The Interdisciplinary Behavioral Science program takes a multidisciplinary approach to the area of study of the intersection between law and social and behavioral science by providing students with background in theoretical perspectives from psychology, sociology, and criminology, basic and applied research methods, and statistical techniques. Students will develop competencies relevant to the science and practice of psychology, and to the study of the intersection of behavioral and social science and law.
All applicants to the program must meet all KSU Graduate School application requirements, including:
Properly completed graduate application forms;
A letter of application with a statement of educational goals and career objectives;
A thoughtful, well-written essay of approximately 1,500 words describing the applicant's motivation for earning a degree in Interdisciplinary Behavioral Science and describing relevant experiences which have contributed to this goal. The essay will be evaluated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory by the program faculty;
A curriculum vitae or resume of qualifications;
Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts: copies of all official transcripts must be mailed from the applicant's undergraduate institution directly to the Office of Graduate Studies, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Ky. 40601;
An undergraduate GPA 2.70 or higher;
GRE combined score of 284 on the qualitative, quantitative, and writing exam components) on tests taken after November 2016. Official scores should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies. It is the responsibility of the applicant to apply for and take the examination and have the test scores sent; and
Three letters of reference from professors or employers mailed to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Applicants who meet the entry requirements will be granted regular admission status by the program admission committee. Probationary admission status may be granted if students do not meet all the requirements stated above. Such applicants must possess baccalaureate degrees with undergraduate GPAs of at least 2.4 and also meet all other requirements for regular admission. Probationary students are subject to initial performance requirements more stringent than those imposed upon others. All unsatisfactory requirements must be met before students are granted regular admission to the program.
The School of Public Administration has been a member of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) since 1973. NASPAA is an organization which sets national standards for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program and the other master's-level degree programs in Public Administration. The following excerpt from the current NASPAA standards clearly states the purpose of a Master of Public Administration degree program. The Master of Public Administration degree program at Kentucky State University was accredited by NASPAA in June 1997. The program is modeled after NASPAA's standards for such programs and shares its educational philosophy. The objectives of the MPA program include providing knowledge, skills, and experience that can be directly utilized by public and private sector professionals in their changing work environment. The program equips students with the technical skills and liberal arts values necessary for responsible administrative roles in state, local, federal, quasi-governmental, non-profit, and private sector systems. The program provides the interdisciplinary foundations of public administration, quantitative skills, and sensitivity toward humanistic dimensions of public organizations, fiscal management, and computer utilization.
A majority of public administration courses are offered in the evening to accommodate students with full-time jobs. By taking two courses each semester, such students can complete all degree requirements in three years. Many of KSU's MPA students work for government agencies and receive employer tuition assistance, but some full-time students receive graduate assistantships in exchange for part-time work. Full-time students typically earn the Master of Public Administration degree in two years of study.
The MPA program requires completion of a minimum of forty-two graduate semester hours.
All inquiries related to admission to the Master of Public Administration program should be submitted to the Chairperson, School of Public Administration, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. New applicants follow one set of procedures, while former MPA students wishing to renew their studies follow another. The procedures are as follows:
All new applicants (including transfer applicants) seeking graduate-level admission to the School of Public Administration must supply the following credentials to the Office of Graduate Studies:
An Application for Admission ($22.00 fee is assessed, $74.00 for International Students). Applications must be received by July 1 for the fall semester; by November 15 for the spring semester; and by April 15 for the summer session.
Official transcripts indicating that applicants have completed a bachelor's degree. Transcripts of international students must be submitted in English, and any translation of transcripts certified. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs below 3.0 must also provide evidence that the applicant meets Admission Requirement B below. This proof may be transcripts indicating completion of related undergraduate coursework, or employment verification, or GRE or GMAT test scores. Applicants should
The University