Spurred by these new challenges, NCSU will continue to fulfill its mission through the integrated functions of teaching, research, and extension, its unique form of public service. The activities of research and extension interact to provide students with an environment for learning that stresses creativity, problem solving, social responsibility, and respect for human diversity. The educational and extension functions join to apply, test, and disseminate the new knowledge generated by research. During the University's first hundred years, its distinctive mandate has led to preeminence in science, technology, and engineering. This mandate will continue to shape future development, necessitating excellence in the full spectrum of disciplines that provide the intellectual and critical foundations for understanding, anticipating, and responding to public needs.
Undergraduate education is a major responsibility of North Carolina State University.
Core education is provided in science and the humanities, with specializations offered in physical, social, and life sciences, in the humanities, and in professional and technical disciplines. The atmosphere of a research university provides distinctive opportunities for undergraduates to benefit from the experience of research in the classroom, laboratory, and informal settings. Exposure to the discovery and synthesis of new information provides students with a basis for identifying and solving society's problems and builds a critical foundation for their personal growth, cultural enrichment, and professional development. As a national center for doctoral studies, NCSU embraces the responsibility to maintain excellence in graduate research and education. Students work as partners with faculty in the creation, expansion, conservation, and transmission of knowledge.