Extended Degree Options

The 2+2 and 3+2 Programs were created in order to accommodate students who were interested in pursuing an engineering degree but are physically attending a different university or community college in North Carolina. This way, the first two years of the student’s education would be completed at the other North Carolina location and would then be able to finish their degree at NC State University.

Because of these programs, it becomes possible for universities that do not have a full-fledged engineering program to provide their students with the ability to pursue their dreams.

2+2 Program

Applying to the 2+2 program is easy. There is no special application process outside of simply applying to UNC Asheville, UNC Wilmington, Fayetteville State University, or Craven Community College. Be sure to specify engineering as the program of interest as well as contacting the location’s engineering advisor before course pre-registration. Once you have met the engineering transfer requirements, you can apply to transfer to NC State in an engineering discipline. Each of these programs has an NC State program director on site who oversees the program, works with students and coordinates with NC State Academic Affairs.

3+2 Programs

The dual-degree engineering programs at Elon University support students in working toward two degrees: one from Elon and one from an engineering university. Students participating in the program will complete three years at Elon. These years will include science, mathematics, computer science and Core Curriculum courses along with their discipline-specific courses. After finishing three years at Elon, the student will transfer to NC State, normally for two more years.
A dual Bachelor of Science degree in physics and electrical engineering is provided through an agreement between the NC Central University’s Department of Mathematics and Physics and the NC State. Students are admitted to NCCU, where they complete three years of their physics curriculum before transferring to NC State for completion of requirements for both degrees over the next two years.

Students attending Meredith who aspire to a career in engineering have the unique opportunity to enroll in the dual degree engineering program — simultaneously completing the academic requirements of each school to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics from Meredith and a Bachelor of Science degree from NC State in five years.

Community College Collaboration (C3)

As a land-grant institution, NC State has always believed that all North Carolinians should have access to the opportunities and benefits of higher education and not everyone’s college career starts at NC State. Nearly 1,700 students transfer to NC State each year to complete their bachelor’s degree and NC State is committed to providing affordable pathways while providing access to quality education that produces career-ready graduates.

C3  seeks students who demonstrate potential for academic success through previous high school or community college performance and exhibit a high level of motivation and perseverance in the face of challenges (as may be evidenced by their ability to overcome obstacles; manage family, work, and/or military responsibilities; and/or showcase their entrepreneurial spirit).

A student can enter one of these 13 community colleges with the express goal of coming to NC State, and they’re admitted simultaneously with the community college and NC State—entry into the final degree program is still competitive.

From their first day of classes at one of the community colleges, they’re advised by NC State advisors on what courses to take, how to transfer those courses to the university, and how to be prepared for the degree program at NC State.

Students interested in applying to C3 must first apply to one of our partner community colleges.

Learn more

Get Your Master’s Degree at the Same Time

The Accelerated BS and MS degree program allows exceptional juniors and seniors in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at NCSU to count up to four graduate ECE courses, not exceeding 12 credit hours, toward the credits required for the both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree in either Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Juniors and seniors with 75 or more credit hours, an overall GPA of 3.5, and a major GPA of 3.5 may apply.

CPE students may replace the one required technical elective and three of the required specialization electives with four ECE 500 level courses (12 credits) and these classes may be “double counted” toward also satisfying the master’s degree requirements. Similarly, EE students may replace the two required technical electives and two of the required specialization electives with graduate ECE classes.

Degree Requirements

CPE students may replace the one required technical elective and three of the required specialization electives with four ECE 500 level courses (12 credits) and these classes may be “double counted” toward also satisfying the master’s degree requirements. Similarly, EE students may replace the two required technical electives and two of the required specialization electives with graduate ECE classes.

However, students may not receive credit for both with any of the following pairs of courses (the list is subject to revision):

  • ECE 455 and ECE 555
  • ECE 463 and ECE 521
  • ECE 464 and ECE 520
  • ECE 466 and ECE 566
  • ECE 492D and ECE 561

This program will follow the ABM Program description and rules as recommended by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School on March 7, 2002, or as subsequently revised. The program description is in the University’s Graduate Handbook in chapter 3, section 3.12. Students applying for the program should read the description and rules carefully. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will not seek exceptions to the requirements and stipulations stated in the handbook.

“Your five-year master’s program is really well constructed and it serves people extremely well. I can’t imagine there being a higher return on investment that you could do for your career. I can’t imagine a better value in education.”
Jason Rhodes, Ph.D. 1995

CEO, Cirrus Logic

How To Apply

To learn more about applying to the ABM program, please refer to Procedures for Students Interested in ABM Program.

You will need to:

  • Meet with the Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs, Ms. Cecilia Townsend, to discuss undergraduate course requirements and meet with Assistant Director of Graduate Programs, Dr. Ginger Yu, to discuss graduate course requirements.
  • Develop an ABM plan of work to be signed by both the Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs and the Assistant Director of Graduate Programs.
  • Apply to the Graduate School and pay the application fee. Your application date should be the first day of the semester immediately following your undergraduate (bachelor’s of science) commencement.