enrollment in the doctoral degree program.
Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biosystems Engineering
The student must:
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Complete a minimum of 38 additional course credits (excluding BE 899 or BE 999) beyond the bachelor’s degree, at the 400-level or higher, approved by the student’s guidance committee. The specific courses that a student is required to complete will depend on prior academic background in relation to the selected area of study and research, and must include the following: |
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BE |
815 |
Experimentation and Instrumentation in Biosystems Engineering |
3 |
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BE |
820 |
Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering |
1 |
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BE |
835 |
Modeling Methods in Biosystems Engineering |
3 |
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BE |
892 |
Biosystems Engineering Seminar |
1 |
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Complete one course in a biological science at Michigan State University at the 400-level or above. The courses applied to the bachelor’s program cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. An approved list of courses will be maintained by the department. |
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Complete one course in quantitative analysis or mathematics at Michigan State University at the 400-level or above. The courses applied to the bachelor’s program cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. An approved list of courses will be maintained by the department. |
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Complete one course in statistics at Michigan State University at the 800-level or above. The courses applied to the bachelor’s program cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. An approved list of courses will be maintained by the department. |
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Complete a minimum of 24 credits of BE 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research. Students may not exceed 36 credits of BE 999. |
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Pass the doctoral qualifying examination. |
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Pass the doctoral comprehensive examination within five years of the date of first course enrollment that counts to the student’s program of study and at least six months prior to the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The examination may be retaken once. |
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Submit at least two papers to refereed journals before scheduling the oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The student must be the primary author, and the manuscripts must be based on work completed during the Ph.D. program. The guidance committee will recommend a list of appropriate refereed journals. This requirements can be waived under extraordinary circumstances at the request of the advisor or guidance committee and approval by the graduate director and department chairperson. |
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Pass the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation. The examination may be retaken once. |
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Provide to the major professor, and to the department, an electronic copy of the dissertation approved by ProQuest. |
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Academic Standards
- Grades. The student must earn a grade of 2.0 or higher in each course in the approved guidance committee report, including collateral courses and courses accepted in transfer. The student must repeat any course on the approved program for which the grade earned was below 2.0.
- Cumulative Grade–Point Average. The student must maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.00 in courses in the approved guidance committee report, with the exception of collateral courses and courses accepted in transfer.
- Deferred Grades. A student may accumulate no more than three deferred grades (identified by the DF–Deferred marker) in courses other than independent study.
- Probational Status. A student is placed on probational status if either or both of the following conditions apply.
- The student's cumulative grade–point average for the courses in the approved guidance committee report is below 3.00.
- The student has accumulated more than three deferred grades (identified by the DF–Deferred marker) in courses other than those courses the primary focus of which is independent study
A student in probational status is not allowed to carry more than 7 credits per semester or to enroll in any course the primary focus of which is independent study.
- Retention In and Dismissal From the Program.
- Cumulative Grade–point Average. Should a student's cumulative grade–point average fall below 3.00 after having completed half of the courses in the approved guidance committee report, the student may be enrolled in probational status in the doctoral degree program for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student's cumulative grade–point average is 3.00 or higher, the student may continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program. If at the end of the additional semester the student's cumulative grade–point average is still below 3.00, the student will be dismissed from the program.
- Deferred Grades. Should a student accumulate more than three deferred grades (identified by the DF–Deferred marker) in courses other than independent study, the student may be enrolled on probational status in the doctoral degree program for one additional semester. If at the end of the additional semester the student has no more than three deferred grades, the student may continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program. If at the end of the additional semester the student still has more than three deferred grades, the student will be dismissed from the program.
- Academic Progress and Professional Potential. Each student's academic progress and professional potential are evaluated spring semester of each year. A student who in the judgment of the faculty is making satisfactory academic progress and has professional potential may continue to enroll in the doctoral degree program. A student who in the judgment of the faculty is not making satisfactory academic progress or lacks professional potential will be dismissed from the program.