The Lowry Bill was an act of legislature in Ohio that called for the establishment of several new teaching colleges. One of those schools opened in Bowling Green, but the second opened in Kent in 1910. The college was so small during its early days that classes met in local buildings that had space available. Known as both the Ohio State Normal College at Kent and the Kent State Normal School, it offered several diploma and certificate programs for future teachers. Though it went through several name changes, it continued functioning as a normal school until the 1930s, when it established itself as a school of arts and sciences.
Many people know Kent State, also called KSU, for the anti-war protests that occurred on the campus in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including one that led to the deaths of several students. That incident inspired several films, television shows and even songs. Kent State has a memorial to the incident on its campus, and the spot is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It worked hard to change its reputation in the coming years and now ranks on several lists of the best American colleges and the best colleges in Ohio. The university operates several regional and satellite campuses outside of Kent too.
Kent State University Accreditation Details
As KSU has regional accreditation, students will find that the credits they earn at this campus are valid at other schools, but it also means that they can apply for and receive financial aid, including government grants and loans. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCACS) accredited Kent State, and this type of accreditation applies to both the undergrad and graduate programs offered by the university. KSU also has specialized accreditation from nearly 30 organizations that applies to several of its degree programs like those in business, dance, journalism and counseling. Some of the specialized accreditation that Kent State has comes from:
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc.
- American Library Association
- Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- American Psychological Association
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
- Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
- Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration
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Kent State University Application Requirements
Kent State University allows students to enroll and start classes in the summer, fall or spring semester, but each of those semesters has its own deadline regarding when applications must arrive. The university looks at the strength of each individual student's high school curriculum, grade point average and test scores, but it also factors in the extracurricular activities that students did and any experience they might have.
KSU also requires that prospective students show that they took four years of English and math classes, three years of life or health science and social studies classes and at least two years of one foreign language. Certain undergrad programs will only admit those who earned a 3.0 or higher in high school and/or scored highly on the SAT or ACT. In addition to the online undergrad application, students must submit an official standardized test score and high school transcript.
The graduate application is also available on the admissions website. It comes with a $45 fee that students pay when they complete and submit that application. KSU requires three letters of recommendation and an official score from a test like the MAT, GRE or GMAT. Students will also need to submit a resume and a statement of purpose, which essentially explains their reasons for selecting Kent State and how the university can help them achieve their goals. Certain departments may also ask for writing samples, a portfolio of past work and other information.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time KSU undergrads must take at least 12 credits of classes each semester. The university charges a rate of just over $10,000 for Ohio residents and increases that rate to more than $18,000 for nonresidents. This price lets students take up to 18 credit hours in a semester without facing any additional fees. Room and board packages are available for an additional $10,000 a year, which brings the total cost for undergrads up to between $20,000 and $28,000 a year. Ohio residents enrolled in one of the KSU grad programs pay a little over $11,000 a year for tuition and miscellaneous fees, but the price for nonresidents is closer to $20,000 a year. Grad students may face extra fees associated with a thesis or dissertation.
Between the university itself and its various departments, students can qualify for more than 700 scholarships. KSU recommends that students visit the financial aid office or website to search for scholarships and see how they can apply for each one. The university mails out financial aid letters and package information to those who file the FAFSA. Most undergrads receive loans and grants, but graduate students may qualify for similar packages. Other types of financial aid available through the university include loans for parents, alternative student loans and admission to its work-study program.
Psychology and Counseling Degrees
Kent State offers a number of BS Psychology programs at the undergrad level, including BS degrees in general psychology and child psychology. There is also a pre-professional program designed for those who want to study psychiatry. Its BA programs include those in general psychology, counseling and child psychology. The BS programs are only available on its main campus in Kent, but the other programs are available online and through its regional campuses.
Those with an interest in one of the graduate programs can enroll in its cognitive and brain sciences, developmental science or mental and physical health programs. The mental and physical health program has concentrations available in psychopathology, assessment, health or social studies, while the developmental science programs offers concentrations in developmental psychology and child and adolescent behaviors. Cognitive psychology, behavioral neuroscience and clinical neuropsychology are the concentrations available with the cognitive and brain sciences program.
KSU also offers several counseling programs at both the Master's and doctoral levels. Its Master's of Education allows students to study school counseling or clinical and mental health counseling. Kent State University has a counselor education and supervision PhD program as well.
See also: The 50 Best Low-Cost Online Master’s in Counseling Programs 2016-2017