Agricultural & Biological Engineering, PhD
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Opportunity exists for specializing in computational science and engineering via the Computational Science & Engineering optional graduate concentration.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the PhD program is limited to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional ability through outstanding performance in obtaining an MS degree and/or through a high degree of technical and professional accomplishment. Candidates must also satisfy entrance requirements for the MS degree program.
All applicants whose native language is not English must submit a minimum TOEFL score of 88 (iBT), 230 (CBT) or 570 (PBT); or minimum International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic exam scores of 6.5 overall. Applicants may be exempt from the TOEFL if certain criteria are met. For those taking the TOEFL or IELTS, full admission status is granted for scores greater than 102 (TOEFL iBT), 253 (TOEFL CBT), 610 (TOEFL PBT), or 7.0 (IELTS). Limited status is granted for lesser scores and requires enrollment in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses based on an ESL Placement Test (EPT) taken upon arrival to campus.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, supported by University, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, and The Grainger College of Engineering funds, are available on a competitive basis. A limited number of assistantships, providing both teaching and research experience, are often available on a half-time basis. Starting in Fall 2020, Grainger Engineering PhD students in their first five years of enrollment who meet the minimum eligibility requirements are guaranteed a funded appointment for fall and spring that includes a full tuition waiver, a partial fee waiver, and a stipend.
All applicants, regardless of US citizenship, whose native language is not English and who wish to be considered for teaching assistantships must demonstrate spoken English language proficiency by achieving a minimum score of 24 on the speaking subsection of the TOEFL iBT or 8 on the speaking subsection of the IELTS. For students who are unable to take the iBT or IELTS, a minimum score of 4CP is required on the EPI test, offered on campus. All new teaching assistants are required to participate in the Graduate Academy for College Teaching conducted prior to the start of the semester.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Experience in teaching is considered a vital part of the graduate program and is required as part of the academic work of all PhD candidates in this program. For details of expectations, see the department's Graduate Handbook.
Department Research
Current research interests of the faculty include off-road equipment engineering (robotics and machinery automation, remote sensing and precision agriculture, machinery management systems, pesticide application technology, engines and biofuels); soil and water resources (hydrology, erosion and sediment transport, water management, wetlands, and water quality); bioenvironmental engineering (building environment and energy conservation, air quality, renewable energy, biomass to bioenergy conversion, structural analysis and facility design, building materials evaluation, environmental control and ergonomic design for plant, animal, and human housing systems and facilities); food and bioprocess engineering (engineering properties of foods, physical properties of biological products, grain drying, grain quality evaluation, dry-grind corn processing, wet and dry milling, modified bioprocesses for improved co-products, fuel and chemicals, fermentation, and transport phenomenon in biological materials); or electronic and electrical systems (biosensors and controls, energy systems, machine vision, near-infrared spectroscopy applications, bionanotechnology, microfabricated devices, bioconjugation techniques, transcriptional control, modeling life support systems, and multiscale biological processes). For more details, visit the department's research website.
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural & Biological Engineering
For additional details and requirements for all degrees, please refer to the program's Graduate Degree Requirements and the Graduate College Handbook.
Entering with approved M.S./M.A. degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABE 501 | Graduate Seminar: Foundations of Success | 1 |
| ABE 502 | Graduate Seminar: Advanced Career Skills | 1 |
| ABE 503 | Graduate Seminar: Integrity, Teaching and Research | 1 |
| ABE 501, 502, and 503 not required if taken for the ABE-MS. | ||
| One mathematics intensive course beyond differential equations (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-4 | |
| Theoretical Biology + Models | ||
| Graph Theory | ||
| Intro to Combinatorics | ||
| Abstract Linear Algebra | ||
| Set Theory and Topology | ||
| Intro Partial Diff Equations | ||
| Elementary Real Analysis | ||
| Numerical Analysis | ||
| Dynamics & Differential Eqns | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Advanced Computer Control | ||
| Heat Conduction | ||
| Convective Heat Transfer | ||
| Mathematical Methods I | ||
| Mathematical Methods II | ||
| One course in statistical design and analysis (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-4 | |
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Decision and Risk Analysis | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods II | ||
| Appl. Multivariate Statistics | ||
| Statistics and Probability II | ||
| Methods of Applied Statistics | ||
| Design of Experiments | ||
| Statistical Modeling I | ||
| Time Series Analysis | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Statistical Learning | ||
| Multivariate Analysis | ||
| One course in instrumentation and measurement (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-6 | |
| Engrg Measurement Systems | ||
| Instrumental Characterization and Physical Chemistry Principles | ||
| Water Resources Field Methods | ||
| Computer Cntrl of Mech Systems | ||
| Biomedical Instrumentation and Biomedical Instrumentation Lab | ||
| One 500-level course (taken for at least 3 credit hours) in an area of specialization – chosen in consultation with advisor | 3-5 | |
| Elective courses – chosen in consultation with advisor (subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below) | 1-8 | |
| ABE 599 | Thesis Research | up to 41 |
| Total Hours | 64 | |
Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A maximum of 4 hours of ABE 597 (or other independent study) may be applied toward the elective course work requirement. | ||
| Additional courses may be approved in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies | ||
| Teaching experience determined in consultation with advisor using guidance provided by the department's Graduate Handbook. | ||
| The minimum program GPA is 3.0. | ||
| Ph.D. exam and dissertation requirements: | ||
| Preliminary exam | ||
| Final Exam or dissertation defense | ||
| Dissertation deposit | ||
Entering with approved B.S./B.A. degree (Direct PhD)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABE 501 | Graduate Seminar: Foundations of Success | 1 |
| ABE 502 | Graduate Seminar: Advanced Career Skills | 1 |
| ABE 503 | Graduate Seminar: Integrity, Teaching and Research | 1 |
| One mathematics intensive course beyond differential equations (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-4 | |
| Theoretical Biology + Models | ||
| Graph Theory | ||
| Intro to Combinatorics | ||
| Abstract Linear Algebra | ||
| Set Theory and Topology | ||
| Intro Partial Diff Equations | ||
| Elementary Real Analysis | ||
| Numerical Analysis | ||
| Dynamics & Differential Eqns | ||
| Partial Differential Equations | ||
| Advanced Computer Control | ||
| Heat Conduction | ||
| Convective Heat Transfer | ||
| Mathematical Methods I | ||
| Mathematical Methods II | ||
| One course in statistical design and analysis (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-4 | |
| Statistical Methods | ||
| Decision and Risk Analysis | ||
| Applied Statistical Methods II | ||
| Appl. Multivariate Statistics | ||
| Statistics and Probability II | ||
| Methods of Applied Statistics | ||
| Design of Experiments | ||
| Statistical Modeling I | ||
| Time Series Analysis | ||
| Advanced Data Analysis | ||
| Bioinformatics | ||
| Statistical Learning | ||
| Multivariate Analysis | ||
| One course in instrumentation and measurement (3 hour credit versions permitted) | 3-6 | |
| Engrg Measurement Systems | ||
| Water Resources Field Methods | ||
| Instrumental Characterization and Physical Chemistry Principles | ||
| Biomedical Instrumentation and Biomedical Instrumentation Lab | ||
| Computer Cntrl of Mech Systems | ||
| Two 500-level courses (taken for at least 3 credit hours each) in an area of specialization – chosen in consultation with advisor | 6-10 | |
| Two additional courses from any of the three categories above (mathematics intensive, statistical design and analysis, and/or instrumentation and measurement) | 6-12 | |
| Elective courses – chosen in consultation with advisor (subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below) | 7-20 | |
| ABE 599 | Thesis Research | up to 52 |
| Total Hours | 96 | |
Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap)
| Two 500-level courses must be formal coursework, not seminar courses, special topics or independent study. | |
| A maximum of 4 hours of ABE 597 (or other independent study) may be applied toward the elective course work requirement. | |
| Teaching experience determined in consultation with advisor using guidance provided by the department's Graduate Handbook. | |
| The minimum program GPA is 3.0. | |
| Ph.D. exam and dissertation requirements: | |
| Qualifying requirements review in the 2nd year: It is required to complete all courses in math, statistics and instrumentation by the 3rd semester with a 3.0 or higher GPA. | |
| Preliminary exam | |
| Final Exam or dissertation defense | |
| Dissertation deposit |
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Student learning outcomes are based on educational outcomes suggested by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) and the objectives of the program:
- An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering;
- An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data;
- An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability;
- An ability to function in multidisciplinary teams;
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems;
- An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility;
- An ability to communicate effectively;
- The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context;
- A recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in life-long learning;
- A knowledge of contemporary issues;
- An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice;
- Conduct independent research with expertise in research design, methods, and analysis;
- Function effectively in leadership roles in their professional careers and activities in professional societies.
- For Ph.D. graduates entering academia, function effectively as instructors with presentation skills, e.g., teaching skills (in addition to 1-13).
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering
Department Head: Ronaldo Maghirang
Director of Graduate Studies: Xinlei Wang
Contact: Heather Crump
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department website
Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering faculty
338 Agricultural Engineering Sciences Building, 1304 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3570
abe@illinois.edu
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES)
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences website
Grainger College of Engineering
Grainger College of Engineering website
Admissions
Agricultural & Biological Engineering Admissions & Requirements
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements