Kansas State University

Academic Programs

Doctoral Program (Online/On Campus):
How Does It Work?

Apply

When you are ready to join the Ph.D. program, you must meet one of two bi-annual application deadlines. Admission to this program is competitive, so you are encouraged to apply early. For details, see the Admissions section.

Create a Course of Study

Once admitted, you will work with your graduate committee to develop a plan of study specific to your interests and career. General requirements and guidelines are in place, but you will choose courses and a dissertation topic appropriate for your ambitions. Requirements will vary depending on the number of credit hours accepted from your master’s degree.

Meet in the Summer

At the start of the program — and for the three summers that follow — you will meet face-to-face with your cohort and faculty for intensive 10-day summer residency sessions. So from day one, you will get to know your professors and peers. The first three summer sessions will be held at the K-State campus. The final will be held abroad, anywhere from Southeast Asia to Europe.

Take Courses Online

During the fall and spring semesters, you will take online courses from home, drawing support and guidance from your professors and fellow students. Students generally take one to two courses each semester for three to four years. This distance component allows you to maintain your career and family life while still pursuing your doctorate. All you need is a computer and internet access, no matter where you might be in the country or the world.

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.

Complete Your Dissertation

You will devote the final two years of study to working on your dissertation. You can choose between writing a traditional dissertation and preparing three papers for publication. Either way, you will work closely with faculty in developing and refining your ideas.

Graduate with a Ph.D.

Upon successful completion of your plan of study, you will earn a Ph.D. with an emphasis in Personal Financial Planning from K-State. The doctorate from this hybrid online/on-campus program is no different from an entirely on-campus degree. Ambitious students will graduate with the knowledge and tools necessary to achieve success as college and university faculty, financial planning practitioners, and policy makers.

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.