• For Students
• Program Administration
• Degrees Offered
• Deadlines
• Application Process
• Admissions
• Assistantships
• PBS Rules
• NCSU Resources
• NCSU Campus Life
• Raleigh Living

Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) Credit Rules

Many students apply to the Physiology program while registered in PBS classification. The PBS classification is designed for U.S. citizens or permanent residents who wish to undertake academic work beyond the Bachelor's degree but who are not currently admitted to a degree program.

This classification is not open to international students with the exception of the spouse of a regularly enrolled N.C. State student. In special cases where students are sponsored by an agency of the U.S. Government for specialized, non-degree study, approval may be given by the Graduate School for registration in the PBS classification. The following rules apply to students who wish to register for PBS.

Please note that the following are university minimum requirements. Some departments may have more requirements.

1. All students must have Bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions of higher education. Registration is through the Registration and Records office.
2. All classes taken for credit by PBS students will be graded in the usual manner that applies for the particular course (A+ through F or S/U). All courses take at NCSU will appear on the student's transcript.
3. If the student is admitted as a graduate student, a maximum of 12 hours of 500 level or higher letter-graded courses may apply toward the minimum university requirement of the degree (i.e., 30-credit hours) for which the student is enrolled.
   
   A maximum of 12 hours of course work taken at the graduate level in the PBS category will be accepted toward degree requirements at the approval of the advisory committee. 400-level courses taken in PBS status are not transferable into a doctoral graduate degree program however master's degree students can use up to 6 credits of non-major 500-level PBS coursework.
4. If a student's graduate degree program is terminated, he or she cannot use courses taken in PBS status after termination for credit toward the same graduate degree program.
5. The GPA of a graduate student who has credits in the PBS category will be based on all courses taken at the 500-800 level. However, no course taken six years prior to graduation from a program can be used to meet the requirements for a later graduate degree at NCSU.
6. Registration is limited to a maximum of two courses per semester. Individuals who are employed full-time should limit their PBS registrations to one course per semester.
7. The PBS classification gives no implication that the student will be admitted to the Graduate School in any degree classification.
8. All course work accepted for degree credit must be approved by the student's advisory committee as being germane to the program. Requests for degree credit for courses completed in the PBS classification are considered after admission to a graduate degree program when the student's Plan of Work is filed with the Graduate school.
9. PBS students are expected to familiarize themselves with the Graduate School and departmental policies and to seek further advice or clarification as needed. http://www.ncsu.edu/grad/catalog/pbs.html