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 U.S. 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 simply 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 a major university. You can be a Wildcat wherever you live!

Which degree and certificate programs does K-State offer through distance education?
K-State has 7 bachelor's degree completion programs, 14 master's degree programs, and 9 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.

Getting Started

How do I begin taking distance education courses?
Basically, you enroll in one class! 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 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 semester to semester, and distance education courses begin at various times throughout the year. Check here for current course offerings. Course dates are listed with each course description.

What kind of information will I get when I enroll in a course?
You will usually receive a Welcome email with a link to your online Course Information Packet before your course begins. The Packet will include a syllabus, instructor contact information, support materials, important dates, etc.

How will my courses be delivered?
Course content is delivered in a variety of formats including CD, DVD, web sites, e-mail lists, message boards, e-mail, videotape, audiotape, guided study or Telenet 2. 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.

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.

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?
No, prior enrollment or admission to K-State isn't required if you're not pursuing a degree. You'll be considered a non-degree-seeking student. Undergraduate non-degree-seeking students may take as many courses under this status as they wish. (However, most K-State academic departments set a limit on how many credits non-degree-seeking students can apply to a regular degree program later.) Non-degree-seeking graduate students may take up to nine credit hours without being admitted to K-State. Non-degree-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?
Click here if you want to be admitted to the Bachelor's Degree Completion Program. Click here 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?
Visit this page for information about the distance education master's degree programs K-State offers. Click here for admission requirements to the K-State Graduate School and the online application form.

How long does it take to be admitted?
Generally, it takes 4 to 6 weeks for an 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 2 to 4 months. More information on the graduate admission process is available here.

How will I know when I've been admitted?
K-State's Admissions Office will contact you by mail to let you know that you've been admitted. You can also check your KATS account, if you have already established a K-State eID (electronic ID) account.

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.

I'm currently enrolled at another university. Can I take distance education courses from K-State?
Yes! You can take individual courses without being admitted to K-State. Here's a complete list of current course offerings.

Technology

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

How do I access my online courses?
After you've officially enrolled, you must get a K-State eID in order to access your grades, use your e-mail account, view your tuition bill, and participate in courses via K-State Online, the University's online course management system.

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 course and includes a per-credit-hour charge and may also include additional components. There are fees directly associated with the delivery of distance education, that vary based on the requirements of the course you're taking. Visit this page for tuition and payment information.

How do I pay for my courses?
K-State's Division of Continuing Education uses the University's centralized billing system. Once you have enrolled, you will receive an e-mail-sent to your K-State eID-with instructions about how to pay your fees online. Here's more information about how you will pay for your courses. Or you can get on KATS 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 K-State in a degree program and are enrolled in at least 6 credit hours 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 course if I drop it?
All drop and refund deadlines will be listed in the Course Information Packet. Some fees are nonrefundable. See your Course Information Packet 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. You can find more information here.

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, callingl 1-800-622-2KSU, or e-mailing informationdce@k-state.edu.