How to Apply
Admissions Requirements
The Graduate School website outlines basic requirements for admission. For admission to full graduate student status in any degree program, the Department requires an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 based on a 4.0 scale coupled with a 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate major, provided that the major is in an accredited engineering program.
Applicants not meeting the requirements for full admission are sometimes granted provisional admission to make up for academic deficiencies. Please see the Masters of Biological and Agricultural Engineering (MBAE) graduate manual for more information regarding those requirements. The general requirements for admission to provisional status are established by the Graduate School.
Students not possessing degrees from accredited engineering programs are required to submit GRE scores in Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing. The GRE scores are used to predict the potential for the applicant to successfully complete advanced engineering work.
MBAE Admission without a B.S. in Engineering
Because our graduate degrees are engineering degrees, we normally require an undergraduate engineering degree for admission to those programs. However, we do make allowance for admission for non-engineers with the provision that they acquire sufficient engineering fundamentals to sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.
A strong science and math background is necessary before attempting the fundamental engineering courses. The equivalent of two semesters of engineering physics and four semesters of mathematics through differential equations is required. The fundamental engineering content is represented by the following NCSU courses but can be met with similar courses from other engineering programs.
1. Engineering Statics — MAE 206 or CE 214
2. Engineering Dynamics — MAE 208 or CE 215
3. Solid Mechanics — MAE 214 or CE 313
4. One of the following courses, depending upon interest area:
- Fluid Mechanics — MAE 308 or CE 382
- Thermodynamics — MAE 201
Applicants with B.S. degrees from non-engineering or non-accredited programs who possess undergraduate GPAs greater than 3.5 may be admitted to provisional status while taking, at a minimum, the four remedial engineering courses listed above. The decision to admit provisionally rests with the BAE Graduate Studies Committee.
Non-engineering applicants and applicants who hold B.S. degrees from non-accredited programs who do not have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 will generally not be considered for provisional status until the applicant completes some or all of the remedial coursework in Post-Baccalaureate Status (PBS) or at another institution.
Applicants in either category interested in the Masters of Biological and Agricultural Engineering should contact the Director of Graduate Programs prior to submitting an application.
Admission is granted by the Graduate School upon recommendation of the BAE Director of Graduate Programs. Applicants must hold a B.S. degree from an accredited undergraduate engineering program with an overall GPA of 2.8 and a major GPA of 3.0. Applicants not meeting the requirements for full admission may be granted provisional admission.
All applicants must submit:
- Final transcript of baccalaureate program
- Letters of reference
- A clear and concise statement of interest
How to Apply to the Master of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Program
Step 1: Apply to Biological and Agricultural Engineering Online Master’s Program
The Graduate School oversees the application process for each program. The Graduate School has its own criteria for admission, but the online Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) program has specific admissions requirements as well.
For admission to full graduate student status in the Master of Biological and Agricultural Engineering program, the department requires an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.8 (based on a 4.0 scale) coupled with a 3.0 or higher in the undergraduate major, provided that the major is in an accredited engineering program. Students are required to submit GRE scores in Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Writing. While there is no minimum required score, the GRE scores are used to predict the potential for the applicant to successfully complete advanced engineering work. For applicants whose native language is not English, minimum TOEFL score requirements on the internet-based test are a total score of at least 80 with minimum test scores of 18 each for listening, reading, writing and speaking.
You may submit your graduate application (opens in new tab) to the online master’s degree program at anytime.
Time to completion: Students can finish in as little as 3 semesters. However, working professionals who wish to pursue the degree part-time may take as little as one course per semester as long as they complete the degree within 6 years.
Step 2: Register for Classes
Once admitted, you will be provided with an NC State student ID, password, and username, which you will need to register for courses. You will also be assigned an adviser from the Graduate Faculty in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering department.
- Visit the course listings webpage to peruse course descriptions. Should you have any questions, contact our online program coordinator at hbgordon@ncsu.edu.
- Contact your advisor each semester to discuss your planned courses. Your advisor will lift your advising hold so that you can register.
- Go to MyPack Portal to register for classes. MyPack portal is also a self-service system for students to update personal or academic information as well as a way to review semester schedules.
- Verify your schedule.
Step 3: Pay Your Tuition
You may visit the Cashier’s Office & Student Accounts website to complete the tuition payment process. All inquiries regarding payments and cost of tuition should be directed to the cashier’s office. Your tuition bill must be paid by its due date in order to hold your seat in your classes.
Step 4: Start Your Class
As the semester or summer session nears, the lead instructor for your course will be in contact with information about accessing the course. Most distance education courses at NC State are accessible through Wolfware. You will use your Unity ID and password to log in.
Coursework
Not ready to enroll yet? You can still take classes! Classes taken independent of a certificate or degree program may be used to satisfy continuing education requirements or, if approved, be applied toward a certificate or degree program in the future. Learn how to enroll in individual classes as a Non-Degree Studies (NDS) student.