Through a series of twelve credit hours of graduate coursework, the Biorenewable Resources and Technology certificate will offer students from a wide variety of science and engineering backgrounds an exposure to advanced study in the use of plant- and crop-based resources for the production of biobased products, including fuels, chemicals, materials, and energy. The program aims to train professionals to serve the emerging bieconomy, and in so doing to serve state, national, and global needs in moving toward a more sustainable industrial economy.
Admission Requirements
The BRT certificate program seeks high caliber students who are pursuing a professional career. Applicants may come from any disciplinary background, but those with undergraduate degrees in physical and biological sciences and/or engineering are especially encouraged to apply. Students working in bioeconomy-relevant industries are also encouraged to apply.
Graduate certificate applicants must meet the following requirements.
Graduate College application- Original transcripts from all institutions previously attended
- Original TOEFL scores (if applicable)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
Certificate Requirements
The BRT Graduate Certificate consists of 12 credit hours.
Required Courses (6 credits)
- BRT 501. Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources (3)
- Three semesters of BRT 506A. Biobased Products Seminar (1 cr each time)
Elective Courses (6 credits)
Two or more courses comprising of at least 6 credits from the list below.*
- AE 403/503. Modeling and Controls for Agricultural Systems (3)
- Agron 334. Forage Crop Management (3)
- Agron 404/504. Global Change (3)
- Agron 501. Crop Growth and Development (3)
- Agron 516. Crop Physiology (3)
- BBMB 404. Biochemistry I (3)
- BBMB 405. Biochemistry II (3)
- BRT 515 Biorenewables Law & Policy
- BRT 535. Thermochemical Processing of Biomass (3)
- CE 326. Principles of Environmental Engineering (3)
- CE 420/520. Environmental Engineering Chemistry (3)
- CE 421/521. Environmental Biotechnology (3)
- GDCB 542. Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques (1)
- IE 565. Systems Engineering and Analysis (3)
- IE 566. Applied Systems Engineering (3)
- ME 539. Fluidized Bed Processes (3)
- ME 545. Thermal System Design (3)
*As more courses in the BRT field are offered online the list of possible electives will grow.
Contact Information
| Jacqulyn A. Baughman, PhD BRT Director of Graduate Education Bioeconomy Institute 1140 BRL jacqulyn@iastate.edu Jan Meyer BRT Graduate Secretary Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) 1140 BRL jemeyer@iastate.edu |