Cross-disciplinary Studies Program Requirements
The MS program in Cross-disciplinary Studies permits students to combine courses
from two academic areas, and is designed for the highly motivated, self-directed
student whose personal, educational, and/or career goals require an educational
experience that might not be provided by a graduate program with a single area
of emphasis. One primary academic discipline provides two-thirds of the total
number of credits, with courses from a second academic area constituting the
remaining one-third of the program. A student may complete 30 credit thesis
program or 34 credit alternate plan paper (APP) or, if applicable, another 34
credit capstone project program. A listing of available graduate programs that
you might select for a primary or secondary field of study can be found at
http://grad.mnsu.edu/programs/.
At this time, the College of Business and the Department of Social Work are
not participating in the Cross-disciplinary Studies Program. The Counseling
and Student Personnel program can serve only as a secondary program within the
Cross-disciplinary Studies program.
Because every admitted student will have a unique individualized academic program,
it is essential that strict program requirements and policies be enforced. Please
read the follow program requirements prior to starting the application process.
Application Considerations
- Applicants to the cross-disciplinary studies program are expected to complete
the Minnesota State Mankato graduate application form, submit the required
application fee, and complete a program Plan of Study. Applicants to the program
must have earned a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college
or university, or the overseas equivalent. International students must submit
the additional documents required for international applicants. All application
documents and graduate policies are available on the web pages of the College
of Graduate Studies and Research.
- Applicants must have earned an undergraduate grade point average of at least a 3.0.
- Applicants must provide all of the application credentials required to apply
to the primary discipline's graduate degree program. For example, if the primary
academic discipline requires the GRE for consideration for admission to the
graduate degree program, then the interdisciplinary studies applicant would
also be expected to submit GRE results. Requirements for graduate degree programs
are posted on the web pages of the College
of Graduate Studies and Research.
- Each applicant must provide a statement of at least 300 words that informs
the admissions committee of the applicant's personal and professional goals,
and that also addresses why an existing graduate program offered by Minnesota
State Mankato does not meet these goals.
- The applicant must provide a brief synopsis of how each suggested course included in the Plan of Study will assist him/her in achieving the goals mentioned in the required essay. Course descriptions are available in the Graduate Bulletin on the College of Graduate Studies and Research web page.
- Provisional admission to the program is not permitted. All undergraduate deficiencies must be completed prior to being admitted to the graduate program.
- The application must be approved by Graduate Coordinators of each of the selected academic departments and by the College of Graduate Studies and Research. If one member of this group does not endorse the application, the applicant will be notified and alternatives will be suggested.
Program Considerations
- Fifty percent of the credit in the program (excluding thesis, APP, or other capstone project credits) must be completed at the 600 level. At least one 600 level course must be completed within each selected academic discipline.
- A research methods course must be completed as part of the degree program. Students must select a research methods course offered by their primary academic area.
- No more than three credits of independent study may be used to complete the program.
- The primary academic program must be a program that offers a graduate degree
at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The admitted student's initial advisor
will be assigned by the Graduate Coordinator of the primary academic area.
The student's committee shall be composed of two graduate faculty members
from the primary academic program, and one member from the secondary program.
Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the student's advisor. The Plan
of Study submitted as part of the application will be considered the official
plan of study unless changes are approved by all committee members.
- Students must complete the graduate degree capstone experience requirements of the primary academic program. The capstone experiences must include concepts and research gleaned from both of the student's selected academic disciplines.
- All graduate students should be familiar with the current policies of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. These policies, including the six year time limit to complete the degree, are available in the Graduate Bulletin, located on the web pages of the College.
- Students completing a thesis are expected to complete at least thirty appropriate credits. Students who do not write a thesis must complete at least thirty-four approved credits.
Checklist of Required Application Documents
