Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts

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The field of sustainable bioproducts is concerned with extending one’s knowledge of wood as a material and applying this knowledge to the manufacture of useful products. It requires knowledge of the chemical, physical, botanical and engineering sciences and how they impinge on wood. The Department of Sustainable Bioproducts promotes the responsible use of our planet's abundant renewable resources by developing, innovating, and improving bio-based products, materials and energy for the economic and environmental benefit of all people.

Program highlights:

This program offers 6 major areas of studying including Building Materials & Composites, Wood Products Testing & Standards, Deterioration & Preservation of Wood Products, Biofuels, Chemicals & Energy, Bioproducts & the Environment, and Forensic Wood Identification
The courses for this online program are taught by the same faculty that teach the on-campus program.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition per credit hour	$558.50
Instructional Support Fee per credit hour	$25.00

Tuition and fees listed are subject to change and do not include all possible charges. Additional fees may apply. Please refer to the master class schedule for individual course charges.

What are some potential careers?

Career options may include systems programmer, environmental engineer, Extension specialist, plant manager, plant superintendent, product development, research technician, and wood materials scientist.

Who should pursue this degree?

An online non-thesis master’s degree program provides greater flexibility for not only traditional students, but also those starting professional careers or those already employed who wish to continue pursuing a graduate degree. Academic experiences add to resumes increasing the marketability of professionals. Often employers view the pursuit of higher education as a true sign of an individual’s motivation to continue to learn and even justification for promotion.

What are some potential careers?

Program Structure

The non-thesis Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts program requires 30 hours of coursework, and a comprehensive examination.

Course Number	Course Title	Hours
SBP 8023	Professional Practices in Wood Products Industry	3
SBP 8203	Graduate Capstone Seminar	3
College Required Courses 8000-level coursework		12
Graduate-level electives* *see Courses for elective options OR Graduate-level courses from other MSU Departments as approved OR SBP 7000 Directed Individual Study (no more than 6 hours total)		12-16
Total Hours		30

Course Offerings

Fall Odd	Spring Even	Fall Even	Spring Odd
SBP 6113 Adhesives and Composites	SBP 6013 Wood Anatomy	SBP 6123 Lumber Manufacturing	SBP 6013 Wood Anatomy
SBP 6153 Biomass Products Manufacturing	SBP 6253 Quantitative Methods in SBP	SBP 6133 Biorefinery Processes	SBP 6023 Lignocellulosic Biomass Chemistry
SBP 6353 Forest Prod Marketing	SBP 6313 Bioproducts and the Environment	SBP 8023 Prof Practices in Wd Products Industry ✝Must take in 1st year of program	SBP 6213 Deterioration and Preservation of Biomaterials
SBP 8023 Prof Practices in Wd Products Industry ✝Must take in 1st year of program	SBP 8013 Advanced Wood Sci & Tech	SBP 8133 Environ Issues in Sustainable Bioproducts	SBP 8013 Advanced Wood Sci & Tech
	SBP 8203 Graduate Capstone Seminar ✝Must take in last year of program	SBP 8143 Standards for Testing Sustainable Materials	SBP 8203 Graduate Capstone Seminar ✝Must take in last year of program

✝Course offerings are subject to change. All students will work closely with their advisor to create an approved Program of Study within the first semester of their master’s program.

Course Offerings by Area of Interest

Building Materials & Composites

Developing, innovating and improving bio-based building materials to increase strength, safety, performance and resource efficiency.

SBP 6113 Adhesives and Composites
SBP 6123 Lumber Manufacturing
SBP 6153 Biomass Products Manufacturing

Wood Products Testing & Standards

Finding more effective ways to measure and predict mechanical properties of lumber and composites.

SBP 6253 Quantitative Methods in SBP
SBP 8143 Standards for Testing Sustainable Materials

Deterioration & Preservation of Wood Products

Protecting bio-materials from degradation and deterioration caused by fungi, insects, marine borers and weathering.

SBP 6213 Deterioration and Preservation of Biomaterials

Biofuels, Chemicals, and Energy

Conversion of biomass into viable energy sources like wood pellets and bio-oil.

SBP 6133 Biorefinery Processes
SBP 6023 Lignocellulosic Biomass Chemistry

Bioproducts & the Environment

Ensuring that the production and use of biomaterials does not damage the environment.

SBP 6313 Bioproducts and the Environment
SBP 8133 Environ Issues in Sustainable Bioproducts

Forensic Wood Identification

Teaching humans and computers how to recognize and differentiate wood species to deter illegal forest products trade.

SBP 6013 Wood Anatomy

Admissions Requirements

Applications for the degree programs are reviewed three times a year. The application deadlines for those semesters are as follows:

Fall Semester – August 1
Spring Semester – December 1
Summer Semester – May 15

Students seeking full admission into the non-thesis Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts program should apply as a classified student. Non-degree seeking students wishing to take classes offered through the Online Sustainable Bioproducts program should apply as an Unclassified student.

An applicant for admission to graduate study must hold a bachelor's degree from a fully recognized four-year educational institution that has unconditional accreditation with appropriate regional accrediting agencies. They must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School and the non-thesis Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts program.

Regular admission to graduate study in the program requires a minimum grade point average (last four semesters of undergraduate work) of 3.00/4.00. When a student is deficient in one of the criteria cited, the student's application, nevertheless, may be considered for admission based on the strength of other materials contained in the student's application.

Attention International Students

International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score greater than 550. Detailed information regarding international applications can be found in the Graduate Catalog. Questions regarding international applications can be addressed to the Office of the Graduate School at gradapps@grad.msstate.edu.

ETS is providing home testing for the TOEFL iBT test, and MSU is encouraging students to take advantage of this testing option. For those students applying who have taken the TOEFL within five years of the semester they plan to enroll and are unable to access the TOEFL iBT test from home, we will accept your previous test scores.

Admission Options

Domestic/International Classified Admissions
Domestic Unclassified Admissions
International Unclassified Admissions
Provisional Admissions

Readmission
Transfer Credit
Thrive in Five

Domestic/International Classified Admissions

Submit online application. You will choose Master of Science / Sustainable Bioproducts as your Program of Study and Online Education as your campus.
Statement of Purpose
Three letters of recommendation
- You will be asked to submit three names and three email addresses of individuals you are using as references. Once you click submit, these individuals will be sent an email from MSU, which will provide a link to an online form for completing their recommendations.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Payment of $60 non-refundable application processing fee for domestic students.
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.
Once you are admitted, you will receive an email with complete instructions on registering for classes and contacting your advisor

Domestic Unclassified Admissions

Only NINE (9) hours of course work taken as an "Unclassified Student" can be applied toward a degree program. All Unclassified students should submit a classified application once they have reached the maximum of nine hours. Full admission into the Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts online program will be based upon successful completion of all classified admissions requirements.

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Pay $60 non-refundable application processing fee

PLEASE NOTE
In general, students who are not admitted into a degree program are not eligible for student financial aid funds. For more information please visit Student Financial Aid to see if you will be eligible or not while taking courses as an Unclassified graduate student.

International Unclassified Admissions

If you are applying unclassified, select "Graduate School - Unclassified" as the college.

Submit online application
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required for international students.
One copy of academic records showing degree(s) (in native language along with translated copies if appropriate)
One official transcript showing bachelor’s degree or progress toward degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
One official transcript showing ALL work after bachelor’s degree. (For international students, please submit a copy in native language along with translated copies, if appropriate.)
- Electronic transcripts should be sent to: gradapps@grad.msstate.edu Mississippi State University, Graduate School. Only one copy of an electronic transcript is required.
- Paper Transcripts Address (USPS):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  P.O. Box G
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Physical Street Address (for DHL, Fed Ex, UPS, DHS, etc.):
  Mississippi State University
  The Office of the Graduate School
  175 President Circle
  116 Allen Hall
  Mississippi State, MS 39762
Must obtain application approval from the Dean of the Graduate School
Payment of $80 non-refundable application processing fee for international students.

Provisional Admissions

A student who has not fully met the requirements stipulated by the University and the department for admission to graduate study may be granted admission as a degree-seeking graduate student with provisional status. Such student must have as his/her initial objective advancement to regular status. A provisional student must receive a 3.00 GPA on the first nine hours of graduate level courses on the program of study taken at Mississippi State University (transfer hours or unclassified graduate hours will not apply) in order to achieve regular status. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student will be dismissed from graduate study.

Readmission

Once enrolled in graduate study, a student who fails to meet the continuous enrollment requirement must complete an Application for Readmission to register for classes. Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in two of three semester terms (Fall, Spring, or Summer) with Fall enrollment required. Students who have not been enrolled for a period of three years or longer and are in good academic standing, are eligible to reapply to through the Lapsed Student Program. Readmission is not guaranteed and must be approved by the Department Head, Academic Dean, and Dean of the Graduate School. Interested students or academic departments should contact the Graduate School for more information.

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to twelve (12) hours of graduate level credits from regionally accredited institutions. The decision to grant transfer credit is made by the advisor and the student’s graduate committee. If you wish to transfer credits, contact your advisor. You will need to provide an official transcript showing the courses you wish to transfer.

Thrive in Five

Thrive in Five is an accelerated degree program where a student can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in just 5 short years. The Department of Sustainable Bioproducts offers graduate study leading to the degree of Master of Science both on campus and online. Once a student has completed 60 hours toward a Bachelor of Science degree, a student having a GPA of 3.5 or higher may apply to the accelerated program. Once accepted into the accelerated program, up to 9 hours of split level courses (4000/6000) taken at the 6000 level can and will count as credit for both the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs as approved by a student’s undergraduate major professor, the Sustainable Bioproducts undergraduate coordinator and the Sustainable Bioproducts graduate coordinator. A graduate advisor will be assigned to create a program of study that will allow the student to complete coursework and research work required for a Master of Science degree. This accelerated program option is now available to work towards the Master of Science Non-Thesis online degree in Sustainable Bioproducts program.