Graduate School's Program of Study Session
This is the official chat transcript from October 05, 2010. It reads top-to-bottom.
Carol Shanklin Good evening. The purpose of our Chat session this evening is to provide you an opporutnity to ask questions about your program of study. The program of study is your "roadmap" that identifies specifically what courses you need to complete in order to obtain your graduate degree at Kansas State University . Please submit any questions you hae about your progrma of study.
Melissa Belz asks:Hello, I am emailing a scan of my doctoral POS to my out-of-K-State committee member. Must she MAIL an original signature back to me or can she email the form back to me as a final Document? (I will then submit the original with three true signatures and another copy with the addition of her signature, all scanned?) Thanks, Melissa mbelz@ksu.edu
Carol Shanklin Your supervisory committee member may sign the program of study form that has the other members of your supervisory committee members' signatures and return the signed form to you as a PDF. You will then submit the program of study form with the three original signagures with the program of study that was returned. Please be sure to staple the two POS forms together so they do not get lost before being scanned.
Courtney George asks:I was approved to take EDCEP 761 and thought it was offered in Spring 2011. It is now not being offered. Is it possible to take EDCEP 837 instead, which is being offered in Spring 2011? This is my last requirement prior to graduation. Is there a change form that I would need to fill out if this is possible. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Angie Pfizenmaier You must complete a Program/Committee Change form so that you can replace the course, EDCEP761 listed on your current program of study with EDCEP837. This form can be located on the Graduate School website under Student Guidelines and Forms.
Courtney George asks:What is the amount of hours required for choosing the report option?
Carol Shanklin A program of study for the report hour can have a maximum of 2 hours of report credit. In this instance the minimum and maximu number of hours are the same.
Megan Miller asks:Dr. Shanklin, you mentioned that I may include 30 hours from my master's degree on my doctoral POS. Is there a special place on the doctoral POS form for these hours to be included?
Carol Shanklin Yes, you will want to list the 30 hours as a block transfer on the bottom of the program of study form. List 30 hours from Masters degree at Kansas State University or whatever univeristy you completed you masters degree.
If you plan to transfer courses beyond the masters degree, these will be listed as individual courses with the univeristy noted. If the Graduate School does not have an official transcript on file for that university you will need to submit one with your program of study.
Amanda Umscheid asks:How many committee members sre required for a doctoral program of study?
Carol Shanklin A doctoral student must have a minimum of four committee members. The major professor must be a certified member of the graduate faculty. At least one of the committee members must be outside the student's department but preferably college. All committee members must be members of the graduate faculty.
Courtney George asks:I was approved to take EDCEP 761 and thought it was offered in Spring 2011. It is now not being offered. Is it possible to take EDCEP 837 instead, which is being offered in Spring 2011? This is my last requirement prior to graduation. Is there a change form that I would need to fill out if this is possible. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Carol Shanklin If a course on your program of study is not being offered, you can replace it with another course at the same level (700 or 800-level course) if approved by your supervisory committee. You should submit a Change in Program form that has been signed by all members of your supervisory committee and your department head or graduate program director.
Anup Adhikari asks:In one of my course in degree progress report, there is written that the course doesn't apply for graduation. what does that mean? I am graduating this dec and I am a Masters student.
Angie Pfizenmaier If this is a course that was listed on your program of study, perhaps the course has a different course number or course name. There is a chance that the course was not placed in DARS correctly. Please contact Lori Grelk (lmgrelk@ksu.edu) if you are a master student and if you are a doctorate student, please contact me. We would be more than happy to assist you.
Anup Adhikari asks:In one of my course in degree progress report, there is written that the course doesn't apply for graduation. what does that mean? I am graduating this dec and I am a Masters student.
Carol Shanklin ANgie, can you help this student in knowing how to interpret the DARS report.
Carol Shanklin Angie, What are some reasons programs of study have to be returned to the student and new ones submitted?
Courtney George asks:What is the amount of hours required for choosing the report option?
Angie Pfizenmaier In order to complete the report option for the master degree you must have two hours of report courses listed. Report hours are normally listed as 898 courses and thesis hours are listed as 899.
Amanda Umscheid asks:How many committee members sre required for a doctoral program of study?
Angie Pfizenmaier For a doctorate program of study, the supervisory committee must consist of a major professor and at least three other members. All members must be listed as K-State graduate faculty unless special permission has been granted by the Graduate School Dean. One of the supervisory committee members must be from outside the area of study.
Amanda Umscheid asks:How many hours can be listed as transfer credit for my doctorate degree?
Angie Pfizenmaier Only thirty hours from a previous degree may be transferred to K-State. In some cases, the full thirty is not allowed depending on your supervisory committee's decision.
Megan Miller asks:Good evening, Dr. Shanklin and Angie. I completed a master's degree at K-State last year and am continuing in a PhD program. When do I need to submit my doctoral program of study?
Carol Shanklin Good evening. I would recommend you submit your program of study at the end of your second semester in your doctoral program.
The earlier you submit your program of study the earlier you'll be able to determine when to begin preparing for your preliminary examination. Remember 30 hours from your masters can be included in your POS if approved by your supervisory committee.
Amanda Umscheid asks:How many hours can be listed as transfer credit for my doctorate degree?
Carol Shanklin A doctoral student can transfer 30 hours from his/her masters degree and up to 10 hours of credit taken after the masters degree has been confirmed. In special cicumstances more than 10 hours can be transferred.
Anup Adhikari asks:If I am graduating this dec when should I be done defending my thesis?
Carol Shanklin You must defend your thesis, make the revisions and submit the ballots for your oral and ETDR no later than December 17th to graduate this semester. If you do not have an approved program of study, you need to submit one immediately and definitely before submitting your approval form.
Courtney George asks:How many hours can I transfer?
Angie Pfizenmaier Could you be more specific such as if you are a doctorate or master student? Is this a degree or specific courses that you are wanting to transfer? Thank you!
Carol Shanklin In case you are not aware the Graduate Handbook on the Graduate School website contains all the requirements related to a masters degree (Chapter 3 Sections C and D)
and doctoral (Chapte 4 Sections C and D. The Graduate Handbook is on the Graduate School website at www.ksu.edu/grad.
Amanda Umscheid asks:My major professor is leaving the university, can she still serve on my supervisory committee?
Carol Shanklin A faculty member can continue serving on a student's supervisory committee for up to one academic year. If you are going to complete within the next year, we ask that you identify a co-major professor to serve. A change in committee form would need to be submitted.
Megan Miller asks:Because I will be including on my POS courses that I will take in the future, do I need to include the semesters in which those courses will be taken?
Carol Shanklin You do not need to include the semesters that you plan to take the courses on your program of study. You only need to include the semesters of the courses you have completed or are currently enrolled.
Anup Adhikari asks:If I am graduating this dec when should I be done defending my thesis?
Angie Pfizenmaier If you are a master student completing a thesis you must have all requirements completed by December 17, 2010. The graduation/commencement deadlines can be found at; http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/guideforms/fall2010_deadlines.pdf
Courtney George asks:What is considered outdated coursework?
Carol Shanklin Courses that were completed more than six years from the date your program of study is submitted are considered outdated.
Carol Shanklin Thanks again for everyone's participation. Graduate students do not hestiate to contact the Graduate School if we can be of assistance.
Best wishes for a successful fall semester.
Courtney George asks:How many hours can I transfer?
Carol Shanklin The general response for a masters student is 10 hours if current and approved by your supervisory committee. There are some exceptions noted in the Graduate Handbook in Chapter 3, section D.4 relative to masters students in the DVM program.
Note all transfer credit must be taken at an accredited university.
Carol Shanklin Since Angie and I seemed to have answered all the questions that have been posted, we will close this chat early. Thank you to Gradaute School team members who participated.
If you have additional questions about a program of study for a masters, you can contact Ms. Lori Grelk in the Graduate School for assistance. Ms. Angie Pfzenmaier is the doctoral specialist who can answer questions about the doctoral program of study.
Please remember the importance of submitting your program of study early.
Best of luck as you continue in your graduate program.
Megan Miller asks:What do I need to do if there are changes in my supervisory committee or the courses I take as part of my POS after I have submitted the POS form?
Angie Pfizenmaier In order to make a change to the program of study, for either a course or a supervisory committee member, a Program/Committee Change form must be completed. This form can be found on the Graduate School website under Student Guidelines/Forms.
Carol Shanklin Are there any other questions from the audience?
Carol Shanklin Any last questions before the Chat session ends?
Megan Miller asks:What do I need to do if there are changes in my supervisory committee or the courses I take as part of my POS after I have submitted the POS form?
Carol Shanklin Any changes in courses or supervisory committee composition should be documented on a change in program/committee form. You need to provide a reason for the change(s) on the form. This form must be signed by the student, your major professor, members of your supervisory committee, and your department head or graduate program director. The final signature (dept head/program director) is determiend at the program level.
Courtney George asks:If this is my second Master's degree, how many hours can transfer from my other master's degree?
Carol Shanklin A student can use only six hours of graduate crediet fromt he first degree to the program of study for the second degree.