The Great Plains IDEA is a consortium offering online master's degree, certificate and course share programs. Students are active learners in a self-paced learning environment. The curriculum has been specially adapted to ensure that students receive the same quality of education as an on-campus course. Students will interact with instructors and share & learn from the experiences of diverse fellow students from across the country and internationally through the use of e-mails, online chats, discussion boards and other methods.
Great Plains IDEA Programs at K-State
Kansas State University offers the following programs through the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance. Follow the links to your left under Degrees for specific information on each program.
Community Development is designed to help the community development professional meet the challenges presented by global economic restructuring and the devolution of government services. This is a Masters degree program with tracks in Building Economic Capacity, Non-Profit Management, Natural Resource Management and Working with Native Communities.
Community Development Application Deadlines:
For Fall Admission: February 1
For Spring Admission: November 1
For Summer Admission: April 1
Dietetics provides a degree tailored for credentialed, practicing dietetics professionals who seek to enhance their career opportunities in dietetic practice.
Dietetics Application Deadlines:
The Dietetics program welcomes your application at any time throughout the year.
Food Safety & Defense serves the needs of industry and agencies that must protect the human food supply from accidental or deliberate contamination with pathogenic microbes and/or toxicants.
Food Safety & Defense Application Deadlines:
For Fall Admission: February 1
For Spring Admission: September 1
Gerontology focuses on the growing and dynamic field of aging. Many organizations are seeking professionals with backgrounds in gerontology in order to prepare for the demographic shift that is taking place in the United States labor force. K-State offers a Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate in Gerontology through the Great Plains IDEA.
Gerontology Application Deadlines:
The Gerontology program welcomes your application at any time throughout the year.
Personal Financial Planning not only opens up opportunities in the field of financial planning, but also gives students the background to be eligible to sit for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) Certification Examinations. K-State offers a Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Planning through the Great Plains IDEA.
Personal Financial Planning Rolling Application - Deadlines:
For Fall Admission: February 1
For Spring Admission: September 1Kansas State University began offering a Master's degree in Personal Financial Planning through the GP IDEA consortium in the Fall of 2000. This program is a CFP® Board-Registered program.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP (with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. K-State does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® certification marks. CFP Certification is granted only by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.
Merchandising focuses on the ability to merchandise the product to the consumer, in the ever-changing global atmosphere of retailing. K-State offers the Master of Science in Apparel and Textiles with a Specialization in Merchandising through the Great Plains IDEA.
Merchandising Application Deadlines:
For Fall Admission: February 1
For Spring Admission: September 1
For Summer Semester: December 1PLEASE NOTE: Students interested in admission to the Merchandising program are encouraged to apply at any time throughout the year.
Youth Development focuses on the positive aspects of development of youth, ages 10 - 20, through the six Cs: caring/compassion, competence, character, connection, confidence and commitment. K-State offers a Masters Degree and Graduate Certificates in Youth Development Professional and Youth Development Administration.
Youth Development Application Deadlines:
For Fall Admission: February 1
For Spring Admission: September 1PLEASE NOTE: If you have missed the application deadline, please contact one of our partner institutions. They may have later deadlines.
Great Plains IDEA Course Sharing
Agriculture Mechanization
Agriculture Mechanization offers courses shared by four universities, primarily at the undergraduate level. K-State does not offer an Agriculture Mechanization degree through Great Plains IDEA, but students can supplement their on-campus program with specialized topics not taught at K-State.
Grassland Range Management
Grasslands Range Management course offerings are shared by five universities, primarily at the undergraduate level. K-State does not offer an Grasslands Range Management degree through Great Plains IDEA, but students can supplement their on-campus program with specialized topics not taught at K-State.
Admission, practicum, degree and course requirements may differ among the universities within the GPIDEA consortium. Please check specific course requirements before choosing your major or your university.