Office of Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies at the University of Kansas is the administrative unit responsible for graduate education for the Lawrence and Edwards Campuses.

Graduate Studies on the KU Medical Center campus (a unit of the Office of Academic Affairs) is responsible for graduate programs in the Schools of Health Professions, Medicine, and Nursing. Please see the online catalog section for the KU Medical Center (KUMC) - Office of Graduate Studies for more information.

Graduate degrees are conferred by the professional schools and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the exception of the Health Informatics master’s degree, which is conferred by the KUMC Office of Graduate Studies upon recommendation by the Health Informatics Advisory Board. Appointments to the Graduate Faculty are authorized by the schools and the College, or by the individual academic units on the Medical Center campus, and administered by the appropriate Graduate Studies office.

KU offers the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree, specific professional master’s degrees, the professional degree of Specialist in Education, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree, as well as professional doctorates of Audiology, Education, Engineering, Musical Arts, and Speech-Language Pathology. KU also offers graduate certificate programs and currently enrolls more than 5,000 graduate students on the Lawrence campus.

Goals of Graduate Study

The traditional goals of graduate study are independent scholarship, competence in research or other creative work, and the cultivation of skill and commitment in teaching. Having acquired a broad education as an undergraduate, the student is expected to master a specific field, to learn the methods of investigation employed therein, and to proceed toward making an original contribution to knowledge. Since many of those who earn advanced degrees seek careers in higher education, the acquisition of skill in teaching and in directing research are also essential parts of graduate education.

Emerging societal interests and changing market demands continue to underscore the importance of the traditional goals of graduate study. At the same time, they emphasize the need for flexibility in programs and accommodation in career objectives. Graduates in many fields continue to pursue increasingly diverse careers and, as they do, they demonstrate the value of graduate study and research to society, government, business, industry, the diverse professions, and the arts. 

Graduate Military Programs

The Office of Graduate Military Programs (GMP) facilitates collaboration between the university and the US Armed Forces for the development of academic programs and research initiatives that support the needs of the Department of Defense (DOD). GMP develops and maintains programs for select officers attending the Command and General Staff College at nearby Fort Leavenworth, instructors at the United States military academies, foreign area officers, logisticians, and other DOD personnel requiring the advanced degrees necessary to teach and conduct research at the highest level. The office assists principal investigators throughout the university to find well-matched research grant opportunities, prepare proposals, and coordinate with the appropriate DOD entities. GMP also collaborates with the Student Veteran Center and serves as a voice for all educational issues related to student veterans. GMP is committed to creating and maintaining a positive learning environment for military veterans attending our university.

Research

Research is an integral part of the university’s educational mission and approach to graduate study. The National Science Foundation classifies KU as a major university receiving substantial research support. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education classifies KU as a doctorate-granting R1 Research University with the Highest Research Activity, and KU has been a member of the Association of American Universities since 1909. The university has a long and successful record of research collaboration through independent, multidisciplinary research centers that focus on common themes. KU is home to university research centers and institutes, affiliated centers, core service labs, the Kansas Geological Survey, and the Kansas Biological Survey. In addition, a number of research centers exist in individual departments and academic units throughout the university. For more information about research on the Lawrence campus, visit the Research page or the Office of Research.

Fellowships and Scholarships

Visit the Graduate Studies website for information about funding opportunities for KU graduate students.