Graduate College

Missouri State University offers the following graduate programs:

Search the online Graduate Catalog for a Program

Graduate Degrees and Abbreviations: 

• Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Master of Accountancy (MAcc)
• Master of Arts (MA)
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Global Studies (MGS)
• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Master of Music (MM)
• Master of Natural and Applied Science (MNAS)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Master of Science (MS)
• Master of Science in Education (MSEd)
• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Specialist in Education (EdS)

Programs of Study: 

• Accountancy (MAcc)
• Administrative Studies (MS) Options: Applied Communication; Criminal Justice; Environmental Management; Homeland Security; Individualized; Project Management; Sports Management
• Applied Anthropology (MS)
• Athletic Training (MS)
• Audiology (AuD)
• Biology (MS)
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Cell and Molecular Biology (MS)
• Chemistry (MS)
• Communication Sciences and Disorders (MS) Options: Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Speech-Language Pathology
• Communication (MA)
• Computer Information Systems (MS)
• Counseling (MS) Options: Elementary School Counseling; Secondary School Counseling; Mental Health
• Criminology and Criminal Justice (MS)
• Counseling and Assessment (EdS)
• Defense and Strategic Studies (MS)
• Early Childhood and Family Development (MS)
• Educational Administration (MSEd) Options: Elementary; Secondary
• Educational Administration (EdS) Options: Elementary Principal; Secondary Principal; Superintendent
• Educational Technology (MSEd)
• English (MA) Tracks: Creative Writing; Literature; TESOL
• Elementary Education (MSEd)
• Geospatial Sciences in Geography and Geology (MS) Options: Physical Geography; Environmental Geology
• Global Studies (MSG) Cognate Fields: International Economics and Business; International Relations/Comparative Politics; National Security; Public Administration
• Health Administration (MHA) Option: Executive
• Health Promotion and Wellness Management (MS)
• History (MA) Tracks: American Studies; Global Area Studies; U.S. and World
• Literacy (MSEd)
• Materials Science (MS)
• Mathematics (MS)
• Music (MM) Concentrations: Conducting; Music Education; Music Pedagogy; Music Theory and Composition; Performance
• Natural and Applied Science (MNAS)
• Nurse Anesthesia (MS)
• Nursing (MSN) Option: Nurse Educator
• Nursing Practice, Doctor of (DNP) Options: Post-Masters, BSN to DPN
• Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Physician Assistant Studies (MS)
• Plant Science (MS)
• Project Management (MS)
• Psychology (MS) Options: Clinical; Experimental; Industrial/Organizational
• Public Administration (MPA) Concentrations: Local Government Management; Public Policy; Public Safety
• Public Health (MPH)
• Religious Studies (MA)
• Secondary Education (MSEd) Options: Agriculture; Art; Biology; Business; Chemistry; Earth Science; English; Family and Consumer Sciences; Geography; History; Mathematics; Natural Science; Physical Education; Physics; Social Science; Speech and Theatre
• Student Affairs in Higher Education (MS)
• Special Education (MSEd) Options: Autism Spectrum Disorders; Blindness and Low Vision; Developmental Disabilities; Orientation and Mobility; Special Education Alternative Certification Track
• Social Work (MSW)
• Teaching (MAT)
• Theatre (MA)
• Writing (MA) Tracks: Rhetoric and Composition; Technical and Professional Writing

Accelerated Masters Programs

The Accelerated Masters degree option provides a transition that enables outstanding undergraduate students to begin taking graduate course work in their junior or senior year and thus combine components of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Students must apply and be accepted to the accelerated masters program by the department and the Graduate College before enrolling for any courses to apply to the graduate degree.

Students admitted into an approved accelerated masters degree program may have a limited number of graduate-level courses counted toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree. Before enrolling in a course to be counted as both undergraduate and graduate credit (mixed credit), an undergraduate student must be accepted into the accelerated program and receive prior approval from the graduate program advisor, department head of the undergraduate program, and the dean of the Graduate College. All approvals must be completed prior to the end of the Change of Schedule Period for the course(s). A maximum of 12 credit hours may be taken as Mixed Credit, but many programs have lower limits. Under the accelerated masters degree option, a student will be fully admitted to the Graduate College upon completion of the requirement of the bachelors degree. Undergraduate students interested in the accelerated masters opportunity should contact their department or the Graduate College (417) 836-5331 to determine admission requirements and procedures.

The following accelerated masters programs are offered:

• Accountancy (MAcc)
• Applied Anthropology (MS)
• Biology (MS)
• Business Administration (MBA)
• Cell and Molecular Biology (MS)
• Chemistry (MS)
• Communication (MA)
• Communication Sciences and Disorders, Option in Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MS)
• Criminology and Criminal Justice (MS)
• Early Childhood and Family Development (MS)
• Elementary Education (MSEd)
• Geospatial Sciences in Geography and Geology (MS)
• Global Studies (MGS)
• Health Administration (MHA)
• Health Promotion and Wellness Management (MS)
• History (MA)
• Literacy (MSEd)
• Materials Science (MS)
• Mathematics (MS)
• Natural and Applied Science (MNAS)
• Nursing/Nurse Educator Option (MSN)
• Plant Science (MS)
• Project Management (MS)
• Public Administration (MPA)
• Public Health (MPH)
• Religious Studies (MA)
• Secondary Education/History (MSEd)
• Secondary Education/Mathematics (MSEd)
• Special Education, Option in Autism Spectrum Disorders (MSEd)
• Theatre (MA)

Graduate Certificate Programs

Certificate programs are designed for those who want to complete a recognized concentration of study in an area. Each certificate program is a focused combination of courses designed to significantly increase competency in the stated discipline area. Students completing these certificate programs will have that completion status reflected on their official transcript. Although certificates may be earned independent of a graduate degree program, the course work in some certificates can be utilized in conjunction with obtaining a masters degree, simultaneously or later. As noted in the list, two of the certificate programs require a previously earned masters degree. Specific details on each program are published in the Graduate Catalog.

The following graduate-level certificate programs are offered:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (18 hours) Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education
• Conflict and Dispute Resolution (16 hours) Department of Communication
• Defense and Strategic Studies (9 hours) Department of Defense and Strategic Studies
• Dietetic Internship (18 hours) Department of Biomedical Sciences
• Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (14 hours) Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Educational Technology Specialist (16-17 hours) Department of Reading, Foundations, and Technology
• Forensic Accounting (12 hours) School of Accountancy
• Forensic Child Psychology (12 hours) Department of Psychology
• Geospatial Information Sciences (12 hours) Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning
• History for Teachers (15 hours) Department of History
• Homeland Security and Defense (12 hours) College of Humanities and Public Affairs
• Individualized Studies (12 hours) Graduate College
• Orientation and Mobility (18 hours) Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education
• Ozarks Studies (15 hours) Department of English
• Nurse Educator, Post-Master's (12 hours) Department of Nursing
• Project Management(12 hours) Department of Technology and Construction Management
• Public Management (18 hours) Department of Political Science
• Religious Studies for the Professions (12 hours) Department of Religious Studies
• Screenwriting for Television and Film (12 hours) Department of Media, Journalism & Film
• Sports Management (18 hours) Department of Kinesiology
• Tax Accounting (12 hours) School of Accountancy
• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (15 hours) Department of English

Cooperative Programs

Missouri State University collaborates in a cooperative program with the University of Missouri-Columbia leading to a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. A major part of the course work is taken at Missouri State. The degree is conferred and diploma issued by the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Missouri State also collaborates with the University of Missouri-Columbia to provide access to Missouri State courses that can be applied to the Master of Arts in Library and Information Science, an ALA-accredited program offered by UM-C. Students pursing the UM-C degree enroll through MUDirect. For more information on this collaborative arrangement, contact the Department of Library Science, (417) 836-4529.

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree offered by Missouri State University is offered from both the Springfield campus and the Joplin Graduate Center on the campus of Missouri Southern State University. The Joplin-based program has been developed through a Missouri State University-Missouri Southern State University partnership. Students completing the program through the Joplin Graduate Center will receive their degree from Missouri State University and their diploma will bear the names of both institutions.

Graduate College Programs

While most of the graduate programs are associated with a specific academic department or college, the M.S. degree in Administrative Studies is an interdisciplinary program that is administered by the Graduate College. The program offers six options – Applied Communication, Criminal Justice, Environmental Management, Project Management, Sports Management, and Individualized. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information.

University Certificate

Individualized Studies

The Individualized Studies graduate certificate, offered by the Graduate College, is a 12 hour program and provides a graduate-level experience for those who find formally designed options from existing programs do not meet their unique, creative, and professional needs, or those seeking growth and advancement within their vocations. The certificate program allows students to expand their knowledge and experiences consistent with their professional goals and objectives in one ore more areas. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information.

Admission to Graduate Study

A completed application for admission form (available online) and the $35 application fee are required. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information. Graduate College admission requirements include:

1. a bachelors degree from a college or university accredited by agencies recognized by Missouri State University; AND an overall grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale overall; OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work; OR at least a 2.75 grade point average on a minimum of 9 hours of graduate credits; OR have a score of 475 or higher on either the verbal (56th percentile) or quantitative (22nd percentile) section of the Graduate Record Examination*, AND a score of not less than 400 (35th and 12th percentile respectively) on the other section; OR
2. a bachelors degree from a college or university not accredited by an agency recognized by Missouri State University, a grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.00 scale overall, OR at least a 2.75 GPA on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of academic course work; AND a Graduate Record Examination* score of 475 or above on either the verbal (56th percentile) or quantitative (22nd percentile) section, AND a score of not less than 400 (35th and 12th percentile respectively) on the other section; OR
   
   

   *Percentile rank scores on the GMAT, MAT, LSAT, or MCAT that are comparable to the stated GRE level will satisfy the minimum criterion. 

3. a bachelors degree from a college or university recognized by Missouri State University; AND an exception request from the program director to consider the application.

Additional requirements and once-a-year application deadlines may be stipulated by departments for their programs. 

Graduate Transfer Credit

On a case-by-case basis, graduate credit earned at other accredited institution may be accepted.

University Certificate

Individualized Studies

The Individualized Studies graduate certificate, offered by the Graduate College, is a 12 hour program and provides a graduate-level experience for those who find formally designed options from existing programs do not meet their unique, creative, and professional needs, or those seeking growth and advancement within their vocations. The certificate program allows students to expand their knowledge and experiences consistent with their professional goals and objectives in one ore more areas. Refer to the Graduate Catalog for more information.

Active in Research Course

GEN 798 Active in Research

Students who have completed all course work and are only working on their research component may register for this course with approval of advisor. Course is offered at a reduced fee of $75 and allows the following: access to the library including online service such as interlibrary loans, MOBIUS, and restricted access databases; opportunity to purchase a parking permit; and access to computer services and Missouri State email. Course is a zero credit hour course and is graded "P" (pass) or "W" (student discontinues participation in the course and is dropped from the course). 0(0-0), F,S,Su

Accreditation

Missouri State University is accredited to offer master’s and specialist degrees and a professional doctorate degree by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. The University is a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools. In addition, specific graduate programs of the University are professionally accredited by the following agencies.

• AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business

• Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

• Association for Educational Communications and Technology

• Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

• Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

• Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

• Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs

• Council on Education of the Deaf

• Council on Social Work Education

• International Reading Association

• Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

• National Association of Schools of Music

• National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration

• National Association of Schools of Theatre

• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education