GRADUATE STUDENT’S ADMISSION PROCEDURE
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Admission to the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering graduate program is a three-step process. First, the prospective student must be admitted to graduate standing by the University of Arkansas Graduate School. Second, the student must be accepted into the department's program which depends on transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and the following test scores
- A score of 1100 or above (verbal and quantitative) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
- A TOEFL score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based) or 80 (Internet Based). This requirement is waived for applicants whose native language is English or who earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from a U.S. institution
Finally, a member of the faculty who is eligible (graduate status of group II or higher) must agree to serve as major advisor to the prospective student.
Details concerning admission for both international and domestic students are provided in the Graduate School Handbook.
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The department offers four graduate degrees:
- Master of Science in Biological Engineering
- Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
- Master of Science in Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering
I. Master of Science in Biological Engineering or Master of Science in Biomedical Engineering
Prospective students will only be admitted to the M.S. programs provided engineering competence can be demonstrated by satisfying one of the following criteria:
a. Receipt of a B.S. degree in engineering from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accredited program or equivalent.
b. Students not possessing engineering undergraduate degrees often pursue graduate degrees in Biological Engineering or Biomedical Engineering. Students without an ABET accredited engineering degree (or equivalent) can be admitted to the program but must earn credit for the following 18 hours of coursework in addition to Master’s requirements (Additional hours may be required for prerequisites):
- A minimum of 15 credit hours of 2000 level or above of engineering courses (with course prefix BENG, CHEG, CVEG, CENG, ELEG, INEG, or MEEG) currently allowed for credit within the BENG undergraduate program.
- Minimum of 3 credit hours of 3000 level or above of BENG engineering design courses currently allowed for credit within the BENG undergraduate program.
- Specific deficit courses are to be determined in consultation with the student’s major advisor and advisory committee. Additional deficiency courses may be required for students with insufficient coursework in a critical area (such as life sciences).
II. Master of Science in Engineering
The requirements for admission to the Master of Science in engineering program within the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering are described above. This advanced degree plan offers a non-thesis option.
III. Doctor of Philosophy
Admission to the departmental aspect of the Ph.D. program depends strongly on the judgment of the individual professor who will serve as the graduate advisor. Unless the candidate has a Master of Science degree in Engineering with a thesis, however, the following admission criteria apply.
A. Students with a B.S. degree in engineering from an ABET accredited program may be considered for the Ph.D. program based on their excellent academic records and/or outstanding research experience. Minimum guidelines are a cumulative GPA of 3.5 for undergraduate coursework, and a minimum GRE score of 1200. The Departmental Graduate Committee will make a specific recommendation to the Department Head.
B. Students with both B.S. and M.S. degrees not in engineering will be required to demonstrate engineering competence by either:
1. Passing all deficiency courses (listed above under Master of Science in Biological Engineering), or
2. Upon approval by the Departmental Graduate Committee, pass a qualifying examination constructed and administered by the Committee.
Students with a non-engineering B.S. degree will not be considered for directly starting into the Ph.D. program. Instead, they need to start an M.S. program first. Exceptions must be approved by the Departmental Graduate Committee and the Department Head.
IV. Conditional Admission
Upon approval of the Graduate Dean, students that do not satisfy the GPA requirements of the UA Graduate School may be conditionally admitted to the BAEG department's graduate program if there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the student can successfully satisfy the degree requirements. In these cases the BAEG graduate committee may specify that the student obtain a stated minimum grade on certain specified courses during the first semester of study. See the UA Graduate School Handbook regarding conditional admission.
