Sustainable Bioproducts
Department Head and Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Rubin Shmulsky
201 Locksley Way
Box 9820
Mississippi State, MS 39762-9820
Telephone: 662-325-2116
E-mail: rs26@msstate.edu
The Sustainable Bioproducts field is concerned with extending our 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.
Graduate study in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts leads to the following degrees.
- Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts, thesis option
- Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts, non-thesis option
- Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources with a concentration in Sustainable Bioproducts
Major areas of study include composites, environmental biotechnology, materials science, bioenergy, bio-based material protection, cross laminated timber, business and production systems, and wood chemistry. Research assistantships are available for Ph.D. students and for M.S. students in the thesis option. For additional information, see the Sustainable Bioproducts Graduate Handbook or contact the Departmental Graduate Coordinator.
Admission
An applicant to the program is not required to have the GRE or GMAT test scores unless his/her grade point average is below 3.00. An international applicant is required to have a TOEFL score of 550 PBT (79 iBT) or IELTS score of 6.5 or better in order to be considered. Interviews, certifications, etc. are not applicable.
Provisional Admission
An applicant who has not fully met the GPA requirement stipulated by the University may be admitted on a provisional basis. The provisionally-admitted student is eligible for a change to regular status after receiving a 3.00 GPA on the first 9 hours of graduate courses at Mississippi State University (with no grade lower than a C). The first 9 hours of graduate courses must be within the student's program of study. Courses with an S grade, transfer credits, or credits earned while in Unclassified status cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. If a 3.00 is not attained, the provisional student shall be dismissed from the graduate program. Academic departments may set higher standards for students to fulfill provisional requirements; a student admitted with provisional status should contact the graduate coordinator for the program’s specific requirements. While in the provisional status, a student is not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship.
Academic Performance
The Department of Sustainable Bioproducts will accept a C grade; however, the student’s overall GPA must be 3.00 or above.
The M.S. thesis-option program requires 24 hours of coursework, 6 hours of thesis research/thesis, and a comprehensive examination. The M.S. non-thesis option program requires 27 hours of coursework, 3 hours of independent study, and a comprehensive examination. The Ph.D. program may entail approximately 60 hours of course and research work, a written preliminary examination, an oral examination, and a dissertation.
Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts - Thesis
| Graduate-level coursework | 12 | |
| 8000-level coursework | 12 | |
| FP 8000 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
A comprehensive examination is required. The M.S. student is encouraged to present one professional paper to a referred journal.
Master of Science in Sustainable Bioproducts - Non-Thesis
| Graduate-level coursework | 15 | |
| 8000-level coursework | 12 | |
| SBP 7000 | Directed Individual Study in Sustainable Bioproducts | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
A comprehensive examination is required.
Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Resources with a Concentration in Sustainable Bioproducts
The Ph.D. program generally requires three academic years beyond the bachelor's degree as a full-time student. The total number of course credit hours may vary based on the specific doctoral program, the student's needs, and the student's academic history.
| Academic hours with half at the 8000 level or higher | 24 | |
| FP 9000 | 20 | |
| Additional hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 54 | |
A written preliminary examination, an oral examination, and a dissertation are required. In lieu of the foreign language requirement, the Ph.D. candidate is required to take 6 hours of research skill courses from the departmental list. The Ph.D. student is encouraged to submit two professional papers to referred journals. The student must meet all the necessary guidelines to complete thesis/dissertation requirements set by the department, college, and the University in order to graduate. Types of qualifying and exit examinations are required by the department (doctoral preliminary).
SBP 6013 Wood Anatomy: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: SBP 1103 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Anatomy of commercial timber species; elements of botanical microtechnique, fundamentals of microscopy, and fundamental properties: gross and minute structural characteristics of wood leading to identification
SBP 6023 Lignocellulosic Biomass Chemistry: 3 hours.
Three hour lecture. (Prerequisites: CH 1043 and CH 1053 or equivalent.) Chemical composition of lignocellulosic biomass (wood, agricultural residues, and bioenergy crops) including cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, and extractives, their structures, isolation, processes and applications
SBP 6113 Adhesives and Biocomposites: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. (Prerequisites: SBP 2123, SBP 3113, SBP 3123, and CH 1053.) Theories and practices of adhesives and finishing materials used in the manufacture of biocomposite products and furniture
SBP 6123 Lumber Manufacturing: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Raw materials, production methods and product specifications for sawn wood products. Machinery and plant layout. Operation, control, and analysis of lumber manufacturing systems; markets. The laboratory is used for problems, discussion, demonstration, tests, field trips, and writing assignments
SBP 6133 Biorefinery Processes: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: SBP 4023 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. An overview of the different chemical and thermochemical biorefinery processes used to convert biomass into chemicals and fuels
SBP 6144 Biocomposite Application and Manufacturing: 4 hours.
Three hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. (Prerequisite: SBP 2123, SBP 3113, SBP 3123, and SBP 4113/6113 or Consent of Instructor). This course evaluates the application of raw bio-materials (wood, non-wood biomaterial and resins) that are used to manufacture reconstituted and laminated bio-composite products and to classify these products by type, properties, and applications
SBP 6153 Biological Conversion of Biomass: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: BIO 1134 and BIO 1144 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Introduction to concepts of conversion of biomass by organisms or isolated enzymes to chemicals focusing on breakdown of cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses and enzyme kinetics
SBP 6213 Deterioration and Preservation of Biomaterials: 3 hours.
Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. (Prerequisite: SBP 1103 or Consent of Instructor). Thermal, biological, and mechanical agents of bioproducts deterioration; biological control; design considerations; preservatives, preservation systems; treatability; preservative effectiveness; standards, pollution control
SBP 6243 Sustainable Bioproducts: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: SBP 3123 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Expanding students’ knowledge of bioproducts, manufacturing principles and processes according to various industrial fields and insights into new approaches and methods in bioproducts industries
SBP 6253 Quantitative Methods in Sustainable Bioproducts: 3 hours.
Three hours lectures. (Prerequisite: MA 1313 and MA 1323 or equivalent and SBP 2123). The study and practical application of quantitative techniques commonly used in industry to evaluate the net worth of raw materials, and the cause and effect on process variables
SBP 6263 Furniture Design and Fabrication: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: SBP 3113 or consent of instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Basic theories and principles of furniture strength design and manufacturing; mechanical properties of environmentally preferable materials; green and sustainable design of certifications; testing standards. Machines used, function and operation. Advanced manufacturing and quality control methods
SBP 6313 Bioproducts and the Environment: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: SBP 2012, 2123, and 3123 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. An introduction to environmental topics and laws, environmental impact, and control technologies associated with emissions from diverse sustainable bioproducts industries, including global and national issues
SBP 6333 Bioproducts and Environmental Biotechnology: 3 hours.
(Prerequisites: SBP 4313/6313 or consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Introduction to biotechnological applications which remediate, minimize or eliminate environmental emissions from bioproduct industries, including wood preservatives, high organic process water, adhesives, resins and solvents
SBP 6353 Forest Products Marketing: 3 hours.
Three hour lecture. Marketing and business practices used by forest products companies trading in lumber, engineered wood products and furniture
SBP 6990 Special Topics in Sustainable Bioproducts: 1-9 hours.
(1-9). Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
SBP 7000 Directed Individual Study in Sustainable Bioproducts: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
SBP 8000 Thesis Research/ Thesis in Sustainable Bioproducts: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
SBP 8111 Research Seminar I: 1 hour.
One hour seminar. Review of current research work in wood science and technology; the scientific method; philosophy of research
SBP 8121 Research Seminar II: 1 hour.
One hour seminar. Review of current research work in wood science and technology; the scientific method; philosophy of research. This course focuses on oral communication skills
SBP 8123 Advanced Lignocellulosic Biomass Chemistry: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: SBP 4023/6023 or consent of the instructor). Three hours lecture. Chemistry of major lignocellulosic biomass components. Chemical modification and swelling of cellulose, chemical and enzymatic degradation of polysaccharides and lignin, wood preservation, wood plasticization and wood conversion to value added chemicals
SBP 8133 Environmental Issues in Sustainable Bioproducts: 3 hours.
(Consent of instructor). Three hours lecture. Environmental impact, regulations, management of wood treatment by-products and chemical wastes; biodegradation microorganisms; bioremediation; biomass residues; soil, sediment, water, air contaminations; current clean-up technologies
SBP 8213 Advanced Wood Mechanics: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor). Two hours lecture. Three hours laboratory. Study of elastic and viscoelastic behavior of wood composites; fracture in wood; stress analysis; current topics in wood mechanics. Mechanics. SBP 8213 Advanced Wood Mechanics
SBP 8990 Special Topic In Sustainable Bioproducts: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
SBP 9000 Dissertation Research /Dissertation in Sustainable Bioproducts: 1-13 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged