Program: Concurrent B.S./M.S. Horticulture - Kansas State University

Mar 06, 2025

2012-2013 Undergraduate Catalog

The combined B.S./M.S. Horticulture program in the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources (HFRR) provides exceptional undergraduates with the opportunity to obtain both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in 5 years, a shorter time than typically required to earn a B.S. plus M.S. if both degrees are pursued separately. Students can obtain M.S. with thesis or non-thesis option.

The curriculum will include both course work and research experience. Graduates will be well-equipped either to seek careers in the private sector or pursue advanced degrees. The advantages of the combined degree to students seeking private sector employment may be entry level positions with higher-level responsibilities, higher pay, and opportunities for more rapid advancement. The rigorous training and combined B.S./M.S. (thesis option) will offer a competitive advantage in the admissions process to students interested in pursuing doctoral (PhD) degrees.

Admission Requirements

The following requirements must be met before an individual can be admitted into this program.

The student must be seeking a B.S. degree from the Department of Horticulture, Forestry and Recreation Resources.
The student must have completed 45 to 90 hours toward the B.S. degree.
The student’s cumulative undergraduate GPA must be at least 3.0.
The student must be nominated by a Graduate Faculty member of HFRR at any time from the second semester of the sophomore year through the second semester of the junior year. A student may be nominated during the senior year with special permission from the HFRR Director of Graduate Programs.

Application Process

The application process is the same as for the traditional M.S. degree except that completion of the B.S. degree is not required and the GRE score requirement will be waived.

K-State graduate application form completed on-line and submitted before semester of enrollment. Application fee submitted with application.
Applicant’s statement of academic objective(s) and preferred primary advisor(s) must be submitted with application.
Three letters of reference are required.
Transcript(s) of all undergraduate work must be sent to the Director of Graduate Programs in HFRR.

Once a student is admitted to the concurrent B.S./M.S. degree program, the student should consult the graduate handbook for policies and procedures for M.S. degrees which include: supervisory committee, final examination, etc. The student will work closely with her/his major professor to form a supervisory committee and file a program of study by the end of the first semester of the senior year. The student’s supervisory committee must approve the program of study, which is a statement of the student’s graduation requirements. The undergraduate advisor will continue to advise the student in academic progress toward the B.S. degree, and the major professor will supervise the student’s academic progress and research project for the M.s. degree. Research toward the M.S. thesis will begin as soon as possible, but will not begin later than the first semester of the senior year.

Should the student meet these requirements and be approved for admission by the HFRR Graduate Admission Committee, admission will be provisional, pending the award of the B.S. degree. The student must complete all of the undergraduate requirements with the exception that up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate level classes taken for graduate credit may be applied toward the 130 credit hour requirement for the undergraduate degree and can also count toward the 30 credit hours required for the M.S. degree. The B.S. degree may be awarded at any time following the completion of the undergraduate degree requirements. Alternatively, the B.S. and M.S. degrees may be awarded concurrently.