OCSE Graduate Degrees & Certificates

Program Admission

In addition to Graduate Studies admissions requirements, the Department of Agriculture requires:

1. Bachelor's degree in agriculture or related field ¹
2. GPA of 2.75 or greater (on 4.0 scale)
3. Three letters of reference
4. Resume or curriculum vitae
5. Cover letter (i.e. statement of purpose) in which the applicant specifies the program to which they are applying (thesis or non-thesis), academic interests, relevant experiences, and a graduate faculty member in the WKU Department of Agriculture that has agreed to serve as the graduate advisor ^2,3

¹

Exceptions to an agriculture degree may be made for non-agriculture undergraduate degree holders. However, additional coursework may be required, which will be determined by the department graduate committee and/or the student's thesis committee.

²

Program and faculty information may be found at www.wku.edu/agriculture. Students should contact the agriculture graduate program coordinator for guidance in the research advisor selection process. The graduate program coordinator will review the student research interests and suggest possible research advisors.

³

Applications should be received by March 15^th for priority consideration.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

¹

Thesis option students only must take 6 credit hours.

Program Admission

In addition to Graduate Studies requirements, the Department of Biology requires the following:

• An undergraduate degree in Biology or a related discipline, or evidence of adequate preparation in the field of Biology;
• A thoughtful and reflective Statement of Purpose (ca. 1-2 pages) that describes the applicant’s background, experience and preparation in the field, interest in the WKU program, and future or career interests. The statement must specify whether applicant is choosing the thesis or non-thesis (online) concentration, and thesis concentration applicants must identify a WKU biology graduate faculty member who has agreed to serve as advisor;
• A current Curriculum Vitae or Resume;
• Three letters of recommendation from professional references.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

The M.S. in Biology program offers thesis and non-thesis concentrations. Thesis students enroll in six hours of BIOL 599 and non-thesis students enroll in four hours of BIOL 516 as part of their degree program.

Thesis Concentration

Non-thesis Concentration

Program Admission

Graduate School Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

Program Requirements (15 hours)

¹

Students may not select BIOL 500, BIOL 516, BIOL 598 or BIOL 599.

Program Admission

In addition to Graduate Studies admission requirements, the Department of Chemistry requires:

1. Bachelor's degree in chemistry or equivalent including supporting courses in mathematics¹
2. GPA in chemistry courses of 3.0 or greater (on 4.0 scale)
3. GRE general scores (Q+V) and Analytical Writing.^2,3

¹

Exceptions to possessing a chemistry degree may be made for students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry-related areas (e.g. chemical engineering, pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, forensic chemistry). However, additional courses may be required and will be determined by the graduate program coordinator and/or the student's thesis committee.

²

Scores from MCAT, PCAT, or DAT may be substituted for equivalent GRE scores.

³

Although there are no formal minimum GRE scores, admission is competitive.

Program Requirements (30-32 hours)

The program requirements include 12 hours of common courses and an additional 18 - 20 hours of coursework, depending on the concentration. The additional 18-20 hours of coursework must include a minimum of two lecture courses at the 500 level, and no more than 12 hours may be taken at the 400G level.

All master's degree-seeking students must complete the following common courses:

¹

Requirements are to be satisfied according to the current departmental policy.

²

Requirements are to be satisfied by preparing a thesis on the project chosen by the student and approved by the members of the student's graduate committee. Theses are to be prepared in accordance with the specifications established by Graduate Studies. A thesis grade will be given after the final thesis has been approved by the student's graduate committee and the department chair.

Master's degree-seeking students must select one of the following concentrations:

1. General thesis concentration
2. Biochemistry thesis concentration
3. Research intensive concentration (only recommended in special circumstances and with approval of a research advisor)

General Thesis Concentration

*

Graduate lecture courses include the following:

CHEM 420G, CHEM 425G, CHEM 430G, CHEM 435G, CHEM 446G, CHEM 450G, CHEM 452G, CHEM 462G, CHEM 470G, CHEM 475G, CHEM 490G, CHEM 520, CHEM 531, CHEM 535, CHEM 540, CHEM 541, CHEM 550, CHEM 560, CHEM 562, and CHEM 590. 

Biochemistry Thesis Concentration

*

Graduate lecture courses include the following:

CHEM 420G, CHEM 425G, CHEM 430G, CHEM 435G, CHEM 446G, CHEM 450G, CHEM 452G, CHEM 462G, CHEM 470G, CHEM 475G, CHEM 490G, CHEM 520, CHEM 531, CHEM 535, CHEM 540, CHEM 541, CHEM 550, CHEM 560, CHEM 562, and CHEM 590. 

Research Intensive Thesis Concentration

Candidates for the research intensive concentration are required to complete 30 semester hours of graduate work, including 12 hours of coursework and 18 hours of research-related graduate work. Candidates must apply to the Department Graduate Committee in order to be considered for this concentration. As part of the concentration application, they must select a research advisor and meet with the committee to demonstrate they understand the requirements for this concentration. The Committee must consider factors such as previous research experience of the student, publication record of the student, and the research advisor’s publication record when determining if the student can pursue this concentration. The student and advisor must submit a progress report to the Committee by the end of the second semester. If the committee determines there is insufficient progress towards research and publication, the student will be moved to the normal thesis concentration. A student in the Research Intensive Thesis concentration may also opt to pursue the Thesis option at the end of the first or second semester after consulting with their research advisor.

A student moving to another concentration within the first or second semester should be able to complete the requirements within the average two year period. A student who wishes to move to another concentration in the second year of graduate study must get permission from the Graduate Committee and will probably require an additional semester of coursework to complete the degree.  

¹

Requirements are to be satisfied by conducting a research project under the direction of the student's research advisor. This course provides faculty-mentored research experiences and emphasizes skill based training for students. Bridging the gap between academic study and professional development, this course will help students to develop and enhance problem solving and communication skills. This course emphasizes mastery of advanced technical skills, independent of thesis research.

²

Requirements include preparing and submitting two manuscripts based on their research to peer-reviewed journals under the guidance of the thesis committee. At least one paper must be accepted to receive credit and graduate.

Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) in chemistry.

The Department of Chemistry offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. See https://catalog.wku.edu/graduate/enrollment/ or contact the chemistry graduate program coordinator for additional information.

This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in chemistry while completing their bachelor’s of science degree in chemistry. Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Up to 9 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 12 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see https://www.wku.edu/chemistry/.

A student must be a chemistry or biochemistry major, and they must have completed at least one semester long research experience with a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry to be considered for admission to the chemistry JUMP program. Note that admissions are competitive and dependent upon graduate program capacity.

The graduate courses accepted for the undergraduate program meet student learning outcomes for both the undergraduate and graduate programs linked in this JUMP program.

Consistent with the WKU JUMP policy, the Department of Chemistry proposes to allow no more than 9 hours from the following graduate CHEM courses to be used by students in the JUMP program toward their bachelor’s degree: CHEM 420G, CHEM 435G, CHEM 446G, CHEM 450G, CHEM 452G, CHEM 520, CHEM 531, CHEM 535, CHEM 540, CHEM 541, CHEM 550, and CHEM 562.

Learning outcomes in the undergraduate program are fulfilled through core courses or restricted electives, and every graduate course listed above maps directly onto one of these learning outcomes. Thus, all learning outcomes of the undergraduate program are maintained, but at a more rigorous level, through completion of these graduate courses.

Program Admission

• A resume or CV
• Focused 1-2 page description of research interests, including potential research topics with an identified theme, defined problem, and/or potential questions that demonstrate knowledge of a field of interest within the Geosciences and how these intersect with current faculty expertise within the Department
• Written evidence of an agreement from a graduate faculty member in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences willing to supervise the proposed research project
• Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional references

• The following is recommended, but not required:

  • An additional writing sample (e.g., a paper, manuscript, thesis, etc.)
  • Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)¹

¹

Admitted students who have provided GRE scores in prior years typically scored 4.0 or higher on the analytical writing subtest. However, each applicant will be evaluated individually and on a holistic basis; inclusion of the GRE with a strong analytical writing score may be beneficial for students looking to offset weaknesses in their application.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

¹

 A maximum of six hours of advisor approved electives that are consistent with the student's research focus may be selected from other departments.

Program Admission

To be admitted to the M.A. program, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Satisfy one of the following conditions:
   1. have a GPA of at least 3.0 in their undergraduate major, or
   2. have a GRE general score of at least 300.
2. A bachelor's degree in mathematics, OR the completion of the following undergraduate courses, with at most one deficiency:
   1. calculus sequence through multivariable calculus
   2. linear algebra
   3. discrete mathematics
   4. probability or calculus-based statistics
   5. abstract algebra
   6. geometry

Applicants must also have or be eligible for a teaching certificate for Secondary Mathematics (grades 8-12). A copy of the certificate or statement of eligibility must be submitted with the application.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

This program is designed to develop mathematics teachers who can positively impact student learning in their classrooms and schools. Courses and experiences include a study of advanced mathematics. The capstone for the MA in Mathematics is a research project that focuses on the teaching and learning of mathematics, from an advanced perspective.

Comprehensive exams in mathematics are required. A student who chooses to do a thesis is required to complete 6 hours of MATH 599 and to give an oral defense of the thesis.

Secondary Education Completion Requirements

1. Successfully complete all courses with a grade of C or higher
2. Give acceptable presentation of action research in approved venue.
3. Achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA overall in all course work.
4. Successful completion of comprehensive exams.

Program Admission

General Mathematics Concentration

1. One of the following:
   1. A minimum GAP score of 575 [GAP = (GRE-V + GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
   2. A 2.75 cumulative GPA.
2. Completion of the following undergraduate courses:
   1. a calculus sequence through multivariable calculus;
   2. linear algebra;
   3. discrete mathematics;
   4. an applied mathematics course (e.g. differential equations, probability, calculus-based statistics, numerical analysis);
   5. abstract algebra, analysis, advanced calculus, or topology.
3. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in at least one of the following:
   1. all mathematics and statistics courses that are applicable to the undergraduate mathematics major;
   2. courses specified in (b) through (e) of Item 2 above.

Computational Mathematics Concentration

1. One of the following:
   1. A minimum GAP score of 575 [GAP = (GRE-V + GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
   2. A 2.75 cumulative GPA.
2. Completion of the following undergraduate courses:
   1. two-semester single-variable calculus sequence;
   2. linear algebra;
   3. discrete  mathematics;
   4. one-year sequence of programming courses;
   5. B.A. degree with a major in either Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics or Physics.
3. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in at least one of the following:
   1. all mathematics and computer science courses that are listed in (a) through (d) of Item 2 above; or
   2. all courses in the major listed in (e) of Item 2 above.  Students cannot enter the program if they have a deficiency in the courses listed in Item 2 above.

Mathematical Economics Concentration

1. One of the following:
   1. A minimum GAP score of 600 [GAP = (GRE-V+GRE-Q) + (Undergraduate GPA x 100)];
   2. A 3.0 cumulative GPA.
2. An undergraduate degree majoring in economics, mathematics, mathematical economics, or other related majors with completion of the following undergraduate courses:
   1. a calculus sequence through multivariable calculus
   2. discrete mathematics
   3. principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics
   4. one semester of junior- or senior-level probability theory
   5. differential equations

Program Requirements (33 hours)

General Mathematics Concentration

Computational Mathematics Concentration

Students in the computational mathematics concentration must have a working knowledge of a high-level programming language.

Mathematical Economics Concentration

¹

If classes with similar course content were taken at the undergraduate level, then the student must substitute appropriate graduate courses selected in consultation with a Mathematics Department graduate advisor.

²

With advisor approval.

 Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) in Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree and a graduate Master of Science degree in an accelerated timeframe. The MS in Mathematics prepares students to be competitive applicants for admission into a Ph.D. program and/or for positions where strong research skills are needed. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information, see https://catalog.wku.edu/graduate/science-engineering/mathematics/mathematics-ms/

This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in Mathematics with a concentration in General Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, or Mathematical Economics (Ref: 085) while completing their Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics (Ref: 528 and 728) or a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Economics (Ref: 731). Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Up to 12 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 15 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see https://www.wku.edu/math/.

To be considered for admission to the JUMP program to earn a BA in Mathematics (or a BS in Mathematical Economics) and a MS in Mathematics in an accelerated timeframe, a student must meet the following requirements:

Be a Mathematics or a Mathematical Economics major (includes programs with reference numbers 528, 728, and 731);

Have completed at least 60 hours total, with at least 24 hours earned at WKU;

Have at least 15 or more credit hours remaining to complete the bachelor’s degree;

Have completed or be enrolled in 15 credit hours in Mathematics;

Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.25;

Have one of the following:

3.25 GPA in the Mathematics or Mathematical Economics major AND a grade of B or higher in at least one of the courses: MATH 307, MATH 310, MATH 317, MATH 337, MATH 439;

3.0 GPA in the Mathematics or Mathematical Economics major AND a grade of B or higher in at least two of the courses: MATH 307, MATH 310, MATH 317, MATH 337, MATH 439.

Program Admission

For the CBRNE and EMDS Concentrations, in addition to Graduate Studies requirements, admission to the program requires a Bachelor’s degree in related STEM-H field or approval of the program administrator.

For the Cybersecurity Concentration, in addition to Graduate Studies requirements, admission to the program requires a Bachelor’s degree in an information-technology related area or the student must score at the satisfactory level on an information technology general aptitude assessment or complete CIT 310 and CIT 312 with a C-grade or better or equivalent.

Program Requirements (30 hours)

CBRNE Defense Concentration

Cybersecurity Concentration

Emergency Management Disaster Science (EMDS) Concentration

¹

Electives determined by the student's specialized area of study and subject to approval by the student's departmental advisor.

Program Admission

In addition to Graduate Studies admission requirements, the Department of Psychological Sciences requires

• The Psychological Sciences Departmental Application ¹
• A 500-word personal statement describing professional interests and career goals
• Three letters of recommendation
• For the Psychological Sciences concentration only, applicants must identify two to three research mentors with whom they wish to work.

The following are recommended but not required for admission:

• Completion of a statistics and research methodology course
• A background in psychology
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in psychology courses
• An additional writing sample (e.g., a paper, manuscript, thesis, etc.)
• Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) ²

All application materials should be received by March 1st for priority consideration.  An interview may be required.

¹ Departmental application can be found at https://www.wku.edu/psychological-sciences/grad/admission.php

² Admitted students who have provided GRE scores in prior years have had a median total score of 303 on the verbal and quantitative subtests, and a 4.0 on the analytical writing subtest.  However, each applicant will be evaluated individually and on a holistic basis.  Strong GRE scores may be beneficial for students looking to offset weaknesses in their application (e.g., low GPA).

Program Requirements (37-42 hours)

The program comprises 27 - 28 hours of core courses plus specific program content that varies by concentration. A thesis based on original research conducted under the direction of a department graduate faculty member is required. A comprehensive examination is required at the time of thesis defense. A research tool is required in both concentrations.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Concentration (42 hours)

This concentration focuses on behavior in business, industry, consulting, and government organizations. Students develop proficiencies in the construction and validation of personnel selection systems, job analysis, employee compensation, criterion development, leadership, motivation theory, equal employment opportunity law, and training in business and industry. A thesis is required. Grades lower than B may not be used to satisfy requirements for courses in the industrial/organizational training sequence (PSYS 570, PSYS 571, PSYS 572, PSYS 670, and PSYS 673).

¹

A three month internship in personnel psychology is encouraged (3 hours); 3 hours may be substituted for the internship if not internship placement can be obtained.

Psychological Science Concentration (37 Hours)

This concentration uses a research mentorship approach to prepare students to be competitive applicants for admission into a Ph.D. program and/or for positions where strong research and methodological skills are needed. In addition to 28 hours of required coursework, students must choose 9 hours of elective credits that best fit their focus area interests (under the guidance and mentorship of their advisor). A thesis is required. Applicants should refer to faculty research interests identified on the program web site and must apply specifically to work with one or more faculty members in whose research they have a particular interest. Grades lower than B may not be used to satisfy course requirements in the Research Methods and Statistics Core PSYS 510, PSYS 512, PSYS 513, PSYS 518, PSYS 581, and PSYS 595. Only one "G" course may be counted toward the degree.

Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP)

The Department of Psychological Sciences offers a Joint Undergraduate Master's Program (JUMP) which provides academically outstanding students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in an accelerated timeframe. Contact the graduate program coordinator for additional information.

This JUMP program allows students to start working toward their MS in Psychology with a concentration in Psychological Science (Ref: 0469) while completing their bachelor’s of science degree in Psychological Science (Ref: 747 and 747E). Undergraduate students admitted into JUMP may take graduate courses that count toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Up to 12 credit hours can be double-counted toward both degrees, and up to 15 hours of graduate courses can be taken while a student is completing the undergraduate degree. The key benefit of the JUMP program is that it allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in an accelerated timeframe. For more information, see https://www.wku.edu/psychological-sciences/.

To be considered for admission to the JUMP program to earn a BS in Psychological Science and a MS in Psychology in an accelerated timeframe a, a student must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Psychological Science major (includes programs with reference numbers 747 and 747E)
• Have completed at least 60 hours total, with at least 24 hours earned at WKU;
• Have at least 15 or more credit hours remaining to complete the bachelor’s degree;
• Have a minimum 3.25 overall GPA and 3.25 GPA in the Psychological Science major;
• Have completed or be enrolled in 16 credit hours in Psychological Science, including PSYS 100 (or PSYS 160), and PSYS 210, and PSYS 211, and PSYS 313 or the equivalent of these classes;
• Have completed at least one semester long research experience with a faculty member in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

Admissions are competitive and dependent upon graduate program capacity. The MS in Psychology with a concentration in Psychological Science uses a research mentorship approach to prepare students to be competitive applicants for admission into a Ph.D. program and/or for positions where strong research and methodological skills are needed. 

Program Admission

Graduate School Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

Program Requirements (12 hours)

All students must complete the core courses or equivalent transfer coursework approved by program advisor.  Students who are pursuing the  "stand alone"  certificate, must complete the require elective graduate seminar for a total of 12 hours.

¹

Students from other disciplines, may substitute up to six graduate credit hours from within their discipline, with the approval of the program coordinator, in lieu of EMDS 501 and/or EMDS 503.

²

EMDS 504 may be substituted for either EMDS 501 or EMDS 503.

Program Admission

Graduate School Admission

Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate School admission requirements.

Program Requirements (12 hours)

¹

Or graduate statistics course from the discipline specific course list below.

²

Required courses cannot satisfy this requirement.  At least two additional courses; thesis or topic courses must involve large datasets.

Program Admission

Admission requirements include a minimum 3.0/4.0 undergraduate grade point average. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, and other related fields. Minimum requirements include knowledge of programming in a high-level language and data structures. Prior course work or experiences in database applications, software engineering, and operating systems are preferred.  Applicants who do not meet these criteria will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Program Requirements (33 hours)

A minimum of 30 semester hours of course work is required, plus the research tool. Both thesis and non- thesis options are available. A minimum of six 500-level computer science courses is required. If any of the required courses have been completed for undergraduate credit, approved electives will be substituted. The research tool, under both options, must be met by successful completion of CS 500.

 Net-Centric Concentration

¹

 Up to 6 credit hours.

Program Admission

In addition to the graduate school requirements, the MSEM program requires: 

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, engineering technology, business, or related STEM fields¹.
• Submission of GRE, GMAT or equivalent scores.  A minimum GRE score of 140 for the verbal reasoning and 140 for the quantitative reasoning are required with a score of 2.5 or higher for analytical writing².

Applicants who don't meet the admission criteria may be considered for conditional admission. 

¹

Students, who do not have the required background in fundamental concepts in statistics, will be required to take the following course: MFGE 271 Industrial Statistics (course credit does not count towards degree requirement)

²

Applicants who have earned a B.S. degree in engineering or related STEM fields with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from taking the GRE.

Current students at WKU who seek the JUMP program in one of the undergraduate baccalaureate programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are exempt from taking the GRE.

Program Requirements (30-33 hours)

Thesis Concentration (30 hours)

The thesis concentration in the MSEM program requires 30 credits (15 credits in required core courses and 9 credits in elective courses. Students who choose the thesis option are also required to enroll in six credit hours of EGMT 599. Students are required to complete an oral defense of their thesis and complete a comprehensive written exam of their coursework.

Non-thesis Concentration (33 hours)

The non-thesis concentration in the MSEM program requires 33 credits (15 credits in required core courses and 15 credits in elective courses). Students who choose the non-thesis option are also required to take three hours of EGMT 690 graduate project.

Program Requirements (12 hours)