Master of Science Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours	Counts towards
Required Courses		4
ANS 601	Animal Science Seminar
ANS 685	Master's Supervised Teaching
ANS 695	Master's Thesis Research
or ANS 693	Master's Supervised Research
ANS 811	Safety and Ethics in Animal Science
Graduate Elective Courses		18
Select any 500 - 700 level courses determined in conjunction with the advisory committee.
Elective Courses 1		8
Select any "Elective Courses" determined in conjunction with the advisory committee.
Total Hours		30

¹

Students may choose 8 credits in combination of: ANS 693 Master's Supervised Research/ANS 695 Master's Thesis Research, Seminar, ANS 685 Master's Supervised Teaching, and other elective graded courses.

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Additional Requirements & Restrictions

• A minimum of one (1) full academic year or its equivalent in residence as a graduate student at the university
• A minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate work in the degree program, unless the specific program requires more hours, including a minimum of 18 hours of 500-700 level coursework
• No more than six (6) hours of 400-level courses can be counted toward the minimum 30-hour requirement, and they may not come from the major field
• No more than three (3) credit hours of Masters Supervised Teaching (ANS 685) can be included in the minimum 30-credit program
• No more than six hours of Thesis Research (ANS 693 Master's Supervised Research/ANS 695 Master's Thesis Research) in the minimum 30-hour program
• No more than two (2) credit hours of seminar (S/U graded) may be included in the minimum 30-credit hour program
• Masters Thesis Preparation (ANS 699) credits may not be used to satisfy the 30-credit hour requirement
• A thesis
• A departmental defense seminar
• A comprehensive oral examination

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degree Requirements

The Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s (ABM) degree program allows exceptional undergraduate students at NC State an opportunity to complete the requirements for both the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at an accelerated pace. These undergraduate students may double count up to 12 credits and obtain a non-thesis Master’s degree in the same field within 12 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree, or obtain a thesis-based Master’s degree in the same field within 18 months of completing the Bachelor’s degree.

This degree program also provides an opportunity for the Directors of Graduate Programs (DGPs) at NC State to recruit rising juniors in their major to their graduate programs. However, permission to pursue an ABM degree program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School. Admission is contingent on meeting eligibility requirements at the time of entering the graduate program.

Faculty