Iowa State University - Bioeconomy Institute - Biorenewable Resources and Technology (BRT) MS

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~catalog/2007-2009/courses/brt.html

Ames, IA
Raj Raman
Associate Director (Education)
515-294-0465
rajraman@iastate.edu

The graduate program in Biorenewable Resources and Technology (BRT) offers students advanced study in the use of plant and crop-based resources in the production of biobased products (fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy). The BRT program was the first graduate program in biorenewable resources established in the United States. This multi-disciplinary program offers the degrees of master of science and doctor of philosophy in Biorenewable Resources and Technology, and a minor to students taking major work in other departments. The curriculum is designed to encourage students to obtain co-major degrees in Biorenewable Resources and Technology and a more traditional science or engineering discipline. A thesis is required for the master of science degree.

Prerequisite to major graduate work is a bachelor's degree or prior graduate training in engineering or a physical or biological discipline, including agricultural sciences.

The core required courses in the Biorenewable Resources and Technology graduate program include: a foundation course entitled BRT 501 "Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources;" two credits of approved laboratory and BRT 506 "Biobased Products Seminar." The elective core courses must come from an approved list of courses from a variety of traditional disciplines encompassing one or more of four areas crucial to the development of biobased products: plant science, production, processing, and utilization. Students must complete elective core courses from at least three of the four topical areas, selected in consultation with the student's Program of Study (POS) committee.

Graduates of the program will be equipped with skills to develop and manage cost effective and environmentally attractive technologies for producing fuels, chemicals, materials, foods and energy from renewable plant biomass.

Retrieved from Iowa State University website on 1/10/2010.