Frequently Asked Questions - Distance Education - K-State Division of Continuing Education

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About K-State and Distance Education

Is K-State an accredited, bricks-and-mortar university?
Yes! Kansas State University, in Manhattan, Kansas was founded in 1863 and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 N. LaSalle St. Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602, 1-800-621-7440. K-State is a Big 12 university with about 20,000 on-campus students and about 7,000 distance students. K-State is the only public university since 1986 to rank among the Top 10 of all United States schools for all five of the major scholarship programs: Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Udall. And K-State's Division of Continuing Education has been offering courses via distance education since 1974. We've been helping great students get a great education for a long, long time!

What's the Division of Continuing Education?
K-State's Division of Continuing Education, or DCE, administers distance education and other programs to meet the educational and professional development needs of adult learners. DCE exists to help you easily access the education you need, even if you're working full time and don't live in Manhattan—or even in Kansas!

How can distance education help me?
For many adult learners who need more post-secondary education, distance education is the only option. Perhaps you need a degree or certification that you just can't get where you live. You probably can't walk away from your job or uproot your family. But your professional options may be limited without further education. Distance education can be the answer. Today's technology allows students to benefit from the expertise of K-State faculty, often without ever setting foot in Manhattan, Kansas. You can continue to work full time while attending K-State!

Which degree and certificate programs does K-State offer through distance education?
K-State has 9 bachelor's degree completion programs, 18 master's degree programs, and 16 certificate programs. New programs are added periodically. Here's a complete list of our degree and certificate programs.

When I get my degree, will it say that I got it online?
No. You will learn from the same faculty members and you will have the same curricular goals that on-campus students have. You will be held to the same rigorous academic standards that K-State has always maintained. You may interact with your instructors and classmates in a different way than on-campus students, but you will be expected to fully engage in your own learning process, just as any other student must do. Therefore, when you've successfully fulfilled the requirements for a degree, your diploma will reflect your hard work and intellectual progress, not the means by which your K-State education was made possible.

Admission

I'm not seeking a degree at this time. Do I have to be officially admitted to K-State to take distance education classes?
Yes, admission to K-State is required, but you can take classes as a nondegree-seeking student. Undergraduate nondegree-seeking students may take up to 15 credits under this status. Nondegree-seeking graduate students may take up to nine credit hours as a nondegree-seeking student at K-State. Nondegree-seeking students don't qualify for financial aid.

I plan to finish my bachelor's degree through distance education from K-State. How do I get officially admitted?
Visit the Admissions website for general admission requirements and the online application form.

I plan to pursue a master's degree through distance education from K-State. How do I get officially admitted?
Find out about the distance education master's degree programs K-State offers. View admission requirements and the online application form for the K-State Graduate School.

How long does it take to be admitted?
Generally, it takes four to six weeks for a degree-seeking undergraduate application to be processed once K-State has received all the student's previous transcripts. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Graduate student applicants must provide additional documentation, and admission to the Graduate School can take two to four months. Find out more about the degree-seeking graduate admission process.

Non-degree-seeking students can be admitted in 24-48 hours after they have submitted the nondegree-seeking application. Follow the course search process through to the “Getting Started” questions.

How will I know when I've been admitted?
You will receive a letter by mail (degree seeking) or an e-mail (nondegree seeking) to let you know that you've been admitted.

Getting Started

How do I begin taking distance education courses?
Basically, you apply to be admitted and enroll in a class! (If you do not wish to pursue a degree right away, you can quickly be admitted as a nondegree-seeking student.) And maybe that's all you need, a class here and there. However, K-State, through the Division of Continuing Education, offers a tremendous variety of bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs through distance education. Here's some information about registering, or give us a call at 1-800-622-2KSU (2578) to discuss the possibilities.

What distance education courses does K-State offer?
Here's a complete list of current course offerings.

When do courses start?
Courses and programs are beginning all the time. Course offerings vary from term to term, and distance education courses begin at various times throughout the year. View the current course offerings to see the start course dates listed with each course description.

What kind of information will I get when I enroll in a course?
You will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly after you enroll. This will provide information about your class, as well as provide information and policies that will be important to you as you progress in the class. Please read this information carefully!

How will my courses be delivered?
Course content is delivered in a variety of formats including online, CD, DVD, e-mail lists, message boards, e-mail, videotape, audiotape, guided study, or Telenet 2 (videoconferencing). Basically, with Internet access and CD and DVD drives, you should be good to go! For a complete description of the course delivery methods visit http://www.dce.k-state.edu/distance/delivery.shtml.

How will I find out what materials and textbooks I will need for my class?
Approximately one month before your class starts, you will receive an e-mail directing you to the Course Information Packet website. This link will provide you with much information about your class, including textbooks, the syllabus, drop and refund dates, who to contact for various questions, and links to many K-State websites.

Where can I order textbooks for my courses?
One source of textbooks for many distance courses is:
Varney's Book Store
623 N. Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66502
www.varneys.com
Phone: 785-539-0511 or 1-800-362-1574
FAX: 785-537-2351
E-mail: textorder@varneys.com

Your Course Information Packet will list the textbook(s) you will need for your course. If you wish to order your textbook before you receive the Course Information Packet, you may call Varney's and ask for the Textbook Order Department or visit Varney's web site. Have your course name, number, and reference number handy. Sometimes used copies of books are available. Varney's can ship your textbooks to you. Please contact Varney's directly if you have any questions about your textbook order.

If available, DCE will provide you with the ISBN of the textbook so you can purchase it from the vendor of your choice.

Transferring Credits

I have attended another college. I'd like to transfer my undergraduate credits to K-State. Can I do that?
Yes. Generally, we can accept up to 90 hours from other accredited institutions. You can transfer up to half of your bachelor's requirements from a two-year (community) college, usually 60 to 63 hours. Contact those institutions and have them send an official copy of your transcript to the K-State Admissions Office. You should also visit our transfer equivalency page to see which of your credits will transfer to K-State.

Graduate students may transfer up to 6 credit hours of previous graduate coursework to their K-State degree program if approved by their graduate committee.

I'm currently enrolled at another university. Can I take distance education courses from K-State?
Yes! You can apply to be admitted as nondegree-seeking and then take individual courses without being admitted to a formal degree program at K-State. Here's a complete list of current course offerings. After choosing the class(es) you wish to take, follow the course search process through to the “Getting Started” questions. Be sure to answer “no” to the “Do you wish to pursue a degree...” question. This will direct you to the Nondegree-Seeking Admission form.

Technology

What are the minimum requirements my computer must meet in order to take distance education courses from K-State?
Whether you use a Windows-based PC or a Mac to take your distance education courses, check the system requirements.

How do I access my online courses?
After you've been admitted, created your K-State eID and have been officially enrolled, you will use your eID and iSIS to access your grades, use your e-mail account, and view your tuition bill. Most online classes will use K-State Online, the University's online course management system. You will sign in to http://online.k-state.edu with your eID. Specific instructions about your class will be in your Course Information Packet (see above).

How do I get a K-State eID?
Here's some information about how to set up your eID.

Tuition and Financial Aid

How is my tuition determined?
Tuition is the cost of an academic class and includes a per-credit-hour (unit) charge and may also include additional components. These components are directly associated with the delivery of distance education and vary based on the requirements of the class you're taking. Visit this page for tuition and payment information.

How do I pay for my classes?
Once you have enrolled, you will receive an e-mail sent to your K-State email address with instructions about how to access your eBill. Here's more information about how you will pay for your classes. Or you can get on iSIS and view your account at any time.

Am I eligible to apply for financial aid as a distance education student?
Yes! As long as you have been admitted to a degree program at K-State and are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours (units) at K-State, you're eligible to apply for financial aid. K-State's Office of Student Financial Assistance can guide you through the different types of financial aid available such as scholarships, grants, and loans. For more information, please call 1-877-817-2287 or 785-532-6420, or e-mail finaid@k-state.edu.

Will I be able to get a refund on a class if I drop it?
Full or partial refunds are available up to a certain date during your class. Drop and refund deadlines may be listed in the Course Information Packet or at www.dce.k-state.edu/courses/drop/. Some fees are nonrefundable. See your Course Information Packet or the website above for more information.

Career and Military Experience

Will K-State accept the credits I earned in the military?
K-State does offer credits for some military education and experience. Please submit your AARTS transcript, and K-State's Admissions Office will evaluate it.

Does K-State give credit for life or career experience?
K-State may offer credit for prior learning, including credit for CLEP, Dantes, and Excelsior college exams. View more information about completing your bachelor's degree/

More Information

Can you send me a catalog with more information on distance education programs?
An online course catalog is available here. You may also request a printed K-State distance education course catalog by completing an online request form, calling 1-800-622-2KSU (2578), or e-mailing informationdce@k-state.edu.