• Who to contact



• How to be admitted to the Graduate Program
• The Department's view of the "Graduate Student Experience"
  (i.e.- what would you be getting yourself into?)

Who to Contact

Specific financial aid information and more complete information about graduate study in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department can be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Prospective students who have a special area of research interest and can identify a faculty member with a similar interest may wish to contact that faculty member directly.

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How to be admitted to the Graduate Program

Admission to the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering graduate program involves two steps. The prospective student must be accepted to the University of Kentucky Graduate School, as well as into the Department's program. To find out more about applying to the Graduate School check here. The following materials must be sent to the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering's Director of Graduate Studies:

• A copy of your completed and signed application.



• A copy of your transcripts from each institution of higher learning you have attended (an unofficial copy is fine).



• A copy of your GRE or GMAT score report, if available



• Two letters of recommendation.

University of Kentucky Requirements

The University of Kentucky requirements, application details, and admission procedures can be found here.

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Requirements Admission to the Department's program is based on:

• A minimum grade point average of 2.8/4.0 with special emphasis given to courses in the science areas.



• GRE scores (at least 1500).



• Letters of recommendation (not required by the University).



• The availability of a major advisor to work with the prospective student.

A prospective student's records will be reviewed by the Department's Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee forwards its recommendation to the Director of Graduate Studies concerning admission.

Students wishing to pursue an advanced degree who are temporarily ineligible for regular graduate admission status may be recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies for provisional admission status for one or more of the following reasons:

• Missing transcripts or other requirements for admission such as letters of recommendation;



• Temporary waiver of the Graduate Record Examination (not to exceed one semester);



• Deficiencies as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Deficiencies are often related to requests for admission from students with degrees in areas other than engineering. The basic philosophy of the Department is that each graduate student should have the equivalent of a B.S. degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering prior to receiving an advanced degree. The B.S. equivalent is based on the completion of certain basic science and engineering courses including physics, chemistry, calculus, statics, dynamics, strength of materials, thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics and electricity. Other courses pertaining specifically to Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering may also be required. The Departmental Graduate Committee may specify that the applicant be provisionally admitted, contingent on the completion of certain courses at which time the student's record will again be evaluated.

Similarly, students not satisfying the 2.8 GPA requirements may be provisionally admitted if there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the student can successfully complete the degree program. In these cases, the Graduate Committee may specify that the student obtain a stated minimum grade on certain specified courses during the first semester of study. Provisional status is permitted for a maximum of one full-time semester or up to 12 hours after which the work will be reviewed, and, within 30 days into the following semester, and on recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies, the status will be moved automatically from provisional to regular program status, or removed from the provisional status entirely.

Prospective students may also seek to be admitted in a post-baccalaureate status. Admission to this status may be granted to an applicant who demonstrates promise but has not qualified for admission to a degree program. Students may take courses for graduate credit but may not apply more than 9 hours of credit with a grade of A or B earned in the post-baccalaureate status to the degree program leading to an advanced degree. All transfers of credit hours to a graduate program must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Dean.

An application for admission to The Graduate School as a post-baccalaureate graduate student should be on file in the Admissions Office at least 30 days in advance of the registration date for the term in which the student plans to enroll.

Post-baccalaureate students who wish to apply for a graduate program must have a 3.0 grade point average on all work attempted as post-baccalaureate students. They should write The Graduate School offices indicating they wish to apply and stating the semester for which enrollment in the program is planned. Permission to enter any graduate class as a post-baccalaureate student will be granted only if the student meets the prerequisites and if space is available.

The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering does participate in the University Scholars Program.

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The Department's view of the "Graduate Student Experience" (i.e., what would you be getting yourself into?)

The Department desires that each of its graduate students receive a "total educational experience". This involves more than just taking courses. It encompasses the growth of intellectual development and maturity, and always has the goal of service to others. Certainly, course work is important, but social activities, the exploration of the unknown and the exchange of ideas with fellow students and faculty are also part of the "total educational experience". This opportunity exists for graduate students in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky if they are willing to make the necessary commitments and accept the challenges and demands of this type of graduate education. Students are expected to become involved in all departmental functions including teaching, research, extension and social activities, so that they may obtain the best possible education.

The core of graduate education in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering lies in obtaining technical expertise in an area of specialization. Specifically, the objectives of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering graduate program are for its students to:

• Develop the ability to comprehend and apply engineering principles for solving problems in research, development and design.



• Obtain sufficient understanding of the mathematical, physical and biological sciences for comprehension of literature in these and related fields.



• Acquire the skills required to use precision instruments, techniques and computers for solving problems in their area of interest.



• Achieve the technical competence necessary to teach college level courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.



• Possess the capacity to conduct an adult education program such as in Cooperative Extension activities.

In the attainment of the above objectives, the graduate student will combine courses in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, other engineering fields, the physical sciences, and the biological sciences in developing his or her program of study. The advanced degrees, except for the non-thesis M.S. option, are primarily research degrees awarded for significant creative research or design accomplishment, and not for the completion of a specified number of courses. Therefore, the program concentration is on a significant thesis or dissertation problem completed under the supervision of the graduate faculty of the Department. This does not mean that the course program is not important. Certainly, strong course support is essential if the thesis or dissertation problem is to be properly undertaken and completed.