Fort Hays State University

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Fort Hays State University — Five Colleges: A Plethora of Programs

Fort Hays State University appears in our ranking of the 15 Best Deals on MBA in Hospitality Management Online Programs.

There is a surprising diversity in the program offerings at Fort Hays State University. The five colleges offer:

  • associate degrees
  • bachelor’s degrees
  • master’s degrees
  • doctoral degrees
  • minors
  • certificates

The school also has many programs online as well as on campus.

Associate degrees at the school include:

  • the Associate of Applied Science in Technology (which has several emphasis areas)
  • the Associate of Applied Science in Technology Leadership
  • the Associate of General Studies.

The Associate of Applied Sciences in Applied Technology and Leadership, Business Communication Technology Emphasis is a 45 credit-hour program that requires courses in written and oral communication. Students also choose electives in:

  • mathematics
  • finance
  • economics

There are 13 required courses for the major including:

  • Introduction to Web Development
  • Introduction to Leadership Concepts
  • Principles of Accounting
  • Business Communications, and others

Additionally, students select a general education elective and six hours of free electives in communication technology. Other emphasis areas are:

  • Business Training Systems
  • Industrial Technology
  • Leadership Studies.

The Associate of General Studies is a 60 credit-hour program that allows students to design the degree path. It is an especially useful degree for people planning to continue to the bachelor’s degree. There are:

  • 15 hours of foundation studies such as English Composition and College Mathematics
  • 21 hours in liberal arts studies
  • 18 hours in distribution courses
  • three hours in international studies

There are also 12 hours in the area of the emphasis and 12 required hours in free electives.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences houses many degree programs. The Department of Art and Design, for instance, has:

  • Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art
  • Bachelor of Arts in Art History
  • Bachelor of Arts in Art Education
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
  • Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art with a Teacher Certification

There is also a Master of Fine Arts, Master of Liberal Studies and certificates at the graduate level.

The Department of Communication Studies in this college offers:

  • a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, General Communication Emphasis
  • BA in Communication Studies, Public Relations and Advertising Emphasis
  • a BA in Communication Studies, Organizational Communication Emphasis.

The last degree requires students to complete university general education classes which are specified courses in:

  • mathematics
  • modern languages
  • electives among others

Courses in the Communication Core include:

  • Communication and the Information Society
  • Communications Research Methods
  • Issues and Applications in Communication and others

There are also “Applied Disciplinary Focus” electives and courses in the concentration for a total of 120 credit-hours.

Criminal Justice is another department in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The department has undergraduate and graduate degrees. For example, the BA or BS in Criminal Justice are 120 credit-hour programs that can be earned on campus or online. The degrees prepare students for careers in:

  • law enforcement
  • security
  • the justice system.

The Master of Professional Studies, Criminal Justice Concentration is a 30 credit-hour program that includes nine hours each in core, major and elective classes. There’s also a three-hour culminating experience for which students may choose to do:

  • research
  • an individual project
  • or a thesis

Sample courses include:

  • Advanced Criminological Theory
  • Advanced Criminal Justice Research Methods
  • Situational Ethics.

Other Departments in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences include:

  • English
  • History
  • Liberal Education
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology
  • Political Science and more.

The Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship houses the departments of:

  • Accounting, Informatics, Management, Applied Business Studies, and the MBA program.

The Fort Hays State University MBA program can be earned online or on campus. Both programs require the completion of 30 credit-hours. There are 12 concentrations from which to choose, including:

  • Accounting
  • Corporate Communication
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Tourism and Hospitality Management, and others

The degree also has a 4+1 option that allows students to earn both a BBA and an MNA in five years of study.

The College of Education has several undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and Education Specialist offerings. There is a BS in Early Childhood, Unified, which is a degree that encompasses birth to age eight and special education needs of young children. There is a:

  • BS in Education, K-6
  • BS in Elementary Education K-6
  • BS in Education K-6, Special Education
  • BS in Secondary Education
  • a BS in Elementary Education, Para Pathway.

The nursing programs are offered through the Health and Behavioral Sciences College. There is:

  • a bachelor of Science in Nursing which is an on-campus program
  • an online RN-to-BSN degree
  • a Master of Science in Nursing degree with concentrations in education or in administration
  • a Doctor of Nursing Practice as well as certificates.

Other programs in this college are:

  • psychology
  • communications disorders
  • allied health
  • social work

Additionally, the school houses a foster grandparent and a senior companion program through the college.

The Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics awards degrees in:

  • applied technology
  • computer science
  • physics
  • mathematics
  • other STEM disciplines.

About Fort Hays State University

This school began in 1902 as the western campus of the Kansas State Normal School, now known as Emporia State University. It has an undergraduate student body of 12,780. It is ranked by the US News and World Report among Regional Universities Midwest as #117 to #153. The student/faculty ratio is 14:1.

Fort Hays State University Accreditation Details

  • Higher Learning Commission
  • American Chemical Society
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Council on Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
  • National Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • Commission on Social Work Education
  • And others.

Fort Hays State University Application Requirements

Freshmen applying to the university do so online. They must arrange for their high schools to submit their official transcripts and for the agency which administered the ACT or SAT test to send those official scores. There is a $30 non-refundable application fee.

Graduate students apply online as well. Requisites vary by program. For example, students applying to the Department of Communication Disorders must:

  • complete the online application
  • pay the $40 application fee
  • arrange for the university to receive transcripts of all undergraduate work they completed
  • submit three letters of recommendation
  • submit a resume
  • answer other prompts on the online application.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduates at this university will pay an estimated:

  • $5,274 per year in tuition
  • $8,210 in room and board
  • $606 for books and supplies

Graduate students will pay $5,178 in tuition. Undergraduate cost per credit hour is $175.80. Additionally, there are fees and other charges such as a technology fee for online students. All students should budget for personal expenses as well.

Most students need assistance paying for their degree programs. The federal government has established the FAFSA program as the foundation of most student aid. Students should apply to this program as soon as possible. After getting their awards letter, students will know how much additional money they will need to meet their student debt. There are limited funds available through the state of Kansas. The university has scholarships for academic excellence, participation in certain activities and for students in certain departments.

Additionally, private individuals endow the university with funds for use as grants and scholarships. These can be found on the school website. Outside scholarships can be located through an Internet search.

Students may consider taking out loans to fund their education programs, but it is best to borrow as little money as is possible to avoid graduating with a student debt burden. A better way to pay the remainder of a degree program at Fort Hays State University is to take a part-time job or to accept a work-study opportunity.

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