Undergraduate Minor

The Minor in Sustainable Bioproducts Science and Technology, which is administered by the Department of Forestry, is designed to prepare students to pursue a career, or graduate degrees in renewable wood-based bioproducts. Upon graduation, students will be academically and professionally well positioned in acquiring employment in companies or government departments whose focus is green building construction and furnishings, bioproducts engineering, structural design, and other green bioproducts employment opportunities. Students will be prepared for graduate studies in biomaterials and bioproducts.

The minor is available as an elective to students enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.

Students who plan to apply to the program should consult the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Forestry. 

Requirements for the Minor in Sustainable Bioproducts Science and Technology

Complete 19 to 21 credits from the following: 

1.	Both of the following courses (6 credits):
	FOR	414	Renewable Wood Products						3
	FOR	479	Wood and Engineered Composites Science and Technologies						3
2.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	CHE	468	Biomass Conversion Engineering						3
	FOR	212	Introduction to Sustainable Bioproducts						3
	Biosystems Engineering and Chemical Engineering students must take CHE 468 and BE 469.
3.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	BE	332	Engineering Properties of Biological Materials						3
	CMP	222	Statics and Strengths of Materials						3
	FOR	427	Biomass and Bioproducts Chemistry						3
	MSE	320	Mechanical Properties of Materials						3
4.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	CMP	322	Structural Systems						3
	CMP	491	Special Topics in Construction Management						3
	MSE	426	Introduction to Composite Materials						3
	MSE	465	Design and Application of Engineering Materials						3
	Students choosing CMP 491 must enroll in the section on Green and Energy Efficient Residential Constructions.
5.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
	BE	469	Sustainable Bioenergy Systems						3
	FOR	335	Socioeconomics of Sustainable Bioproducts						3
	Biosystems Engineering and Chemical Engineering students must take CHE 468 and BE 469.
6.	One of the following professional internships (1 to 3 credits):
	CMP	493	Professional Internship in Construction Management						3
	EGR	393	Engineering Cooperative Education						1
	FOR	493	Professional Internship in Forestry						1 to 3
	The internship requirement can also be met by completing the internship course in the student’s major department, but must be geared towards biomaterials and bioproducts and the course content and overall plan must be approved by the advisor for the minor in the Department of Forestry. The internship requirement can be met at any time during the student’s academic program.