Graduate Degree Programs

WPS Home : For Future Grad Students : Graduate Degree Programs

For over 40 years, the Department of Wood & Paper Science at NC State has graduated exemplary advanced degree students and enjoyed a close partnership with industry.  Our Masters and PhD graduates are in high demand throughout the United States and around the world. Past graduates have filled leadership roles in management, research, technical services, marketing, engineering, academia and more across a wide variety of sectors involving wood and paper sciences, paper engineering and, most recently, forest biomaterials.

There are currently four advanced degree options available through WPS:

  • Master of Wood & Paper Science: this is a non-thesis, 2-year professional degree program for students whose primary interests do not include research.
  • Master of Science in Wood & Paper Science: this is normally a 2-year program, including coursework and research.
  • PhD in Wood & Paper Science: this program typically lasts two to three years beyond the Masters program.
  • Distance Masters in Wood & Paper Science: this is a 100% distance-based Masters program for industry professionals with at least one year of relevant industry experience.

What To Expect

Graduate students in WPS should expect to learn the theory and applications of chemistry, physics and engineering as it pertains to biomaterial science and engineering. Major areas of activity are concentrated in the bioenergy, biopolymers, wood and paper fields. For most programs, a significant part of the graduate experience is performing original research and defending a thesis.

Courses of Study

Graduate course offerings and research facilities are available in the following areas:

  • Novel Chemicals and Materials from Renewable Resources
  • Lignin and carbohydrate chemistry
  • Heteronuclear and multidimensional NMR
  • Pulping and bleaching chemistry
  • Biotechnology in paper making
  • Non-wood agricultural fibers
  • Secondary fiber and recycling
  • Water reuse
  • Physical and colloidal chemistry
  • Wet end chemistry
  • High-Performance Composite Biomaterials
  • Paper physics
  • Engineered fiber and paper products
  • High performance chemicals
  • Process modeling and simulation
  • Manufacturing process analysis
  • Mechatronics
  • Wood tool design, performance and wear
  • High speed machining and process monitoring
  • Wood-moisture relations and lumber drying
  • Wood anatomy and identification
  • Computer aided analysis and design of wood structures
  • Wood engineering and mechanics
  • Wood processing and production of wood composites
  • Lumber manufacturing and quality control
  • Rough mill improvement for value added manufacturing
  • Consumer education on the proper use of wood products
  • Waste minimization and recycling

As a WPS graduate student, you will be encouraged to develop your own program of study according to your specific interests and you may select courses from those offered by other departments or colleges at NC State. You may also select from a number of courses offered by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Duke University in nearby Durham. Various research, thesis, credit hour and qualifying exam requirements may apply, depending on the program.

You are also expected to select a chairman and other advisory committee members and to submit a graduate plan of work by the end of your first semester of residence. We urge all graduate students to take any qualifying examinations that might apply within one year of residence. In addition, we believe M.S. and Ph.D. students should select a research topic and begin thesis research as early as possible.

As the field of wood and paper science is a derived science, the WPS graduate program places considerable emphasis on developing a strong minor in one or more supporting disciplines such as organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, chemical engineering, mathematics, statistics, biology, engineering mechanics, mechanical engineering, physics and economics or business administration.

Financial Support

WPS Graduate students typically receive financial support of $38,000 annually, which includes a stipend, tuition and health benefits. In addition, several fellowships are available, including some that offer an extra $8,000 per year for the recipient’s use for professional development. These fellowships also provide increased research opportunities. 

Research assistantships available include in-state, out-of-state tuition and health insurance. There are numerous other sources of financial aid available as well. Review our Assistantships & Fellowships section for more information.

Research Facilities

Research facilities available to graduate students at NC State are outstanding. They include state-of-the-art, industry-scope research laboratories, numerous smaller labs, NC State’s Centennial Campus facilities, the resources of our many Research Centers and more. Review our Graduate Research and Research Facilities sections for more information.

Admissions

Please review our How To Apply section for details on admissions requirements, application procedures and application deadlines.

 

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