The University of Kentucky began offering graduate work in 1870, and awarding degrees in 1876. The Graduate School was organized as a distinct unit in 1912.
The Graduate School is concerned with advanced study and research carried on by the faculty and students of all colleges and departments. Under it, the total graduate resources of the University are merged in order to promote the achievement of knowledge in an atmosphere of free and lively inquiry.
More information is available on the Web at: http://www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/gradhome.html.
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is offered with major work in the following fields: agricultural economics, anatomy and neurobiology, animal sciences, anthropology, biochemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, biosystems and agricultural engineering, business administration, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, communication, computer science, crop science, economics, educational and counseling psychology, electrical engineering, English, entomology, family studies, geography, geology, gerontology, studies in higher education, history, materials science and engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, microbiology, mining engineering, music, nursing, nutritional sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacology, philosophy, physics and astronomy, physiology, plant pathology, plant physiology, political science, psychology, public administration, rehabilitation sciences, social work, sociology, soil science, Spanish, statistics, toxicology, and veterinary science.
Multidisciplinary Graduate Degree Programs
There are seven multidisciplinary graduate degree programs administered in the Graduate School: Biomedical Engineering, Diplomacy and International Commerce, Gerontology, Health Administration, Nutritional Sciences, Public Administration, and Toxicology. Students interested in information on these programs should contact the program directors at the addresses listed below.
Dr. John Stempel, Director
The Patterson School of Diplomacy
and International Commerce
455 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
Dr. Graham D. Rowles, Director
Gerontology
101 Sanders-Brown Center
800 South Limestone
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0230
Dr. Genia Toma, Director
James W. Martin School
of Public Policy and Administration
Public Administration/ Health Administration
419 Patterson Office Tower
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0027
Dr. Frederick C. deBeer, Director
Graduate Center for Nutritional Sciences
257 Bowman Hall
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0059
Dr. Mary Vore, Director
Graduate Center for Toxicology
306 Health Sciences Research Bldg.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40546-0305
The Dean and His Office. The Dean of the Graduate School is charged with the administration of the policies adopted by the Graduate Faculty and the University Senate relating to graduate studies.
The Graduate Council is composed of 18 members and the Dean of the Graduate School, who serves as chair. There are 16 faculty representatives and two student representatives. Associate deans serve in a nonvoting, ex officio capacity.
The Graduate Council approves or disapproves proposals concerning courses offered for graduate credit, and advises and lends assistance to the Dean of the Graduate School in his execution of policies and regulations determined by the Graduate Faculty.
Directors of Graduate Studies. A Director of Graduate Studies is appointed for each program of graduate study. Among other duties, each director serves as advisor to students majoring in his or her area.
All applicants for admission to degree programs in the Graduate School must submit official scores on the verbal, quantitative and analytical portions of the Graduate Record Examination. The College of Business and Economics substitutes the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for M.B.A., Ph.D. and accounting applicants. Also, applicants for the Health Administration, Public Administration, and Public Health programs may substitute the GMAT.
New students applying for admission must have two official transcripts sent by each institution of higher learning previously attended. Applicants may send official transcripts, issued by the Registrar in a sealed envelope, along with the application. All transcripts must be sent to the Graduate School.
International applicants must meet the requirements listed above, as well as the English proficiency requirement; additional details are available in The Graduate School Bulletin.
Students can submit applications for admission electronically from the Graduate School Web page at www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/gsapplication.html. Otherwise, application forms can be printed from the Graduate School Web page or obtained by writing:
Applications must be submitted no later than one month before the beginning of the term the applicant intends to begin graduate work (six months for international applicants). Students should refer to the University Calendar for important dates.
Requirements for this program are listed in the Special Academic Programs section.
The total load of such a student may not exceed 12 credit hours. Graduate credit will be allowed for each credit hour of graduate work beyond the six or fewer credit hours needed to complete undergraduate requirements. Requirements for the undergraduate degree must be completed during the semester in which the student is allowed to register for part-time graduate work. A student applying for admission to the Graduate School under these conditions must fill out a petition form listing the course or courses to be taken in order to complete the undergraduate requirements. Petition forms are available in the Graduate School.
Provisional Admission
Students wishing to pursue a higher degree who are temporarily ineligible for regular graduate admission status may be recommended by the Director of Graduate Studies for provisional admission status for a maximum of one full-time semester. Students should refer to The Graduate School Bulletin for further information.
Cooperative doctoral programs in musicology, physics, and higher education are offered between the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville; cooperative programs in biology and geology between the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University; and a cooperative program in history between the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University. A cooperative doctoral program in rehabilitation sciences is offered between the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Murray State University, and Western Kentucky University. The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville share a joint Ph.D. program in Social Work.
For more information on joint and cooperative programs, see The Graduate School Bulletin.
Before registering, a graduate student must obtain his or her advisor's approval of the proposed program.
Financial assistance is available in the form of assistantships and fellowships as well as research funding. An assistantship is an appointment to specified teaching or research duties. A fellowship is a non-service award made to superior students to assist in the pursuit of an advanced degree. For more information on assistantships and fellowships, visit the Web at www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/fellowship/fellowassist.html.
The majority of assistantships are awarded for the academic year. Students interested in an assistantship should notify the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies by January for the next academic year; later applicants have a reduced chance of obtaining an assistantship. Most assistantship decisions are made by April for the coming academic year.
Notification of an assistantship comes from the program. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies in the program you seek to enter regarding the availability of positions or the status of assistantship offers.
Almost all fellowships are awarded for the academic year; however, a few fellowships are sometimes available in the spring semester. Departments make fellowship nominations by February for the next academic year, so students interested in a fellowship are strongly urged to contact the appropriate Director of Graduate Studies no later than January 15 for the next academic year. Notification of fellowship awards generally comes from the Graduate School by early May.
Minority students and women in under-represented areas applying for tuition scholarship and cost of education funding (Commonwealth Incentive Awards for Kentucky residents) or for a Lyman T. Johnson Fellowship are considered for spring and summer terms, as well as for academic year awards. For more information about these awards, call the Recruitment Office, (859) 257-4555, or visit on the Web at www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/specfund.html.
Awards are sometimes offered before an applicant is officially admitted to the Graduate School; all awards offered are contingent upon admission. Post-baccalaureate (nondegree) students are not eligible for fellowship consideration, or for those tuition scholarships that accompany most assistantships. Post-baccalaureate minority students and women in under-represented areas are eligible for Commonwealth Incentive Awards.