New and Current Graduate Students

All students admitted to a degree program will receive their Banner ID and Banner PIN from their assigned admissions specialist.

Learn your Banner ID number. All business conducted with campus offices will require your Banner ID number.

Although you may have an existing personal email address, it is very important that you sign up for an NCCU account. Your NCCU account will give you access to myEOL, Banner SSB, an NCCU email account, Blackboard, Eagle Apps and many other useful services. Most NCCU business will be communicated to you via your NCCU email address.

You will need your Banner ID and Banner PIN to create your NCCU account. If you do not have your Banner ID number, contact the School of Graduate Studies for this information at [email protected]. Your Banner PIN will be your date of birth and will be in the format mmddyy.

Create your NCCU account now.

If you are a former NCCU student returning for graduate school whose NCCU account is no longer active, please contact the Information Technology Services (ITS) HelpDesk at 919-530-7676. Let ITS know you are a former student and need to reactivate your NCCU account. Former students whose NCCU account is still active will not need to create a new NCCU account and can instead use their currently active NCCU account. If myEOL did not exist when you previously attended NCCU, you must create an NCCU account.

You will need your Banner ID and alternate PIN to register for classes.

Your alternate PIN (registration PIN) must be obtained from your admitting department or advisor. Your registration PIN changes each semester and should be provided to you after meeting with your academic advisor.

All students are required to meet with their academic advisor before registering for classes. All registration takes place online. If you are having trouble registering for classes, please contact your department or advisor or contact the Registrar's Office at 919-530-6654 for help.

Students admitted as visiting or non-degree seeking students will obtain their Banner ID and alternate (registration) PIN from their assigned advisor in the degree program in which their courses are offered.

All new students are required to obtain an Eagle ID card. Your Eagle ID card verifies that you are a current NCCU student, provides secured access to campus buildings and can be used for transactions such as meal purchases, checking out NCCU library books and picking up student tickets for athletic games.

New students should visit the Eagle Card Office, located in room 117 of the Lee Biology Building, and will need to be currently registered with a valid picture ID and Banner ID number.

If you lose your Eagle ID card, please contact the Eagle Card Office at 919-530-7716 to get the information required to obtain a duplicate ID card.

Students who desire to park on NCCU’s campus must have a valid parking permit decal. Metered parking is available for visitors. Violators are ticketed or towed.

You must contact Parking Services for information about obtaining your parking decal and the cost of the decal.

Named after NCCU’s founder, the James E. Shepard Memorial Library is located in the heart of the campus. The library is not just for undergrads but is there for you too! Take full advantage of the many ways the library can assist you with your academic and technology needs. Stop by and visit Shepard Library today. 

The library has been renovated, but the renovations were not just cosmetic. In addition to the main floor facelift, the second floor now has 65 computer stations; black and white and color printing stations; a bistro area; a TechnoClassroom; a TechnoLounge, which includes a laptop bar; and so much more.

Visit the James E. Shepard Memorial Library’s website.

NCCU’s Office of Career Services and Outreach has a staff person, Kent Williams, dedicated to graduate students. Services include but are not limited to resume writing, interview preparation, career counseling and networking strategies. Schedule an appointment with Mr. Williams to see how the Career Services and Outreach staff can assist you. They are located in the William Jones Building, room 014.

The Writing Studio is a resource available for graduate students. All graduate students, whether at the master or doctoral level, should utilize the services offered by the Writing Studio. When you are writing your thesis or dissertation, the Writing Studio’s services may greatly assist you through the process. Additionally, check in with the Writing Studio periodically to see if they have any upcoming workshops you may be interested in attending.

Visit the NCCU Writing and Speaking Studio website.

The Student Health and Counseling Services department is located on Cafeteria Drive in the Student Health Building.  

Some of the services offered are:

• Urgent care
• Counseling and mental health
• Alcohol and drug prevention and intervention
• Allergy
• Pharmacy
• Lab services
• Nursing care
• Women’s health

Visit the Student Health Services Website

The Student Accessibility Services office provides any student with a disability with access to accommodations that will ensure successful matriculation. Students must be registered with this office to take advantage of these accommodations. They are your campus liaisons and disability advocates.  

Visit the Student Accessibility Services’ website

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the student governing body for all graduate students. The GSA officers serve as your voice and your advocate.

Some of the many services the GSA provides are:

• representation on various committees and boards that make decisions that directly impact you, the student;
• social events designed to connect you with your peers, alumni and the campus community;
• networking opportunities;
• direct connection to the associate provost and dean for the School of Graduate Studies;
• computers for use in completing assignments directly related to your academic success; 
• and access to funds to assist you with conference-related travel expenses.

Visit the Graduate Student Association Website

Currently, only two programs, English and History, require the Foreign Language Exam.  

Candidates for a master's degree in English or History will be required to demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language and successfully complete a course in either statistics or a modern foreign language or an appropriate substitute approved by your department. The Foreign Language Exam requirement must be satisfied before admission to candidacy. Any course taken to fulfill the research tool requirement will not be counted in the hours required for the degree program.

In History, the student will demonstrate reading proficiency in a foreign language approved by the department or successfully complete a course in computer science and demonstrate competency in the elements of one computer programming language.

A student does not become a candidate for the master's degree in any department until they apply for admission to candidacy for the degree they seek.

General admission to the Graduate Division is not the same as admission to candidacy for a graduate degree. A formal application is necessary for the latter purpose, and the Dean’s Office supplies special forms for this application. This application may not be filed earlier than the first week of the second semester of residence; it must be filed at least three months before the degree is conferred. All conditions must have been satisfied, the foreign language or statistics requirement must be met, a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher must have been earned and at least one full semester or two summer sessions of graduate-level work must have been accomplished before the Graduate Council will approve such an application. In addition, the application must be approved by the major department. The application must be accompanied by an orderly plan for a proposed thesis or research project and a program of studies in satisfaction with the degree requirements, both duly approved by the department of the student's major.

In addition to the individual course examination, graduate students who are candidates for the master's degree are required to pass two comprehensive examinations. One of these is a comprehensive written examination covering the courses within the major. The department determines how the exam will be administered. However, the exam results must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies no later than the date specified by the academic calendar.

The other examination is the final oral examination covering the thesis and its application in the major and minor subjects. A committee of examiners representing both major and minor areas administers this examination. A student failing to pass either of these examinations may apply for and secure re-examination after the lapse of a semester. Should a second failure occur, a third examination is possible upon recommendation of the major department in the case of a written examination or of the committee in charge of the oral examination and on a favorable vote of the Graduate Council. In the event of a third failure, the student has no recourse, and their candidacy will be considered vacated.

Candidates for the master's degree must submit an acceptable thesis, internship paper (if in public administration) or research project. Credit equal to one full course (three semester hours) will be granted when a thesis is accepted and successfully defended. A new policy from the University of North Carolina General Administration adopted in 1999 requires that all students working on thesis or internship papers be enrolled for at least one credit hour of thesis or course work during each semester until the thesis is completed.

The preparation of the thesis or research project is a research experience. It should show the student’s capacity under guidance to accomplish independent investigation, and it must demonstrate mastery of the technique of research. It is not required that the thesis or research project be an original contribution to knowledge in every case. In the preparation of the thesis or research project, the student is concerned with the materials of knowledge and the evidential bases on which the knowledge rests. Various types of theses or research projects are required by different departments. A final copy of the thesis must be submitted to ProQuest to be inspected by the thesis administrator no later than the date specified by the academic calendar. Once the thesis is reviewed by the School of Graduate Studies Administrator, the student will receive notification of changes that need to be made. When the thesis has met the approval of the School of Graduate Studies, the student will receive an email of its approval, and the administrator will submit it for publishing. Students will not be cleared for graduation until their thesis has been approved by the School of Graduate Studies and final submission to ProQuest has been made. 

Eligibility for graduation with honors by graduate students usually requires the following cumulative grade point averages:

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.92–4.00
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.85–3.919
• Cum Laude: 3.77–3.849

Students should consult their specific graduate program on eligibility requirements for honors as there may be differences in some cases.