Skip to main content

Graduate Programs

Think and Do more with a graduate degree from BAE

MS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Program and Career FocusThe Master of Science in Biological and Agricultural Engineering (MS) is intended for students interested in advanced research in biological engineering. The MS degree is a thesis-based degree for those individuals who want to pursue an research-oriented degree beyond the Bachelor of Science. Students are required to write a thesis and defend it at the final oral examination. A minor is optional.See NCSU Libraries’ repository of BAE Theses.
ConcentrationsEngineering – Admission to this concentration requires an engineering degree in biological engineering, agricultural engineering, or a related engineering discipline with a solid foundation in the engineering sciences.

Systems Analysis – Admission to this concentration does not require an engineering background.  Students who will be attracted to this concentration will have a strong background in science and mathematics, a methodical approach to problems, and an innate desire to understand how things fit together. Selection of the Biological and Agricultural Systems Analysis Concentration at the MS level will be appropriate for students with a BS degree in a STEM field that complements the expertise of the research faculty in this concentration such as microbiology, data science, computer science, climate science, or engineering technology. Students’ background would also include at least one semester of calculus and at least one semester of statistics.
Areas of SpecializationChoose your area of specialization:
Bioprocess Engineering
Controlled Environments for Agriculture
Data Analytics and Integrated Modeling
Ecological Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Precision Agriculture and Machine Systems
Sustainable Waste Management
Minimum GPA to graduate3.0
Total hours to graduate30 semester hours of graduate credit, six of which may be thesis research: Our research programs are diverse so selection of courses is decided by the student and committee to support the research project and interests/goals of the student.The minor should complement the major coursework and must conform to the rules of the program offering the minor.
Required hours of 500-level courses or higher20
Maximum hours transferred from NDS status at NCSU or from another institution12
CoursesView full course list

MS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering (ONLINE)

Program and Career FocusThe Masters of Biological and Agricultural Engineering online degree is a distance education degree focused toward environmental and ecological engineering. Designed for the working professional, the flexible program has no advisory committee, no final exam and no seminar requirement.
Distance EducationYes

Are you interested in a Graduate Certificate? Learn more.
Minimum GPA to graduate3.0
Total hours to graduate30
Degree Requirements24 of the 30 hrs must be at the 500 level or above. Three credits of math, biomathematics or statistics at the 400-level (or greater) are required. At least 60% of the courses on the Plan of Work must be BAE courses.
Maximum hours transferred from NDS status at NCSU or from another institution12

Ph.D. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering

About the Doctoral ProgramThe Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biological and Agricultural Engineering is pursued by outstanding students with an intense interest in independent study and research.It consists of advanced coursework, a written and oral comprehensive preliminary examination, extended and in-depth research, a written dissertation, and a final oral defense of the research.

See NC State Libraries’ repository of BAE Dissertations.
ConcentrationsEngineering – Admission to this concentration requires an engineering degree in biological engineering, agricultural engineering, or a related engineering discipline with a solid foundation in the engineering sciences.

Systems Analysis – Admission to this concentration does not require an engineering background.  Students who will be attracted to this concentration will have a strong background in science and mathematics, a methodical approach to problems, and an innate desire to understand how things fit together. Selection of the Biological and Agricultural Systems Analysis Concentration at the PhD level will be appropriate for students with a BS and/or MS degree in a STEM field that complements the expertise of the research faculty in this concentration such as microbiology, data science, computer science, climate science, or engineering technology. Students’ background would also include least one semester of calculus and at least one semester of statistics.
Areas of SpecializationBioprocess Engineering
Controlled Environments for Agriculture
Data Analytics and Integrated Modeling
Ecological Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Precision Agriculture and Machine Systems
Sustainable Waste Management
Minimum GPA to Graduate3.0
Total Hours to Graduate72 (54 for students with a previous master’s degree): Our research programs are diverse so selection of courses is decided by the student and committee to support the research project and interests/goals of the student.A minor is required. The minor should complement the major coursework and must conform to the rules of the program offering the minor.
Residency Requirement1 year

What else adds value to our degrees?