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Frequently Asked Questions

Common responses to questions about the Bio & Ag graduate programs

How many credit hours must I take to complete my program?

MS: You must take a minimum of 30 credit hours. Twenty hours must be in courses higher than 500. No BAE courses below 500 are allowed.

PhD: You must take a total of 72 hours.

  • If you received your MS from NCSU with no break in time prior to starting your PhD, you can count 36 hours from your MS toward your PhD program.
  • If your MS was from another university or there was a break in time between your MS and PhD program, you may count only 18 hours from your MS toward your PhD program.
What if I finish my research before completing 72 hrs (PhD)?

If all you have remaining to complete on your Plan of Work is research hours and you have completed your dissertation, you may request an exception to the 72 hr rule. These requests are generally granted.

How many credit hours of 695 and 699 can I take (MS)?

There is no limit to the number credit hours of BAE 695 and 699 you can take, however only 6 hours of BAE 695 can count toward the 30 hours of your program and BAE 699 does not count toward your program at all. BAE 699 can only be registered for with departmental approval and it must be at the end of your program taken by itself with no other coursework.

How many credit hours of 895 and 899 can I take (PhD)?

There is no limit to the number credit hours of BAE 895 you may take, however, BAE 899 does not count toward your program at all and can only be registered for with departmental approval at the end of your program.

If I took a graduate level course as an undergraduate, will that count toward my program?

Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will only count toward your graduate program if they were not used as a part of your total hours in your undergraduate program. They cannot count twice.

Do I need to have an engineering degree to enter a graduate program in BAE?

Students applying for the BAE graduate program must have a BS in engineering. Exceptions are made for excellent students who are willing to take math through differential equations, engineering statics, engineering dynamics, strength of materials and either hydraulics or thermodynamics.

What courses are required as part of my program?

MS:

  • 6 hours of advanced math >= 400 level, or 6 hours of statistics >= 500 level, or 3 hours of math >= 400 level and 3 hours of statistics >= 500 level.
  • Two hours of BAE 601 for students entering in fall '05 or later (1 hr for programs starting prior to that date).

PhD:

  • 6 hours of advanced math >= 400 level, or 6 hours of statistics >= 500 level, or 3 hours of math >= 400 level and 3 hours of statistics >=500 level.
  • Two hours of BAE 801 for students entering fall '05 or later (1 hr for programs starting prior to that date).
  • At least 1 hour of BAE 885 - supervised teaching or information transfer.
  • 2 residence credits taken after the official start of PhD program.
What is the deadline for defending so that I don't have to register for the following semester?

Your oral exam and first meeting with the thesis editor must be completed before the first day of classes the following semester.

What are the theses submission deadlines for graduation?

The deadlines for submitting theses and dissertations to qualify for graduation in a particular semester are established each year. These are typically 3/4 of the way through a given semester. These deadlines only apply to determination of which semester a student 'officially' graduates. Nothing else is affected. If you submit prior to the deadline in a given semester you will be listed in the graduation list for that semester. If you do not, you will be listed in the following semester's graduation list. You still do not need to register for the following semester unless you are not able to submit your dissertation prior to the day before the first day of classes of that semester.

What if I defend over the summer?

You must be enrolled the semester you defend. If you finish before fall semester, you will have to enroll in the summer session in which you defend. You only need to be enrolled for 1 hr (typically BAE 695).

Is summer enrollment required?

If you are not enrolled during the summer your stipend is subject to Social Security tax, but enrollment is not required unless you plan to have your oral exam during the summer.

What is limit of credit hours I can take?

If you are on a 1/2-time assistantship, you cannot take more than 9 credit hours without departmental approval. If you are in the first 3 semesters of your program on an assistantship, and therefore on the Graduate Student Support Plan, you must maintain 9 credit hours per semester. After that you can take 3 credit hours. If you are not on the GSSP, you may maintain your continuous enrollment with only 1 credit hour.

What is continuous enrollment?

You must be enrolled continuously (spring and fall) throughout your program. If no other considerations apply (see above), you may enroll for only 1 hr (generally BAE 695 or BAE 895). Special considerations apply to international students.

What is the "Information Transfer" requirement (PhD)?

Students must develop, organize, deliver and evaluate a substantial teaching experience to a traditional class, an on-line class, or to an extension activity. This will usually consist of teaching a 1 or 2 class module, leadership of a 1 to 2 hr extension workshop or the development of a significant on-line teaching module. If the latter, you must summarize the effort in a seminar. Contact Kathy Logan for specifics.

What is "Residence Credit" (PhD)?

Doctoral candidates must complete at least two semesters in continuous residence; however, failure to take courses in the summer does not break the continuity. One hr of residence credit is allowed for completing 9 hrs of coursework (including BAE 895), 2/3 of a residence credit is allowed for 6 to 8 hrs of coursework, and 1/3 residence credit is allowed for less than 6 hrs of coursework completed.

How many hours must I enroll for each semester?

MS: You must enroll for 9 hrs each semester to remain qualified for the Graduate Student Support Plan (GSSP) unless you have less than 9 hrs remaining on your Plan of Work. If the GSSP is not a consideration, you only need to enroll for 1 hr. International students must generally register for at least 3, but special exceptions apply.

PhD: You must enroll for 9 hrs per semester until you have completed all the coursework on your Plan of Work, including research hours, and passed your preliminary examination in order to remain qualified for the GSSP. If the GSSP is not a consideration, you may register for only 1 hr per semester. International students must generally register for at least 3, but special exceptions apply.

What computing facilities are available?

There are two computer labs located in Weaver Labs (Rm 122 and Rm 144), and one conveniently located next door in Grinnells Lab (Rm 1105).

If you have more questions feel free to contact Dr. Dan Willits
Director of Graduate Programs phone: 919-515-6755
fax: 919-515-7760 e-mail: grad-info@ncsu.edu
or
Heather Austin Program Assistant and Student Recruiter
919-515-6710 fax: 919-515-7760 e-mail: grad-info2@ncsu.edu