Graduate Course Pathways for Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) and Non-Degree Seeking Studies (NDS) Students
If you already hold a bachelor’s degree, Post-Baccalaureate Studies (PBS) and Non-Degree Seeking Studies (NDS) allow you to enroll in graduate-level courses at North Carolina A&T without first being admitted to a degree program. Students choose this path for different reasons. Some are preparing to apply to a master’s or doctoral program and want to strengthen their academic record. Some are completing prerequisites or professional requirements. Some are here for the learning itself. All three reasons are valid, and all three are welcome.
If your goal is to obtain a graduate degree at A&T, there are two numbers worth knowing. University policy recognizes a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 across 12 or more post-baccalaureate graduate credits as a qualifying basis for unconditional graduate admission. Unconditional graduate admission means that if you are admitted into the program, there will not be any further special conditions that must be met before you can begin (or complete) the program. This policy applies no matter which program you are aiming for. The courses below are what individual programs recommend as a starting point for PBS and NDS students.
BEFORE YOU REGISTER
- Contact the program first. Some courses carry prerequisites, enrollment restrictions, or require permission. A short email to the graduate program coordinator listed below and/or on the program website is expected to ensure proper alignment. Some programs may require undergraduate background or prerequisite courses to help you fill gaps in your academic preparation, but these do not count toward your graduate GPA.
- Know what completion means for your target program. A few programs guarantee admission upon successful completion of PBS courses with at least a 3.0 GPA and meeting admission requirements. Most review your application alongside everyone else. The note under each program name tells you which.
- Ask what transfers. Graduate credits earned as a PBS or NDS student may count toward a degree if you are later admitted, subject to program approval. Only a maximum of 12 credits may be transferred into the graduate program.
- Aim for a B or better. Grades earned in this status become part of your academic record and are what admissions committees read.
PROGRAM PATHWAYS
Many graduate programs have a recommended set of courses for PBS/NDS students who are interested in eventually joining the degree program. See the list of program pathways below, and click on your program of interest for a list of recommendations as well as program contact information.
Keep in mind that course recommendations are subject to change. Course availability, prerequisites, and admission requirements are set by each program. Always confirm with the program contact before registering.
Please also be award that PBS and NDS students are generally not eligible for assistantships, and financial aid eligibility is limited. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships if you have questions about your situation.
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- CIEN 700 Emerging Technologies in Civil Engineering
- CIEN 702 Civil Engineering Systems Analysis
- CIEN 785 Engineering Statistics
- CIEN 670 Construction Engineering and Management
Who to contact:
Dr. Taher Abu-Lebdeh
taher@ncat.edu
336-285-3670
Priority consideration for PBS/NDS students, but admission not guaranteed
Suggested graduate courses:
- CSE 620 Introduction to Computational Software Tools
- CSE 708 Data Analytics and Engineering Applications
- CSE 805 Data Mining and Machine Learning
- CSE 817 Fundamentals of Big Data Analysis
Who to contact:
Dr. AKM Kamrul Islam
akislam@ncat.edu
336-285-3714
Pathway for PBS/NDS students in development
Suggested graduate courses:
- CRJS 750 Theories of Criminal Behavior
- CRJS 755 Quantitative Research Methods
- CRJS 765 Advanced Statistics
- CRJS 716 Writing for Graduate Students
- Note: Contact the department before enrolling in CRJS 750 or CRJS 765.
Who to contact:
Dr. Carla D. Coates
cdcoates@ncat.edu
336-285-2046
Enrollment by permission only
Suggested graduate courses:
- Entry into the Data Analytics MS program requires preparation in probability and statistics and in programming with Python, R, or MATLAB.
- Graduate courses such as STAT 709 and DAAN 703 require prerequisites and coordinator or instructor approval.
- Consider the PB-Certificate in Data Analytics (MATH/STAT course series).
Who to contact:
Dr. Tamer Elbayoumi
tmelbayoumi@ncat.edu
336-285-3483
Priority consideration for PBS/NDS students, but admission not guaranteed
Suggested graduate courses:
- The program reviews each student individually rather than using a set course sequence. Contact the coordinator before enrolling.
Who to contact:
Dr. Zhijian Xie
zxie@ncat.edu
336-285-3720
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- FCS 736 Research Methods in Food and Agricultural Sciences
- FCS 730 Nutrition and Disease
- CHEM 651 General Biochemistry
- ABM 705 Statistical Methods
Who to contact:
Dr. Roberta Claro da Silva
rcsilva@ncat.edu
336-285-3641
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- PSYC 700 Foundations of Applied Psychology
- PSYC 765 Research Methods for Behavioral Sciences
- PSYC 750 Data Analytics in Behavioral Sciences
- ENGL 713 Communication Theory
Who to contact:
Dr. Zahra Fazli Khalaf
zfazlikhalaf@ncat.edu
336-285-2278
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- Information Systems
- Production Planning and Scheduling
- Human Machine Systems
- Design and Analysis of Experiments
- Note: Confirm course numbers with the coordinator before registering.
Who to contact:
Dr. Younho Seong
yseong@ncat.edu
336-285-3734
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- LEST 800, LEST 802, LEST 819, and LEST 835.
- Contact the coordinator for current titles, sequencing, and available academic support.
Who to contact:
Dr. Sydney Richardson
sdrichardson1@ncat.edu
336-285-4385
Admission guaranteed on successful completion
Suggested graduate courses:
- The program recommends that interested students begin with the Educational Studies Certificate so they can be advised and tracked from the start.
- Contact the coordinator for the current course list.
Who to contact:
Dr. Cailisha L. Petty
mrspetty@ncat.edu
Phone: 336-285-4417
Standard admission review required for PBS/NDS students
Suggested graduate courses:
- NANO 702 Fundamentals of Nanoengineering: Physical Principles
- NANO 703 Fundamentals of Nanoengineering: Chemical and Biochemical Principles
- NANO 705 Nanosafety
- NANO 784 Professional Development
Who to contact:
Dr. Mike Curry
mlcurry@ncat.edu
336-285-2707
Admission guaranteed on successful completion
Suggested graduate courses:
- PHYS 600 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS 615 Electromagnetic Theory I
- PHYS 620 Quantum Mechanics I
- PHYS 630 Statistical Mechanics
- Note: Some students may be required to complete undergraduate physics coursework first.
Who to contact:
Dr. Chih Kuan Tung
ctung@ncat.edu
336-398-8668
Not open to PBS/NDS entry at this time
Suggested graduate courses:
- State licensure rules require three years of teaching experience before entry, so graduate coursework cannot be taken in advance through PBS/NDS. Certificate pathways are being developed.
Who to contact:
Dr. Kenneth L. Bowen
klbowen@ncat.edu
336-285-4356
DON'T SEE YOUR PROGRAM OF INTEREST ABOVE?
North Carolina A&T offers master’s and doctoral programs across eight Colleges and two Schools. The list above reflects the programs that have shared course recommendations with The Graduate College to date, and it will continue to expand. If your program of interest is not listed, a pathway may still be available. Visit the Graduate Programs page to access a full list of programs and contacts.
READY TO APPLY? NEED MORE INFORMATION FROM THE GRADUATE COLLEGE?
To submit your admission application to PBS or one of our graduate degree programs, apply here.
To learn more about how you can accelerate your graduate education, contact the Graduate College at grad@ncat.edu or (336) 285-2366.
