Apply to Undergraduate Certificate
Step 1: Apply for Admission to NC State as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) Student
Note: If you are a degree- or non-degree-seeking student who has been continuously enrolled, you may register for available online courses through MyPack portal. Only students admitted to NC State can take classes at the University. Anyone interested in taking courses without enrolling in a degree program at NC State must first apply as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student. Admission to NDS does not imply admission to an NC State degree program. NDS students are classified as non-degree-seeking. Grades earned as an NDS student will go toward the student’s NC State University grade point average or may be transferred to another institution based on that institution’s transfer policy.
The Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) classification is assigned to those NDS students who have earned a bachelor’s degree. Enrolling as a PBS student is an excellent way to explore different fields of study to fulfill your personal and career goals.
As an NDS student, you may register for a maximum course load of eight (8) hours per semester on a space-available basis. Some courses carry prerequisites or are limited to degree-seeking students, so review the course schedule to determine your eligibility. NDS students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at all times.
How to register as a Non-Degree Studies student
- Begin by checking your eligibility for Non-Degree Studies (NDS) status. To be eligible to apply for NDS, prospective students must:
- … be eligible to return to any previous institution(s) attended.
- … have a high school diploma or GED less than one year and wishes to take courses during Summer Sessions
For more details on NDS enrollment eligibility, please see the NDS Enrollment Rule.
- If you meet the criteria for enrolling as an NDS student, and…
- you have never attended NC State as a degree-seeking student,
- OR…you graduated with a degree from NC State and wish to enroll as a NDS student,
- OR…you previously attended NC State as an NDS student, but have not enrolled in courses for a year or longer, you should complete the online application. All applications require a non-refundable $25 Application Fee.
Note: NDS applications are good for a full year. For example, if you apply for Summer I, you do not need to submit a separate application for Summer II, Fall, or Spring.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: All prospective students in a non-immigrant status must complete the Online and Distance Education Clearance Form for International Applicants. This form should be completed and returned to the Online and Distance Education office with the appropriate documentation via fax, e-mail (as a PDF or JPEG attachment), regular mail, or in person before each semester.
If new NDS applications are not currently being accepted, you must wait to apply until after the start-of-term lock-out ends. You will not be able to take a class until next term.
The Registration & Records website provides additional information and answers to questions about Non-Degree Studies at NC State University.
Step 2: Apply to the Department of Horticultural Science
During the Non-Degree Studies (NDS) application process, you should be able to choose the option of pursuing a Certificate in Horticultural Science. Make sure this is your selection so we can receive your application for review.
Step 3: Pay Tuition
NDS students are required to prepay their tuition before they can register for classes. To pay your tuition:
Calculate your tuition and fees. Tuition for online classes (also called distance education, or DE) is calculated by the number of credit hours taken. To view current rates for tuition and fees, visit NC State’s Graduate Online and Distance Education Tuition Rates page.
Pay your tuition and fees online via ePay, or choose one of our other payment options.
For additional information and answers to questions about tuition and fees, visit the Cashier’s Office website.
Step 4: Register for Your Class
To register for classes you will need an NC State student ID number and/or NC State Unity (computer system) ID and password. These will be e-mailed to you once your NDS application has been processed and accepted.
NDS students can register for classes only after the open enrollment period begins. View upcoming open enrollment dates.
Using your NC State Unity ID and password, log in to the MyPack portal, and select the class(es) for which you wish to register.
