Graduate Programs

Advanced Degrees that Advance Careers

Our partnerships with other departments greatly enhance the Crop and Soil Sciences graduate programs, offering opportunities for tailored research experiences and unparalleled career preparation.

You can choose from several paths, including thesis and non-thesis masters degree programs.

Our graduate faculty are experts in their fields. They also participate in a number of interdisciplinary programs throughout the university that enrich their teaching and mentoring, and in turn, benefit their students.

We’re serious about preparing our graduate students for meaningful careers that have an impact here in North Carolina and around the world.

Student who got graduate assistantship with NC State's Crop and Soil dept.

Graduate Assistantships

New Listings Available Now
Competitive assistantships are available in our program areas of research for outstanding candidates to thesis-based master's and doctoral programs. Students on assistantships receive tuition and health insurance. University fees of approximately $2,550/year are the responsibility of the student.

See Available Assistantships

Crop Science

Students can study toward M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in the fields of plant breeding and genetics, plant physiology, sustainable agriculture, crop and forage management, crop chemistry and quality, turfgrass management, and weed science. Students seeking more general training may enroll in the non-thesis Master of Crop Science degree program. The latter is particularly suitable for working professionals. Strong cooperation with other departments greatly enhances these programs.

Most students eligible for graduate work usually receive financial assistance in the form of stipends, assistantships, or fellowships. Student support is competitive with peer institutions across the country. Tuition and health insurance are included in financial assistance packages.

Soil Science

Our graduate education opportunities in soil science will prepare students for careers with public and private organizations in soil and environmental sciences. Our students find employment opportunities with consulting firms, government organizations or academia.

To ensure that all are well founded in the discipline, students are expected to acquire competence through coursework in the following sub-disciplines (four for master’s and all five for Ph.D. programs): soil physics, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, soil genesis and classification, and soil fertility.

Master of Soil Science (MR)

The Master of Soil Science (MR) degree is a non-thesis, course-based professional degree. It is available as an online degree program and can also be completed as an on-campus degree. Students will be assigned a soil science faculty advisor who will assist them in successfully navigating the program. Students will complete a project as part of their program.

  • Minimum of 30 semester credit hours
  • Completion of the following Soil Science core requirements (17-18 credits)
Course No. Title Credits
All students are required to take at least four of the following five courses for a total of 13 to 14 credits.
SSC 511 Soil Physics 4
SSC 521 Soil Chemistry 3
SSC 532 Soil Microbiology 4
SSC 541 Soil Fertility 3
SSC 551 Soil Morphology, Genesis, and Classification 3
All students are required to take the following courses for a total of at least 4 credits.
SSC 601 Soil Science Seminar 1
SSC 675 Project in Soil Science 3
Total Required Core Course Credits 17-18

 

  • Completion of at least 21 credit hours of letter-graded courses
  • No more than two 400-level courses outside of SSC may be used
  • Completion of an approved Project in Soil Science (SSC 675)
  • A field experience course may be required depending on the student’s background
  • Students must complete all requirements within six calendar years

Master of Science in Soil Science (MS)

The Master of Science in Soil Science is a research degree that requires the successful completion of a research problem and the submittal of a written thesis that documents the research. Students work directly with a faculty member on a research project that is part of their program.

  • Minimum of 30 semester credit hours
  • Completion of the following Soil Science core requirements (17-18 credits)
Course No. Title Credits
All students are required to take at least four of the following five courses for a total of 13 to 14 credits.
SSC 511 Soil Physics 4
SSC 521 Soil Chemistry 3
SSC 532 Soil Microbiology 4
SSC 541 Soil Fertility 3
SSC 551 Soil Morphology, Genesis, and Classification 3
All students are required to take at least one credit of SSC 601.
SSC 601 Soil Science Seminar 1
Total Required Core Course Credits 14-15

 

  • Completion of at least 18 credit hours of letter-graded courses at the 500 or 700 level
  • No more than six credit hours of 400-level courses outside of SSC may be used
  • Successful completion of a research project with an approved MS thesis
  • A non-credit exit seminar
  • Teaching the equivalent of two sections of SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory

Doctor of Philosophy in Soil Science (PhD)

The PhD degree symbolizes the ability of the student to undertake original research with minimal supervision and demonstrates the student’s ability to write a dissertation reporting the results of this research. Eventual publication in a scholarly, refereed journal is expected of research from the dissertation.

  • Minimum of 72 semester credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree
  • Up to 18 graduate credit hours from another university may be accepted.
  • Completion of the following Soil Science core requirements (17-18 credits)
Course No. Title Credits
All PhD students are required to take or have graduate credit for the following five courses for a total of 17 credits.
SSC 511 Soil Physics 4
SSC 521 Soil Chemistry 3
SSC 532 Soil Microbiology 4
SSC 541 Soil Fertility 3
SSC 551 Soil Morphology, Genesis, and Classification 3
All students are required to take at least one credit of SSC 601.
SSC 801 Soil Science Seminar 1
Total Required Core Course Credits 18

 

  • Completion of preliminary written and oral examinations
  • Successful completion of an original research program resulting in an approved PhD dissertation
  • Success completion of the final oral examination
  • Completion of a non-credit exit seminar
  • A non-credit exit seminar
  • Teaching the equivalent of two sections of SSC 201 Soil Science Laboratory

Contact Us

Interested in Crop Science?

Candace Haigler
Director of Crop Science Graduate Programs
Phone: 919.515.3667
Email: candace_haigler@ncsu.edu

Interested in Soil Science?

Mike Mullen
Director of Soil Science Graduate Programs
Phone: 919.515.3727
Email: SoilScienceDGP@ncsu.edu