(Distance Education)

This MS degree program in Community Development is a 36 credit hour program which is an Online Collaborative Inter-Institutional Degree program offered through the department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning  in cooperation with the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). Participating universities include Kansas State University, Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska, and South Dakota State University. The format of the program delivery focuses on the distance learning environments using online course delivery and contact with instructors. Students interested in obtaining this MS degree in Community Development may enroll in this collaborative program at any of the participating universities. While the program name and degree name may vary by university, the curriculum will be comparable, and courses offered in the program will be the collaborative result of a divergent faculty from within the participating universities. The basic requirements for the Master of Science in Community Development at Kansas State University are as follows:

Program Faculty:

In that this program is one of collaboration between five universities in the Great Plains, courses will be offered and taught by faculty members from each of the participating universities. As such, students enrolling, for example at Kansas State University, in a KSU listed course can expect to experience having a lead instructor from another participating university, who is simultaneously teaching the course to others who have enrolled at other participating universities under a different course name as approved at that institution. In this manner, the program faculty assembled will be the most experienced and knowledgeable instructors in their areas of expertise from within the participating universities.

Admission Requirements:

Admission to the MS Community Development degree is predicated upon graduation from an undergraduate program with a Bachelor’s Degree, and meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate School at Kansas State University. Regular admission requires a GPA of 3.0 during the students last two years of their undergraduate program. Probationary admission status may be granted to those applicants who have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 and who have shown the capability to complete graduate level course work through individual research and work experiences. Potential students who do not meet these admission guidelines may petition the program director for a review of the students credentials and seek exceptions to the admission policy on a case by case merit evaluation.

Completion Requirements:

At the completion of the MS Community Development program, the student will be required to complete a comprehensive examination administered by the degree granting program. No credit is given for the examination per Graduate School policy. The form, content and grading of the exam will be the responsibility of an assigned three member committee, comprised of Graduate Faculty members. The committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty at their respective institutions. An option to complete a Master’s Report (2 credit hours) or Thesis (6 credit hours) will exist, pending approval by the student’s academic advisory committee of a proposal prepared by the student following completion of 24 credit hours in the program.

Program of Study Requirements:

Students are encouraged to select elective course work that meets the Program of Study requirements of the Graduate School at KSU, as outlined in Section C., Chapter 2 of the Graduate Handbook (http://www.k-state.edu/grad/graduate-handbook/chapter2.html) A Program of Study is required to be filed with the Graduate School prior to entering the last semester of the program.

Transfer Credits from Other Accredited Institutions of Higher Learning:

Information concerning the transfer of credits from other accredited institutions is contained in the KSU Graduate Handbook, Section D.6, Chapter 2, which may be perused via the Internet using the following url: http://www.k-state.edu/grad/graduate-handbook/chapter2.html.

Program Administration:

The MS program in Community Development is officially administered by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning, under the auspices of the Graduate School at Kansas State University, and in conjunction with the Institute for Academic Alliances at Kansas State University. The degree is awarded by the Graduate School, through the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning, College of Architecture, Planning and Design. All courses in this program option will be taught through Global Campus at KSU as an on-line offering. Additional information may be obtained by contacting either the department at the following address or the GP IDEA Program Coordinator:

Director, MS Community Development Program
Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning
Kansas State University
302 Seaton Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506-2909

or

GP IDEA Program Coordinator
Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance
College of Human Ecology
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66502-2909