MS Agricultural Engineering

MS agricultural engineering photoProgram Description

The M.S. in Agricultural Engineering degree provides an opportunity for learning advanced data analyses skills and original research presentation skills. Problem definition skills are also stressed. The MS in Agricultural Engineering will preserve and continue the enduring legacy of Agricultural Engineering research at the University of Georgia.

The M.S. in Agricultural Engineering is oriented toward executing engineering solutions for feed, fiber and food production problems and/or postharvest processing problems. Problems addressed by this degree are generally at or beyond the field scale; however, solution approaches frequently begin at the bench scale level. The M.S. in Agricultural Engineering enables students to span the study of both through their coursework, Master’s thesis (thesis option M.S.), or Master’s project (non-thesis option M.S.) in two distinctive areas: Food Systems Engineering, and Natural Resource Management.

Admission

M.S. requirements

Program of Study

THESIS OPTION

The thesis option is provided for students wishing to receive professional training via coursework integrated with research training through the successful completion of a thesis. The M.S. in Agricultural Engineering requires a minimum of 33 semester hours in the Program of Study, which consists of:

  • A minimum of 24 semester hours of coursework, which must include:
    • 21 hours of graduate-level coursework, including
      • 9 hours selected from one of the Agricultural Engineering emphasis course lists.
      • 12 hours from UGA courses open only to graduate students and exclusive of thesis (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis) and research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research, and ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).
    • 1 hour of ENGR 8950, Graduate Seminar*
    • 1 hour of GRSC700, GradFIRST
  • A minimum of 6 hours of master’s research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research) or project-based research (ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research). A typical student’s research hours will exceed this minimum; however, at most 6 hours of ENGR 7000 or ENGR 7010 may be listed on the program of study.
  • 3 hours of thesis preparation and writing (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis)

* Only 1 hour of Graduate Seminar may apply on the program of study. Students are strongly encouraged to continue regular attendance at speaker series presentations even if not formally registered in the seminar.

The thesis option is provided for students wishing to receive professional training via coursework integrated with research training through the successful completion of a thesis. In the MS Thesis Option, all coursework is selected consistent with specific degree and emphasis area requirements in coordination with the Student’s Faculty Advisor and approved by the student’s Advisory Committee on the Program of Study.  To receive the M.S. degree, each student is required to present a satisfactory research proposal approved by the student’s advisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator and pass a final examination and defense of the research thesis.

NON-THESIS OPTION

The non-thesis option for M.S. in Engineering degree is available for students who wish to emphasize professional training without performing a research-based thesis. This degree option is suitable for students who are interested in engineering as a second major, undergraduates currently enrolled in double dawgs pathway, mid-career professionals, non-traditional students who are currently employed in engineering-related professions.  The M.S. in Agricultural Engineering with a non-thesis option requires a minimum of 33 semester hours in the Program of Study, which consists of:

  • A minimum of 30 semester hours of coursework, which must include:
    • 27 hours of graduate-level coursework, including
      • 15 hours selected from one of the Agricultural Engineering emphasis course lists.
      • 12 hours from UGA courses open only to graduate students and exclusive of thesis (ENGR 7300, Master’s Thesis) and research (ENGR 7000, Master’s Research, and ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).
    • 1 hour of ENGR 8950, Graduate Seminar*
    • 1 hour of GRSC700, GradFIRST
  • 3 hours of project-based research (ENGR 7010, Project-Focused Masters Research).

For the M.S. non-thesis option, the program of study will include course work that is consistent with specific degree and emphasis area requirements that is approved by the program’s Graduate Coordinator (Dr. XQ Wang). Each student is required to complete a three-credit-hour Master’s project (ENGR 7010) under the supervision of the faculty project advisor. The student needs to identify an appropriate graduate faculty in his/her degree program to serve as faculty project advisor for his/her Master’s project.  In collaboration with their faculty mentor, students must define a project that is both well-structured and feasible within a single semester. Students are expected to dedicate 5-10 hours per week to the project. The project should focus on a topic relevant to civil, environmental, agricultural, or mechanical engineering, leading to a tangible outcome, such as the design of an engineering component, analysis of design alternatives, data analysis and interpretation, development of software, or a similar product. As part of the project requirements, students must submit a project report that adheres to the formatting guidelines of the MS thesis. The report should be submitted to the faculty mentor, the ECAM graduate coordinator, and the CENGR graduate office.

Students elect their MS option at the start of their programs.  In the event a student wishes to change their degree option during their program, the student must request a change in degree objective. Students successfully petitioning to change their previously elected MS option must 1) complete at least two full-time semesters in their new option before they are eligible for graduation, 2) adequately complete any prior work to which they committed or for which they were supported under assistantship in their prior option, and 3) after option change start and complete either the MS project requirement (ENGR 7010) or MS thesis research requirement (ENGR 7000/7010, 7300). Only students in the thesis option are eligible for the College assistantship support.

Completion of the M.S. requirements for all programs in the College of Engineering fulfill all requirements of the University of Georgia Graduate School. No grade below C will be accepted in the program of study. To be eligible for graduation, a student must maintain a 3.0 (B) average on the graduate transcript and a 3.0 (B) average in the program of study.

As a requirement of the M.S. in Agricultural Engineering degree, students must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours (thesis option) or 15 credit hours (non-thesis option) selected from one of the emphasis areas listed below. Students will work with their graduate advisor to select the most appropriate specialty area and coursework to ensure breadth of understanding as well as mastery of knowledge in a specific subject area. Emphasis courses will be reviewed each academic year and updated as needed to reflect new areas in the field. In addition to completing 9 credit hours selected from the list below, students may work with their graduate advisor to develop an interdisciplinary plan of coursework drawing from the extensive graduate course offerings available at UGA.

Agricultural Engineering Emphasis Course List

Food Systems Engineering
  • BIOE 8490 Advanced Biomaterials
  • BCHE 8150 Heterogeneous Reactor Design and Bio-Catalysis
  • ENGR 6350 Introduction to Finite Element Analysis
  • CVLE/MCHE 8160 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
  • ELEE 6210 Linear Systems
  • ELEE 6220 Feedback Control Systems
  • ELEE 6230 Sensors & Transducers
  • ELEE 6235 Industrial Control Systems
  • ELEE 6250 Advanced Microcontrollers
  • ELEE 6540 Applied Machine Vision
  • ELEE 8240 Instrumentation Programming
  • ENGR 6490 Renewable Energy Engineering
  • CVLE(MCHE)(LAND) 6660 Sustainable Building Design
  • ENGR 6910 Foundations for Engineering Research
  • ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering
  • ENGR 8180 Advanced Mass Transfer
  • ENGR 8930 Optimization Theory & Engineering Applications
  • FDST 6011 Food Processing I
  • FDST 6012 Food Processing II
  • FDST 6013 Food Processing III
  • FORS 6530 Wood Properties & Utilization
  • HORT/CRSS 6430 Plant Physiology
  • MCHE 6650 HVAC Systems for Buildings and Industry
  • MCHE 8170 Advanced Heat Transfer
  • POUL/FDST 6860&L Poultry Processing
  • STAT 6315 Statistical Methods for Researchers
Natural Resource Management
  • CVLE 8110 Environmental River Mechanics
  • CVLE 8130 Mechanics of Jets and Plumes
  • CVLE 8140 Transport and Mixing in Natural Flows
  • CVLE/MCHE 8160 Advanced Fluid Mechanics
  • CVLE 8420 Geomechanics
  • CVLE 8460 Soil Improvement
  • CRSS 6600 Soil Physics
  • ELEE 6230 Sensors & Transducers
  • ELEE 8240 Instrumentation Programming
  • ENGR/GEOG 6161&L Environmental Microclimatology
  • CVLE(MCHE)(LAND) 6660 Sustainable Building Design
  • ENGR 6490 Renewable Energy Engineering
  • ENGR 6910 Foundations for Engineering Research
  • ENGR 8103 Computational Engineering
  • ENGR 8220 Microfluidic Transport Phenomena
  • ENGR 8930 Optimization Theory & Engineering Applications
  • ENVE 6410 Open Channel Hydraulics
  • ENVE 6435 Natural Resources Engineering
  • ENVE 6440 Computer Modeling in Water Resources
  • ENVE 6460 Groundwater Hydrology for Engineers
  • ENVE 6470 Environmental Engineering Unit Operations
  • ENVE 6450 Engineering Hydrology and Hydraulics
  • MCHE 6590 Fluid Mechanics II
  • MCHE 6650 HVAC Systems for Buildings and Industry
  • MCHE 8710 Engineering Properties of Animal and Plant Materials: Form & Function
  • STAT 6315 Statistical Methods for Researchers
  • WASR 6500 Quantitative Methods in Hydrology
  • WASR 6700L Hydrology, Geology & Soils of Georgia

 



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