Graduate Student Admission

Those interested in graduate school in Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University should follow the procedures listed below:

• Determine whether there are graduate faculty working in your area of interest
• Check your qualifications for graduate school:
  • Background courses (calculus, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry)
  • Biology courses (botany, plant pathology, entomology, soils, genetics, biochemistry, plant physiology)
  • Horticultural Science or Landscape Horticulture courses (in your area of interest)
  • GPA of 3.0 or better
  • GRE scores of 500 or better on verbal, quantitative, analytical tests
  • TOEFL scores of 80 or better (internet exam), 213 or better (computer exam), and 550 or better (paper exam) for those with non-native English
  • Three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors
• Check Graduate School requirements and deadlines
  • Apply to the Graduate School for admission (see Prospective Grad Students)
  • Or, use the online application web page for Graduate School admission
• Contact the graduate program director for assistantships information and other questions
• Applicants interested in financial aid (the department has a number of graduate teaching and research assistantships available) should apply by January 31st for Fall enrollment of the same year and by September 30th for Spring (January) enrollment.
• Make use of orientation information
  • Become familiar with graduate student procedures (see Graduate Student Handbook)
  • Visit NC State on Graduate Student Recruitment Day