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 64 master's level programs and 43 doctoral level programs, offered 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 requiring independent research may be waived, generally replaced by a capstone document.

Students interested in pursuing graduate studies should consult the Graduate Catalog for descriptions of graduate programs and financial assistance opportunities.

Admission
All students desiring to pursue graduate studies must first be formally admitted by the Graduate School. Students normally submit applications for admission directly to departments. After reviewing a student's qualifications to pursue advanced study, 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 those published in the Graduate Handbook. They 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 make their inquiry upon first intent 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 seniors and undergraduate 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 9 hours for graduate credit in courses numbered in the 500, 600, and 700 sequences.

Enrollment in courses in the 800 level 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 after obtaining permission from the instructor of the course, the head of the department offering the course, and the dean of the Graduate School.

Those wishing to take more than 9 semester hours may apply for admission to, and be accepted by, the Graduate School following the award of a bachelor's degree. Courses taken for undergraduate credit may not be changed to graduate credit.

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

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

Topics within Graduate School:
	Graduate Degrees