eDegree FAQs
Admissions and Applications
Courses and Scheduling
Tuition/Fees
Admissions and Applications
Are admission standards or requirements different for the eDegree option students?
- No, all M.L.I.S. students must meet the same standards for admission and graduation. See http://www.kent.edu/slis/admissions/admissions-information.cfm.
How do I designate on my admission application that I want to be in the eDegree option?
- Applicants should select the eDegree ("online") option on their Biographical Sketch form.
Courses and Scheduling
Can I specialize?
- All M.L.I.S. students may choose from a vast majority of SLIS courses now offered online, but not all courses are currently available online for some areas of specializations. To verify if a specific area of specialization or specific courses can be completed entirely online, please consult with your academic advisor. Students who have not yet been admitted to the M.L.I.S. program should consult with our Academic Program Coordinator, Rhonda Filipan, at rfilipan@kent.edu or 330-672-0013. Students who previously started the eDegree option and want to change their specialization should consult with their academic advisor.
What if I change my mind and decide that I prefer face-to-face courses through the M.L.I.S. program at Kent or Columbus?
- Students can switch out of the eDegree option at any time and then take courses in Kent or Columbus, as well as take other courses which may be offered online.However, if a non-resident eDegree option student enrolls in a face to face course(s) and/or workshop(s), the student will be billed the non-resident tuition rate for all of his or her courses/workshops (online and face-to-face) for that semester.
- All M.L.I.S. students, including those in the eDegree option, can take up to six years to complete their degree.Students wanting to complete their M.L.I.S. degree in three semesters (this is not recommended) will need to consult with their academic advisor. Class schedules for students admitted prior to fall 2012 are designed for students to complete their M.L.I.S. degree within one to two years, per the Courses and Schedules Option found on the School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) eDegree Web page. Students may begin their LIS 60670 Culminating Experience or LIS 60199 Thesis after the successful completion of 24 credit hours (including all core courses), optimally as part of the last 9 credit hours of the M.L.I.S. program.
Do I have to take all of the courses offered through the eDegree option?
- No, but if students are interested in completing their M.L.I.S. according to the schedule they were given when they started (in Summer 2012 or before), it is recommended that they stay on track in the eDegree option of their choice.If a student wants to replace one online course for another, the student should consult withhis or her academic advisor before enrolling.
What if I can't take one of the courses when it is offered? (This question only pertains to students who started the eDegree option in Summer 2012 or before.)
- If a student is unable to take or complete one of the courses when it is offered, he or she must complete the course (if it is a core course) later or substitute another course (if it is a specialization course).Students should contact their academic advisor to review their course of study. Please review the Guaranteed Seating Policy if you cannot take a required course when it is offered.
Tuition/Fees
How much is tuition for students in the eDegree option?
- Tuition rates can be found on the Bursar's website at www.kent.edu/bursar > Tuition/Fees; under Kent Campus, click on the correct academic year (AY) for Graduate Instructional & General Fees. Note: There is an additional Distance Learning Fee (currently $10 per credit hour) for all students enrolled in an online course and/or workshop or online program.Note for Non-Residents of Ohio: At this time all non-resident students in the eDegree option will be billed the Graduate (GR) Ohio Resident rate (total of Instructional Fee & General Fee), the $10.00 Distance Learning Fee per graduate credit hour, and an additional $10.00 non-resident surcharge per graduate credit hour, which will be included with the Instructional Fee.Please note that these rates are subject to change.
- If a non-resident eDegree student enrolls in a face-to-face course and/or workshop or any online course with in-person meetings, the student will be billed at the non-resident tuition rate for all of his or her courses/workshops (online and face to face) for that semester.
