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 doctoral and thesis and non-thesis master’s 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.

Graduate Student Information

Crop Science

Our graduate education opportunities in Crop Science encompass diverse disciplines including agroecology and sustainable agriculture, computational science and genomics, crop and forage management, crop product quality, pesticide fate and environmental impact, plant breeding and genetics, plant physiology, precision agriculture, turfgrass management and science, and weed science. Our research and teaching portfolio includes food, feed, and fiber crops, turfgrass, and specialty crops. In consultation with their Advisory Committee, our students take courses across multiple departments to facilitate their individual learning and research goals.

After completion of their degrees, our graduate students are in demand. They find diverse employment, including as agricultural consultants; extension agents; golf course managers; postdoctoral scholars; research leaders, managers, or technicians; and faculty members. These positions are found in various sectors including agrochemical and other private sector companies; universities; and government or scientific agencies in the United States and other countries.

Three graduate degrees can be earned within the Crop Science Graduate Program. A graduate minor in Crop Science is also available.

Master of Crop Science (MR)

The Master of Crop Science (MR) is a non-thesis program that emphasizes coursework to increase knowledge of the field. To graduate, an MR student who has met the course requirements must pass a final oral exam testing their advanced knowledge as administered by their Advisory Committee.
Consult the NC State University Catalog for detailed requirements.

Master of Science (MS)

The Master of Science (MS) is a coursework and research degree. To graduate, a MS student who has met the course, research, and teaching requirements must write a quality thesis, present a public seminar, and pass an oral defense of the thesis as evaluated by their Advisory Committee.
Consult the NC State University Catalog for detailed requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD degree program emphasizes research and advanced coursework to aid research, and there is also a teaching requirement. Students who enter the PhD program without a highly related master’s degree can anticipate taking a substantial number of formal courses. Candidates for the Doctoral degree must: (a) demonstrate their ability to plan and carry out original research and data analysis with minimal supervision; and (b) generate substantial new knowledge worthy of publication. To graduate, a PhD student who has met the course, research, and teaching requirements must: pass a preliminary written and oral exam; write a quality dissertation based on their original research; present a public seminar; and pass an oral defense of their dissertation as evaluated by their Advisory Committee. The degree is awarded based on mastery of the field and high scholarly attainment in research.
Consult the NC State University Catalog for detailed requirements.

Minor in Crop Science

For a NC State master’s student, 9 hours of CS letter-graded courses are required. For a NC State PhD student, 12 hours of CS letter-graded courses are required.
Consult the NC State University Catalog for detailed requirements

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
Email: candace_haigler@ncsu.edu

Interested in Soil Science?

Owen Duckworth
Director of Soil Science Graduate Programs
Email: SoilScienceDGP@ncsu.edu