Degree Requirements

Our program offers both a thesis option and a course work option. The detailed degree requirements for each option follow.

Thesis Option

Students will be required to take 30 credits, according to the following:

Required Core Courses (8–9 credits)

At least one of the following:

A minimum of two graduate seminar credits:

At least one of the following statistical courses:

Elective Courses

A minimum of 12 elective course credits approved by graduate program director or department chair. Multiple statistical courses are strongly recommended. The department maintains a list of approved elective courses within and outside the department, and this list is updated annually. Courses not on this list, but deemed relevant and appropriate by the student and advisor, can be used ad hoc if written approval is obtained from the graduate program director or KIP department chair.

Research Credits

A minimum of six research credits are required. Students are strongly encouraged to present (oral presentation or poster) at a national or international conference prior to thesis defense.

These degree requirements are consistent with University policy related to the distribution of credits for the thesis option (i.e., 6–10 research credits, minimum of 20 coursework credits of which the distribution must include a minimum of 12 credits at 5000–6000 level and maximum of 12 credits at 3000–4000 level).

Additional Details

Advisor and the Advisory Committee

Based on their research interests, graduate students should choose a primary (or co-advisors), no later than the end of the first academic year. The program will adhere to the graduate school policy for advisor and advisory committee. The advisory committee must be approved by the graduate program director or KIP department chair.

Thesis Proposal

The thesis proposal should contain a review of the literature, a problem statement/rationale, study hypotheses, research design, proposed methods/research strategy, and pilot data when possible. The primary advisor, with input from the committee members, can decide on the proposal format. This thesis proposal should be reviewed and approved by the advisory committee.

Written Thesis

The thesis will be written and prepared under the supervision of the primary advisor and the advisory committee according to the requirements of the Graduate School.

Final Oral Examination

The final requirement will be a public oral presentation of the thesis and an oral examination in accordance with the requirements of the Graduate School.

Course Work Option

Students will be required to take 30 course credits, according to the following:

Required Core Courses (8–9 credits)

At least one of the following:

A minimum of two graduate seminar credits:

At least one of the following statistical courses:

Elective Courses

A minimum of 10 elective course credits approved by graduate program director or department chair is required. The department maintains a list of approved elective courses within and outside the department, and this list is updated annually. Courses not on this list, but deemed relevant and appropriate by the student and advisor, can be used ad hoc if written approval is obtained from the graduate program director or KIP department chair.

These degree requirements are consistent with University policy related to the distribution of credits for the Coursework option (i.e., minimum of 18 credits at 5000–6000 level, maximum of 12 credits at 3000–4000 level).