Graduate programs

Graduate Programs

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• Agriculture (M.S.)

  Department Website

  Program Director: Dr. Dwayne Driskill
  Phone: (270) 809-6187
  Email: cdriskill@murraystate.edu
  

  The School of Agriculture offers a master of science degree. The purpose of this degree is to provide an opportunity for professional agricultural personnel to obtain an education at the graduate level or to prepare for terminal degree work at the doctoral level. Faculty advisors assist students in planning an appropriate course of study to meet their individual goals and to assure a balanced program.
  
  The master of science degree in agriculture provides concentration in either agricultural science or agricultural education.

   

  
  

   

• Applied Engineering and Technology Management (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Michael Kemp
  Phone: (270) 809-3657
  Email: mkemp@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology offers the Master of Science in Applied Engineering and Technology Management degree as a 30 credit hour non-thesis degree program. The Applied Engineering and Technology Management degree is designed for individuals who wish to further their knowledge of management, leadership, and technology. Emphasis is placed on involvement with real situations and problems. The student, with an advisor, will develop an interdisciplinary plan of study to increase skills in specific technical areas and to strengthen abilities to communicate effectively in the management of technical functions. In addition to other college and university requirements for graduate admission, this program requires successful completion of a Bachelor of Science degree and prior completion of undergraduate mathematics and science prerequisites as directed. Potential careers involve positions in business and industry related to resource management, supervision and training, quality control, environmental and safety management, and information systems. 

   

   

• Biology (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Edmund Zimmerer
  Phone: (270) 809-3071
  Email: ezimmerer@murraystate.edu
  
  The Department of Biological Sciences offers the Master of Science in Biology degree with thesis and non-thesis options. The program prepares students to assume an active career in teaching and/or research or to pursue further graduate studies. A faculty mentor will direct each student admitted to the program. Research strengths of the department include aquatic biology, wildlife biology, mammalogy, physiological ecology, paleontology and evolution, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, microbial ecology, parasitology, animal behavior and botany. Most faculty have research labs and are supported by grants. Graduate education is necessary for many fields of biology. Although some state, federal and private sector jobs are available for baccalaureate students, many employers prefer individuals with advanced training. Sometimes the M.S. is necessary in order to qualify for higher income or a more challenging position. Students with the M.S. may find employment with various industrial or state and federal agencies (e.g., fish and wildlife units, National Institute of Health (NIH) labs, pharmaceutical companies).

   

• Business Administration (M.B.A.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Gerry Muuka
  Phone: (270) 809-4190
  Email: nmuuka@murraystate.edu
  
  The Arthur J. Bauernfeind Graduate Program in Business at Murray State University has a long and rigorous tradition of excellence in management education, and a recognized capacity for meeting the educational needs and challenges of MBA students in the 21st Century. In addition to the main campus in Murray, the AACSB-accredited MBA Program can be completed 100% online. Our 100% online MBA Program is ranked 16th out of 133 online MBA Programs in the USA in terms of quality, AACSB-accreditation, and relatively low cost. The ranking was done in Spring 2010 by an independent agency, GetEducated.com. Since Spring 2005, we also offer the Murray MBA Program in Cyprus. Our longstanding AACSB accreditation (since 1976 at the undergraduate level and since 1981 at the MBA level) attests to the prestige and quality of the Murray State MBA Program. However, it is our faculty, our students, our flexible curriculum, and the variety of student-centered instructional methods—such as the case approach, simulations and web-based instruction—that provide us with competitive advantages over other MBA programs. Every year we also attract new MBA students from over 15 foreign countries, making for a diverse and lively student body.
  
  Murray MBA students are among the very best in the world.  For instance in 2001, three of our MBA students placed 6th among 400 teams worldwide who participated in the international L’Oreal E-Strat Marketing Challenge, beating out some of the very best Business Schools in the world: among them Harvard, Wharton, Northwestern, Stanford, Oxford, London Business School, and Cambridge. The ERacers team was directed by Marketing Professor W. Glynn Mangold of the Department of Management, Marketing, and Business Administration.
  
  The MBA Curriculum:  A total of 30 semester hours of graduate-level courses is required for completing the MBA Program.  These 30 hours include 21 semester hours of specified "graduate core"  (required or compulsory) courses and 9 hours of electives. Depending on their undergraduate major, new students may be required to take up to ten (10) undergraduate business foundation courses.
  
  

  What do people do with their MBA degrees?: The MBA is the most versatile of all graduate degrees, in terms of the range of career options it affords you.  You can use the MBA in virtually any field, because it gives you the kind of multidimensional, multifaceted, multi-industry and multifunctional dimension that no other graduate degree does.  And, of course, if you wish to pursue a teaching career in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing and other business areas, our MBA students have gone to some of the best doctoral/PhD programs in the world including, but not limited to: Columbia University, Purdue University, and University of Edinburgh (Scotland).

   

• Chemical Manufacturing Management (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Kevin Revell
  Phone: (270) 809-6540
  Email: krevell@murraystate.edu
  
  Overview

  The degree in Chemical Manufacturing Management is designed primarily for students working in the chemical manufacturing industry who are looking to increase their understanding of chemical processes, and their ability to quantitatively optimize manufacturing logistics. 
  
  Requirements for Admission to the Master of Science Program in Chemical Manufacturing Management

  Students who wish to be considered for admission to graduate study leading toward the Master of Science in Chemical Manufacturing Management (CMM) degree must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and have completed an undergraduate major or equivalent in chemistry or a closely related discipline, with an overall grade point average of at least 2.75.  In exceptional cases a student with a lower grade point average may be admitted conditionally, and after completion of nine hours of graduate work may be admitted to full standing by that student's advisory committee.  For international students, a minimum score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for unconditional admission. Applicants with TOEFL scores between 500 and 550 may be admitted on a conditional basis, but their proficiency in English will be further evaluated upon their arrival on campus, and they may be required to undertake additional study of English prior to beginning graduate work in the program.   Because the selection process is competitive, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide GRE scores with their application materials.
  
  Degree Requirements

  Each candidate must complete 30 credits of coursework spanning the chemistry and engineering technology programs.  For students who wish to complete a thesis, an additional 3 credits of thesis research (CHE 698) is also required.

  Additional inquiries into the CMM program may be sent to the graduate coordinator at msu.gradchem@murraystate.edu.

  
  

• Chemistry (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Kevin Revell
  Phone: (270) 809-6540
  Email: krevell@murraystate.edu
  
  The Department of Chemistry offers the Master of Science in Chemistry degree with thesis and non-thesis options. The non-thesis option is intended for candidates with at least two years experience in industrial or governmental laboratories. Both options require a minimum of 30 total credit hours. To enhance confidence and poise, each student is encouraged to participate in the departmental teaching program and is required to present seminars in specialty areas. For students who choose the thesis option, these will consist of one literature and one research seminar. Non-thesis students will be required to present two seminars, one of which is ordinarily a presentation describing the industrial or governmental laboratory experience that is to be substituted for the thesis requirement. The Master of Science graduate program in chemistry is designed to prepare the student for further academic work or for immediate employment in the chemical industry. We have been quite successful in placing our graduates in both of these areas. Our students gain "hands-on" experience with research tools including GC/MS, AA, NMR and FT-NMR, IR, UV/VIS, HPLC, molecular modeling and other modern analytical techniques. Active research is conducted in diverse areas of both pure and applied research ranging from the study of novel reaction mechanisms to the analysis of environmental pollutants.

   

• Creative Writing (M.F.A.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Ann Neelon
  Phone: (270) 809-4713
  Email: aneelon@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The mission of the low-residency MFA program at Murray State University is to provide quality advanced instruction to creative writers while allowing them to live and work where they choose. Our foremost goal is to facilitate the creative and professional growth of writers, but the degree also offers the necessary academic credentials for a writer to teach creative writing at the college or university level. It also provides a foundation for careers in other writing-related fields.
  
  Of the 49 hours required for the degree, 13 hours must be completed on campus in January and July residencies.  The remaining 36 can be completed via distance learning.  These 36 hours comprise three semester-long Graduate Tutorials (6 hours each), a Creative Thesis (6 hours), the New Madrid Field Study (3 hours) and three graduate literature courses (3 hours each).   The graduate literature courses may also be completed on campus at Murray State.  (While students may transfer up to nine semester hours—“B” or higher—of graduate-level literature courses from another accredited graduate institution, they must complete all residencies, tutorials and the field study within the MFA program at Murray State.)

   

  
  

• Economics (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Martin Milkman
  Phone: (270) 809-4282
  Email: mmilkman@murraystate.edu
  
  Students in this program can either complete a traditional M.S. degree in Economics or can concentrate on completing a Finance option. The degree is designed to assist students who are interested in entering a variety of Ph.D. programs as well as entering the job market directly after finishing the program. Recent graduates have completed Ph.D. programs at school such as Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and George Mason. Our graduates who went directly into the workforce are working at places such as the Paducah Bank and the United Parcel Service.
  
  

  In order to succeed in this program, students will need a good undergraduate background in Calculus, Statistics and Economics. It is not unusual that entering students are advised to take a few undergraduate classes when they begin their studies in the M.S. in Economics program. Many of the students selecting the Finance option study for the first and second exams leading to the CFP designation.

   

• Elementary Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Jacqueline Hansen
  Phone: (270) 809-4212
  Email: jhansen@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The graduate program in elementary education is designed for certified teachers seeking a Specialist in Education or Master of Arts in Education degrees. The department also offers two non-degree programs: Fifth Year and MA + 30. The MA degree program consists of 33 semester hours of graduate level coursework, including a minimum of 18 hours of core professional education courses and 12 hours in an area of specialization or endorsement. A written comprehensive examination or thesis is required. At least 21 semester hours must be earned at MSU, and the student should plan to complete the program within a period not to exceed eight years from the time the student initially enrolled in the program. Classes are offered at Murray State University and at regional sites in Henderson, Hopkinsville, Madisonville and Paducah. The programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board. 

   

• English (M.A.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Kevin Binfield
  Phone: (270) 809-4541
  Email: kbinfield@murraystate.edu
  
  The literature track is designed primarily for students planning to pursue advanced studies.  The English education track is designed for practicing teachers wishing to improve their classroom skills while earning advanced certification.  The creative writing track is designed for students wishing to refine their writing skills in fiction and/or poetry.  The English studies track is designed for students seeking a mix of courses (professional and/or creative) in literature, linguistics, and rhetoric.  The English with philosophy as a cognate discipline track is designed for students with continuing interest in both English and philosophy.
  
  

  Students earning an M.A. in English are equipped to enter a variety of professions, including teaching at the secondary school or college level; careers in professional or technical writing; careers in publishing, etc.

   

• Geoscience (M.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Kit Wesler
  Phone: (270) 809-3457
  Email: kwesler@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Department of Geosciences offers the Master of Science in Geosciences degree with thesis and non-thesis options. The program prepares students for positions in the public and private sectors and for additional graduate study. The program focuses upon remote sensing, digital image processing, and geographic and archaeologic information systems as applied to areas of interest of faculty in the department and beyond. Graduate students work closely with faculty on research projects and grants providing valuable practical experience that enhances employment opportunities and supports continued graduate education. The Department has close ties with the Mid-America Remote sensing Center (MARC), a center dedicated to teaching, research, and service to the community in remote sensing and GIS. Research opportunities are also available at the Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, the Murray State Archaeology Laboratory, and the Center of Excellence for Reservoir Research (CRR) where water-related research is conducted.

   

• History (M.A.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Charlotte Beahan
  Phone: (270) 809-6577
  Email: cbeahan@murraystate.edu
  
  The master of arts program in history offers advanced study in American and modern European history, complemented by offerings in non-Western history, to qualified students with the goal of developing research and analytical skills, an understanding of historical processes, and the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. There are two tracks to the master of arts degree: 1) the thesis track, a 30 hour program of advanced study requiring a thesis; and 2) two non-thesis track options (American or European history) of 36 hours.
  
  

  An M.A. in history provides excellent preparation for doctoral work, for law school or other professional programs, and for careers in government, public and private agencies or any career requiring research, analytical and writing skills. It also enables teachers to meet Rank II certification in Kentucky public schools. Admission applications for the Fall Term should be received by June 1 of the same calendar year. The Department of History does not review any graduate applications until all materials-the graduate application, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and official transcript-have been received. The history department awards a limited number of assistantships each academic year, applications for which should be made to the department's graduate coordinator by April 1. All applications and GRE scores should be sent to Graduate Admissions, Murray State University, Sparks Hall, Murray, KY 42071. All other materials should be sent to Graduate Coordinator, Department of History, Murray State University, 6B Faculty Hall, Murray, KY 42071. 

   

• Human Development and Leadership (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Lee Kem
  Phone: (270) 809-2797
  Email: vkem@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Human Development and Leadership Program is a 33 hour program.  There is a core of seven classes that focus on people development skills.  Then the student chooses a concentration area consisting of 12 hours. Students with a degree in Human Development and Leadership work in a very wide range of careers.  They work in the non-profit area, for colleges and universities, and in business and industry.

   

• Information Systems (M.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Solomon Antony
  Phone: (270) 809-6211
  Email: santony@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Master of Science in Information Systems prepares individuals for management careers in the vast and growing field of information systems.  This field includes such diverse areas as software development, information management, data analysis, information security, information systems architecture, system planning, and systems analysis.  Upon successful completion, graduates can move into careers as information systems managers, business analysts, software architects, college-level instructors, information systems auditors, project managers, consultants, etc. based on individual strengths, skills, and inclination.

   

• Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website

  Program Director: Dr. Jo Robertson
  Phone: (270) 809-6845
  Email: arobertson@murraystate.edu
  
  This graduate program is designed for educators seeking Rank I, Rank II, or initial certification in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education.  Educators certified in IECE may work with young children with and without developmental delays from birth through kindergarten. Educators certified in IECE may work as Developmental Interventionists providing early intervention services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays, teach in public school kindergarten or preschool or Head Start programs.  This is a growing field and additional career opportunities are opening up for students completing a graduate program in IECE.

   

• Mass Communications (M.A. and M.S.)

  Department Website

  Program Director: Dr. Debbie Owens
  Phone: (270) 809-6318
  Email: dowens@murraystate.edu
  
  The Mass Communications masters program is a  30 hour, non-thesis track with 18 hours required and electives restricted mainly to graduate courses within the department. Capstone course, JMC 690, is a research or professional project in selected area of mass communications.  The objectives of the graduate program are:  (1) To prepare graduate students for positions in mass communications and research; (2) To provide a foundation for study at the doctoral level; and (3) To prepare graduate students for teaching mass communications at the college level.

   

• Mathematics (M.A., M.S., and M.A.T.)

  Department Website 
  Program Director: Dr. Kelly Pearson
  Phone: (270) 809-3554
  Email: kpearson@murraystate.edu
  
  The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers three graduate degrees. They are a Master of Science in Mathematics (M.S.), Master of Arts in Mathematics (M.A.), and a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics (M.A.T.). The M.S. and M.A. degrees are designed to provide students with the opportunity to study graduate level mathematics so that they may (1) obtain preferred employment in mathematics with government or industry, (2) teach at the junior college level or be better prepared to teach at the secondary school level, or (3) continue working toward a doctor of philosophy degree. The M.A. program is a broadly based program that includes a study of algebra, analysis, topology, and the foundations of mathematics. The M.S. program consists of a core of applied mathematics together with a core (at most 12 hours) in an allied field such as business, computer science, or physics. The M.A.T. program is designed for certified teachers who wish to strengthen their background in mathematics and keep up with current information in educational theory, curriculum and research. The program provides for both reasonable depth in the mathematics area and graduate-level exposure in supporting disciplines. Completion of this program fulfills the requirements for Rank II classification. 

   

• Middle School Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Meagan Musselman
  Phone: (270) 809-2799
  Email: mmusselman@murraystate.edu
  
  

  This MA degree program is designed to fulfill course requirements for Rank II classification. The program must be preplanned with your advisor and consist of 30 semester hours of graduate level course work with a minimum of 18 hours in professional education and a minimum of 17 hours of courses at the 600 level. You must hold a Middle School (5-8, 5-9) Provisional Certificate or its equivalent. To complete the program and graduate, you must develop two leadership projects (an internal and external project). These projects will require approval and collaboration with your school principal or a district administrator.  For more detailed information regarding the Teacher Leader Master’s Degree Program, please download the Teacher Leader Program advising guide or speak to your advisor.

   

• Music Education (M.M.E.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Pam Wurgler
  Phone: (270) 809-6339
  Email: pwurgler@mrraystate.edu
  
  

  The Master of Music Education degree program is designed to help develop the candidate's qualities of professional leadership.  The curriculum is planned to emphasize the investigation of important ideas and practices pertaining to school music, continue the development of musical skills and concepts, and provide opportunities to acquire both greater breadth of musicianship and a useful degree of specialization as it affects the music teaching/learning process. Graduates may be public school music teachers or teach at the college/university level.  Some pursue careers in administration.

   

• Nursing (D.N.P.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Dina Byers
  Phone: (270) 809-6223
  Email: dbyers@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Doctor of Nursing Practice is a clinical doctoral degree program in nursing designed to move BSN prepared Registered Nurses to advanced practice. 

   

  Currently, the Murray State University School of Nursing prepares advanced practice nurses in two specialties: Family Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthetist. All programs are approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The Nurse Anesthetist program, is the only one offered in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This program is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Education Programs. MSU partners in the delivery of the nurse anesthetist program with Trover Foundation in Madisonville, Kentucky. We also have a satellite site at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, Kentucky.

   

• Nutrition (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Beth Rice
  Phone: (270) 809-3124
  Email: frice@murraystate.edu
  
  

  The Master of Science in Nutrition Services prepares students to effectively compete in a growing job market in which five of ten dietitians nationally hold M.S. degrees.  The 33-credit-hour master's program will enable graduates of the R.D. certificate program to pursue additional higher education in the areas of professional counseling, education, science, statistics, psychology, management, and nutrition research.  Students may transfer up to 12-graduate-credit hours of coursework from other Kentucky institutions when meeting the requirements of the 33-credit-hour M.S. graduate program.  Advances in nutrition and genetic research, aging demographics, and accelerating rates of nutrition-related diseases such as obesity and diabetes fuel the demand for highly trained nutrition professionals.

   

• Occupational Safety and Health (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Bassam Atieh
  Phone: (270) 809-6652
  Email: batieh@murraystate.edu
  
  The Department of Occupational Safety and Health offers a Master of Science degree.  The curriculum options available under this program are designed to provide the philosophical, scientific, and technical knowledge required of individuals seeking professional management and administrative positions in the field.  The graduate program in occupational safety and health is designed to prepare students to become competent and demonstrate knowledge in the occupational safety and health program options; environmental health and safety, industrial hygiene, and safety management.
  
  

  The graduate program in occupational safety and health (OSH) at Murray State University provides a comprehensive broad-based educational background to prepare practical-oriented and academically sound graduates advanced positions in the safety, health, and environmental profession.  The program provides the technical and professional knowledge required by individuals pursuing careers in safety management, occupational health, industrial hygiene, loss/risk control management, ergonomics, emergency planning and response, and environmental health and safety.  Our graduates are academically prepared to pursue advanced degrees in higher education.

   

• Organizational Communication (M.A. and M.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Dave Gesler
  Phone: (270) 809-3174
  Email: dgesler@murraystate.edu
  
  The Department of Organizational Communication offers the Master of Arts and Master of Science degrees in organizational communication. Graduate study in organizational communication prepares students for effective membership, humane management, and prudent leadership in organizations. Coursework focuses on various organizational, interpersonal, and small group communication processes vital to personal and organizational success. Students acquire advanced communication knowledge and skills in such areas as conflict resolution, managerial communication, leadership, customer relations, team communication, organizational change, healthcare communication, persuasion, intercultural communication, training, and organizational learning. The program, which is theoretically and experientially oriented, provides students with course offerings allowing in-depth study and opportunity to pursue individual interests.
  
  

  Coursework is designed for both focused study and maximum flexibility to meet the unique career goals of each student.  The program prepares individuals (1) to enter areas of business, industry, government, and nonprofit administration, where knowledge of and competence in communication are essential; (2) to enter other vocations where communication is of prime importance (e.g. the ministry, law, public service); (3) to continue study of communication at the doctoral level; and (4) to teach organizational communication at the college level. Recent degree options in organizational communication and the innovative “Weekender” master’s degree in organizational communication reflect the department’s commitment to respond to regional needs.

   

• Psychology (Clinical) (M.A. and M.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Laura Liljequist
  Phone: (270) 809-2990
  Email: lliljequist@murraystate.edu
  
  The clinical psychology graduate program is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology Accreditation Council and prepares students for certification to practice psychology.  The clinical program is based on the philosophy that the master’s degree is first and foremost a degree in psychology, and students should achieve a broad base of knowledge in the field.  Thus, students are required to take five psychological foundation courses which prepare the graduate to enter the field of psychology and also provide the general psychology courses required by state licensing boards.  The training graduates receive enables them to work in a variety of settings such as community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, prisons, comprehensive care centers, and schools.  Some graduates also choose to teach at two-year academic institutions.
  
  

  Following core courses in assessment (administration, scoring and interpretation of intelligence and personality tests) and psychotherapy, students complete a supervised two-semester, 20-hour per week clinical practicum. Clinical psychology students serve their practica at the MSU Psychological Center, an on-campus treatment center that provides therapy and assessments for children, adults, and families from the community as well as for university students and staff.  In addition, students receive 2.5 hours per week of supervision with our Ph.D. licensed clinical psychologists.  This allows for a fine-tuning of clinical skills as well as an added assurance that the clinician is providing the best and most ethical services to the center’s clients.

   

• Psychology (General Experimental) (M.A. and M.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Keith Dooley
  Phone: (270) 809-6360
  Email: wdooley@murraystate.edu
  
  The primary objective of the program in General Psychology is to provide a period of graduate study during which students gain knowledge and skills necessary to seek career opportunities in governmental or community agencies, teach in two-year colleges, or pursue doctoral-level study in psychology or related fields. To meet this objective, a curriculum has been developed which will provide exposure to the breadth of psychology and intensive study of those areas that are currently of greatest concern in the field. In addition, training in statistics and research design, and participation in research are provided to strengthen the student's command of the tools of the profession. 
  
  

  (Note: the master's program in General Psychology does not train students in the practice of psychology. Thus, graduates with this degree cannot conduct any form of counseling, psychotherapy, psychological testing, or psychological evaluations. The master's program in Clinical Psychology trains students in the practice of psychology.)

   

   

• Public Administration (M.P.A.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. James Clinger
  Phone: (270) 809-2706
  Email: jclinger@murraystate.edu
  
  The MPA program provides education and training for professional careers in government agencies and  non-profit organizations. It is a great way to prepare students who seek a career in public service or to enhance the careers of those already employed in the public sector.
  
  Currently, our non-thesis program requires students to complete seven core courses in subjects such as human resource administration, organization theory and behavior, public budgeting and fiscal administration, research methods, and public policy analysis, as well as a survey seminar in public administration. Non-thesis students are also expected to complete twelve additional hours of  electives. There is also a capstone course requirement  required of  all students pursuing the non-thesis option.
  
  

  We offer classes at a variety of  locations and through a variety of  formats.   Courses are offered at the main campus in Murray, at the English Center at Fort Campbell, and at the new Murray State campus in Hopkinsville. We have also offered some courses on-line as well as through interactive television (ITV) format. 

   

• Reading and Writing (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website 

  Program Directors: Dr. Chhanda Islam and Dr. Sharon Gill
  Phone: (270) 809-6868 and (270) 809-2534
  Email: cislam@murraystate.edu; Email: sgill@murraystate.edu
  
  The College of Education at Murray State University provides graduate programs in Reading & Writing for candidates seeking Masters and 30 above certification. Candidates in the Masters degree program may take coursework that meets requirements for the Reading/Writing Endorsement for Grades P-12.
  
  

  Graduates with a masters (MA) in reading and writing education can become reading specialists, literacy coaches, reading recovery teachers, program coordinators, instructional and curriculum specialists, ESL teachers, special education educators, and more. People who choose this specialization are licensed P–12 teachers who want to enhance student reading skills in their own classrooms or train others on best practices in reading instruction at a building or district level.

   

   

• School Administration (M.A.Ed. and Ed.S.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Robert Lyons
  Phone: (270) 809-6471
  Email: rlyons@murraystate.edu
  
  

  Students who are interested in becoming a PreK-12 building level principal may enroll in our 30-hour Master’s Degree Program. Our program is designed to educate students in the field of educational leadership through outcome-based curriculum. Finance, Law, Curriculum, School & Community Relations, Leadership, Ethics, Policy, Research, and Seminar/Practicum courses encompass the degree. Upon completion of this degree, students must take a national and state test to complete certification requirements.

   

• School Counseling (M.A.Ed. and Ed.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Alan Bakes
  Phone: (270) 809-5313
  Email: abakes@murraystate.edu
  
  

  Murray State offers several options in the Counseling Program including a Master of Arts in School Counseling and an Education Specialist with emphases in School Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Psychology, as well as related school counseling and school psychology endorsements.  These programs are designed for persons with an academic and/or experiential background in the helping professions such as, but not limited to, education, social work, psychology, and communication disorders.  Professional Counseling is a dynamic and invaluable career in today’s world of mental health care and is a necessary and compatible companion to other mental health professions.

   

• Secondary Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Ginny Richerson
  Phone: (270) 809-4257
  Email: vricherson@murraystate.edu
  
  

  If you want to assume a leadership role within your school but you do not necessarily wish to become an administrator, the Master of Arts in Education, Teacher Leader Program is for you. Upon completion of the 30-hour program, you will earn a Rank II and Teacher Leader Master’s designation as well as the Teacher Leader Endorsement.
  
  

  Secondary Programs for various grade level certifications:

  Grades 8-12:

  • Biological Science
  • Chemistry
  • Earth and Space Science
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Social Studies
  • Political Science

  Grades 5-12:

  • Agriculture
  • Career & Technical Education (Business & Marketing, Family and Consumer Science, Industrial Education, Engineering/Technology Education)

  Grades P-12:

  • Art
  • Health & Physical Education
  • Integrated Music
  • Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish)

  
  

  
  

• Special Education - Teacher Leader (M.A.Ed.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Barbara Washington
  Phone: (270) 809-2262
  Email: bwashington@murraystate.edu
  
  

  Working as a special education teacher can make a powerful impact in the education of a special needs child. Special education teachers may work one-on-one with students with learning disabilities or teach a classroom of students with intellectual disabilities or developmental delays. As a special education teacher, you may work with students with specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairments, or a multitude of other health or mental impairments.

   

  
  

• Speech-Language Pathology (M.S.)

  Department Website 
  Program Director: Dr. Kelly Kleinhans

  Phone: (270) 809-6843

  Email: kkleinhans@murraystate.edu
  

  The master's degree is a two-year program, with thesis and non-thesis tracks.  The program includes graduate course work and multiple clinical practicum experiences each semester.  These experiences include the MSU Speech and Hearing Clinic, three preschool programs, area schools, hospitals, and various medical settings.  The program is accredited by the Council of Academic Accreditation of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

  
  

  Speech-language pathology is an education/health-related profession whose practitioners work in schools, hospitals, skilled care facilities, rehabilitation centers and clinics.  Graduates are eligible for the Clinical Certificate of Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as well as professional licensure in most states in the U.S. Professionals work with various developmental child speech and language disorders, voice, stuttering and neurogenic disorders with adults, oral communication disorders resulting from oral, facial, or laryngeal pathologies and traumas, or aural habilitation with hearing impaired populations.  Employment opportunities are widely available, with critical shortages in some parts of the country.

   

• Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (M.A.)

  Department Website 

  Program Director: Dr. Sue Sroda
  Phone: (270) 809-4715
  Email: msroda@murraystate.edu
  
  This masters program provides the educational skills to teach English to students whose first language is in another language. In addition to the six semester hours credit for practicum and internship requirements, the program requires 28 hours of specified coursework, including courses in applied linguistics, teaching methods, language and culture, course design, intercultural competence, evaluation, computer-assisted language learning, and seminars in grammar, writing, and speaking.

  The M.A. in TESOL is the recognized teaching degree in the field of English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction, a field that has shown phenomenal growth in the past few years.  This degree is regularly cited as the preferred degree in position announcements for community college and university teaching positions in pre-college English programs for international students; positions in industry in training programs for non-English speaking employees; and positions to teach English in primary and secondary schools and colleges outside the U.S.  The ESL Certificate Endorsement certifies holders of valid Kentucky Teaching Certificates to teach pre-K through 12 ESL in Kentucky public schools.

   

• Teacher Education and Professional Education (Ed.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Ginny Richerson
  Phone: (270) 809-4257
  Email: vricherson@murraystate.edu
  
  The Ed.S. program is designed to fulfill course requirements for Rank I classification. Admission to the program requires a Masters Degree and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The program must be PREPLANNED* with a specialist committee which consists of three faculty members and includes 30 semester hours of graduate level course work. A minimum of 15 hours must be completed in professional education and a minimum of 15 hours of courses completed at the 600 level, and at least 18 hours of credit must be taken at Murray State. Courses for specialization may be selected to enhance current certification or to work toward new certification or to address professional needs and interests. Applicants must hold a Rank II Certificate or its equivalent.

   

  
  

• Telecommunications Systems Management (TSM) (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Mr. George Rice
  Phone: (270) 809-6216
  Email: grice@murraystate.edu
  
  This is Kentucky's only Program of Distinction of its kind and is one of very few in the nation and the world.  The TSM graduate program provides students with a very unique competitive edge rarely found in other graduate programs; graduates from the program come away knowing how to manage technology, as well as how to manage with telecommunications technology.  This unique combination of skills is possible because of the program's interdisciplinary nature, combining technical and technology skills with business skills to produce well-rounded, competitive-edge graduates for the 21st Century telecommunications industry.
  
  The full time program is offered in Murray, while the online program is also available.  Students complete ten graduate courses (30 credit hours) broken down into 24 hours of required courses (8 courses) and six hours of electives (2 courses).
  
  Graduates from this program have gone to work in the U.S. and some foreign countries for banks, insurance companies, technology companies, governmental agencies, and universities in such positions as telecommunications systems administrator, technical sales executive, internet engineer, SQL database administrator, information technology analyst, business development executive, e-commerce developer, and data network supervisor, among many others. 

   

• Watershed Science (M.S.)

  Department Website
  Program Director: Dr. Howard Whiteman
  Phone: (270) 809-6753
  Email: hwhiteman@murraystate.edu
  
  Because of the significant increase in knowledge regarding aquatic ecosystems dynamics, the formulation of management strategies, and the importance of this field of study to future management of our nation's surface water resources, the WSI created the M.S. in Watershed Science degree program. Utilizing each of the three WSI research centers (CAL, HBS, and MARC) the M.S. in Watershed Science is organized as an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a unique approach to watershed science. The program is designed around teaching and research resources of the WSI and will utilize the region's extensive aquatic ecosystems.
  
  

  The Watershed Studies Institute program in Watershed Science is an interdisciplinary master's program within the College of Science, Engineering and Technology designed to prepare students for careers or for further graduate studies in the broader aspects of watershed management and science. The thesis course of study allows students to concentrate on one of four tracks: Aquatic Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Hydrological Spatial Analysis, or Watershed Conservation. The non-thesis course of study is designed to fit individual educational goals and may be focused on any aspect of watershed science. All students must complete a core curriculum and advanced courses in their areas of interest. During the first semester, students must work at the Chemical Services Laboratory, the Mid-America Remote sensing Center, or the Hancock Biological Station.”