General Information

The Graduate Catalog

The University of Central Missouri Graduate Catalog contains a wealth of information for students, staff, and faculty members.  Students should examine it carefully.

This catalog is a reliable guide for entering the university, reviewing available programs of study, selecting courses, and meeting graduation requirements. To the extent possible, the university will accept the degree/certificate requirements in it for an eight-year period.

Since the policies and programs of the university are constantly changing, no catalog can be completely up-to-date, even when it is published. Therefore, students should review their programs periodically with their faculty advisor and graduate coordinator to allow for necessary changes.

Individual schools and degree programs may have policies and requirements that are more stringent than the general university policies.

Graduate students are subject to current administrative policies, procedures, and regulations of the university. The general policies and regulations listed in the 2019 Graduate Catalog become effective fall 2019. Consult the UCM Student Handbook for other university policies.

The University

The University of Central Missouri is a comprehensive, public university dedicated to providing personalized higher education experiences for a diverse body of students. Through its commitment to service and excellence, UCM seeks to meet the educational needs of the region, with extended responsibility to meet state, national, and international needs through selected programs.  The University of Central Missouri is located in Warrensburg, a west central Missouri community of 16,350, located 50 miles southeast of Kansas City at the junction of Highways 50 and 13. The campus is easily reached by automobile or AMTRAK.

Central Missouri has provided more than a century of service, having been founded in 1871 as the State Normal School for the Second Normal District of Missouri. Formal accreditation and continued growth led the campus to be recognized as Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1919, Central Missouri State College in 1946, Central Missouri State University in 1972 and the University of Central Missouri in 2006. UCM is an affirmative action EEO/ADA institution.

Including an airport and other special facilities, the university occupies more than 1,000 acres. The university offers over 150 graduate and undergraduate programs for over 14,000 students. UCM’s facilities are exceptional - not only its modern classrooms, laboratories, technical developments, and residence halls, but also its airport, Pertle Springs Park, and recreational and sports areas.

With a university motto of “Education for Service,” it is not surprising that the university’s faculty members have earned a reputation for teaching excellence, on and off campus. They have also distinguished themselves as scholars, achieving recognition in academic and professional organizations, in addressing learned societies, in performing in music and the arts, and in writing many books and journal articles.

From its establishment in 1871, and until 1947, UCM offered only undergraduate studies. Changing needs prompted continual improvement and development of the curriculum. In 1945, the State General Assembly, responsive to the needs of the state and to requests from teachers, authorized a change in name as well as an extension of mission. This legislation provided the legal basis for the establishment of graduate studies. Graduate work leading to the Master of Science in Education degree was offered for the first time in 1947.

The guiding principles of graduate education at UCM have remained constant since inception. Graduate work demands independent, critical, and creative thinking, the ability to collect, organize, and develop data, and the ability to formulate, interpret, and defend conclusions.

Programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Teaching, the Education Specialist, and Cooperative Doctoral degrees have been added since 1947, and are a direct response to the needs of the citizens of the state of Missouri. In 1996, a statewide mission in academic technology for the University of Central Missouri was approved to “acquire, disseminate and utilize technology to enhance the university’s comprehensive educational mission and to enrich the lives of all Missourians.”

The UCM Community Creed

Choosing to become a citizen of the University of Central Missouri implies an acceptance of and willingness to contribute to the common goals and purposes of the community. The UCM Community Creed outlines the principles which guide the creation and maintenance of the desired community at UCM. The creed also provides a framework for individual behaviors which help build our vision.

As a member of the UCM community, I will join in building …

a learning community by striving for academic and personal excellence and by promoting the value of education and lifelong learning;

an open community by creating and maintaining effective channels of communication and by accepting and respecting individuals whose values, ideas, beliefs, and life experiences may be different from my own;

a caring community by seeking opportunities to serve and by supporting and affirming the well-being of others;

a just community by behaving in ways which are ethical, honest, equitable, trustworthy, civil and respectful;

a disciplined community by seeking to understand and fulfill personal responsibilities, by upholding university guidelines and by working toward self and community betterment;

a celebrative community by observing and honoring existing traditions and by seeking and creating opportunities to enrich and define UCM;

a purposeful community by helping to shape and achieve the common goals of UCM.

Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies is a combined effort between two collaborating offices: Graduate Education and Research (GER) and Graduate and International Student Services (GISS). Graduate Education and Research provides program-level academic and research support.  Graduate and International Student Services provides both domestic and international admissions support as well as international student services.

Mission:  Working collaboratively across the university Graduate Studies provides high-quality graduate programs that are offered in multiple delivery modes to empower every student to meet their personal, educational, and professional development goals. 

Delivery Strategy:  

The resources and initiatives of Graduate Studies are aimed at ensuring UCM’s graduate programs promote diversity, embrace innovation in education and research, and respond to the changing needs of the workforce.  To accomplish this, Graduate Studies provides support to academic programs for recruitment, admissions, international student services, retention, research, and assessment.

Graduate Education and Research

The personnel in the Graduate Education and Research (GER) office seek to provide quality services to support graduate education and research at UCM.  In conjunction with other offices and committees this office coordinates the review of graduate curriculum and policies.  Additional functions of this office include providing scholarly funding through research grants and travel provisions, and promoting graduate student and program visibility.  The GER office handles all processes associated with Graduate Assistantships on campus including the orientation process for new GAs.  This office also reviews the following graduate student petitions: enrollment overloads, exceptions to the eight-year curriculum rule, and the reinstatement of academically ineligible students.  The GER office also administers thesis review and submittal and offers thesis workshops.  The GER office is located in Ward Edwards 1900.

Graduate and International Student Services

The personnel in the Graduate and International Student Services provide both domestic and international admissions support and international student services.  Some of the student services that this office provides include: major changes, advisor assignments, enrollment assistance, processing of initial I-20s for international students, and international student orientation.  This office also handles graduate student petitions for determining Missouri residency and dual enrollment in undergraduate and graduate coursework.  The office is located in Ward Edwards 1800.

Organization and Administration of Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies encompasses two distinct offices: the office of Graduate Education and Research (GER) and the Graduate and International Students Services (GISS) office. The Director of Graduate Education and Research reports to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. The Director of Graduate and International Student Services reports to the Vice Provost of Enrollment Management.  Also significant in the organization and administration of Graduate Studies are the Graduate Faculty Assembly, Graduate Council, Graduate Faculty Review Committee, University Research Council, graduate advisors and coordinators, the faculty as a body, the Director of Graduate and International Student Services, and the Director of Graduate Education and Research.

Graduate Faculty Assembly - The Graduate Faculty Assembly (GFA) is the governing body of graduate programs for the university. The GFA is comprised of all members of the Graduate Faculty and the administrators assigned to Graduate Studies. Recognizing that input from the graduate faculty is crucial to the quality of graduate education, the GFA provides a forum for discussion of graduate education issues and elects members to the Graduate Council. Graduate faculty members of the GFA are recognized as associate or full members with differing rights and responsibilities. GFA meets twice a year, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester.

Graduate Council - The Graduate Council (GC) serves as an administrative committee for the Provost-Chief Learning Officer and a recommending body to Graduate Education and Research and all graduate functions of the Graduate and International Student Services office and Office of the Registrar. The Graduate Council functions as the main recommending body to the director of Graduate Education and Research on all issues central to: the development and advancement of the University’s vision with regard to graduate education and research, the development and review of University policies and procedures for graduate education as set forth in the Graduate Catalog, the review and recommendation of graduate curriculum, and the monitoring of graduate program quality. The Graduate Council serves as the review and recommendation body for all academic petitions submitted to Graduate Education and Research. The Graduate Council serves to review initial and reappointment applications for Full Graduate Faculty Status and the first level of review for appeals from faculty whose applications were not approved by the school chair and/or dean of the academic unit. The Graduate Council serves as the first level of review for appeals from faculty whose applications for Associate Graduate Faculty Status are not approved by the Director of Graduate Education and Research. Graduate Council members are elected by the full graduate faculty members of the Graduate Faculty Assembly.

The Graduate Council is composed of 14 members. Full members of the GFA nominate and elect from their numbers eight representatives to the Graduate Council: four at-large members and one representative each from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, College of Education, Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies, and the College of Health, Science, and Technology. Two graduate student members are appointed by the Graduate Student Association. The Director and Assistant Director of Graduate Education and Research, a representative of Graduate and International Student Services, and a representative from the Registrar’s Office serve as ex officio, non-voting members.

University Research Council - The University Research Council formulates policies and procedures pertaining to faculty research and assists the Director of Graduate and Education Research in promoting research at the University of Central Missouri. The University Research Council is composed of seven members. One representative each from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; College of Education; Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies; College of Health, Science and Technology; Director of Graduate Education and Research (ex officio), and student body.

Graduate Advisors - Graduate program advisors are recommended and approved by the department chair and college dean to teach graduate-level courses and advise graduate students. Graduate advisors must have full graduate faculty status. Graduate program advisors counsel students about enrollment, program planning, qualifying examinations, research studies and/or thesis, comprehensive examinations, and eligibility for graduation.

Graduate Coordinators - Graduate coordinators are responsible for implementing the policies and procedures of graduate study at the university within their respective units. They advise faculty and students and coordinate school graduate programs relative to the policies and procedures set forth by Graduate Studies.

Graduate Student Association - The purposes of the organization are:

• To serve as an advocacy group for the academic, professional, and personal needs of graduate students.
• To serve as a liaison between the graduate population and the faculty and administration.
• To provide the opportunity to initiate programs, workshops, and discussions relevant to the graduate experience.
• To provide opportunities for social activities in an effort to create a sense of community.

The GSA meeting times are designated by the current members. Officers are elected from the membership every Fall.