Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Is GRE/GMAT required?
Currently, GRE or GMAT scores are not required for admission to our graduate programs.
Can I start the program any semester?
Yes, you can start any semester. For deadlines, please review our Admission page.
When is the application deadline?
For fall admission, the application deadline is 7/1; the spring admission deadline is 11/1, and the summer admission deadline is 5/1. But, if you are an international student, the fall admission deadline is 5/1; the spring admission deadline is 9/1, and the summer admission deadline is 3/1 – two months ahead of domestic applications.
How long does the program take for graduation?
It depends on the program. For example:
a. MSIT: The program requires 33 hours. Depending on how many courses taken per semester, most students can complete the program within 1-2 years.
b. Ed.S.: The program requires 31 hours. Same as the master's degree program, most students can complete the program within 1-2 years.
c. Ph.D.: Overall, the program requires 90 hours after the bachelor degree, including 20 dissertation hours. Depending on the numbers of transferred hours from your Master’s or Ed.S. program, on average, most students spend the first 2-3 years on coursework, then time in the degree after that would depend on the students’ progress on their proposal and dissertation. According to the MSU policy, the students have 5 years to finish their dissertation after they pass the comprehensive exams.
After I am admitted, who do I have to contact first?
After you are admitted to our graduate program, you will receive a departmental acceptance letter that indicates your advisor(s) and contact information. You can contact him or her directly, and/or the graduate or program coordinator too.
Is it completely online?
Yes, our graduate programs are completely online. So, it is not required for students to travel to the campus at all.
Would I be required to travel and participate on campus at any time during the program?
No travel is required at any time for our MSIT, EDs, and PhD graduate programs. The department and committee allows students to take their comprehensive exams and complete the dissertation/proposal defenses online as well.
What is the duration of each course?
There are approximately 16-weeks in a regular fall or spring semester. In the summer, we offer 10-week and 5-week classes as well.
Will I have one on one contact with professors?
Yes, you can work with the faculty on a one-on-one basis. You are also welcome to contact the faculty anytime to schedule face-to-face or online meetings as well.
Which learning management system does your institution utilize?
Currently, MSU uses Canvas.
How many courses am I expected to take simultaneously?
It’s up to the student. For a graduate student, a full-time course load in fall and spring semesters is enrollment in 9-13 credit hours, that’s approximately 3-4 classes. Some students only take 2 classes per semester (6 credit hours). It's also possible to take more than 13 credit hours within a semester, you can by filling out the overload form.
Is there a cohort and set timeline for progress or is the program individually-paced?
There is no cohort in our graduate programs, they are individually paced based on student planning and available course offerings.
Where in the field have former graduates been placed? Can you provide an idea of the marketability of this degree?
Depending on the student, it’s quite diverse. Some of our former students are working as faculty members or administrators at other universities, directors or supervisors, and more. If you would like to explore more, please check out our website alumni page.
What is the time commitment while I am in the program?
It depends on the student. Overall, the more courses you take, the earlier you can expect to graduate. In general, it takes 1-2 years to complete the MSIT and Ed.S. programs, and 4-5 years to complete a Ph.D. degree.
What are some individualization and/or specialization options?
For the MSIT program, you can choose from the concentrations and elective credits we offer.
For the Ph.D. and Ed.S programs, you can choose different elective courses based on your interest and career plan. You can also have a minor in a different program as well. We encourage you to speak with your advisor about your coursework, individualized curriculum options, and research interests.
What steps would I take to get my previous graduate coursework evaluated to transfer into a program?
You can discuss your previous graduate coursework with your advisor (or Graduate Coordinator) who can help review and finalize your transfer hours.
Do I get to choose my advisor?
Yes, it's likely that you could choose your own advisor, depending on faculty members workloads and current students. we encourage you to review our faculty page and contact faculty member(s) to discuss your research agenda and its potential fit to the faculty member's interests and expertise.
What is the total cost of the program?
You can check tuition for graduate programs at this link: https://online.msstate.edu/iswd/tuition/
Are there fellowships/scholarships/grants/assistantships or other forms of funding available?
We have assistantships (students working as our departmental graduate assistants) available in our department, but they are limited. We also encourage you to search for other units on campus, for example, the MSU library, the Center for Distance Education, and other campus departments offer assistantships as well. Current graduate assistants have to enroll as a full-time student and likely need to be physically present on campus due to the nature of their work responsibilities.
I am entering as Unclassified because I was told that I might not have time to gain official entry into a program before classes begin. Is this plan advisable? I was also told I would have to get departmental permission to take courses.
Yes, that is right. As an unclassified student, you can apply for the ‘official’ program later on. A maximum of 9 unclassified hours can be transferred to the program when you are officially admitted.
Would it be possible to continue full-time employment while I am in the program?
Yes, it is possible. The majority of our students are working full-time and taking graduate courses at the same time.