Frequently Asked Questions: MS-GOH

Public health, environmental health, and global health are allied fields that have some overlap with One Health, but the foundational theory and goals are distinct. Public health centers on protecting and improving the health of humans and human communities. Environmental health is a branch of public health that focuses on the environmental factors that affect human health and disease. Global health extends public health to the worldwide context, seeking to improve health for human populations globally. In contrast, One Health is not limited to a focus on human health (although One Health perspectives are critical for improving human health outcomes!). One Health centers on topics at the intersection of human, animal, plant, and environmental health, seeking to sustainably optimize the health of these distinct, yet interconnected, systems. One Health requires a broad lens, a disciplinarily diverse curriculum, and strong competencies for interdisciplinary team science – all skills that you’ll build through the MS-GOH.

We currently have 90+ faculty members from all 10 academic colleges at NC State participating in this degree program, representing diverse disciplinary perspectives and topical expertise. You can browse the list of MS-GOH faculty advisors here. This list is provided for you to get an idea of the expertise available to students in this program, but please note that it is not expected that students have their advisor/PI identified prior to their application or admission. The graduate program director will work with students to identify appropriate advisors based on their scholarly interests and intended career paths in the first semester of the program.

• The MS-GOH degree plan requirements can be found in the program’s course catalog listing. Core courses are designed to provide foundational knowledge in One Health and impart key skills such as team science, interdisciplinary communication, approaches to data in One Health, and translating research into applied outcomes. Elective categories include: 1) Subject Area Expertise, which allows students to dive deeper into their particular topic of study, 2) Analytical Methods, which gives additional training in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, and 3) Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Policy, which equips students with the skills to apply their One Health knowledge to real-world challenges. 

Students must take the core courses in sequence (GOH 519 in fall and GOH 520 in spring of the first year; GOH 586 in fall and GOH 600 in spring of the second year), but all other courses and research or experiential learning credits may be taken at any point during the two-year program. Class times will vary based on the particular courses taken, but most classes will likely be during traditional hours (9am-5pm). Note, however, that some may be evening courses (e.g., GOH 586 is on Mondays 5-7pm).

Some elective classes may be available for remote attendance, but the GOH core courses and the program as a whole are designed to be in-person only. A major reason for this is to get the benefit of a cohort structure, where everyone entering the program at the same time completes program elements together and has many opportunities for interaction, which facilitates peer-to-peer learning. This is especially crucial since One Health is an interdisciplinary framework and we anticipate that the cohorts in the MS-GOH will represent a diverse array of disciplinary backgrounds and interests, giving students direct experiences in the types of interdisciplinary team science that they’ll be doing after graduation.

This program is designed as a full-time, two-year degree program. Students in the program will be expected to enroll in 9+ credit hours per semester (full-time graduate credit load). A major reason for this is to get the benefit of a cohort structure, where everyone entering the program at the same time completes program elements together and has many opportunities for interaction, which facilitates peer-to-peer learning. This is especially crucial since One Health is an interdisciplinary framework and we anticipate that the cohorts in the MS-GOH will represent a diverse array of disciplinary backgrounds and interests, giving students direct experiences in the types of interdisciplinary team science that they’ll be doing after graduation.

This program is designed as a full-time, two-year degree program. Students in the program will be expected to enroll in 9+ credit hours per semester (full-time graduate credit load) and complete either thesis research (thesis track students) or experiential learning with a capstone project (non-thesis track students). It is likely to be difficult to balance this course- and research-load on top of a full-time job. If your employer is exceedingly flexible and you are exceedingly motivated it may be possible to do both, but that could contribute to an unsustainably challenging cumulative work burden. We strongly suggest that you consider committing to the degree program more fully to have the best experience possible.

This program is designed as a two-year degree program and we do not currently have a pathway for completing the degree in less than two years. While the timing of the elective courses and the research or experiential learning requirements are flexible, students must take the core courses in sequence (GOH 519 in fall and GOH 520 in spring of the first year; GOH 586 in fall and GOH 600 in spring of the second year), which requires four semesters of study. A major reason we designed it this way is to get the benefit of a cohort structure, where everyone entering the program at the same time completes program elements together and has many opportunities for interaction, which facilitates peer-to-peer learning. This is especially crucial since One Health is an interdisciplinary framework and we anticipate that the cohorts in the MS-GOH will represent a diverse array of disciplinary backgrounds and interests, giving students direct experiences in the types of interdisciplinary team science that they’ll be doing after graduation.

Yes, the MS-GOH could be a good fit for you as you continue on to additional degrees. This program has both thesis and non-thesis tracks, so we expect some students will be interested in going on to further study and research careers, while others will be interested in joining the workforce straight out of their master’s. The One Health framework is very relevant to veterinary medicine, human medicine, and closely allied with fields like public health and global health, so pre-professional students may be interested in this as a credential to set them up for success in their next steps, and give them broader perspectives as future clinicians or other health practitioners. With regard to future research-oriented degrees, such as a PhD, students in the thesis track will be conducting high quality, interdisciplinary research and receiving training in critical skills for team science, data analysis and synthesis, and research ethics – all desired attributes for PhD candidates.

We don’t have a mechanism to support a dual DVM/MS-GOH at this point. It is something we hope to develop in the future, but will need coordination between the two degree programs to create an expedited MS-GOH experience that integrates well into the DVM plan of study.

This is a possibility that can be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Be aware that there are guidelines around dual degrees that must be followed, including the requirement for 18 credit hours unique to each degree program. We have designed the MS-GOH curriculum flexibly, which allows you to easily specialize in whatever area is of interest to you. But, given the unique credit hour requirement, if you are counting courses as elective for the MS-GOH, you would not be allowed to count it toward the credits for another MS degree (and vice versa). Dual degree paths will need to be carefully planned to meet the requirements without extending your time to degree or making for an unreasonable course/workload.

• One Health is a broad umbrella that can include many research topics. You have the opportunity to study any topic at the interface of human, animal, plant, and environmental health through the MS-GOH, including but not limited to zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), sustainable agriculture for global food security, climate change and health, and global change and biodiversity loss. NC State has strengths in veterinary medicine, agriculture, life sciences, engineering, social sciences, design, management, and more, all of which can be brought to bear on exciting interdisciplinary One Health questions.

We currently have 90+ faculty members interested in advising students in this program. These faculty are from all 10 academic colleges at NC State, representing diverse disciplinary perspectives and topical expertise. You can browse the list of MS-GOH faculty advisors here. This list is provided for you to get an idea of the expertise available to students in this program, but please note that it is not expected that students have their advisor/PI identified prior to their application or admission. The graduate program director will work with students to identify appropriate advisors based on their scholarly interests and intended career paths in the first semester of the program.

You don’t need to choose a track prior to joining the program. The program director will work to match you with an advisor in your first semester in the program. Then, in consultation with the program director and your advisor, you can decide which track is right for you based on your interests and career goals. Either way, you’ll be getting hands-on learning experience that will set you up for success.

• This program will not train you to be an expert in every topic that could be studied through the One Health lens – that’s an impossible task! Instead, the MS-GOH focuses on foundations for One Health as an interdisciplinary research approach and trains in skills necessary to apply the One Health framework to research questions and societal challenges. The program’s six core competencies relate to: 1) systems-based perspectives on human, animal, plant, and environmental health, 2) One Health theories, frameworks, and methods, 3) skills for team science, 4) collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, 5) understanding ethical practices in One Health, and 6) translating research findings into applied outcomes.

Students will deepen their domain knowledge and enhance their engagement with these core competencies through investigation of a topic of interest to them, either through research (thesis track) or experiential learning and a capstone project (non-thesis track). The MS-GOH does not have any formal concentrations or specializations, but students are encouraged to tailor their experience to meet their interests, needs, and career goals. There are many graduate certificates offered at NC State that students could pursue in conjunction with the MS-GOH.

• One Health is an emerging field so there is not much One Health-specific career data to date. However, One Health skills are applicable to many sectors, including government agencies, nonprofits and NGOs, private industry, and academia, and to both domestic and international work. Regardless of the specific career path, graduates from this program will benefit from broad, systems-centered perspectives that are necessary to address global challenges and well honed skills in collaborative research and team science – all of which are increasingly essential skills that are in high demand across sectors.

Students will also benefit from intentional career exploration and preparation in GOH 600: Professional Development in One Health, a core course taken in the final semester of the MS-GOH program. Through this course, students will have an opportunity to both give and receive peer-to-peer feedback on their theses/capstones, develop applications and CVs for their next career steps, engage with One Health professionals working in diverse sectors, and reflect on their experiences in the degree program. This unique professional development course will prepare students for their job search and ensure a smooth transition into the next stage of their career.

The application includes the standard NC State Graduate School required materials: basic background information, a resume or CV, transcripts (unofficial are accepted), and three letters of recommendation. Specific to this program, the application includes three open-ended questions. The first is a 700-word personal statement, which invites you to articulate your academic/professional background, talents/experiences/interests, and what draws you to One Health. There are also two short answer questions, limited to 300 words each, which ask you to describe: 1) a critical global challenge you’re interested in studying, and 2) your experience with collaborative work that bridges different perspectives. When read as a package, your application materials should give reviewers a sense of who you are, the skills you currently have, the skills you hope to acquire, and your research interests and future career goals.

No, the GRE is not required. Scores may be submitted as part of the application, but this is optional.

Letters of recommendation should come from professional or academic contacts (e.g., teachers, advisors, employers, supervisors) who can speak to your skills, qualifications, readiness for graduate study, and interests in One Health.

It is not expected that students have their advisor/PI identified prior to their admission. The graduate program director will work with students to identify appropriate advisors based on their scholarly interests and intended career paths in the first semester of the program. Students are welcome to join the program with an advisor in mind, but we anticipate that this will be the exception rather than the rule.

Yes, absolutely. Whether you’re wanting to supplement your knowledge to strengthen work in your existing career or seeking to change career pathways, if you are interested in gaining skills in One Health research or practice, we’d welcome an application from you.

One Health is a big umbrella and the MS-GOH program will value perspectives from many disciplines, so there is not likely to be a specific path for becoming a strong candidate for the program. In general, your application should highlight the skills and experiences that could indicate potential for success in graduate studies, the disciplinary and/or interdisciplinary training and perspectives you’d bring to your studies, and the reasons why you’re interested in pursuing a degree in One Health specifically, rather than a traditional disciplinary degree program or a degree in another allied field. Please note that while we are happy to answer technical questions related to the program or the application process, we cannot comment on emailed information or materials. Only official applications submitted via the NC State Graduate School application portal will be considered.

• You can view the current NC State graduate tuition rates here. It is expected that students enroll on a full-time basis (9+ hours). The MS-GOH will carry an additional tuition increment of $2,800 per semester, pending UNC System approval. On-campus, domestic students coming from out-of-state may be eligible to establish NC residency for tuition purposes after one year of study, which allows you to pay in-state tuition/fee rates and could lead to significant overall cost savings. More details about establishing residency can be found here.

An additional $1,182.28 Mandatory Health Insurance charge will be included on your account unless you waive out of the semester premium charge. All new on-campus graduate students will automatically be assessed an orientation fee in their first semester of enrollment. All new international graduate students will automatically be assessed an additional international orientation fee in their first semester of enrollment. This one-time fee is mandatory and covers all orientation activities as well as other events, programs, and workshops during your time at NC State.

Students in this degree program will typically be self-funded. The MS-GOH program does not offer direct funding support (teaching/research assistantships, fellowships, etc.). For information about the estimated total cost of attendance, click here. International students should also visit NC State’s Cost of Living in the US webpage, which offers a list of financial considerations to better understand general living expenses. There are a number of financial assistance options that we encourage you to explore to help offset costs. More information about financial resources specifically for international students can be found here.

Yes, the standard NC State Graduate School application fees apply. The current application fees for master’s degrees are $85 for US citizens and permanent residents and $95 (US currency) for international applicants.