An applicant for a degree in Operations Research through the Bioresources Engineering Department is expected to have a baccalaureate degree in engineering, engineering technology, or a closely related field. The applicant must have had mathematics through differential equations. The applicant should have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A Graduate Record Examination score of at least 1150 is required. A minimum of three letters of support are required from former professors or supervisors. Exceptions may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities and interests. Applications must be made according to the guidelines of the Office of Graduate Studies. International applicants, for whom English is not a first language, must achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 600. 

Please refer to the chapter "Financial Aid" in this catalog. 

A minimum of 33 semester hours of courses including six hours of thesis are required for the Master of Science degree in Operations Research. At least 12 credit hours should be from the Bioresources Engineering related subject matter. At least 12 credit hours should be from the applicable Operations Research courses including ORES 601 and ORES 602 or equivalent. At least two courses should be at the 800 level. 

A thesis based on academic research in the Bioresources Engineering Department is required for the M.S. degree in Operations Research. Students should select a thesis adviser and the subject of research based on their interests early in the program. A graduate committee consisting of at least four faculty members with the thesis adviser as chairperson will be appointed by the Department Chairperson. 

Upon completion of the thesis, the student is required to pass an oral examination covering the thesis and allied areas of course work. This examination and defense will be open to the public. 

For the Ph.D. degree, the student is required to take a minimum of 51 credits of course work, nine credits of dissertation, and complete a two-year residency.  The courses must be approximately equally divided between ORES courses and courses from the major area of study.  No more than 27 credits can be at the 600-level.  Courses required are ORES 801, ORES 802, ORES 803, ORES 899, MATH 630, MATH 631, and MATH 804, and one of ECON 801, ECON 811, ECON 822, ECON 823 or ECON 824 plus four semesters of ORES seminars. 

Successful completion of the comprehensive qualifying examination is required of all Ph.D. students prior to their admission to candidacy.  The qualifying examination will consist of two written examinations and an oral examination.  The qualifying examination will be taken after all or most of the course work has been completed.  One of the written examinations will be in Operations Research and the other will be in Bioresources Engineering material.  The oral examination will include presentation of the candidate's dissertation proposal. 

The student is required to prepare a dissertation on some topic related to Bioresources Engineering.  Upon completion of the dissertation, the candidate is required to pass a final oral examination covering the dissertation.