Admissions

Incoming freshmen and transfer students can find the most up to date admissions information on the university admissions page. Discover the right program for you and start your journey today.

Explore our undergraduate programs

Graduate Admissions

Students who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree or certificate within the Department of Horticulture & Natural Resources are encouraged to review requirements for admission prior to applying and make special note of the different deadlines.

Explore the university application process

Check List

1. Determine if there are graduate faculty working in your area of interest. Start by visiting our research pages.

• Students are encouraged to contact prospective faculty advisors before application and after their application is complete. Our objective is to match the needs of the individual student with a faculty member with similar interests.

2. Check your qualifications for the graduate program of your interest.

• MS program: completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year institution according to the following guidelines:
• Horticulture: a bachelor's degree in horticulture, botany, biology or related agricultural science.
• Park Management and Conservation: a bachelor's degree in the life sciences or natural resources is preferred but not required.
• Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management: a bachelor's degree in biology, environmental science, ecology, or related field.
• PhD program: completion of a MS degree in a field relevant to the graduate program of interest (as listed for the MS program).
• GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale, based on the courses taken during the last two academic years.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for students whose native language is not English*. Applicants who are submitting iBT TOEFL (internet based) scores must have a minimum total score of 79 with no part score below 20 on the reading, listening, and writing sections. Applicants who are submitting paper-based TOEFL (PBT) test scores must have a minimum total score of 550 with no part score below 55 on reading or listening sections and a TWE (Test of Written English) score of 5.0 or higher. If you are interested in a teaching assistantship you will need to achieve a score of 22 or higher on the speak section of the iBT or 50 on the PBT (TSE).

* Note: The Horticulture and Natural Resources department will ONLY accept the TOEFL for students whose native language is not English. The IELTS, PTE, and completion of the English Language Program here at Kansas State University will not be accepted.

3. Check your qualifications against University requirements.

To Apply

All application materials are submitted online. Applying early increases the probability of being considered for an assistantship. Persons with questions about the application process can contact the Graduate Program Director.

Application materials include:

• Admission Application for Graduate School online.
• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) indicating your area(s) of research interest, your long-term goals, and why you are interested in graduate study at K-State. The Statement of Purpose is an important component of your application.
• Three letters of recommendation from former/current professors, employers, or other professionals in a position to evaluate your potential for graduate study.
• Transcripts for all college course work. Students whose transcripts are not in English must furnish an English translation by an appropriate authority.
• International Students:
  • TOEFL scores
  • Affidavit of Financial Support form

View application requirements and related documents for international students

• Please pay application fee when completing the online application.

Deadlines

Applications can be made at any time. However, to be considered for departmental assistantships or to insure admission for a specific semester follow these deadlines:

• Applicants interested in financial aid (the department has a number of graduate teaching and research assistantships available) should apply by January 31st for Fall enrollment of the same year and by September 30th for Spring (January) enrollment

• For U.S. Citizens/U.S. Permanent Resident applicants:
  • For Fall Admission: July 1
  • For Spring Admission: December 1
  • For Summer Admission: May 1
• For International applicants:
  • For Fall Admission: January 8
  • For Spring Admission: August 1
  • For Summer Admission: December 1

Once all application materials have been received in the department, the Graduate Admissions Committee will review the application materials, indicate deficiencies (if any), and identify potential major advisors. Before an applicant is accepted, a faculty member must agree to serve as the major advisor/professor for the applicant. The admissions recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee (full standing, provisional, probationary) with the name of the major professor is forwarded to the Graduate School. The Graduate School will verify that the applicant meets all the entrance requirements of the Graduate School and mail the applicant the letter of acceptance.