Kansas State University

Academic Programs

Master's Program (Online):
How Does It Work?

Choose an Institution

You can select your degree-conferring institution from the eight participating universities in the Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (IDEA). Your chosen institution will award your degree upon successful completion of the program of study. Each course has a maximum enrollment; and those who have been admitted to a degree program at one of the participating universities will be given preference for space in each course.

Choose an Option

K-State students have the option of beginning the master's degree with the graduate certificate program in Personal Financial Planning. As a CFP Board-Registered Program, the graduate certificate qualifies you to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination. These six courses are also required for the master's degree. Upon successful completion of the certificate program, students will automatically make the transition into the Great Plains IDEA master's program for the remaining eight courses. Students who do not want to begin the master's degree with the graduate certificate program may choose to begin directly with the Great Plains IDEA program.

Enroll Through Your Institution

Your Great Plains IDEA Campus Coordinator will send you instructions and course registration materials for each course. You will enroll in all courses through your home institution, even when courses are taught through another participating university. This simplified system means you only have to complete one enrollment process and write one check.

The Dean of Graduate Studies of the degree-awarding institution will maintain a transcript for students matriculated at that university. Each semester, course rosters and grade sheets will be transferred between institutions, allowing grades to be automatically and immediately recorded on your transcript. Financial aid may also be easier to secure.

Take Courses Online

Course materials, tests and case studies are all completed through the K-State Online course management system. Some courses have supplemental materials on videos or CDs, and others may require phone conferencing. Students interact with faculty and one another through e-mail, phone conferencing and the Internet classroom, but complete courses in their free time.

See the system requirements for K-State Online.

Graduate with a Master’s Degree

Even though you will be taking courses from other universities in this distance-learning curriculum, you will earn your master’s degree from your home institution upon completion of the program. There is no way to differentiate a degree obtained via distance learning from an on-campus degree.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and CFP (with flame logo)®, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements. K-State does not certify individuals to use the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® certification marks. CFP® Certification is granted only by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. to those persons who, in addition to completing an educational requirement such as this CFP Board-Registered Program, have met its ethics, experience and examination requirements.