Plant Pathology Graduate Program Timelines and Requirements
Application Deadlines
Note: Plant Pathology program deadlines are earlier than those of the Graduate School.
| Applicant Status | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Citizens | January 15 | August 1 |
| International Students | January 15 | July 15 |
| DPG Recommendations for International Students | April 1 | September 15 |
Minimum Admissions Requirements
- The Plant Pathology Graduate Program does not require or use the GRE for evaluating applications; however, some training grants may require it.
- A bachelor’s (B.S. or B.A.) or master’s (M.S.) degree or equivalent degree from an accredited university or institute of higher education
- Minimum 3.0 GPA (>3.25 GPA preferred)
- TOEFL for international students from non-English speaking countries
Applying for Residency (U.S.-based students only)
Please review the Graduate School’s guide to applying for Residency through the NC RDS. This is extremely important as you will be expected to gain NC residency prior to the start of your 3rd semester. This process varies widely for each student due to individual circumstances. For assistance please contact the RDS office directly at: rdsinfo@ncresidency.org, 919-835-2290, or 844-319-3640. This office operates outside of the NC State University system and will assign an out-of-state determination to anyone who has not yet lived in North Carolina for 365 days. When in doubt, please contact them prior to submitting your application. Rejected applications will require an appeal process.
Timeline for M.S. Degree in Plant Pathology
Thirty (30) semester hours are required to graduate with an M.S. degree in plant pathology. Please note that successful completion of the MS requires a completed thesis of original research, and this may extend the timeline into the summer terms or a fifth semester.
| Time Frame | Action |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Outline research project with major advisor and discuss potential committee members (3 minimum required). |
| Semester 2 | Form committee, have first committee meeting, map out required courses using the Pack Planner with input from major advisor and committee. |
| Before Semester 3 | Committee should be formalized and submitted for approval by the Graduate School prior to the beginning of the third semester. |
| By End of Semester 4 | Thesis defense should be organized with input from the major advisor and committee after sufficient research progress is accomplished. Visit the Graduate School website for the schedule of required documents. |
Timeline for Ph.D. Degree in Plant Pathology
Seventy-two (72) semester hours are required to graduate with a Ph.D. degree in plant pathology. Please note that successful completion of the Ph.D. requires a completed dissertation of original research, and this may extend the timeline for completion beyond 8 (with previous Master’s) or 10 (without previous Master’s) semesters.
Ph.D. without Prior Master’s Degree
| Time Frame | Action |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Outline research project with the major advisor and discuss potential committee members (4 minimum required). |
| Semester 2 | Form committee. Map out required courses using the Pack Planner with input from your major advisor and committee. |
| Semester 3 | Committee should be formalized and submitted for approval by the Graduate School by the end of the third semester at the very latest. |
| Semester 4/5 | Students should plan to take their written/oral preliminary examinations immediately following the fourth semester in residence, by the end of the fifth semester at the latest. |
| Semester 8 | Coursework should be completed by the end of the eighth semester. |
| By Semester 10 | Dissertation defense should be organized with input from the major advisor and committee after sufficient research progress is accomplished. Students are encouraged to register for the ETD workshop and follow all guidelines for electronic submission. Visit the Graduate School website for the ETD submission guidelines. |
Ph.D. with Prior Master’s Degree
The requirements are identical as for the Ph.D. without a prior master’s degree, with the following exceptions:
You may be eligible to transfer between 18-36 credit hours towards your 72-hour Ph.D. credit minimum. Eligibility for previous credits is described in detail in the Graduate Handbook. Detailed instructions for officially requesting transfer credit can be found here. While the expectation of completion of a Ph.D. without prior Master’s is 10 semesters, the expectation of completion of a Ph.D. with prior Master’s is 8 semesters.
Seminar Presentation Requirements
M.S. Students
You are required to complete ONE seminar presentation. All M.S. students should present a thesis research update seminar in their 3rd semester, at the fall or spring DEPP symposium.
*To register, enroll for 1 credit of PP601 with Dr. Whitfield in the appropriate semester. This seminar is offered every spring and fall semester.
Ph.D. Students
You are required to complete TWO seminar presentations. One (the first) to their advisory committee, which is a dissertation proposal seminar in their 3th-4rd semester at the latest. Students will then present a dissertation research update seminar presented at the DEPP fall or spring semester symposium, in their 5th-7th semester – but at least 1 semester before graduating.
*To register for each seminar, enroll for 1 credit of PP801 with Dr. Whitfield in the appropriate semester. Separate registration is required for both seminars. The seminar is offered every spring and fall semester.
Graduation Requirements
Your graduation timeline will depend on your chosen defense date. Individual deadlines, graduation forms, and ETD submission guidelines can be found here. Prior to determining a defense deadline with your committee, you should review the page linked above thoroughly to ensure you can successfully complete all subsequent deadlines.
To meet the ETD submission deadline (electronic thesis and dissertation) to graduate, you must schedule your Defense Seminar and Exam to occur no later than two weeks PRIOR to the listed deadline from the Graduate School. This will give you the time to make your committee’s recommended changes and to polish your thesis before your first submission. Exam requests must be completed, signed, and submitted no later than two weeks prior to the chosen exam date.