Information for Graduate Students

General Guidance

This information has been compiled to provide graduate students with general guidance on the policies of the Department of Poultry Science concerning graduate studies. Students should consult the current Catalog and/or Website for more specific policies of the Graduate School as each student is responsible for knowing and fulfilling the requirements of his/her particular degree objective.

Below you will find all necessary forms and pertinent information about the Department.

For additional information, contact:

Director of Graduate Program: Dr. John Brake
Email: John_Brake@ncsu.edu

Graduate Secretary: Corina Rosuita
Email: ctrosiut@ncsu.edu

Administrative Secretary: Joan Davis
Email: Joan_Davis@ncsu.edu

Department of Poultry Science
Campus Box 7608
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7608

Phone: 919-515-5559   Fax: 919-515-2625

Programs of Study

The Department offers both thesis (Master of Science) and non-thesis (Master of Poultry Science) degrees in poultry Science. In addition, Master of Science and Doctoral degrees in Physiology, Nutrition, Toxicology, Immunology, and Microbiology may be obtained through interdepartmental programs while conducting research and holding an Assistantship in the Department of Poultry Science. Students may transfer from one program to another after approval by the Graduate Administrators of both programs and the Graduate School. However, a student may be admitted to only one degree program at any given time.

Initiating the Program

All new students will be assigned a faculty member as their graduate advisor. This assignment is based on faculty availability and the student's major area of study, career goals, and personal choice. Before the end of the first semester of residence a graduate advisory committee must be formed. The committee is chosen by the student and his/her graduate advisor. For the Masters Degree this committee consists of three graduate faculty members including the major professor. It is the student's responsibility to see that a graduate advisory committee is established. The committee must then be submitted to and approved by the Poultry Science Graduate Administrator or the Graduate Administrator of the Interdepartmental Program in which the student is involved and the Dean of the Graduate School. In addition, a Patent Agreement must be signed and turned into the Graduate School by the end of the first semester of classes (copy to Poultry Sciences Graduate Administrator). A Graduate Plan of Work will be formulated by the student and his/her advisor. This consists of the specific type and time schedule of all course work to be applied to the degree requirements. The student will then schedule a meeting of the advisory committee for the purpose of approving the student's plan of graduate work. This approved plan of work must be submitted to the Poultry Science Graduate Administrator or the Interdepartment Program Administrator for electronic submission to the Graduate School Dean by the end of the first academic year for the Masters degree programs. Once formulated, the student's graduate plan of study must be followed to the letter to attain the graduate degree. However, this does not preclude doing more than is listed on the plan.

Under extenuating circumstances, however, the plan can be changed with approval of the student's committee, the Graduate Administrator and the Dean of the Graduate School.

Financial Assistance

Graduate assistantships for teaching or research may be available through the department of Poultry Science and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The duration of assistantships is two years for the master's degree in Poultry Science or one of the interdepartmental programs and three to five years for the Ph.D.

Graduate students from Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common market states (KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, AR, LA, OK, TX, DE, MD, WV, VA) admitted in Poultry Science graduate program will pay in-state- tuition and be treated as residents of North Carolina.

Assistantship stipends are competitive with other institutions and require 20 hours of work per week (half-time assistantship), allowing a maximum course work of 9 credits a semester. Research assistants receive their stipends in 12 monthly payments per year whereas teaching assistants receive their stipends in 9 monthly payments per year. Any leave or vacation time from assistantship duties MUST be prearranged with the major advisor. A minimum grade point average of 3.2 is required to be eligible for research assistantships and candidates for non-thesis degrees are not eligible. See attachments for more information on the responsibilities of teaching and research assistantships. Refer to the NC State University Grad School Home Page section for New Graduate Student plans for financial assistance with tuition, health insurance, etc. (See Essential Websites for link). It should be noted that students on assistantships are discouraged from accepting outside employment. Since the number of graduate assistantships are very limited, all students are urged to seek out and to apply for graduate fellowships.

Fellowships generally have considerably higher stipends than do assistantships.

Department Facilities

The Department of Poultry Science occupies Scott Hall, a 3-story building adjacent to the main campus library. The original building was constructed in 1952 and was named after Walter Scott (1869-1929), a successful state farmer and legislator. Scott Hall contains well-equipped research laboratories, computer facilities, animal rooms, a feed mixing room, student lounge, administrative offices, faculty offices, graduate student offices, conference rooms, and classrooms which total about 64,000 square feet of space. The Department consists of 23 faculty, a support staff of about 50, 30-35 graduate students and postdoctoral associates, about 80 4-year undergraduate students and about 30 2-year associate degree students in the Agricultural Institute.

In addition to facilities in Scott Hall, the Department utilizes the following:

Poultry Educational Units (Chicken and Turkey), Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratories - These two units are located approximately 7 miles south of the main campus on Lake Wheeler Road. Each Unit has a small office and hatchery, a number of poultry facilities, and a support staff who oversees the maintenance of the facilities and care of the experimental animals. Facilities for chicken (primarily broiler breeder and commercial broiler) studies are located in one unit; and market turkey and turkey breeder studies are conducted in the second unit. Each unit has a manager, an assistant manager and several other staff members who are assigned to work with specific buildings and projects. All projects must be operated under a written protocol that clearly outlines who is responsible for all aspects of the project. All protocols must be signed by the principal investigator, and they must include the number of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval number for the project. A blank copy of the research protocol is available on the Poultry Science Server, and must be filled out and approved by the Department Head prior to the commencement of any research involving live animals. Your major professor can advise you on how to proceed in the development of your protocol.

The Chicken and Turkey Unit Managers report to the Poultry Research Units Superintendent, who, in turn, reports to the Department Head. The Research Superintendent is also in charge of all animal work at the Dearstyne Avian Disease Research Center, at the Varsity Drive Teaching Unit, and at Scott Hall. A third manager is in charge of the latter three animal units, who reports to the Research Superintendent.

Feed Mill - The mill is located at the Chicken Educational Unit, and it maintains a supply of common feed ingredients and can produce maintenance feeds and large batches of many experimental feeds. It will eventually (ca. 2000) be replaced with a new Feed Mill Educational Unit at the Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory.

Dearstyne Avian Research Center - A two-building complex located 2 miles west of campus is used for studies of avian diseases, pathology and physiology.

Piedmont Research Station - A 10 building complex located about 100 miles west of campus near Salisbury, NC. The complex is owned by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and is used by the Poultry Science Department to conduct research with commercial layers and broiler breeders.

Mycotoxin Laboratory - This facility is located in Scott Hall. It provides mycotoxin analyses as a service function and conducts a research program on molds and mycotoxins.

Animal & Poultry Waste Management Center - The Center Office and Laboratory are located on the first floor of Scott Hall. Its waste processing and composting facilities are located at the NC State Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory. It provides facilities for developing, testing, and demonstrating novel methods of managing waste products of animal agriculture and converting these wastes into useful, valuable products.

Fermentation Facility - A 250 L bacterial fermentation facility is located on the first floor of Scott Hall.

The Department provides automobile transportation to the above sites and for any business-related travel for employees of the department only (which includes graduate students). Automobiles may be reserved and/or checked out in the department mailroom by any employee (individual on the payroll) with a valid driver's license. Students must be on the State payroll in order to drive university vehicles.

Research Opportunities

A broad range of research of both a practical and basic nature is conducted with embryonic, neonatal (brooding), growing, and breeder poultry. An active biotechnology research program exists in the department, which operates under existing graduate disciplines listed previously. An interdisciplinary approach to research problems is encouraged, and excellent cooperation with other scientists exists. Arrangements can be made by faculty advisors for students to work with adjunct faculty at various locations including:

Private industry

1. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Research Triangle Park)
2. Environmental Protection Agency (Research Triangle Park)
3. Other departments at NCSU such as Biomath, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Food Science, Entomology, Economics and Business, Animal Science, Zoology, Microbiology, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
4. Other national and international universities

Academic Standing

Performance in lecture courses is evaluated using the following grades: "A" (excellent), "B" (good), "C" (passing), "D" (poor) and "NC" (no credit). In order to receive graduate degree credit, a grade of "C" or higher is required and an average cumulative grade of 3.0 must be maintained.

Performance in research, seminar, and special problems courses is evaluate as either "S" (satisfactory) or "U" (unsatisfactory), and these grades are not used in computing the Grade Point Average. However, a student who receives a "U" on any course will not receive credit for that course and may be required to repeat it.

The grade of "IN" (incomplete) may be given in any course at the discretion of the instructor. A student who receives an "IN" grade must complete the unfinished work to have the incomplete converted to a final grade by the end of the next semester in residence; otherwise, the "IN" will be automatically converted to "NC".

Except in the case of Inter institutional Registration, grades on courses transferred from another institution will not be included in computing the Grade Point Average.

Graduate students are placed on academic probation if they accumulate nine or more but less than 18 credit hours at the 400-level or above and have a grade point average of less than 3.0 ("B" average). A student's graduate study is terminated if 18 or more credit hours at the 400-level or above are accumulated with a grade point average of less than 3.0 ("B" average). When a student's graduate program is terminated, no further registration in a graduate classification will be permitted. Under extenuating circumstances the student will be reinstated upon the written recommendation of the Department Head and approval by the Graduate Dean.

Departments do have the prerogative of recommending the termination of a student's graduate admission at any time. A student on academic probation is not eligible for appointment to a graduate fellowship or assistantship.

Awards and Lectures

Clyde W. Eby Memorial Lecture. Through the generosity of the Clyde Eby family, monies have been designated to provide support for the enrichment of the Poultry Science Department at N.C. State University. This has been accomplished through the annual presentation of a memorial lecture by a highly distinguished Poultry Scientist. This lecture is usually presented in the spring.

M.B. "Dutch" Gardner Outstanding Graduate Student Thesis Award. Awards are given for both Masters and Ph.D. theses, when funding is available. This award is generally $500 for the best Ph.D. and $250 for the best M.S. thesis involving a poultry related topic presented at the annual Poultry Science Department Awards banquet (Spring Semester).

Kenneth R. Keller Award. Sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for the most outstanding doctoral dissertation. The award consists of $1000 and a plaque which are presented at a banquet in the late spring.

Other Items of Interest

Graduate students having teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships will be given priority in assigned space in the Department. This may be in the laboratory area of the major advisor or in a common office area with other graduate students. Efforts will be made to accommodate all graduate students, but only if space permits. Keys to laboratories and office spaces may be obtained from the Department Bookkeeper for a small returnable deposit upon the written request of the major advisor.

Graduate students are called upon from time to time to assist staff and faculty in promoting the welfare of the Department. This may include helping with seminar programs, the State Fair, Open House activities, registration, and any other assistance that will enhance and promote the objectives of the Department for the good of students, staff, and faculty. We trust that students will be willing to help with these activities.

Graduate Student Association - There is a campus-wide association of graduate students that seeks to support the student in the achievement of his or her academic goals. They sponsor new graduate student orientation each August, which is quite helpful. The graduate students in Poultry Science have generally formed their own subgroup for the purpose of attaining these goals within the Departments and to disseminate information from monthly campus GSA meetings. They elect members to assist in seminars and programs as requested by the Department Head. They also send a representative to faculty meetings. There is some money available from the Graduate Student Association for social events and for some travel for scientific meetings.

Transportation - Only those individuals employed by the University may drive departmental cars or other university vehicles. Student employees may use departmental cars after approval by their advisor. Motor pool vehicles may not be requested by graduate students to attend seminars at other schools. A class B driver's license is required in order to drive a university van, which seats 15 or more people, and a North Carolina driver's license is required for all vehicles.

Use of departmental supplies and equipment - Computers with most common types of computer software are available in the Faculty Development Center (Room 303) and also in Room 105. Please report any malfunctions or other needs in this area to Building Liaison (Accountant) or main office (203). The use of any other departmental typewriters or word processors is restricted to secretarial staff ONLY. The use of the departmental copying machine is restricted to official departmental programs. Students are not allowed to use departmental stationary or the telephone except for Official University business. FAX transmissions are available through your major advisor, but must always pertain to official university business.

Mail - Graduate students may receive their business mail through their major advisor's departmental mailbox or via the mass graduate student mailbox in the main office.

Computers - Computers are available for student use by arrangement with their major professor.

Purchasing - All purchases must have the approval of your major professor and must be ordered through him/her or via designated personnel.

Safety - The department is very much concerned with the safety of all individuals. A safety orientation concerning chemical, electrical, biological and radiological hazards is required for all students before conducting any research. Guidelines and procedures to be followed should be discussed with your major advisor and/or the Graduate Administrator and an acknowledgment form must be signed that you have read the laboratories safety plan and have been trained in proper laboratory procedures before you do any work in the laboratory.

Library Services - Two of the reference staff in the library (Carol Vreland & Karen Grigg) are assigned as our department representative. Feel free to contact her at 515-2936. Library services include orientation in library use and facilities, instruction in library research, online computer literature searches, and access to the computer cataloging system. Some of these services have costs associated with them, so you must have the approval of your major professor BEFORE using them.

Poultry Science Club - Open to all (undergraduate and graduate) students. The club is very active and meets biweekly in the evening in Scott Hall with supper served. Purposes of the club are to promote poultry science, socialize, and provide various services for the campus and community. Contact one of the faculty advisors, Dr. Sam Pardue or Dr. Carmen Parkhurst. Graduate students are encouraged to participate.

Animal Facilities and Use - All research using any species of live animals must be conducted in accordance with Federal and University Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) provides training and information on space, cages, anesthesia, surgery, and sanitation to faculty and students. The committee also approves the Applications for Vertebrate and Animal Use that are REQUIRED for all research projects. Consult your advisor and the department IACUC member for further information. The Department of Poultry Science requires that a protocol be prepared for each animal experiment. Among other things, the protocol indicates the persons responsible for daily care of the animals, as well as for all experimental procedures. See your advisor for the research project protocol forms.

Scientific Meeting Travel Expenses - Both the Graduate Student Association (GSA) and the Department of Poultry Science provide financial assistance for presentations at scientific meetings. Contact your major advisor and/or the Graduate Administrator for further information. Receipts must be kept and turned in for all expenses except meals for which per diem rates are provided.

All graduate students in the Department of Poultry Science are encouraged to join the Poultry Science Association. There are many benefits. See your major advisor for forms and information and/or check the January issue of Poultry Science.

There are a number of service laboratories on campus to assist your graduate research. These include: toxicology analysis, mineral analysis, mycotoxin analysis, NMR/mass spectrometry, etc, but information for many of these facilities are on the University Web Site. See your major advisor for details. In addition, the NCSU Statistics Department provides consultation for experimental designs and data analysis. See your advisor for the name of our department representative.

Extension Poultry Science conducts a series of annual meetings, symposia, short courses and conferences for the N.C. poultry industry. When appropriate, graduate students are encouraged to attend and/or participate in these programs.

It is expected that all graduate students regularly attend the Department of Poultry Science Seminars. These seminars are widely publicized and are held weekly during the academic year. Students are encouraged to suggest names of desired seminar speakers to your advisor or Seminar Committee Chairman.