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– Minnesota State University, Mankato
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Minnesota State University, Mankato
Minnesota State University, Mankato

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Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/supersite/academics/catalogs/graduate/current/crossdisp.html

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 a 30 credit thesis program, a 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

  1. 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.
  2. Applicants must have earned an undergraduate grade point average of at least a 3.0.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 enrolling in an existing graduate program offered by Minnesota State Mankato will not assist in meeting these stated goals.
  5. 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.
  6. Provisional admission to the program is not permitted. All undergraduate deficiencies must be completed prior to being admitted to the graduate program.
  7. 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

  1. Fifty percent of the credit in the program (excluding thesis and APP credits) must be completed at the 600 level. At least one 600 level course must be completed within each selected academic discipline.
  2. 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.
  3. No more than three credits of independent study may be used to complete the program.
  4. 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 and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. 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.
  5. 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 selected academic disciplines.
  6. All graduate students should be familiar with the current policies of the College of Graduate Studies and Research. These policies include a six year time limit to complete all program requirements, and are available in the Graduate Bulletin.
  7. 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

  • Application for the degree program.
  • Proposed Plan of Study (broken link)
  • 300 word statement of objectives, including a statement that addresses why an existing Minnesota State University, Mankato graduate program does not assist you in meeting your stated goals.
  • Explanation of how each proposed course will assist you in reaching the goals discussed in your essay
  • Application fee
  • International applicants must submit additional credentials and documents
  • Additional application credentials required by the primary academic program