Masters of Science in

Technology

Student Handbook
 Table of Contents
MST GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK ................................................................ 4
I. GENERAL INFORMATION ................................................................................ 4
A. GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE ...................................................................... 4
B. CURRICULAR PROCESS ................................................................................ 4
C. ADVISING ........................................................................................................ 4
D. COUNSELING AND CRISIS INTERVENTION .............................................. 5
E. LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER............................................................... 5
II. GRADUATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS ...................................................... 5
A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS....................................................................... 5
B. TRANSFER OF GRADUATE CREDIT ............................................................ 9
C. TIME LIMIT FOR MEETING DEGREE OR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 10
D. CATALOG APPLICABILITY......................................................................... 11
E. GRADING SYSTEM, CRITERIA AND POLICIES........................................ 11
F. AUDITING COURSES.................................................................................... 15
G. REPEATING A COURSE ............................................................................... 15
H. APPLICATION FOR READMISSION............................................................ 15
I. ADDING OR WITHDRAWING FROM COURSES/PROGRAM ................... 16
J. RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES ...................................................... 17
K. WAIVER OF GRADUATE PROGRAM POLICIES ....................................... 17
L. STUDENT APPEALS ..................................................................................... 18
M. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................ 19
III. MASTER’S PROJECT........................................................................................ 19
A. PROCEDURES FOR PROJECT ...................................................................... 20
B. PROJECT GUIDELINES................................................................................. 23
C. THE PROPOSAL............................................................................................. 24
IV. COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAMINATION ................................................... 25
APPENDIX SECTION ................................................................................................. 27
Appendix A................................................................................................................... 28
NKU Department of Technology Statement of Mission................................................. 28
Appendix B................................................................................................................... 30
Mission of the Master of Science in Technology ........................................................... 30
Appendix C................................................................................................................... 32
Letter of Agreement/Investigative Project Committee ................................................... 32
Appendix D................................................................................................................... 33
Topics in Technological Innovation, Management and Quality Assurance..................... 33
Appendix E: Request for Transfer Credit Into the MST Program.................................. 34

Table of contents
 The policies and procedures provided in this handbook pertain to the
Masters of Science in Technology (MST) Program. They are intended to
guide your efforts in obtaining a graduate education. This handbook
should be used in unison with the NKU Graduate Catalog. Polices and
Procedures in the NKU Graduate Catalog are here notwithstanding and
should be consulted throughout your graduate program study.

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 MST GRADUATE STUDENT HANDBOOK

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE

The MST Graduate Office is located on the 2nd floor of the Applied Science and
Technology building in room 211. The office can be reached by calling (859) 572-
5278 or by e-mail: mst@nku.edu. The fax number is (859) 572-5398. Information is
also available through the World Wide Web at http://www.nku.edu/~mst.

B. CURRICULAR PROCESS

The MST Committee is the official body which establishes the policies for admission,
retention, and graduation of all students in the MST program. The MST Committee
approves all curriculum changes in the MST program. These changes then follow the
normal university curricular process, including the University Graduate Council and
the Provost.

C. ADVISING

Students entering the MST program at NKU must attend an admission orientation
given by the Director of the MST Program in order to have a clear understanding of
the program. In certain circumstances students may take a graduate course prior to
this orientation; however, they will be responsible if the course does not apply to the
requirements of their selected program.

After the orientation students will be assigned an advisor. Graduate students are
expected to meet with their advisors each semester they are actively pursuing their
degree. Graduate students, like all NKU students, use Norse Express for most course
registration functions. If a student encounters problems using Norse Express, they
should consult their advisor. In addition to a student’s advisor, the Office of the

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 Registrar (859-572-5556) is available during university business hours to answer
registration questions. The Department of Information Technology, IT Help Desk,
(859-572-6911) is also available to assist with technical problems (like password
resets) related to using Norse Express.

D. COUNSELING AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

Recognizing that every facet of a student's life affects his/her academic progress,
qualified professionals within the Health and Counseling Services (572-5650) offer
individual and group counseling, referral services & testing services to students who
are self or faculty referred. Students may also seek specific assistance or support
through the Career Development Center, Adult Learner Services, International
Student Affairs and/or Disability Services. Many other campus resources are also
available to assist students facing various issues or challenges.

E. LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER

The Learning Assistance Center (BEP 230) is available to NKU students who seek
writing or other academic assistance. The center has tutors who can help with
specific coursework or provide expert advice on how to write good papers, essays,
reports or research papers. It is important for all graduate students to develop good
writing abilities so they can be successful in all their coursework as well as the
culminating project. For further information on learning assistance call (859) 572-
5475 or laplearn@nku.edu.

II. GRADUATE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

1. Admission Process

Students applying for admission to the MST Program must submit:

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 • A complete application for graduate admission to NKU
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate programs
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) verbal and quantitative scores

A student who has completed a masters program or who is currently enrolled in a

masters program and is in good standing may be admitted to the MST program
based upon a graduate GPA of 3.25 and the approval of the MST Director.

2. Candidates for admission must:

a. Possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Your

undergraduate GPA, based on all undergraduate course work, must be at least
2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The minimum GPA requirement for previous graduate
work in the same or related discipline is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

b. Achieve a combined score on the GRE (verbal and quantitative) or GMAT (in
the case of a transferring student) plus a factor of 200 times the cumulative
undergraduate GPA, totaling 1300.

3. Provisional Admission

If you are unable to provide one of the required documents prior to the start of
classes, you can request in writing that the Director of the MST program grant
you provisional admission. The missing document may include, but is not limited
to, an official transcript or an official standardized test result. When only one
document is missing the MST Program Director may use his/her discretion to
extend provisional admission based on the Program Director’s judgment that you
would be regularly admitted if all application materials had been received. When
more than one document cannot be submitted, the Office of Graduate Programs
must approve provisional admission based on a request directly from the MST
Program Director. Provisional admission is valid for one semester during which

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 time the missing documents must be submitted. If not submitted as required, you
will not be allowed to register for additional courses. You will be dismissed from
the program if the newly submitted documents do not meet the appropriate
admission requirements.

4. Conditional Admission

Conditional admission is reserved for those applicants who have submitted all
admission documents, but fail to meet one or more of the requirements for regular
admission and who in the judgment of the MST Program Director hold promise of
successfully completing the graduate degree. If you have not met the published
admissions standards, the MST Program Director may recommend to the Office
of Graduate Programs that you be awarded conditional admission. In return you
will be required to satisfy particular criteria, specified at the time of admission,
before being granted regular admission. At the time of admission, you will be told
the length of time you have to fulfill the conditions for regular admission. In all
cases, students must have regular admission prior to graduating. You will be
dismissed from the program if the criteria for regular admission are not satisfied
within the specified time limit.

5. Unclassified/Non-degree Seeking

Not everyone applies to a university with a degree goal in mind. Unclassified

status is appropriate if you want to take courses without obtaining a degree, or if
you want to demonstrate your academic abilities before applying to a degree
program. In order to be admitted as a non-degree or unclassified student, you
must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with an
overall minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 and at least 3.0 on all graduate work
previously taken. You may take as many courses as you like as an unclassified
student. If you later decide to pursue a degree, however, be aware that a
maximum of nine hours of course work taken as an unclassified student may be
counted toward the MST degree.

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6. Visiting Student

If you are a student enrolled in a graduate program at another regionally

accredited institution and want to take a course to transfer into that program, you
may do so as a Visiting Student. There are no transcript or GPA requirements;
however, you must have permission from your home institution. To apply for
visiting student status, complete the Visiting Student Application, the general
graduate application, and pay the NKU application fee. The Director of the MST
Program must approve all enrollments of visiting students.

7. Undergraduates Taking Graduate Credit

If you are an undergraduate student, who has no more than six credits remaining
to complete a bachelor’s degree, you may be admitted as a graduate student,
provided you have the approval of your undergraduate advisor and the MST
Program Director. As a dually enrolled student, you may take a maximum of 12
credits, graduate and undergraduate combined, in a single semester. Graduate
credit for these courses will not be granted unless all work for the undergraduate
degree is completed in the semester in which you are enrolled for graduate credit.
The MST Program Director must approve all enrollments of dually enrolled
students.

8. International Student Status

International students are subject to all requirements for admission to Northern's

Graduate Programs, and must satisfy all requirements for admission as deemed
necessary by the Office of International Studies. International Students should
refer to NKU policies and procedures pertaining to International Student
Admission.

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 It is important to us that our international students have the English skills to read
at the graduate level and to understand the oral communication that takes place in
classes. Therefore, to be accepted as an international student, you must have a
minimum score of 550 on the paper version of the TOEFL or 213 on the computer
based version. Official test results should be sent to the Office of Graduate
Programs at the time of application. (Exception: International students whose
native language is English or who have graduated from an American University in
which the language of instruction is English are not required to demonstrate
language proficiency.) International students may substitute the Michigan Test
only if it is taken at NKU. You must score at least an 80. Contact the International
Student Affairs office for complete information.

The MST Program Director may require you to take additional English
remediation such as a course in English as a Second Language (ESL 100) if in
his/her judgment you need to improve your English language skills. This decision
will be based upon admission materials and an interview with the MST Program
Director. You will be notified by the MST Program Director if the course will be
necessary.

B. TRANSFER OF GRADUATE CREDIT

All coursework earned after the initial bachelor's degree will be reviewed for possible
transfer to the MST Program. A maximum 6 hours can be applied to the MST
Program. The limit on transfer credit does not include any hours taken through the
Greater Cincinnati Consortium of Colleges and Universities which will be considered
NKU courses. The student must provide an official transcript from former
institutions attended and a course description from the institution’s course handbook.
These transcripts must be forwarded directly to the NKU Office of Admissions by the
college or university attended. Students will be advised of the coursework
transferred, if any, by the MST Director in writing.

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 The credits to be transferred into the MST graduate degree must be in accordance
with the following guidelines:

1. Transfer of graduate/professional credits must be completed before students earn 12

semester hours at Northern Kentucky University.

2. Courses accepted for transfer must have been taken at a regionally accredited college
or university for graduate credit and have received a grade of B or higher. Credit
earned on a "pass/fail" basis will not be transferred. Credit earned through
correspondence courses or work experience will not be transferred.

3. Credit earned at another university must be submitted to the MST Program Director
for approval, and must include a course description. (See Appendix E)

4. A student who wishes to take graduate courses elsewhere, after being admitted to the
MST program, must have written approval from the Director before registering for
the courses. The student should write a letter to the Director describing the courses to
be taken and requesting permission to apply these courses to the MST program
requirements.

5. The decision regarding transfer credits and the applicability to specific components of
the student's course of study will be made by the Director in consultation with the
student's advisor.

C. TIME LIMIT FOR MEETING DEGREE OR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

You will have 6 years in which to complete your degree. Course work that is older
than 6 years cannot be applied toward a degree.

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D. CATALOG APPLICABILITY

1. Your catalog of record is the one in effect during the semester for which you are
admitted into a graduate program. The policies and procedures published in this
catalog are the ones you will follow during your academic career.

2. If your progress toward a degree is interrupted for four or more academic years
from the last time you were regularly enrolled, all curricular requirements (the
rules and regulations), both institutional and programmatic, of the catalog in
effect upon re-entry to the university must be followed.

3. If you apply for a different degree program, your catalog of record will be the one
in effect for that program when you enrolled in the new program.

4. Appeals to these regulations can be made to the Office of Graduate Programs.

E. GRADING SYSTEM, CRITERIA AND POLICIES

1. The Grading System—Good Standing and Academic Probation

A cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 must be maintained for all MST coursework.
Students may repeat courses to improve their GPA. Consult the Course Repeat
Option in the Graduate Programs Catalog. The grade-point average (GPA) is
obtained by dividing the total number of quality points earned by the total number of
semester hours attempted for graduate credit at NKU.

a. Good Standing Unfortunately, some students do not succeed in their

graduate work. We do not think it is fair to allow you to continue in a
program that is unsuited to your strengths. Standards have been set for what
we consider to be the minimum requirements for you to be in good standing.
You must maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and earn no more than

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 2 Cs to remain in good standing. Should you fall below these standards, you
will be placed on academic probation. (See below for specifics of
probationary status.)

b. Academic Probation You will be placed on academic probation if your

graduate GPA falls below a 3.0 on the 4.0 scale. You may remain on
probation only for two consecutive fall and spring semesters in which you are
enrolled. Semesters during which you are not enrolled will not count toward
these two semesters, but will count toward the total amount of time taken to
complete the degree. If after two semesters on probation, your graduate GPA
has not increased to at least a 3.0, you will be dismissed from the program

c. You may be considered for readmission after one semester has elapsed if
you were dismissed from a program for academic reasons. When you apply
for readmission, you will need to document your preparedness for re-entry
into the program.

2. Grading System
The following grading system is used in reporting graduate student proficiency in
graduate courses:
A-Excellent 4 quality points per semester hour

B-Acceptable 3 quality points per semester hour

C-Below standard 2 quality points per semester hour

F-Failure 0 quality points

I-Incomplete

I+- Incomplete

P-Pass

W-Withdrawal 0 quality points.

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 3. Grading Criteria

The Department of Technology will use the following criteria for grades in graduate
courses:

A-Excellent

Superior performance, demonstrating a thorough understanding of required terms and

concepts. Ideas well presented using well-formulated and substantiated, logical
arguments, and well-documented research in APA or other appropriate format;
demonstrated ability to formulate, test, and evaluate hypotheses in courses where
appropriate; activities effectively completed; contributions to class discussion
consistent and of high quality. Competence clearly demonstrated in performance and
knowledge areas. Excellent English usage and spelling.

B-Acceptable

Good performance demonstrating a clear understanding of required terms and

concepts. Ideas adequately presented with logical arguments and documented
research; demonstrated ability to test and evaluate hypotheses in appropriate courses;
activities completed; good contribution to class discussion. Competence adequately
demonstrated in knowledge areas. Good English usage and spelling.

C-Pass

Passing, but below standard for graduate students. Demonstrates basic understanding
of required terms and concepts. Inconsistent contributions to class discussions, etc.
Uses minimal research to document sound but not well substantiated arguments;
demonstrated partial ability to test and evaluate hypotheses in appropriate courses.
Minimal competence demonstrated in performance and knowledge areas. Adequate
English usage and spelling.

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 Incompletes

There may be an occasion when you cannot complete your course requirements by
the end of the semester. You may be assigned an Incomplete (I and I+) at your
request and where your instructor judges there is a reasonable possibility that a
passing grade will result from completion of the work. In return for being given this
extra time, you will need to submit to the instructor all work necessary for completion
of an Incomplete (I) grade no later than the sixth week of the semester immediately
following the semester in which the Incomplete was earned. (Incompletes earned in
the spring semester must be cleared by the sixth week of the fall term.) All
Incompletes (I) will convert to F’s if a grade change has not been submitted to the
Office of the Registrar prior to the eighth week of the semester. Grades of I+ are
reserved for continuing work on theses/projects. They remain unchanged on the your
transcript until the thesis/project has been completed.

Pass/Fail
Courses may not be taken as pass/fail unless written approval is obtained from the
MST Program Director.

4. Written Work

Written work requiring analysis and synthesis of ideas will be required in all graduate
classes.

No paper will receive a grade of A unless it is excellent with respect to form and
effectiveness of presentation as well as subject-matter content. When appropriate it
must be substantiated with research and citations and must use APA or other
appropriate format.

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 To receive full credit, assignments must be submitted by the due date specified.
Specific applications of this policy and exceptions thereto are the prerogative of the
instructor.

F. AUDITING COURSES

If you want to audit a graduate course in the MST program, you will need to get prior
approval from the MST Program Director. Audited courses may be repeated for credit
that, in turn, can be counted towards the degree.

G. REPEATING A COURSE

A graduate course may be repeated only once, and only two courses may be repeated
in the MST program. Only courses in which a less than satisfactory grade was earned
(i.e., C or F) may be repeated. The second grade will be used in computation of the
GPA; however, the original course will remain on the transcript. All courses taken for
the repeat option must be taken from NKU. They cannot be taken from another
university and transferred to NKU.

Complete an Option to Repeat a Course form in the Registration Service Center or via
Norse Express for Students before the end of the semester when repeating a course so
that only the second grade is calculated in GPA .

H. APPLICATION FOR READMISSION

Once admitted as a graduate student, you have one year to enroll in your first class;
otherwise, a new application will be required to ensure that all of your information is
up-to-date. We will keep the documents submitted with your application for one year
if you do not enroll. If you need to delay enrolling for an additional period of time,
we will keep the documents on file for you. All you need to do is make a written
request to the Office of Graduate Programs asking that we keep the documents.

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 If you have enrolled at NKU, but interrupted your enrollment for four or more years,
you must apply for readmission. We also require that you submit official transcripts
for additional course work taken elsewhere since your last attendance at NKU. The
standard application fee will be assessed.

I. ADDING OR WITHDRAWING FROM COURSES/PROGRAM

The University Schedule of Classes lists the dates when a student may add a course
or withdraw from a course after completing registration. Drop/Add requests are
completed by the student through Norse Express. The Schedule of Classes also
provides detailed information on fees assessed on late registration and the refund
schedule for dropped classes. When adding courses, see the course-load policy for
allowable limits.

1. Withdrawing from a Course

a. Course Withdrawal Policies: Withdrawal from a course during the first three
weeks of the semester will not be reflected on your transcript. From the fourth
week through the tenth week (midterm), official course withdrawals will be
assigned a grade of W (withdrawal). The W will appear on your transcript but
will not affect your grade-point average (GPA).
b. Course Withdrawal Procedure: The last day to withdraw from courses with a
"W" grade is printed in the Academic Calendar. Students ineligible to drop
via Norse Express for Students must submit a signed letter to the Office of the
Registrar in order to drop a course(s).

2. Withdrawing from School:

a. In order to withdraw from school completely, students must comply with

procedures and deadlines set by the Office of the Registrar.
b. We understand that students will experience a variety of circumstances that
will force them to withdraw from all courses for one semester. When this

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 occurs in two consecutive semesters, however, we will want to ensure that you
have satisfactorily dealt with these circumstances before allowing you to
enroll for a third semester. You will need to petition the Office of Graduate
Programs explaining why you should be allowed to enroll.

J. RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES

1. You will be notified of your residency status when you are admitted to the
university. Residency status is determined in accordance with the Council on
Postsecondary Education’s Classification of Residency for Admission and Tuition
Assessment Purposes. Pertinent excerpts from the Kentucky residency policy can
be found in Appendix A of the Graduate Programs Catalog. The entire policy can
be found at
<http://www.cpe.state.ky.us/keyind/www/policies/policies_residency_intro.asp>.
You may appeal the initial determination of residency for tuition purposes by
requesting a residency affidavit from the Office of the Registrar to initiate this
process.

2. Metropolitan Rate Eligibility- The University has a separate residency status for
Ohio and Indiana students who live in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky
area. The Metropolitan Rate, significantly lower than out-of-state tuition, will
apply to residents of the following Ohio counties: Adams, Brown, Butler,
Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Hamilton, Highland, and Warren; and to residents of
the following Indiana counties: Dearborn, Franklin, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley, and
Switzerland.

K. WAIVER OF GRADUATE PROGRAM POLICIES

You may request a waiver or exception to a university policy if you believe your case
is exceptional. A written request detailing the reason(s) the waiver should be given is
submitted first to the MST Program Director. If the Director agrees that your case
warrants an exception, the Director will forward the request to the Office of Graduate

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 Programs. You will receive written notification on the final decision made in that
office. If the Director does not agree that your case warrants exception, you can ask
the Director to forward your appeal to the Graduate Council. You will be notified by
the Office of Graduate Programs when your appeal is scheduled to be heard. (See
Appeal of a Regulation Governing Graduate Study (K1) below.)

There are two regulations where no exception will be made: (1) no one will receive a
master’s degree with fewer than 30 hours of course work; and (2) no one will be
awarded a graduate degree or certificate with a cumulative GPA below 3.0.

L. STUDENT APPEALS

1. Appeal of a Regulation Governing Graduate Study: Students may appeal a

regulation pertaining to the MST program by writing to the Director of the MST
Program. The Director, in conjunction with the chairperson or the chairperson's
designee, will decide on appeals pertaining to the course of study (e.g.,
substitution of courses). Other academic appeals are transmitted by the Director
to the Graduate Council for a decision at its next regularly scheduled session. All
portions of the graduate admissions requirements must be met before an appeal is
made; the appeal will not be considered if the pertinent documents have not been
received by the Office of Graduate Programs. Students have the right to present
their appeal in person before the Graduate Council. Decisions of the Graduate
Council may be appealed to the Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost.

2. Appeal of an Academic Grade: Graduate students will follow the appeals

process outlined in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities when
appealing a decision made in the classroom by an instructor. These may be found
at
http://www.nku.edu/~deanstudents/student_rights/index.
htm.

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 3. Appeal of Non-Academic Matters: The appeals process for non-academic
matters is given in the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities on the web at:
http://www.nku.edu/~deanstudents/student_rights/index.
htm.

M. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

1. You must obtain a Program Certification Form from the Office of the
Registrar and have it signed by the MST Program Director. The completed form
is to be returned to the Office of the Registrar.

2. An Application for Degree Candidacy must be filed with the Office of the
Registrar by the following dates:
Fall semester graduation April 15
Spring semester graduation October 15
Summer semester graduation April 15

3. Thesis/Project Completion Forms After you submit to the Office of the

Registrar a Thesis/Project Completion Form, signed by the Office of Graduate
Programs, you can be approved for graduation. This form will be given to you
when the Office of Graduate Programs has cleared the signed final copy of the
thesis/project for binding.

III. MASTER’S PROJECT

The Master's Project offers the student the opportunity to integrate theory and course
work with practice. It is an investigation or developmental activity which is
applicable to a rather specific setting, such as a given company, industry or process.
The actual implementation and consequent assessment of the activity must be a part
of the project. The project must be field-based and allow the student to apply

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 technology. Students may, with the approval of the Director, work together on a
Master's Project.

A Master's Project is usually considered to be a research investigation, which has

applicability beyond the immediate setting in which it was conducted. Therefore, a
condition for Master's Projects is that they are made available to the industrial
community at large, normally through publication and oral presentation.

The graduate student is responsible for the design, documentation, revision and
completion of the MST Project, including meeting all deadlines and formatting
requirements.

A. PROCEDURES FOR PROJECT

1. The student must have an initial discussion with the MST Program Director to
discuss the possibility of doing a project and to determine the general parameters
of the project. At this point the student must submit the Letter of Intent Form.
(See Appendix A)

2. The student is advised not to begin the project before enrolling in MST 610,
Research Methods in Technology. This course, which is to be taken after the
MAT 630 statistics class, is designed to give the student technical assistance with
developing a proposal for the project and developing the necessary background to
carry out the work. This course is a prerequisite for MST 697 Master’s Project.

3. During the semester when the student is enrolled in MST 610 and after the student
has created an acceptable draft of the proposal (see part 5 below), the student and
the Director of the MST Program will select a project committee. In consultation
with the student, the Director will select a project committee including a
chairperson who holds Graduate Faculty rank and, where possible, is a specialist
in the area of the student's project. The project committee will be composed of at

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 least three members, selected through consultation with the student. No full-time
graduate faculty member can serve as chair to more than two projects any one
time. This is to insure that each student receives the attention needed to
successfully complete the project.

4. If the project involves students or other persons, the proposal must be reviewed by
the Institutional Review Board, also known as the Human Subjects Committee
(HSC). IRB guidelines and forms are available from the NKU Office of Research,
Grants and Contracts ((859)572-5136; http://rgc.nku.edu) and from the
Department of Psychology ((859)572-5310). The report of this review must be
filed with the department’s Graduate Office. No project may be undertaken, nor
may a student enroll in MST 697 Project until such approval has been received
and recorded with the department’s Graduate Office.

5. The project proposal may be initiated in MST 610. Students should expect to
work through several revisions of the proposal before it is an acceptable draft.
The professor of the course will act as technical advisor to the student in the
preparation of the proposal, which upon completion is submitted to the student's
project committee.

The committee will hold a hearing to review the proposal. The hearing must be
held and the proposal accepted before the student may register for MST 697. The
committee's decision (approval; approval with conditions; non-approval) will be
reported in writing, and a copy of the decision will be placed in the student's MST
file. The student may not enroll in MST 697 Project until the committee's
approval has been received and recorded with the Technology Graduate Office
and the student has passed MST 610.

If students fail to satisfactorily complete the proposal, or if they choose to

discontinue work on the proposal, a decision about the grade will be made by the
Director of MST Program in consultation with the project committee.

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 6. When the proposal has been fully approved, the student may proceed with the
project and enroll in MST 697. It is important during this time for the student to
remain in contact with the project committee chairperson to assure that the work
is acceptable and that progress toward completion of the project is maintained.

7. If a student fails to complete the project during MST 697, they may be given an
Incomplete (I) for the course. This will convert to an Incomplete plus (I+) by
midterm of the following semester if the student has not received a grade by that
time. In order to continue working on the proposal or the project, students will be
required to enroll in MST 697 for one semester hour credit until completion. They
may enroll in MST 697 for no more than six semester hours.

8. The student must present a draft of the final document of the project to the
project committee members for review and suggestion. The draft should be
revised in accordance with their suggestions until it is acceptable to the
committee.

9. The chair of the project committee, in consultation with the student, will schedule
a final hearing for the final presentation of the project to the committee. This
hearing is open to members of the university and industrial community. The
committee will report its decision on the acceptability of the project in writing. A
copy of this report must be filed in the MST Program Office.

10. The student must make all corrections before submitting the final document. The
project committee will assign a final grade. This will be the grade for MST 697
Project.

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 11. Copies of a Project, in its final form, must be submitted to the Director of
Graduate Programs at NKU as follows:

a. Two copies to the Graduate Office - one to be bound and placed in the
University Library and one to be bound and returned to the department. The
copy sent to Steely Library will be catalogued and placed in the collection.
As a matter of courtesy committee members, especially the chairperson,
should be provided with a copy of the project.

b. The Office of Graduate Studies has published a detailed guide to the

precise format required for acceptable theses/projects at
http://www.nku.edu/~gradprog/pdf/thesis%20format.pdf.
This guide also specifies the procedures and fees required in order to
successfully submit your project.

c. This guide addresses some questions related to the submission of non-

standard or innovative materials and media as part of the project. The
Office of Graduate Programs, along with the project committee, must be
consulted in order to ensure the acceptance of materials or media not covered
by theses/project guidelines.

B. PROJECT GUIDELINES

All narrative material in the proposal as well as the project should be made clearly
understandable to the reader through careful, well-organized writing and adequate
utilization of references and notes. Consistency of style and form, following the most
current APA or other approved publication manual, should be the rule throughout the
manuscript.

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 Students will receive guidance from the instructor of MST 610 and his/her project
committee in the development and implementation of a project. However the graduate
student is responsible for the completion of the MST Project.

In the course of research students may wish to examine projects/theses created by

other students. However, students should not use other projects as models since
exceptions, which may not be approved again, have sometimes been made. Instead,
the student should follow the APA Manual or other approved format and the advice of
the course instructor and/or the committee.

C. THE PROPOSAL

1. Proposals should be prepared according to the outlines below. They should be

typed, double-spaced and follow the APA manual and/or other approved
guidelines. The instructor of MST 610 and/or the MST Program Director will
help students with conceptualizing the proposal and dealing with technical
aspects.

2. When the student has developed an acceptable proposal, typically after several
revisions, a project committee, will review it and make final recommendations. A
final copy of the proposal should be provided to each member of the project
committee prior to the committee hearing. This final draft will be the basis for a
grade for the course and will determine whether the student will continue with the
project. If the student’s proposal is not acceptable, the student can receive a grade
for the course but will not be given permission to enter MST 697 and complete
the project.

3. Proposal Development In the process of developing a proposal the student will

complete the following tasks
a. Identify a minimum of two viable topics that could be developed into a
Project.

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 b. Develop each topic describing problem areas and listing the elements that
need to be addressed.
c. Select topic that has greatest potential for completion and benefit to
individual, company, and MST program.
d. Produce a document that addresses:
§ Project identity
§ Project need
§ Time line (e.g., GANTT chart)
§ Review of current literature to support project idea
e. Submit a Letter of Agreement (Appendix C)

E. MST DEGREE PROPOSED OUTLINE FOR PROJECT

The final document of the Project will follow the formatting instructions provided by the
Office of Graduate Programs. In addition to those requirements, an MST project must
contain the following sections within the text portion of the manuscript:

i Introduction
ii Statement of problem
iii Review of related material
iv Definition of terms
v Limitations of project
vi Procedures to be followed
vii Time line for project
viii Cost analysis
ix Operational characteristic
x Outcomes/results
xi Conclusions

The Project will also require an oral presentation and defense of the work accomplished.

IV. COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAMINATION

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 If a student selects the Comprehensive Final Examination instead of a Master’s
Project, he/she must declare their intention one semester prior to the examination.
The student must inform the Program Director in writing at that time. The Program
Director will work with the student along with the Examination Committee to
develop the final examination. The student will be given a minimum of 30 days to
prepare for the final examination. The student will be given a study guide to assist in
his/her preparation. The Examination Committee will determine the Comprehensive
Final Examination format. All Comprehensive Finals will be graded on a Pass/Fail
bases. Student will be notified of their score in writing within 30 days of the final
examination.

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 APPENDIX SECTION

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 Appendix A

NKU Department of Technology Statement of Mission

Northern Kentucky University has a singular mission within the Commonwealth

as a metropolitan and regional institution. It offers community college, bachelors,
graduate, and professional programs addressing the educational needs of a large and
diverse population. Through such programs, the University educates students to be
productive citizens, to prepare them for success in careers and occupations, and to pursue
a commitment to life-long learning. As an educational, cultural, and social center, the
University stimulates economic development and fosters the academic, artistic, and
personal freedoms vital to a free society.

Mission of the Department of Technology:

1. Serve northern Kentucky and greater Cincinnati area by demonstrating a

commitment to quality education and training needed by students to
function effectively in a technological world;

2. Teach proven knowledge and relevant technical skills;

3. Provide leadership through:

a) The creation of new knowledge and applications to the

fields of manufacturing, construction, aviation, electronics,
office systems technology, industrial and labor relations,
business education, industrial education, and industrial
supervision;

b) Articulation agreements with secondary education, post-

secondary, and other institutions of higher education;

c) Collaborative arrangements with business and industry; and

d) Continuous improvement of programs at the associate,

bachelor, and graduate levels.

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 Relationship to University Structure

The Department of Technology, like all academic units at NKU, reports to an academic
dean (the Dean of the College of Professional Studies), and through the Dean to the
Provost and President. The Department of Technology currently offers: Associate of
Applied Science degrees in Aviation Administration and Construction Technology;
Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Education, Organizational Systems Technology,
Computer and Electronics Engineering Technology, Construction Management,
Industrial Education, Industrial and Labor Relations, Mechanical and Manufacturing
Engineering Technology, and Organizational Leadership.

These programs are administered by a Chairperson of the Department of

Technology. Program Coordinators, who conduct the administrative business for the
faculty and students, have been appointed for each of the programs. The Director of the
MST program will assume responsibility for the graduate program to ensure cohesiveness
between the faculty teaching baccalaureate and graduate courses.

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 Appendix B

Mission of the Master of Science in Technology

The MST is designed to serve the needs of students who possess a baccalaureate
degree in Technology or related disciplines. The objective of the program is to provide
individuals with the ability to innovate and lead organizations in the creative solutions of
technological problems. The mission will be achieved through a program of study, which
includes coursework, and experiences composed of a common body of knowledge and
areas of specialization.

Emphasis

The MST is designed to focus on Technological Innovation, Technology

Management and Quality Assurance.

Structure

Coursework is divided into a Core and three tracks—Technological Innovation,

Technology Management and Quality Assurance. A project or a comprehensive exam is
required for successful completion of the 33-semester hour MST program.
Core courses emphasize the fundamental skills and knowledge deemed important
by industrial systems employers and technology managers. Core courses concentrate on
what students need to know and be able to do before they can solve problems relating to
people and technical systems in industry.

Overview-Master of Science in Technology

Program Hours

Total = 31-33

Program Courses (* = Required)

Core Courses 18-21 Hours

*MAT 630 Applied Statistics in Technology

*MST 603 Project Management in Technology

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 *MST 610 Research Methods in Technology
*MST 612 Technical Management in a Global Economy
*MST 614 Computer Applications in Technology
*MST 697 Project (3 hrs) or MST 685 Comprehensive Final Examination (1)

Tracks

Technological Innovation 15 Hours

*MST 621 Technological Innovations

*MST 623 Advanced Project Management for Technological Innovation
*MST 604 Quality Planning and Design
*MST 625 Product and Process Development
*MST 693 Special Problems

Technology Management 15 Hours

*MST 640 Technical Training and Development

*MST 642 Human Resources Management in Technology
*MST 644 Technical Communications in a Global Economy
*MST 665 Seminar in Technology Management
*MST 693 Special Problems

Quality Assurance 15 Hours

*MST 604 Quality Planning & Design
*MST 624 Quality Systems Appraisal
*MST 634 Design of Experiments
*MST 644 Quality Engineering
*MST 693 Special Problems

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 Appendix C

Letter of Agreement/Investigative Project Committee

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Highland Heights, Kentucky
Department of Technology - MST Program
Letter of Agreement/Investigative Project Committee

This is a letter of agreement between ___________________________, a graduate student in the

Department of Technology, and selected Project Committee members. The purpose of this agreement is
to establish a working relationship between the student and committee for the design, implementation
and evaluation of a Master's level project.

It is understood that although this document is not legally binding, there is a professional responsibility
involved should the need to change the composition of the group occur. The person initiating the
change should notify all concerned, in writing, so that adequate replacements can be found without
undue interruption of the process. In the event the topic chosen should be changed, then all the persons
involved should initial the change accordingly.

The area of specific research focus is _________________________________________ and the

estimated time of completion for the study is ______________________.

_______________________________ ________________________________
Student Date Committee Chair Date

________________________________
Committee Member Date

________________________________
Committee Member Date

Four copies needed: one for each committee member, student, and Department Chairperson.
Approve:

________________________________
MST Program Director
cc: Student
Committee members
Department Chair Student file
MST Program Director

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 Appendix D
Topics in Technological Innovation, Management and Quality Assurance

Special Problems _______________________

Independent Study Contract

MST 693: Individual in-depth study of a specialized problem chosen in consultation with
proposed supervising professor and approved by the MST Director.

_______________________________ _____________________
Student Name SSN#

Semester for Topics Course:_______________________________

(semester / year)

Contract Date: _________________________________

Objectives:

Procedures

Evaluation Methods

REQUIRED SIGNATURES

_____________________________ ___________________________________
Graduate Student Date Graduate Faculty Date
Approved Not Approved

__________________________________ __________________________________
Director, MST Program Department Chair Date
Copy distribution: one each to the MST Director, the student and the Faculty Adviser

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Appendix E: Request for Transfer Credit Into the MST Program

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