Bioeconomy Institute

Students admitted to the Biorenewable Resources and Technology program develop their Programs of Study from six credits of core required courses, a selection of designated core elective courses, and several elective courses. Typically, core required courses in Biorenewable Resources and Technology can be applied toward graduate credit in other disciplines, while the wide flexibility in the core elective courses will help students meet requirements for other graduate degrees. Below are brief descriptions of the core required courses. Click here for a list of both core required and core elective courses.

Core Required Courses (6 credits):

Fundamentals of Biorenewable Resources (BRT 501) (3 cr.) – must be taken once, preferably early in the graduate program. This three-credit course introduces basic concepts in biorenewable resources and technology.

Biobased Products Seminar (BRT 506) (1 cr.) – Note: BRT program students must take either Section A or Section B every semester they are enrolled and on campus at ISU. The BRT 506 seminar features presentations by BRT students and nationally and internationally recognized leaders in BRT-related disciplines. BRT 506 can be taken either as Section A or Section B. Section A (one-credit option) requires attendance at seminars and presentation of a student's own research. Section A must be taken once during each degree program, typically in the semester prior to graduation when a nearly-complete research project can be presented. Note that students doing both MS and PhD degrees in BRT must take Section A twice. Section B (R-credit option) requires attendance of seminars from an approved list. It must be taken every semester that a BRT student is enrolled and on the ISU campus, except when Section A is taken.

Special Topics (BRT 590) (1 cr.) – must be taken once during the course of study. In this course, students investigate and report on an approved topic in biorenewables on an individual basis. Course content and requirements are designed and developed in consultation with the student's major professor or instructor.

Biorenewable Resources Laboratory (BRT 591L) (1 cr.) – must be taken once during the course of study. This is a special topics laboratory/research experience in biorenewable resources and technology. Course content is designed and developed in consultation with the student's major professor or instructor.

Core Elective Courses:

Core elective courses must come from an approved list of courses currently offered at Iowa State University that encompass the four areas considered as barriers in the development of biobased products: plant science, production, processing, and utilization.1 Students must include courses from at least three of the four barrier areas selected in consultation with the student's Program of Study (POS) committee.

1 U.S. Department of Energy, The Technology Roadmap for Plant/Crop-Based Renewable Resources 2020, February, 1999.

Note: For a complete list of university-wide course offerings and descriptions, visit the Iowa State Univeristy Catalog.