Graduate School

103 Fairchild Hall
785-532-6191
1-800-651-1816 Fax: 785-532-2983
www.ksu.edu/grad

Graduate study
Kansas State University offers 63 master's level programs and 42 doctoral level programs, available as departmental or interdepartmental graduate programs. Graduate programs extend the undergraduate experience into advanced areas of concentration in chosen fields of specialization.

While graduate study has major components of study in specialized course work at the advanced level, graduate students must also develop a capacity for independent research and scholarly activity to enable them to carry out original research under the direction of faculty members who are experts in the discipline. Independent research normally results in the preparation and publication of the research study as a thesis or dissertation, and the student must satisfactorily defend that research before a faculty committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate School.

In several professional disciplines, the master's degree curriculum is more typically structured in course work to place stronger emphasis on preparation for professional practice. While these professional programs also incorporate research methodologies in their graduate curriculum, the formal requirement of a thesis based on independent research may be waived, generally being replaced by a capstone document.

Students interested in pursuing graduate studies should consult the Graduate Catalog (www.ksu.edu/grad/catalog) for descriptions of graduate programs and information about financial assistance opportunities.

Admission
All students desiring to pursue graduate studies must first be formally admitted by the Graduate School. Students normally submit the application for admission directly to departments. After reviewing a student's qualifications to pursue advanced study, the academic departments forward a recommendation on admission to the Graduate School for review and approval.

All students admitted to the Graduate School are required to adhere to the university policies established by the graduate faculty through the Graduate Council, including policies published in the Graduate Handbook (www.ksu.edu/grad/handbook). Students are advised to familiarize themselves with these policies as early in their graduate careers as possible. Students are also advised that departments or interdepartmental graduate programs may have additional policies particular to those programs above and beyond these university policies.

Financial assistance
Financial assistance is available to graduate students in many disciplines to enable them to pursue an advanced degree. Such support is typically extended as fellowships, traineeships, graduate teaching assistantships, or graduate research assistantships supported by university, state, federal, corporate, or private funding sources. Students interested in financial support are advised to contact the academic department or graduate program directly to obtain current information. Because many of these stipends are offered early, prospective students should inquire as soon as they decide to pursue graduate studies. Students are also encouraged to visit the campus and discuss their goals for advanced study with the program faculty.

Graduate studies by undergraduate seniors and special students
Seniors at Kansas State University who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on prior undergraduate work and are within two semesters of receiving a bachelor's degree may take up to nine hours for graduate credit in courses numbered in the 500, 600, and 700 sequences.

Enrollment in 800-level courses and above is normally restricted to students admitted to the Graduate School. In exceptional circumstances, highly qualified students may enroll in courses numbered 800 and above only with permission from the instructor of the course, the head of the department, and the dean of the Graduate School.

Those wishing to take more than nine semester hours must be admitted to graduate study by the Graduate School following the award of a bachelor's degree. Courses taken for undergraduate credit cannot be changed to graduate credit.

A student enrolled as an undergraduate special student may not take courses for graduate credit.

Concurrent bachelor's/graduate degree program
Concurrent bachelor's/graduate degree programs are offered in selected disciplines. This option gives outstanding students the opportunity to pursue bachelor's and graduate degrees at the same time. The transition toward graduate-level work evolves throughout the student's academic life, and a high level of advising coordinates and guides the process.

Admission to concurrent programs typically occurs during the second semester of the sophomore year or the first semester of the junior year. A limited number of hours taken for graduate credit can be applied to the bachelor's degree. Minimum standards for admission require a cumulative GPA of 3.0; individual graduate programs may require additional admissions criteria.

The bachelor's degree may be awarded at any time after completion of the undergraduate degree requirements, or the bachelor's and the advanced degree may be awarded concurrently.

Any interested student should contact the graduate program to see if the concurrent degree option is available.

Graduate faculty
Consult the K-State Graduate Catalog, available at www.ksu.edu/grad/faculty/faculty.htm

Topics within Graduate School:
	Graduate Degrees