ABM Program in Poultry Science

The Poultry Science BS-Masters degree program is designed to provide Poultry Science students in the Science Curriculum with a means of completing the requirements for both degrees within a period of 5 or 5 1/2 years depending on the choice of curriculum. The combined degree program provides an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students at NC State to double count up to 12 credits and obtain a non-thesis Master's degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Baccalaureate degree or obtain a thesis based Master's degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Baccalaureate degree.

The BS degree is awarded after completion of the four-year program as shown below:

To be admitted into the ABM program, students must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Students must have completed a minimum of seventy-five (75) and a maximum of ninety-six (96) credit hours in their undergraduate programs, including credits earned from advanced placement.
2. Transfer students must have completed a minimum of two semesters as a full-time student at NC State, a minimum of 24 hours.
3. Students must have a minimum accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.5/4.0 at NC State.
4. Individual departments may impose stricter admission requirements.
5. Complete the BS degree requirements by the end of their fourth year
   

Rules Governing Participation and Graduation:

1. Students must complete the Baccalaureate degree prior to entering the Master's program. Students in the ABM may not elect to by-pass the Baccalaureate degree.
2. Students must receive a grade of B (3.0/4.0) or better in the double counted graduate level courses. Courses with a grade of B- or below cannot be double counted between the two degrees.
3. No more than twelve (12) hours of graduate work may be counted towards the requirements of both degrees.
4. Students must complete the Master's degree within 12 months from the completion of the baccalaureate degree for a non-thesis Master's degree and within 18 months for Master's programs requiring a thesis. If the Master's program is not completed within these time limits, none of the courses can be double counted.
5. Permission to pursue an ABM degree program does not guarantee an admission to the Graduate School. Admission is contingent on meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.
   

Application to the Accelerated Baccalaureate/Master's (ABM) Degree Program:

1. A prospective student that meets the eligibility requirements above should set up a meeting with his/her Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs to develop Plans of Work for his/her Baccalaureate and Master's degree programs.
2. The prospective student should be given a copy of these guidelines.
3. Students in an ABM program must submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School including, an application form, application fee, and transcripts. In addition, a Plan of Graduate Work (as described below), signed by the prospective student and the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs must be submitted. Some programs may require GRE scores or other information.
4. The Plan of Graduate Work for the Master's degree should clearly indicate:
   a. the courses (a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours) that will be double counted for both Baccalaureate and Master's degrees,
   b the courses (a maximum of 6 additional graduate credit hours) that are taken as an undergraduate student at NC State and that will not be counted towards the Baccalaureate degree,
   c. the courses that will be taken after matriculating in to the graduate program,
   d. the graduation date for the Master's degree that meets the time limit for the ABM program (i.e. obtaining a non-thesis Master's degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Baccalaureate degree or obtaining a thesis based Master's degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Baccalaureate degree).
5. Upon review of the materials submitted by the Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate programs to the Graduate School, a letter of acceptance (or denial) to the Master's program, contingent on meeting the ABM requirements, will be sent to the student with a copy to the Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate programs.
6. Any changes to the ABM Plan of Graduate Work must be submitted in writing to and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School.
   

Withdrawal/Ineligibility:

1. A student may at any time withdraw from an approved ABM program, by informing the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate programs in writing. A copy of this should be sent to the Graduate School.
2. If a student completes the Baccalaureate degree requirements with an accumulated GPA of less than 3.5/4.0, then he/she is no longer eligible to pursue the ABM program. Individual departments may have higher requirements and a failure to meet these requirements will make a student ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
3. A student who does not follow the approved Plan of Graduate Work may become ineligible to participate in the ABM program.
4. It is the responsibility of the student to recognize his/her eligibility status. If a student becomes ineligible to participate in the ABM degree program, the Director of Graduate Programs should inform the student in writing of his/her ineligibility. A copy of this letter to the student should be sent to the Graduate School.
5. A student who is ineligible to participate in (or withdraws from) the ABM program, can not double count any courses for both Baccalaureate and Master's degrees.
   

Implementation:

These new guidelines will supersede any previously approved guidelines.

Poultry Science Requirements:
Application for admission to the Graduate School will be made in the senior year. The required 30 hours of credit for the Master's degree will be derived as follows:

Undergraduate / graduate double counted courses:
6 hours of 400 level courses in other departments:
E.g.: GN 411, MB 401, VMF 401 or any other recommended by the academic advisor.

6 hours of 500 level courses in Poultry Science:
E.g.: PO 524, PO 505 or any other recommended by the academic advisor.

Graduate courses:
12 hours of 500 to 700 level courses:
E.g.: PO 525, PO 705, PO 735, PO 756, PO 757, PO 775, or any 500 to 700 level course(s) recommended by the students' advisory committee.

6 hours of research or teaching or independent study:
PO 601, PO 620, PO 685, PO 690, PO 693, PO 695

This will result in a total of 24 hours of letter graded courses. Additional 6 hours will be earned from departmental seminars, research credit (for MS-thesis option) or independent studies (for masters of poultry science, non-thesis option). The master's degree must be completed within one year from date of enrollment in the Graduate School

AMB- Masters Program Tracks

There are two possible tracks in the combined AMB degree program in Poultry Science: Master's of Science which is also known as the "thesis option with completion date in 5 ½ years" and Master's of Poultry Science, a "non-thesis" option with expected completion in 5 years. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours will be required to earn a degree in either of the two tracks.

A student completing the thesis requirements after finishing the BS degrees (18 months for completion) will select the track and, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, will start along that track while still an undergraduate student. As part of the admissions process, one letter of recommendation must come from that faculty member and indicate the faculty member's willingness to be the student's Master advisor.

The research thesis will provide evidence of mastery of Poultry Science and will result in the development of original publishable data. This evidence can be presented in the form of a thesis and manuscript(s), which is submitted for publication to a scientific journal and a comprehensive final oral exam.

The non-thesis option will require the students to earn a minimum of 30 credit hours (12 months for completion). The non-thesis option will provide evidence of understanding of poultry science. This evidence can be presented in the form of an independent study report and/or a comprehensive oral exam.