Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Kansas State University has a rich heritage of excellence in preparing doctorate and master’s graduate students to pursue an academic, government or industry career. The biological and agricultural engineering (BAE) department is research-oriented and committed to helping students reach their personal career goals through real-world and challenging research opportunities. BAE offers expanded knowledge and innovation in environmental sustainability, advanced biological products, and terra-machine mechanics and mechatronics. Our heritage, focusing on food and fiber production systems while conserving our natural resources, remains vital in the 21st century.
Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctorate degree program is a research-oriented curriculum designed to prepare students for advanced research and university-level academic positions in biological and agricultural engineering. The program requires 60 credit hours beyond the master’s degree, including original research of sufficient quality and importance to merit publication in refereed journals.
Master of Science
The Master of Science program is a broadly based curriculum designed to prepare students for advanced positions in the agricultural and biological engineering industry, consulting and government, as well as for further graduate studies. This degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level course/research work.
Accelerated B.S./M.S.
The accelerated Bachelor of Science in biological systems engineering and Master of Science in biological and agricultural engineering program allows a qualified junior or senior in the biological systems engineering program to apply. Up to nine credit hours taken for graduate credit can be applied toward the bachelor’s degree.
Research areas
Advanced biological products
This research focuses on utilization of bio-based materials from existing refinement processes and development of new valued-added products. Areas of emphasis include the following:
- Bio-based materials
- Co-products utilization
- Alternative bio-based fuels
- Specialty human food products
- Animal and human biotechnology
Environmental sustainability
This research focuses on conservation and preservation of natural resources to meet increasing global demands for biological products, and utilization of biological systems in sustainable food systems. Areas of emphasis include the following:
- Air quality
- Climate change
- Water resources
- Ecological systems
- Land-water interaction
Terra-machine mechanics and mechatronics
This research focuses on utilization of new machinery systems, application of technologies and the role of big data in sustainable food and fiber production systems. Areas of emphasis include the following:
- Mechatronics
- Human interaction
- Precision technologies
- Energy and power conversion
- Automated and robotic machines
Application process
Admission requirements
- Bachelor of Science degree in biological and agricultural engineering, or similar discipline (full admission)
- Bachelor of Science degree in another engineering or non-engineering discipline (provisional admission)
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- GRE scores (no minimum)
International student requirements
| Test | Minimum score |
| TOEFL iBT (internet-based test) | 79 |
| TOEFL (PBT) | 550 |
| IELTS academic test | 6.5 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) | 58 |
International applicant deadlines
- Jan. 8 for fall (August) enrollment
- Aug. 1 for spring (January) enrollment
- Dec. 1 for summer (June) enrollment
Financial assistance
The BAE department offers competitive graduate research assistantships (GRAs) and graduate teaching assistantships (GTAs), providing stipend and tuition support. Competitive research grants and contracts support GRAs and the college supports GTAs. Graduate students are also eligible for philanthropic and nationally funded graduate fellowships.
English language program (ELP)
Kansas State University offers English language graduate support courses. ELP academic advisers help students admitted to study in a degree program make the transition from the ELP into their academic departments.