Graduate Program

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, thesis)

The doctorate symbolizes the ability of the recipient to undertake original research and scholarly work at the highest levels without supervision. The degree is therefore not granted simply upon completion of a stated amount of course work but rather upon demonstration by the student of a comprehensive knowledge and high attainment in scholarship in a specialized field of study.  The student must demonstrate this ability by writing a dissertation reporting the results of an original investigation and by passing a series of preliminary comprehensive examinations in the field of specialization and related areas of knowledge, and by successfully defending the dissertation.

Requirements 

• At least two residence credit points secured in continuous semesters' residence as a graduate student at the University
• Doctoral degrees at North Carolina State University require a minimum of 72 graduate credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s degree.
• For a student who already holds a Masters degree upon initial admission to the doctoral program of study, a maximum of 18 hours of relevant graduate credit from the Masters degree may be applied toward this minimum upon recommendation of the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee.  Therefore, the minimum credit-hour requirement in this case is 54 credit hours.
• If a student completes a Masters degree at NC State and chooses to continue on for a doctoral degree thereby maintaining a continuous registration status, up to 36 credit hours taken while in Masters status may be used to meet minimum requirements for the doctoral degree. 
• Students cannot take 400-level courses or lower as part of the credit-hour requirement for the doctoral program of study.
• Students cannot transfer courses into a PhD program (including those taken in PBS status).
• A successful preliminary comprehensive examination which includes both written and oral components.
• A dissertation
• Departmental defense seminar
• A final comprehensive oral examination

jump to top

• Graduate Program - Department of Animal Science |
• Campus Box 7621 |
• 231 Polk Hall |
• NC State University |
• Raleigh, NC 27695 |
• Phone: 919.515.2769 |
• Fax: 919.515.6884 |
• animal_science@ncsu.edu |
• Policy Disclaimer |
• Site Credits |