University of Maryland
Graduate Catalog Fall 2009

Biological Resources Engineering (ENBE)

Faculty

Chair
Wheaton, Fredrick W.,

Professor
Johnson, Arthur T., Ross, David S., Shirmohammadi, Adel, Tao, Yang, Wheaton, Fredrick W.,

Professor Emeritus
Brodie, Herbert L., Harris, Lamar,

Associate Professor
Adams, Lowell W., Baldwin, Andrew H., Kangas, Patrick C., Montas, Hubert J.,

Associate Professor Emeritus
Grant, Lee P., Stewart, Larry E.,

Assistant Professor
Becker, Jennifer, Felton, Gary Kent, Schreuders, Paul D., Tilley, David R.,

Adjunct Professor
Chen, Yud-Ren, Rawls, Walter,

Instructor
Carr, Lewis E.,

Abstract

Biological resources engineers improve societies, ecosystems, and the lives and health of individuals. Specializing in systems made from, used with, or applied to living organisms, they engineer solutions involving human and animal health and safety, environmental quality, and sustainable food production. The graduate program of the Department of Biological Resources Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park provides qualified students with the multidisciplinary study and research experience they need to contribute to this exciting field. Under the personal guidance of outstanding faculty, graduate students design educational programs leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. They develop these programs within the framework of three areas of graduate study: Bioengineering, Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, and Ecological Engineering. All of the programs are tailored to meet the individual research interests and career ambitions of each graduate student.

Admissions Information

Outstanding graduates from diverse engineering, and biological and physical science backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Admission to the Master of Science program requires a bachelors degree from an accredited institution. Although admission to the Ph.D. program normally requires a masters degree, exceptionally outstanding students with a bachelors degree may enter the Ph.D. program directly. Applicants may be accepted in one of the following three categories: full graduate status, provisional graduate status, and non-degree status. Program requirements are individualized and vary with the background of the student.

Application Deadlines

 

Fall

Spring
Domestic Applicants:
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Domestic Applicant Deadlines


Applications must be received by May 31 (February 1 preferred) .


Applications must be received by October 15 (July 1 preferred) .

 


International Applicants:
Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials

IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.   

Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas

February 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1

June 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants

May 1
If Domestic Deadline is after May 1

October 1
If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials

May 15
If Domestic Deadline is after May 15

October 31
If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31
 

Application Requirements

  1. GRE General
  2. 3 Letters of Recommendation

Degree Requirements

Master of Science (M.S.)
For the thesis M.S. program, a minimum of 30 semester credit hours is required, including at least nine hours of 600-level ENBE courses, six hours of thesis research and three hours of 600-level biometrics/statistics. A non-thesis M.S. also is available requiring a minimum of 33 semester credit hours, which includes at least nine hours of 600-level ENBE courses, three hours for a required scientific paper and three hours of 600-level biometrics/statistics.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
A minimum of 60 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree is required for the Ph.D. program, including 12 hours of 600-level (or above) ENBE courses, 12 hours of dissertation research, and 9 credits of 400-level (or above) biometrics/statistics/mathematics/engineering systems modeling, of which at least 3 credits must be 600-level biometrics/statistics. Additional courses may be required, depending on the student's background.

Facilities and Special Resources

The Department of Biological Resources Engineering provides graduate students with state-of-the-art research facilities, including specialized laboratories for work on bioimaging and machine vision, biotransport and cellular engineering, human performance, wetland ecology and engineering, biotechnology and bioenvironmental engineering, geographic information systems, water quality, aquacultural systems engineering, and water resources. Graduate students also have access to computer facilities that feature engineering workstations, data acquisition hardware and software, and a wide variety of engineering software. In addition, the facilities of the College of Engineering, the Computer Science Center, the Exercise Physiology Laboratory, and Agricultural Experiment Station are also accessible. Additional off campus facilities are available for projects in human and veterinary medicine and environmental protection. Students also have access to the nearby National Agricultural Library, the National Library of Medicine, and, through cooperative agreements, to facilities of the USDA Agricultural Research Center at Beltsville and facilities of the National Institutes of Health. Arrangements can also be made to access other government agency laboratories.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Biological Resources Engineering provides financial support for the majority of its graduate students through assistantships and fellowships. Both teaching and research assistantships are available. Assistantships are provided as part of ongoing research grants, by the university, and through cooperative agreements with surrounding Federal agencies. The research activities associated with these assistantships are usually part of ongoing faculty research and may contribute to thesis or dissertation research.

Contact Information

Graduate Office
Biological Resources Engineering, 1428 An.Sci. Bldg., University of Maryland, College Park
MD  20742
Telephone: (301)405-1198
Fax: (301)314-9023
enbe-grad@deans.umd.edu

http://www.bre.umd.edu/

current URL: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/catalog/programs/printable.cfm?CODE=19

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