Frequently Asked Questions
Master's Degree
- How and when should I identify a faculty mentor?
Ideally, students should identify a professor with similar interests prior to enrolling in the graduate program. To determine faculty interests, students should examine the vitas of faculty members, located in the main KHP office in the Seaton Building. A summary of faculty interests is also available on the departmental website. If a mentor has not been named prior to enrolling, a chair will be appointed. Ultimately, the student must choose an appropriate chair for his/her committee after determining personal needs, interests, and faculty strengths.
- Can I change my faculty mentor at any time?
Students may change mentors prior to the scheduling of the written exam (non-thesis option), or prior to the scheduling of the thesis proposal defense (thesis option). If the student wishes to change advisors, s/he should first determine that the intended new advisor is willing to serve, and then request that chance with appropriate personnel (KHP Department Chair and KHP Director of Graduate Studies).
- When should I seek advising about my coursework?
Before registering each term, students must obtain approval of their proposed schedule from their advisor.
- How many credit hours should I take per term?
Students must take 9 credits during a single term to be considered full-time during that term. However, they may take up to 15 credits during a single term. Teaching assistants may not take more than 10 credits in a single term without approval of the Graduate School Dean and the KHP Director of Graduate Studies. Students employed full-time in any setting may not take more than 6 credits in a single term.
- What is the difference between the "thesis" and "non-thesis" programs?
The thesis program is designed for students who want to gain experiences with the research process and possibly continue their education (i.e., Ed.D. or Ph.D.). The non-thesis program is designed for those who are in clinical practice, and/or those who anticipate that the M.S. will be their terminal degree.
For both the thesis and non-thesis tracks, students will form an advisory committee with the advice of the student's advisor. The committee will consist of the chair and two other faculty members from within the department. The chair and at least one of the other committee members must be either associate or full members of the graduate faculty. The students should ask his/her advisor for a current list of the graduate faculty status of all faculty members, and get to know potential committee members well. The committee should generally be established as soon as possible before the student is ready to take the written exam (non-thesis option), or before the thesis proposal is finalized (thesis option). All decisions other than coursework are made by majority vote of the committee. The committee determines whether the written and oral grades are passing (non-thesis option), whether the thesis proposal is acceptable (thesis option), and whether the thesis had been approximately prepared and adequately defended (thesis option).
The student who chooses the thesis option is allowed to prepare a thesis proposal as early as the first semester, but usually s/he should wait until certain basic competencies are learned.
The student who chooses the non-thesis option will complete both written and oral exams. A form must be filed with the Graduate School to schedule the oral exam. The student should remind his/her committee chair to ask the KHP Director of Graduate Studies to send the form prior to his/her exam date. The students' advisor schedules the written exam after the student makes specific arrangements with each committee member. All three committee members will submit the material covered on the written exam. If the written exam is passed, the oral exam is given. The oral exam may cover anything on the written exam, as well as anything within the student's program of study. Classes must be in session when the oral exam is given, and all committee members must be present. The exam must be given no later than two weeks before the last day of classes for the semester in which the degree is to be awarded.
Students in the thesis option do not take a written exam. The oral exam is limited to a defense of the thesis. Students must submit copies of the thesis to the committee (with a minimum of two weeks lead-time), defend the thesis before a committee, incorporate the recommended changes, and satisfy the chair that the changes have been made. The Masters Thesis must be complete except for pagination before the final defense is scheduled. The student should obtain a copy of the "Instructions for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations" from the Graduate School office to assure that the style and form of the thesis conform to the requirements. The thesis should be consistent with the APA style manual. Classes must be in session when the thesis is defended, and all committee members must be present. The thesis must be defended no later than two weeks before the last day of classes of the semester in which the degree is to be awarded. Master's students have two chances to pass the thesis defense. The thesis must be accepted by the Graduate School by the last day of the semester in which the student plans to graduate, and the student is responsible for complying with any changes to the thesis the Graduate School may require prior to the deadline.
- What is the residency requirement for the program?
Candidates, who are actively pursuing a degree, yet are not enrolled in coursework must be enrolled in KHP 768 for at least one credit hour each semester. Masters Degree candidates have no residency requirement.
- What are the academic requirements for remaining in the program?
To obtain an advanced degree, each student must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 (B) for all graduate work. If the GPA falls below a 3.0, the student must raise it back to 3.0 or higher during the next 9 hours of coursework. A student may repeat one graduate course during their degree program, and count only the second grade as part of the GPA if the KHP Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School approve their petition.
- How long can I take to finish my degree?
Masters students have eight years to finish their degree requirements unless they apply for, and receive an extension.
- When do I apply for graduation?
Students must file an application with the Graduate School within 30 days after the beginning of the semester (15 days in the Summer Session) in which they expect to complete their work. This application is good for one year (after the end of the semester in which the application was made). Deadline dates are posted in the Course Schedule booklet for each term.
- Can I transfer credits from another institution to UK?
Students may transfer up to 9 semester hours of graduate work, or up to 25% of the semester hours required for the degree concerned (exclusive of residence or thesis credit), whichever is greater. To receive transfer credit, grades attained must be a B or higher, and courses must be approved by the student's advisor, the KHP Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School. To obtain transfer credits; the KHP Director of Graduate Studies must submit a written request to the Graduate School.
- Do I have access to my graduate file?
KHP student records are kept in the Seaton Building. Students have the right to inspect their file at any time. Should a student desire to see his/her file, a request should be submitted to his/her mentor.
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