Graduate Field
Biological and Environmental Engineering
Program Description
Ph.D. degree candidates are required to select at least one minor subject from outside the field. The Ph.D. research degrees require submission of an acceptable thesis or dissertation.
Concentrations
- Bioenergy and integrated energy systems
- Bioenvironmental engineering
- Biological engineering
- Bioprocess engineering
- Ecohydrology
- Environmental engineering
- Food engineering
- Industrial biotechnology
- Nanobiotechnology
- Sustainable systems
- Synthetic biology
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 125
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 6
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fourth year
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee.
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students.
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Learning Outcomes
Candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of knowledge in the chosen area of focus and to synthesize and create new knowledge, making an original and substantial contribution to the discipline in a timely fashion. Doctoral students are assessed on:
- The overarching goal of finishing their degree in an appropriate timeframe
- Making an original and substantial contribution to the field
- Demonstrating advanced research skills
- Demonstrating a commitment to advance the values of scholarship
- Demonstrating professional skills.
