Doctoral Program (Online/On Campus):
Admissions

Admission to the Ph.D. program is competitive and based on a comprehensive assessment of each applicant’s application package. Due to the limited number of spots available per yearly cohort, applicants must submit all required materials on or before one of the two bi-annual application deadlines listed below. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2010 summer cohort.

Admission Criteria

Applicants must possess an undergraduate and graduate degree from a recognized and accredited * institution.

When reviewing your application, we also take the following into consideration:

• statement of career objective
• statement of research interest
• resume and/or curriculum vitae
• undergraduate and graduate grade point average, especially during the last two years of study
• GRE/GMAT standardized scores or alternative measure
• letters of recommendation
• writing sample
• applicant interview
• commitment to ongoing participation in required summer residency courses OR desire to complete degree with full-time study in Manhattan
  • students are required to meet as part of their admissions cohort for 10-day summer sessions in Manhattan, Kansas, during the first three years of study
  • each student is also required to participate in an international learning experience during their fourth year in the program
• whether your undergraduate and graduate institutions are accredited
• the extent to which the Ph.D. program matches your academic objectives
• potential for graduate study as reflected by transcripts and letters of recommendation
• commitment to attend professional association meetings

In general, your undergraduate and graduate grade point average must be 3.0 (“B”) or better, although in exceptional cases we may consider recommending probational admission if your undergraduate grade point average is at least 2.75, or if it is above 3.0 in the last 60 hours of coursework.

Once you have submitted the required application materials, the faculty will review your credentials. Upon approval and assignment of a temporary advisor, your file will be forwarded to the Graduate School, which checks the completeness of your application, reviews your official transcripts, and verifies that you have or will soon have a valid degree from an accredited* institution.

Application Process

Students seeking admission must complete all nine steps listed below. The first two steps can be completed online. Step numbers three through nine must be submitted, IN DUPLICATE, to the address listed below. Any electronic submission (e-mail attachments) for step numbers three through nine WILL NOT be accepted, including letters of recommendation. All application materials must be "in house" on or before the application deadlines listed below for consideration.

1. an application for admission to the Kansas State University Graduate School.
2. a domestic application fee of $40 or international application fee of $55.
   
   Note: This program does not qualify international students for study in the United States; international students must take the courses in their home country.
   
3. two official transcripts from all colleges, universities, and institutes attended.
4. three letters of recommendation (Adobe Acrobat) from current or former faculty, colleagues, or other professionals who are non-family members.
5. statement of career objective.
6. statement of research interest(s).
7. resume or curriculum vitae.
8. writing sample, which could include a published paper or article; a paper written for publication submission; a thesis, dissertation, or similar academic work; a book; an originally developed financial plan; or another example of writing skills and proficiency.
9. GRE or GMAT standardized test scores OR
   ten-page (maximum) personal reflection paper answering standardized questions. **
   
   For more information, download the Personal Reflection Paper Instructions (Adobe Acrobat).
   

** Applicants submitting a GRE or GMAT score are also highly encouraged to complete a personal reflection paper as part of the application process.

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA to avoid dismissal from the doctoral program. For additional K-State Graduate School information, please visit the Graduate School website. Admission and reference forms can be obtained online following the links above. All of the above materials should be returned to:

Kim Misenhelter
Graduate Program Coordinator
312 Justin Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506

To request an application, or check on the status of an application, please contact .

When all the materials are on file, the graduate committee will act on your request for admission to the program and will contact you about their decision. You may receive one of three decisions:

1. full admission
2. conditional admission subject to resolving deficiencies
3. admission denied

Note: Applicants to the K-State Graduate School must have a bachelor’s degree substantially the same as the ones granted by K-State. These degrees regularly contain a broad range of courses representing the basic academic disciplines. In addition, a major portion of the courses included should be graded by a multilevel system, usually A, B, C, D, F.

Application Deadlines For Summer 2010

Early Application Deadline

October 1, 2009 ***

Final Application Deadline

March 1, 2010 ***

*** All sessions officially begin in summer with an on-campus residency session. In special circumstances, those applicants granted admission under the early application deadline may be permitted to enroll in one or two courses during the spring semester, prior to their first official summer session. Course selection will be determined following the applicant's early admission notification. Those applicants admitted under the final application deadline will begin in the summer.

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.