 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 become familiar with faculty via the website or in meeting faculty in person. Usually a major adviser will be assigned by the KHP Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) or his/her designee during the admission process.
- 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 scheduling the thesis proposal defense (thesis option). If the student wishes to change advisers, s/he should first determine that the intended new adviser is willing to serve, and then discuss the request with the KHP DGS. The DGS will request that the student meet with the current assigned mentor to explain his/her reasons for changing advisers.
- When should I seek advising about my coursework?
Before registering each term, students should obtain approval of their proposed schedule from their major adviser.
- 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 DGS. 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" program options?
The thesis option 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 option is designed for students who will be practitioners and/or those who anticipate that the M.S. will be their terminal degree.
For both the thesis and non-thesis options, students will form an advisory committee with the advice of the student's adviser. 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 adviser for a current list of the graduate faculty status of all faculty members, and get to know potential committee members well. The committee should be established 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 performance on the written and oral examinations are satisfactory (non-thesis option), whether the thesis proposal is acceptable (thesis option), and whether the thesis had been appropriately prepared and adequately defended (thesis option).
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 at least two weeks prior to his/her exam date. The students' adviser 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 scheduled. 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. Official dates are identified by The Graduate School for each semester.
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 an online copy of the "Instructions for the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations" from The Graduate School 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?
Students must complete 6 hours of KHP 768 and then they can be enrolled in KHP 748 for “0” hours credit while completing the thesis requirements for graduation. 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 upon or after completing 12 hours, the student is placed on “Probation“ by The Graduate School and he/she must raise the GGPA to 3.0 or higher during the next 9 hours of coursework. A student may use the repeat option only one time in a graduate program. When the repeat option is filed with The Graduate School, the Registrar’s office will only count the second grade as part of the GGPA.
- How long can I take to finish my degree?
Masters students have six years to finish their degree requirements unless they apply for, and receive an extension. Extensions must be formally approved by The Graduate School.
- When do I apply for graduation?
Students must file an online 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. The application no longer carries over into successive semesters. Deadline dates are posted in the Schedule of Classes 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 adviser, the KHP Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School. To obtain transfer credits; the student completes the request for transfer credit and submits the form to the KHP DGS for his/her approval and submission to The Graduate School.
- Do I have access to my graduate file?
KHP student records are kept in the graduate office 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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