Mission and Vision of The Graduate School

The mission of the The Graduate School at Fort Hays State University is to serve its beneficiaries through excellence in support, continuous quality improvement, and innovation.

The vision of the Graduate School is to aspire to be a nationally recognized leader in graduate education, internationalization, and research.

The Graduate School is the unit responsible for organizing and supervising the graduate instructional programs of the university and for developing them toward their highest level of excellence. It is also the unit responsible for facilitating, encouraging, and coordinating the research and internationalization efforts of the university and for developing those efforts toward the highest level of excellence. The school has a primary concern with meshing graduate instruction and research into mutually supporting programs and also with integrating both into the total effort of the university.

All colleges of the university are served by the Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School/Assistant Provost for Academic Programs has responsibility for coordinating, encouraging, and stimulating graduate and faculty research and internationalization programs in all of the university's academic units.

Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects

Grants and Funding - training, guidance, and contract assistance for external grants and oversees the internal grant programs at FHSU.

Research Compliance and Policies - Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Care and Use of Animals Committee (IACUC), CITI Training, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and other areas of research compliance.

Promoting a Culture of Research and Scholarship - ample research opportunities are available for undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty and staff, including the campus-wide research symposium, SACAD.

Below is a listing of all graduate degree programs available at Fort Hays State University:

College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Masters

Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship

Masters

College of Education

Educational Specialist

College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Doctor of Nursing

Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics

Masters

Note for MLS and MPS degree concentrations:

Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) programs are administratively housed within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences but are listed in the catalog within the academic unit related to the relevant concentration area for ease in navigation.

Master of Professional Studies (MPS) programs are administratively housed within the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences but are listed in the catalog within the academic unit related to the relevant concentration area for ease in navigation.

Application Information

Our general guide to graduate admission is organized by whether the applicant is domestic or international. Individual programs pages may have additional admission requirements and deadlines, so it is recommended that you explore the appropriate program pages based on your interests.

The Graduate School at Fort Hays State University is a tremendous value!

For information on Tuition and Fees, please visit our tuition page.

Graduate Assistantships

The university awards, on a competitive merit basis, a number of graduate assistantships for qualified graduate degree-seeking students in most degree areas of graduate study. Please visit our Graduate Assistantships website for additional information.

Graduate School Graduation Requirements

All Graduate degrees¹ require:

• Maintain a C or higher in all coursework.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. (Refer to program)
• A minimum of 30-75 hours of Graduate course work. (Refer to program)
• Comprehensive Examination or equivalent assessment is required. (Master of Liberal Studies requires a Comprehensive Examination and Concentration Exam)
• Degree completion within 8 years.

¹

Refer to degree program for any additional requirements.

Comprehensive Examinations

Each applicant for a graduate degree must satisfactorily pass a comprehensive assessment over the subject fields of the program. This normally occurs prior to thesis completion in Option A programs. The comprehensive assessment is not merely a reexamination of materials covered in coursework but is an evaluation of the graduate degree candidate’s ability to integrate materials from the graduate program and any related or supporting fields. Each department will determine the content and format of the comprehensive assessment; the assessment may be written and/or oral. Normally, the comprehensive assessment is taken during the final semester of enrollment. In Option A programs, a final oral examination over the thesis is required. Departments may establish certain qualifying examinations to determine if further graduate work is required or if the student is making satisfactory progress in graduate study.

Visit our Comprehensive Exams site for additional details.

Application for Program Completion

Students who plan to graduate at the end of a given semester must file an Application for Program Completion form in Workday and remit the associated administrative fee before the filing deadline given in the academic calendar.  In the event the student does not graduate after filing an Application for Program Completion, a new Application for Program Completion form must be completed before the deadline for the semester in which the student plans to complete requirements.  There is no special distinction for honors at graduation for graduate students. 

Grades for Graduate Study

Graduate students at the Master’s, Specialist in Education, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree levels are expected to do uniformly high-quality work. Only grades of A, B, and C are acceptable on a degree program. No course taken for Pass/No Credit shall be used on a graduate degree program. A graduate student must attain at least an average grade of B (3.00) in all graduate coursework on the degree program for graduation. Some departments limit the number of hours of C grades; the student should contact the department for any departmental limits. 

All relevant policies and procedures related to graduate programs can be found within the Graduate Student Handbook. This is maintained and updated the Graduate Council, which is composed of representatives as detailed in the handbook. This includes the Dean of the Graduate School, Director of the Graduate School, and faculty representing all associated programs and standing committees.

Please visit the Graduate School site and tab for Current Students to obtain additional information on Graduate School Policies, learn about Graduate Assistantships, as well as explore links for a variety of student services.

Questions, comments, or concerns regarding graduate policies and procedures can be directed to gradschool@fhsu.edu.

The Graduate School at Fort Hays State University

Program Levels

There are different levels of graduate study at Fort Hays State University. The Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Liberal Studies, and Master of Science in Nursing degrees are awarded as the first graduate degrees for graduate study.

The Master of Fine Arts degree is the professional terminal degree in the field of visual arts and normally requires two years of full-time graduate work. The Specialist in Education degree is given for completion of an approved program of advanced graduate study beyond the Master's degree. It is a professional graduate degree providing advanced study for school personnel. There is also a non-degree option for those who wish to do graduate work for personal and professional reasons without pursuing a degree.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree is granted in two areas: English and history. A thesis is optional in both programs.

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program provides a high-quality curriculum designed with challenging, engaging learning opportunities. Students are prepared to lead, make challenging decisions, and succeed. Take advantage of all the benefits of a traditional on campus program, or the convenience of flexible, online instruction. Go to school part time or full time.

Master of Fine Arts

The School of Visual and Performing Arts-Art offers a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree consisting of a minimum of 60 hours of graduate work. The Master of Fine Arts degree is the terminal degree in the field of the visual arts. The degree is designed to provide the highest level of competent, professional training in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and design (graphics and photography).

You must complete the degree requirements within 8 years and maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the MFA program. This master’s program includes studio concentrations such as: drawing, painting, sculpture, graphic design, photography, printmaking, ceramics and intermedia. Online or low residency options are available in some areas and are subject to decisions by the major professor.

Master of Liberal Studies

Earning a Master of Liberal Studies degree (MLS) from Fort Hays State University is the first step toward expanding your thoughts and transforming the horizons in front of you. Graduates from our master's program take their learned skills with them to adapt and evaluate intellectual work in news ways – in any discipline.

Our effective and intelligent online and on campus programs are designed to benefit the working professional with our 31-credit MLS degree, which allows you to balance work and life commitments while fostering your love of learning. At Fort Hays State, we want to transform your thinking – with a master of liberal studies degree, you’ll have an advanced understanding of strategy and solutions that you can then utilize for your intellectual, social and professional growth.

Master of Professional Studies

The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree is a multi-disciplinary master's degree designed to develop advanced professional skill sets in various subject areas not currently represented at FHSU by the Master of Science (MS) credentials. A notable feature of the degree program is the flexibility to combine a major subject area with one or more cognate areas. By customizing your education, you will gain the professional workforce skills desired by employers in commerce, government, health care, non-profits, and information technology. Also, a majority of our programs are available online making it easier for you to earn your degree anytime, from anywhere.

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree is granted in the following subject areas: Biology; Communication; Counseling; Education; Education Administration; Geosciences; Health and Human Performance; Instructional Technology; Mathematics, Psychology; Special Education; and Speech-Language Pathology.

See the department’s website for program requirements.

Master of Science in Nursing

A graduate degree in nursing will prepare you to use the knowledge that you have gained through experience and your former education to build an expertise in a specific area of nursing.

This program requires clinical practicum experiences. Fort Hays State University works diligently with students to secure clinical contracts across the United States. On rare occasions due to locations or state or facility requirements, we are unable to negotiate a contract. In this event, if another site cannot be obtained at the student's location, a clinical site in Hays, Kansas will be provided for the student. If this occurs, students will need a Kansas license and will need to come to Kansas for their practicum experience. We encourage you to start the collaborative process of obtaining a preceptor early in your program. If you have questions about this process, please contact the Department of Nursing.

The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) Degree

The Specialist in Education is an advanced graduate degree designed to provide the graduate student a definite and integrated professional program of study beyond the Master of Science degree in Education Administration or Psychology (School). The degree requires advanced study between the master’s and the doctorate degrees, both in time and in depth, with identifiable and distinct objectives. The program planning and the supervision of the research project (field study or research problem) is the responsibility of the designated advisor with the counsel of the student’s graduate committee.

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Nurses graduating with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from Fort Hays State University are educated to provide high quality, efficient patient-centered nursing care that emphasizes collaborative, evidence-based practices. DNP graduates assume key leadership roles and participate in executive decision making processes for best patient care outcomes. We are honored to announce that our recent DNP classes received a 100% pass rate on their national certification. More information on the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) can be found at: fhsu.edu/nursing/dnp.

BSN to DNP Program

For students who have graduated from an accredited school with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree. This program prepares students for a Doctor of Nursing Practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. A Family Nurse Practitioner provides primary care across the life span. Accepting applications from Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

MSN to DNP Program

For students who have graduated from an accredited school with a Master of Science in Nursing degree in an Advanced Practice role as a Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. The MSN to DNP program provides advanced education for students who have already obtained a MSN degree with an APRN license. Applicants from 46 states are accepted.