Physiology Graduate Program
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) by subject

Admissions
General

1.     Details and pertinent information on application to the Graduate School can be found on the North Carolina State University web site.
Go to Academics, Degrees and Programs, Graduate Degree Programs, and Grad School web site, or type Graduate School in the search box.

2.     You must apply online.

3.     Check regularly on your application status (e.g., submission of those items requested externally, GRE, transcript, three reference letters). Be prepared to send reminders.

4.     GPA should be at least 3.00 for Graduate School admission.

5.     International applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English that may include Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a total score of at least 80 on the Internet-based Test (iBT); individual minimums for each of the sections can be found on the Graduate School web site; test date no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested entry term.


Admissions
Physiology

1.     Your application must be complete before the Physiology Graduate Program Admissions Committee (PGPAC) will review the package.

2.     PGPAC will review the complete application packages in early February and early July to determine whether a candidate is acceptable for admission to the Physiology Program subject to identifying an advisor.

3.     It is recommended that the GRE score should be a minimum of 1000 for the verbal and quantitative sections combined.

4.     The analytic writing (An Writ) score should be as high as possible on the weighted scale.

5.     Retake the GRE if the combined verbal and quantitative score is inadequate, or the analytic writing score is low.

6.     The PGPAC will review applications from candidates with an undergraduate GPA below 3.00 provided there is evidence that higher level grades have been achieved subsequently in appropriate (equivalent) 400-level or graduate level courses.

7.     The statement of purpose must indicate your commitment to the discipline of physiology, and if seeking a research degree you should articulate and substantiate a specific area of interest and experience in physiology.

8.     Application is strongly encouraged for the fall semester admission cycle; rarely will an application for the spring semester be approved.

9.     During the admissions process you are encouraged to communicate with potential advisors to determine mutual interests and their willingness to recruit a graduate student with the likelihood of financial support.


Acceptability by the Admissions Committee

1.     A recommendation of a candidate’s acceptability by the PGPAC neither indicates nor implies admission to the Program.

2.     An applicant will not be accepted formally for a degree program unless a member of the Physiology Graduate Faculty has agreed to serve as the student’s advisor or mentor.


Research degrees (MS, PhD)

1.     Applicants admitted with a baccalaureate degree will enter the Master of Science program requiring 30 hours of course credit, no more than six (6) hours of thesis research, a thesis and a comprehensive oral examination.

2.     Progress to a doctoral program can be a seamless transition after completing the MS degree with the same or a different advisor in the Physiology program.

3.     The major advisor may recommend pursuit of the doctoral program (without first completing the MS) based on excellent progress in coursework and the research project; the recommendation must be approved by the Director of the Physiology Graduate Program (DGP).


Veterinary graduate (DVM, VMD, or equivalent) applicants

1.     A veterinary graduate may be accepted directly into a doctoral level physiology program or may be required to first pursue a Master of Science degree program followed by the doctoral program depending upon academic and research progress.

2.     A veterinary graduate accepted into the doctoral level physiology program may be granted a waiver of the two Physiology capstone courses (PHY 503 and 504) subject to a written request from the major advisor to the DGP. This will be dependent upon the rigor and substantiation of the physiology courses taken during the veterinary program.

3.     Applicants likely to be supported and trained by a physiology faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) may be eligible for competitive CVM stipend support for at least for 12 months.


Financial aid considerations

1.     The complete application package should be submitted by January 15 each year by US citizens and international applicants for financial aid consideration in the CVM and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

2.     Applicants likely to arrange an advisor in CALS and who seek stipend support from the faculty member as a teaching assistant or on a grant are strongly encouraged to apply early, preferably by January 15 each year.

3.     No funding is available to, nor is provided by, the Physiology Graduate Program.

4.     Financial support is NOT provided for students in the MOP non-thesis program.


Eligibility for Assistantship, Fellowship or Traineeship

1.     A graduate student must be in good academic standing (3.00 GPA or better) to be eligible for appointment to an assistantship, fellowship or traineeship and must be registered in each semester in which the appointment is in effect.


Master of Physiology (MOP) program

1.     The MOP program non-thesis (option B) requires 36 hours of graduate course credit.

2.     Financial support is NOT provided for students in the MOP non-thesis program.

3.     The objective is to provide a program for students to enhance their academic credentials and competitiveness for admission to a professional school or graduate school, and for individuals seeking to improve their knowledge of modern physiology without the requirement to perform research or prepare a formal presentation of their own research project.

4.     The primary objective demands the commitment of a highly motivated individual to show that they can achieve a competitive GPA at the graduate level.

5.     The degree is not a research degree although degree completion could be beneficial to an individual seeking research technician employment.


MOP acceptability

1.     If the MOP application is deemed acceptable by the PGPAC, the DGP will attempt to identify an advisor for the applicant from among the graduate faculty.

2.     Each MOP student has an advisor (mentor). There is not an advisory committee.

3.     An applicant may seek to contact a potential advisor (listed on the web site) at any stage in the admissions process.

4.     A recommendation of conditional acceptability indicates that the PGPAC has concern over the strength of the application. The committee may suggest that specific courses should be taken in the first or in the first and second semesters with a minimum GPA 3.00 to be maintained prior to the advisor submitting a request to the DGP for a change to full admission.

5.     The degree program status can be changed from the MOP to the Master of Science research program upon recommendation of the advisor based on progress made in the second or subsequent semester. The student may be eligible for stipend support arranged by the advisor. Alternatively, the student may support their own stipend, or obtain funds from other sources.

6 .     MOP students will be recommended for termination if on academic probation after the first semester and the GPA does not improve to at least 3.00 by the end of the second semester.


Physiology program course requirements

1.     Core courses are required.

2.     Other appropriate courses will be selected with input from the major advisor (the advisor in the case of MOP students) and the advisory committee in preparing the Plan of Work.

3.     Required core courses include: PHY 503 General Physiology I (3 credits, fall)
PHY 504 General Physiology II (3 credits, spring)
BCH 553 Biochemistry of Gene Expression (3 credit, fall, spring semester)
One 1-credit ethics course chosen from GS 850 Professionalism and Ethics, PHI 816 Introduction to Research Ethics, or CBS 662 Professional Conduct in Biomedical Research, for all graduate students.
PHY 601/801 Physiology Seminar (1-credit) is required for MS and PhD students.

4.     For the PhD program both BCH 553 and one BCH 700-800 level course are required. However an alternative 700-800 level course may be substituted on the DGP’S approval of a recommendation from the graduate student’s advisor.


Graduate School policies pertaining to 400-level courses

1.     400-level courses in the credit hour requirement for Master’s degrees
No more than ten (10) hours of 400-level courses may be counted toward the minimal 30-hour requirement, and they may not come from the major field. (Note: 36-hour requirement for MOP)

2 .     Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) credit
400-level courses taken in PBS status are not transferable into a graduate degree program.


Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) credit for 500-level or higher courses

1.     If a student is admitted to a graduate program, a maximum of twelve (12) credit hours of 500-level or higher courses only may be applied toward the minimum university requirement of the degree for which the student is enrolled.


Termination

1.     If a student’s graduate degree program is terminated, he/she cannot use courses taken in PBS status after termination for credit toward the same graduate degree program.


Plan of work

1.     A completed patent form must be on record before the Plan of Work is approved by the Graduate School.


Post-Bacccalaureate Studies (PBS) (from 2007 Graduate School Catalog)

The Post-Baccalaureate Studies (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 NC 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 restrictive requirements.

1.     All must have Bachelor's degrees from accredited institutions of higher education. Registration is through the Division of Continuing Studies.

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 taken at NC State will appear on the student's transcript.

3.     If the student is admitted as a graduate student, a maximum of twelve (12) hours may apply toward the minimum university requirement of the Master's degree (i.e., 30 credit hours) for which the student is enrolled, including hours approved for graduate credit while classified as a senior or unclassified graduate. The first twelve (12) hours of course work taken at the graduate level in the PBS category will be accepted toward degree requirements unless a request for some other combination of twelve (12) hours is made by the student's advisory committee and approved by the Graduate Dean. PBS credits cannot be transferred into a doctoral program.

4.     If a student's graduate degree is terminated, he/she cannot use courses taken in PBS status after termination for credit toward the same graduate degree program.

5.     The grade point average (GPA) of a graduate student who has credits in the PBS category will be based on all courses taken at the 400-800 level. However, no course taken six (6) years prior to graduation from a program can be used to meet the requirements for a later graduate degree at NC State.

6.     Registration is limited to a maximum of two courses per semester. Individuals who are employed fulltime should limit their PBS registrations to one course per semester.

7.     The PBS classification carries with it 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 Graduate Work is filed with the Graduate School.

9.     PBS students are expected to familiarize themselves with Graduate School and departmental policies and to seek further advice or clarification as needed.


NCSU Physiology Graduate Program
c/o Graduate Student Services
College of Veterinary Medicine
NC State University
4700 Hillsborough Street
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 513-6448
Email: cvm_grad@ncsu.edu