Graduate Certificate in Horticultural Science

Overview

The Certificate in Horticultural Science is a non-degree program offered through the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. The Certificate program is designed to increase personal knowledge and skills for current or future employment in the Horticultural Industry. The program is neither for career exploration nor is it a precursor to a graduate degree program. The program may accept “Lifelong Learning” students or graduate students who are enrolled in other departments.

Participants must hold a baccalaureate degree to enroll in the Certificate Program. It is highly recommended that candidates have one of the following: major in horticulture, crop science, plant science, plant biology or agricultural education with a plant science emphasis. Candidates must have an overall gpa of 2.5, (or 3.0 in plant science). Candidates must maintain an average gpa of 3.0 and a minimum grade of C (2.00) in any course for Horticulture Graduate Certificate courses.

Obtaining a Certificate requires an enrollee in the program to complete a minimum of five courses resulting in at least 15 credit hours. Up to 12 credit hours of courses taken during Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) can be used in the Certificate Program if approved by the student’s advisor. All Certificate courses must be completed within 4 years of enrolling in the Program. The courses selected will constitute a cohesive continuing education program in Horticultural Science. The student and his/her advisor select courses comprising an individual program from an extensive list of Distance Education (DE) graduate courses. Earning the Certificate requires a student to complete three to five courses in Horticultural Science and may include one course each from two of the following areas: Plant Pathology, Entomology, Soil Science, Crop Science, Food Science, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural and Resource Economics or Agriculture and Extension Education.

Because Certificate courses are of graduate level, Certificate students may be co-enrolled with regularly enrolled full-time graduate students. Each Certificate student must have an academic advisor who is a member of the Horticultural Science Graduate Faculty. Advisors are assigned by the Department Director of Graduate Programs in consultation with the student. In constructing his or her individual Certificate program, the student and advisor together reflect on the student’s personal and professional goals to design a program. Due to the diversity of subject matter and learner interest, students within the Certificate Program may concentrate their work in areas such as General Horticulture, Food Horticulture and Ornamental Horticulture.

Administration – Applications will be reviewed the Director of Graduate Programs (DGP) initially and later by a Graduate Committee. Students will send a completed application and support materials to the DGP. The DGP will review the application and if accepted, assign an advisor and notify the student and advisor of acceptance.