DIETETICS
Master’s Degree
Final Examination Guidelines - Non-Thesis Option
This applies to students admitted to the GPIDEA M.S. in Dietetics since Fall 2014
Description:
The Kansas State University Graduate School requires a culminating experience in order to earn a master’s degree. The culminating experience
should verify the student’s competence to synthesize information across the student’s program of study. Students file an Approval to Schedule
Final Exam form (ASFE) to notify the Graduate School of the time and date for their culminating experience.
Instead of signing up for the 6 credits or HMD 899 Research in HMD, non-thesis students take 6 additional credit hours. Three credits may
be chosen from any of the GPIDEA dietetics electives on the program’s course matrix. The other three (3) credits must reflect enrollment in
HMD 820 Problems in Hospitality Management and Dietetics. This course should be taken during the last semester of the student’s program.
The objectives of this “special problems” independent study course are developed between the student and their major professor and should
focus on applying what the student has learned in their master’s program to a work-related situation, problem, or topic of interest. For
example, the project might consist of an in-depth review of literature on a professional topic pertinent to the student’s area of dietetics
practice. Or, the student may address a work-related challenge or issue involving collecting and analyzing data from a survey, observations,
etc. The outcome of this project should be a paper which is submitted to the major professor and committee outlining the objectives of the
project and how these objectives were accomplished. The student will then present a seminar about their project to their major professor and
committee.
Non-thesis students will also sit for a written final examination over content of the three core courses in the M.S. in Dietetics program
(research methods, statistics, and current issues in dietetics) followed by an oral examination with their supervisory committee. The student
and major professor will work together to discuss when and how the written exam will be accomplished. The date for the exam must be
scheduled early enough prior to Graduate School deadlines for graduation and to allow time for the student’s committee to evaluate the exam.
The follow-up oral exam on the core courses will be done at the same time the student presents the report on their special problems paper.
Action Steps:
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CONTACT your Major Professor to set the DATE and TIME of your final exam. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the date
and time of the final exam presentation with their committee. Doodle.com or MeetingWizard.com should be utilized to pose a variety
of days and times to the committee to determine their availability for a meeting. Two hours should be scheduled for the video presentation, discussion of the written final exam, and questioning by the committee.
EMAIL your exam date and time to the K-State Campus Coordinator at gpideacc@ksu.edu. The Campus Coordinator will assist in the
submission of an Approval to Schedule Final Exam form to the Graduate School.
VISIT the K-State graduate school website to determine the deadlines for the final ballot to be submitted to the Graduate School (http://
www.k-state.edu/grad/students/graduation/)
Please note: the K-State Graduate School requires that students be enrolled in at least one credit hour during their final semester.
After the Exam:
After your final exam, the Graduate School will send a ballot to your Major Professor. Your supervisory committee will sign the ballot pass or
fail to indicate completion of degree requirements.
Please keep in mind that the Approval to Schedule Final Exam form must be on file with the Graduate School office 2
weeks prior to the date of your final exam. Missing this deadline may jeopardize your opportunity to graduate on time.
DIETETICS
Master’s Degree
Final Examination Guidelines - Thesis Option
This applies to students admitted to the GPIDEA M.S. in Dietetics since Fall 2014
Description:
The Kansas State University Graduate School requires a culminating experience in order to earn a master’s degree. The culminating experience
should verify the student’s competence to synthesize information across the student’s program of study. Students file an Approval to Schedule
Final Exam form (ASFE) to notify the Graduate School of the time and date for their culminating experience.
Students who select to complete a thesis (6 credit hours of HMD 899 Research in HMD) work under the direction of their major professor and
committee. The thesis topic must be compatible with on-going research in HMD. Upon completion of the research and writing of the thesis,
the student will present a formal seminar of their research findings followed by an oral examination with their committee. This oral presentation and defense is typically conducted via videoconferencing. However, students are welcome to come to campus and do their presentation
and defense in person.
Action Steps:
•
•
•
•
CONTACT your Major Professor to set the DATE and TIME of your final exam. It is the student’s responsibility to schedule the
date and time of the final exam presentation with their committee. Doodle.com or MeetingWizard.com should be utilized to pose
a variety of days and times to the committee to determine their availability for a meeting. Two hours should be scheduled for the
video presentation, discussion of the written final exam, and questioning by the committee.
EMAIL your exam date and time to the K-State Campus Coordinator at gpideacc@ksu.edu. The Campus Coordinator will assist in
the submission of an Approval to Schedule Final Exam form to the Graduate School.
VISIT the K-State graduate school website to determine the deadlines for the final ballot to be submitted to the Graduate School
(http://www.k-state.edu/grad/students/graduation/)
Please note: the K-State Graduate School requires that students be enrolled in at least one credit hour during their final semester.
After the Exam:
Prior to the scheduled final exam, the Graduate School will send a ballot to your Major Professor. At the conclusion of your defense, your
supervisory committee will sign the ballot pass or fail to indicate whether you have successfully completed degree requirements.
Please keep in mind that the Approval to Schedule Final Exam form must be on file with the Graduate School office
2 weeks prior to the date of your final exam. Missing this deadline may jeopardize your opportunity to graduate on
time.