The GES Graduate Certificate is designed for students who want to understand not only how emerging biotechnologies work, but how they shape—and are shaped by—society.

The 12-credit program complements students’ primary fields of study with interdisciplinary training in ethics, policy, governance, communication and public engagement. Through GES courses and electives from across NC State, students build the skills to work across disciplines and consider emerging technologies from multiple perspectives.

GES also offers a competitive fellowship that provides supplemental support to eligible current NC State graduate students completing the Certificate. The 2026–27 fellowship cohort has been selected, and applications are not currently open. Information about future opportunities will be posted here when available.

• The GES Graduate Certificate is a 12-credit academic credential.
• The GES Graduate Fellowship provides funding for eligible current NC State graduate students completing that Certificate who are in their second year or beyond and who have at least one full academic year remaining in their programs.

In other words, all Fellows complete the Certificate, but not everyone pursuing the Certificate is a Fellow.

Fellowship Expectations and Eligibility

Fellowship recipients are expected to complete the Certificate requirements during the fellowship period and fulfill any additional fellowship expectations, including progress milestones and a short reflective blog post for the GES Center website.

Applicants for the Fellowship must be currently enrolled NC State graduate students in their second year or beyond with at least a year remaining and must have a GES-affiliated faculty advisor or dissertation committee member.

About the GES Graduate Certificate

The GES Graduate Certificate offers interdisciplinary training in the social, ethical, and governance dimensions of genetic engineering and related biotechnologies, particularly within food, agriculture, environmental, and public engagement contexts. Students complete coursework that complements their primary field of study while building stronger capacity for collaborative problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and communication across sectors.

Unlike the Fellowship, which is available only to current NC State graduate students, the GES Graduate Certificate is also open to non-NC State applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and meet NC State Graduate School admission requirements.

Certificate Coursework

The GES Graduate Certificate requires 12 credit hours of approved coursework.

This includes the two core GES courses below, along with additional approved elective coursework.

Core Courses

Students complete required core coursework in Genetic Engineering and Society, including foundational coursework in emerging technologies and society and additional GES-focused seminars or special topics courses.

• GES 508 – Emerging Technologies and Society
• GES 609 – GES Colloquium

Approved Elective Coursework

In addition to core coursework, students complete approved elective coursework drawn from related fields such as communication, policy, ethics, history, sociology, environmental studies, natural resources, biotechnology, and science and technology studies.

Current approved elective options include:

• ANT 550 – Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Living
• BIT 410/510 – Manipulation of Recombinant DNA
• COM 358 – Risk Communication
• COM 536 – Seminar in Environmental Communication
• COM 561 – Human Communication Theory
• COM 598 – Special Topics in Communication: Public Communication of Research
• CS 518 – Introduction to Regulatory Science in Agriculture
• ECG/FOR 515 – Environmental and Resource Policy
• ECG 540 – Economic Development
• EMS 551 – Learning in Informal Contexts
• ENG 515 – Rhetoric of Science and Technology
• ENG 583 – Intercultural Professional and Technical Communication
• FW 411/511 – Human Dimensions of Wildlife and Fisheries
• FW 595-006 – Citizen Science: Understanding the Participatory Sciences
• GES 506 – Principles of Genetic Pest Management
• GN 735 – Functional Genomics
• HI 540 – American Environmental History
• HI 581 – History of the Life Sciences
• HI 585 – History of American Technology
• NR 571 – Current Issues in Natural Resource Policy
• NR 595 – Decolonizing Science
• PA 598/798 – Special Topics in Public Administration: Science and Technology Policy
• PHI 475/575 – Ethical Theory
• PPA 550 – Environmental Policy
• PPA 552 – Science & Technology Policy
• PSY 757 – Innovation and Technology
• REL 571 – Darwinism and Christianity
• SOC 762 – Sociology of Food Systems
• ST 590 – Special Topics: Bioinformatics I/II

Additional 1–2 Credit Options

Depending on a student’s plan of study, selected lower-credit courses may also count toward the Certificate with approval.

• BIT 501 – Ethical Issues in Biotechnology (1 credit)
• CBS 561 – Principles of Collaboration & Team Science (2 credits)
• CBS 662 – Professional Conduct in Biomedical Research (1 credit)
• GN 850 – Professionalism and Ethics (1 credit)
• PA 810 – Research Ethics & Professional Socialization (1 credit)
• PHI 816 – Introduction to Research Ethics (1 credit)
• SLC 563 – Leadership in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences (2 credits)

Students should consult the program coordinators to confirm approved coursework and plan a certificate pathway that fits their academic program and professional goals.

GES Graduate Certificate Co-Directors and Faculty

FAQ

Applications are not currently open; the information below describes general fellowship eligibility and may be updated for future application cycles.

Who is eligible to apply for the GES Graduate Certificate Fellowship?

The GES Graduate Certificate Fellowship is intended for current NC State graduate students who plan to complete the GES Graduate Certificate alongside their primary graduate program.

Applicants should generally be in at least their second year of graduate study by the fellowship year and must have at least one full academic year remaining in their graduate program.

Students transitioning from a master’s program to a PhD program at NC State may be eligible, provided they meet the fellowship criteria and will have at least one full academic year remaining.

Can incoming master’s students apply?

No. Incoming master’s students are not eligible to apply for the GES Graduate Certificate Fellowship.

Students interested in the GES Graduate Certificate are welcome to explore certificate coursework once they begin their graduate studies at NC State, but fellowship eligibility is generally limited to students who are already established in graduate study.

Can first-year graduate students apply?

First-year graduate students are generally not the intended applicant pool for this fellowship. Applicants should typically be in at least their second year of graduate study by the fellowship year.

Students who are currently completing a master’s degree at NC State and transitioning into an NC State PhD program may be eligible if they meet the fellowship criteria.

What are the requirements for the GES Graduate Certificate?

The GES Graduate Certificate requires 12 credit hours of approved coursework. Students complete core GES courses along with approved electives focused on the social, ethical, policy, communication, and environmental dimensions of emerging biotechnologies.

Fellows are expected to make satisfactory progress toward completing the certificate during the fellowship year.

Do I need to be in a specific discipline or college to apply?

No. Students from any NC State graduate program are welcome to apply, provided they meet the fellowship eligibility criteria.

The fellowship is especially appropriate for students whose graduate work connects with genetic engineering, biotechnology, society, policy, ethics, communication, governance, environmental issues, agriculture, or related areas.

How will fellows be selected?

Fellows will be selected competitively based on the published selection criteria, including fit with the GES Graduate Certificate, relevance of the student’s work to GES themes, stage of graduate study, time remaining in the program, and strength of faculty support.

Anyone who meets the application requirements is welcome to apply, but selection will be based on these criteria.

Do I need a recommendation from a GES affiliate faculty member?

Applicants should follow the recommendation letter requirements listed in the application materials.

Students who are very early in their graduate programs should be aware that GES cannot advise individual applicants on how to obtain a recommendation letter from an existing GES affiliate faculty member.

Is the fellowship intended to be my main source of funding?

No. The fellowship provides supplemental support for students completing the GES Graduate Certificate. It should not be considered a primary source of graduate funding, income, or assistantship support.

Students are responsible for securing sustainable funding through their primary graduate program, advisor, department, college, assistantship, grant, or other funding source.

Can I apply if I am already receiving other funding?

Yes. Students may apply if they already receive other graduate funding, provided they meet the fellowship eligibility criteria. The GES Graduate Certificate Fellowship is intended to supplement, not replace, other funding arrangements.

Who should I contact with questions?

For questions about the GES Graduate Certificate, approved coursework, the transition from the Graduate Minor to the Graduate Certificate, or the GES Graduate Fellowship, please contact the program coordinators Dr. Katie Barnhill ([email protected]) and/or Dr. Zack Brown ([email protected])