Program Overview
Biosystems Engineering, M.Sc.
Overview
The Department of Biosystems Engineering offers graduate programs leading to Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The graduate programs in the department focus on applications of engineering in biological systems. Strong emphasis is placed on assisting graduate students to gain a broad range of skills and experience in conducting interdisciplinary research, in understanding the interrelationships among physical and biological factors, and in written and oral communication.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide. Admission requirements for Master's students are found in the Master's Degrees General Regulations section of the Guide.
Biosystems Engineering M.Sc. Admission Requirements
For admission into the M.Sc. program, applicants are normally required to hold a Bachelor's degree in Biosystems Engineering or equivalent from a recognized university. Applicants with degrees in related areas may be recommended for admission by the Department Head.
Degree Requirements
The M.Sc. is a research degree consisting of coursework and a thesis based on original research conducted by the student. In addition to the minimum course requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework is required, including at least 6 credit hours of courses at the 7000 level (which must include BIOE 7290) from the Department of Biosystems Engineering. The remaining 6 credit hours must be at the 3000 level or above from any department.
- Master of Science students are required to spend at least one academic session in full-time resident graduate study.
- On recommendation of the department head, the residence requirement may be waived in special cases.
Graduate Specialization in Engineering Education (GSEE)
The Department of Biosystems Engineering offers a Graduate Specialization in Engineering Education (GSEE) for the Masters of Science degree. The GSEE will require 12 credit hours of coursework and a thesis on an Engineering Education topic. The coursework requirements include:
- BIOE 7290 Biosystems Engineering Seminar 1 (3 credit hours)
- One of two engineering education courses (3 credit hours): ENG 7030 The Discipline of Engineering Education or ENG 7040 Foundations of Engineering Education Research
- One research methodologies course suitable for engineering education research design & analysis (3 credit hours) at the 5000 level or higher from the Faculty of Education or other faculties as approved by the student's supervisor
- One course at the 3000 level or higher (3 credit hours) as approved by the student's supervisor
Expected Time to Graduate
- 18-24 months
Progression Chart
All students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework approved by the faculty advisor.
| Year | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | GRAD 7300 Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 | |
| BIOE 7290 Biosystems Engineering Seminar 1 | 3 | |
| BIOE 7XXX Course designated BIOE 7000 or above | 3 | |
| Select courses designated 3000 or above from any department | 6 | |
| Thesis Proposal | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
| Year 2 | GRAD 7000 Master's Thesis | 0 |
| Total Hours | 0 |
Thesis Proposal
A thesis proposal (approximately 20 pages) is to be prepared by the M.Sc. student in consultation with the advisor/co-advisor, usually within 12 months of registration. The thesis proposal should include a statement of the thesis topic, a review of the relevant literature, the hypotheses to be tested, the proposed research methodology, and anticipated significance of the research.
Master's Thesis
A thesis must be submitted based on original research conducted by the student. The oral examination for the MSc degree, including distribution of the written thesis, will be organized by the student's advisor/co-advisor. Students are expected to present an overview of the work in 20-30 minutes and subsequently answer questions posed by the members of the examining committee.
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies 'GRAD' courses applicable to their program.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
- All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student's research or within the student's first year, whichever comes first
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration
- Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program
Courses
Biosystems Engineering
- BIOE 7040 Fluid Mechanics of Unsaturated Porous Solids (3 cr)
- BIOE 7110 Grain Storage (3 cr)
- BIOE 7140 Advanced Irrigation and Drainage (3 cr)
- BIOE 7180 Bioprocessing (3 cr)
- BIOE 7200 Bulk Solids Storage and Handling (3 cr)
- BIOE 7210 Numerical Modelling of Biosystems (3 cr)
- BIOE 7220 Advanced Machine Design Analysis for Biosystems (3 cr)
- BIOE 7230 Advanced Topics on Light-Frame Buildings (3 cr)
- BIOE 7240 Special Problems in Biosystems Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7250 Mechanical Behavior of Biological Materials (3 cr)
- BIOE 7260 Research Methods in Biosystems Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7270 Advanced Seminar in Biosystems Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7280 Advanced Topics in Biosystems Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7290 Biosystems Engineering Seminar 1 (3 cr)
- BIOE 7300 Food Process Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7310 Materials Incorporation into Soil (3 cr)
- BIOE 7320 Membrane Processes for Water and Waste Treatment (3 cr)
- BIOE 7350 Bioresource Engineering and Sustainability (3 cr)
- BIOE 7360 Biological Systems: Behaviour, Modelling and Simulation (3 cr)
- BIOE 7370 Engineering Properties of Fibres for Industrial Uses (3 cr)
- BIOE 7380 Biomaterial Science and Engineering (3 cr)
- BIOE 7400 Agro-Based Biocomposites for Industrial Applications (3 cr)
- BIOE 7410 Sustainability in the Textile Industry (3 cr)