Master's Degree

Masters Degree Program in Poultry Science Advisory Committee and Plan of Graduate Work

The committee for a Master of Science degree consists of a major advisor and at least two other Graduate Faculty members, one of whom represents the minor area. At least one faculty member must be from a department other than Poultry Science. This Committee must be formed by the end of the first semester of study. The membership of the committee can be altered if the student's research direction changes. The patent agreement (enclosed) must be signed and turned in to the Department Graduate Administrator and the Graduate School by the end of the first semester of classes.

A specific "Plan of Graduate Work" is developed by the major advisor and the student. This program of course work, along with a thesis problem, must be approved by the advisory committee, the Graduate Administrator and the Graduate School no later than the end of the first year of study. Submit the plan to the Department Graduate administration for electronic submission to the Graduate School.

While a minimum of 30 semester credits is required for the Master of Science in Poultry Science, most programs exceed this minimum. A majority of the course work (at least 20 hours) will be in poultry science and sufficient additional credits will be taken to satisfy any minor requirements. A minor is not required. See the Graduate Course Catalog for course offerings. A minor, if chosen, may be in a single field (e.g., physiology), a split minor in two fields (e.g., physiology, microbiology), or interdisciplinary (various courses selected by the advisory committee). In the case of a split minor at least one of the minor areas must be represented in the advisory committee and these situations may require an additional committee member to represent the second minor area.

The interdisciplinary minor normally includes at least three courses from outside the student's major department or program and courses from two or more areas. The interdisciplinary minor representative must be from outside the major department or program and should be selected on the basis of his/her expertise in the interdisciplinary area.

Credit Hour Requirements for Master's Degrees
A minimum of 30 semester credit hours is required for all Master's degrees; however, many programs require more than thirty. Also, many students, in order to gain the breadth desired in their programs or to make up deficits in their undergraduate degrees, will actually take more credit hours than the minimum required by their programs.

No more than two credit hours of departmental seminar may be included in the minimum 30-credit program. No more than three credit hours of Master's supervised teaching (685) may be included in the minimum 30-credit program. Programs that require a thesis may include no more than six hours of Thesis Research credit (695) in the minimum 30-credit-hour program. Thesis Research credit is not appropriate in non-thesis programs. Non-thesis programs may include no more than six hours of independent study credits in the minimum 30-credit program. No more than ten hours of 400-level courses may be counted toward the minimal 30-hour requirement, and they may not come from the major field. Master's Thesis Preparation (699) credits may not be used to satisfy the 30-credit hour requirement.

At least 18 hours of the minimum 30 hours required for the Master's degree must be graduate credits earned while the student is enrolled in a graduate classification at NC State. At least 18 hours of the 30 hour requirement may not have been, and may not be, used to satisfy degree requirements for another master's degree at NC State. Also, at least 18 of the 30 hour requirement may not have been taken while the student was enrolled in another Master's degree program, unless the student did not complete the other program. In addition, students pursuing a Master's degree after having completed a doctoral degree at NC State must complete at least 18 graduate credit hours at NC State after enrollment in the Master's program. (Other rules apply to students who are concurrently pursuing a Master's degree and a doctoral degree at NC State*.) In both cases, the remaining 12 credit hours, or more depending on the requirements of the specific program, may be transferred from any of the following sources or any combination thereof:

1. Transfer of graduate credits earned at other universities
2. Transfer of graduate credits earned while enrolled in an undergraduate program at NC State University
3. Transfer of graduate credits earned while enrolled in a previous graduate degree program at NC State University
4. Transfer of Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) graduate credits earned at NC State University

Transfer of Graduate Credits Earned at Other Universities: A course that was completed at another college or university may be considered for transfer to a master's program provided that:

1. The course is classified as a graduate course.
2. It was completed while the student was in a graduate or post-baccalaureate classification.
3. The grade in the course is "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better.
4. The college or university is accredited by one of the following six U.S. regional accrediting agencies: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Colleges and Schools, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Association of Colleges and Schools, or the Western Association of Colleges and Schools.

Exceptions are allowed for transfer from foreign institutions if the department or program provides the Graduate School with adequate documentation that the course is relevant to the graduate degree, with appropriate content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least comparable to those of students taking the equivalent course at NC State, and that the course was taught by faculty who are qualified to teach at the master's degree level.

Transfer of Graduate Credits Earned while Enrolled in an Undergraduate Program at NC State University: A course that was completed while the student was enrolled as an undergraduate at NC State University may be considered for transfer to a master's program, provided that it is at the 400-level or higher, that the grade is "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better, that it was not counted to fulfill undergraduate requirements, and that it is recommended by the Director of Graduate Programs at the time of the student's enrollment in the Graduate School. (Note: Students admitted to the Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's program may use up to 12 hours of graduate credit to satisfy requirements for both the Bachelor's and the Master's degrees.) No graduate credit will be allowed for a course completed in an undergraduate classification at another institution.

Transfer of Graduate Credits Earned while Enrolled in a Previous Graduate Degree Program at NC State University: A graduate course that was completed while the student was enrolled in a previous graduate program at NC State University may be considered for transfer to a Master's program, provided that it is at the 500-level or higher and that the grade is "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better.

Transfer of Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) Graduate Credits Earned at NC State University: A graduate course that was completed while the student was enrolled in PBS status at NC State University may be considered for transfer to a Master's program provided that it is at the 500-level or higher and that the grade is "B" (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better. All PBS credits that are used to satisfy requirements of a specific Master's degree must be earned before the student is admitted to that degree program.

* Students enrolled in a doctoral program may wish to concurrently pursue a Master's degree. If a student does not have a previous Master's degree, up to 36 of the 72 hours required for the doctoral degree may be used to satisfy requirements for the Master's degree. If the student has a previous Master's degree, up to 18 of the 54 hours required for the doctoral degree may be used to satisfy requirements for another Master's degree. In either case, 36 hours must be unique to the doctoral program, i.e., not used to satisfy requirements for a Master's degree.

For steps necessary for the completion of the Master's Degree Program, see the Graduate Catalog or appropriate NCSU Grad School Website for "Summary of Procedures for Master's Degree." Note that all requirements for the Master's Degree must be completed within 6 calendar years.

Thesis. Theses prepared by candidates for the Master of Science degree must represent an original investigation into a subject, which has been approved by the student's advisory committee. Three copies of the thesis in final form as approved by the advisory committee, each signed by the members of the advisory committee, must be submitted to the Graduate School by a specific deadline in the semester or summer session in which the degree is to be conferred. Detailed information on form and organization of the thesis is presented in the University's Guide for the Preparation of Theses, which is available in the Graduate School office. It is customary to provide a bound copy of the thesis to your major advisor and any committee member requesting a copy. Although publication of your dissertation, in part or whole, in a research journal is not a requirement for the Degree, it is a highly desirable objective and achievement.

Students who complete the Master of Science degree and expect to enter the Ph.D. program must have demonstrated strong academic performance and ability to perform research on an independent basis. The advisory committee decides upon the eligibility of each student to enter the Ph.D. program. Upon the recommendation of the advisory committee, the admissions committee, and the Graduate Administrator, the Graduate School approves admission to the Ph.D. program.