Morehead State University

Updated August 7, 2020

Morehead State University, also referred to as MSU, is a public institution of higher learning residing in Morehead, Kentucky. It strives to become the South's best public regional university. Its mission is to prepare students for success in a global society, participate in scholarship, encourage diversity of both individuals and ideas, cultivate innovation and creativity, and provide quality service to enhance the quality of life for an array of communities. The core values of the university include excellence, honesty, trust, integrity, diversity, inclusion, respect, and lifelong learning, service, and scholarship. MSU offers 140 undergraduate degree programs at the associate and bachelor's degree levels, 70 graduate degree programs, five education specialist programs, and a doctoral program in education. The average class size is 19 students with a student to faculty ratio of 18 to one.

The university houses four colleges of education: College of Science, College of Education, College of Business and Technology, and Caudill College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. The university was established in 1887 as Morehead Normal School, which was a private institution supported by a church. In 1922, the normal school closed and the institution reopened as a state funded school named Morehead State Normal School. The school changed its name to Morehead State Normal School and Teachers College in 1926 and it became Morehead State Teachers College in 1930. The school changed its name to Morehead State College in 1948 and it helped organize Ohio Valley Conference. It became a member of the NCAA in 1953.

The college officially became Morehead State University in 1966. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, the university founded additional campuses around the state. In 1995, the original campus was deemed a National Historic District. In 1999, Morehead State University was Kentucky's first institution to offer a degree program entirely online, the Master of Business Administration. In 2009, Morehead State University opened a state-of-the-art Space Science Center, making the school one in five in the country to offer a space science degree.

Today, MSU is home to almost 11,000 students from 110 counties throughout Kentucky, 41 states, and 31 countries. The U.S. and News & World Report named Morehead State University among the top 25 public universities in the South in its 2017 America's Best Colleges publication. It is the 13th year in a row the university was named in this publication.

Accreditation Details

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and Schools regionally accredits Morehead State University to offer undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees.

Application Requirements

Undergraduate

Complete undergraduate admission and scholarship application
Pay $30 non-refundable application fee
Submit official high school transcripts or GED certificate
Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
Submit official scores from SAT and/or ACT tests

Graduate

Complete graduate admission application
Pay $30 non-refundable application fee
Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
Submit official tests scores on the GMAT, GRE, or MAT required by specific graduate program

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition and fees are as follows:

Full-time in-state residents (Kentucky and Ohio reciprocity counties) enrolled in 12 to 18 credit hours: $4,265 per semester
Full-time out of state students enrolled in 12-18 credit hours: $6,398 per semester
Full-time international students taking 12-18 credit hours: $10,663 per semester
Part-time in-state residents: $356 per credit hour
Part-time out of state residents: $534 per credit hour
Part-time international students: $889 per credit hour

Graduate tuition and fees are as follows:

In-state residents, out of state residents, and international students: $579 per credit hour

Financial Aid

Morehead State University offers a variety of in-state, out of state, and transfer scholarships to assist students in paying for their college education.

In-State Scholarships:

Honors Scholarship
Commonwealth Scholarship
Governor's Scholar Award
Governor's School of the Arts Award
Kentucky Scholars Award
Dean's Scholar Award
Alumni Scholarship
Valedictorian Scholarship
Black Achiever Scholarship
Diversity Opportunity Scholarship
Roger's Scholar

Out-of-State Scholarships:

Honors Scholarship
Black Achiever Scholarship
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3
Reciprocity Merit Scholarship: Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3
Alumni Scholarship

Transfer Scholarships:

Kentucky Transfer Scholarship
Non-Resident Merit Scholarship: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3
Kentucky Coal County College Completion Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship
Alumni Scholarship
Reciprocity Merit Scholarship: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3

Morehead State University also participates in various grant, loan, and work-study programs.

Grants and Loans

Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
College Access Program Grant
TEACH Grant Program
Federal Perkins Loan
Federal Stafford Loan
Federal PLUS Loan

Master's in Sociology at Morehead State University

Morehead State University offers a master's degree in sociology through its Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminology. Students work with innovative topics and highly qualified professors and participate in top-notch research and coursework experiences. Graduates are prepared to pursue an array of careers in a variety of areas, such as corporate, government, and non-profit organizations. The Master of Arts in Sociology program enables students to select a concentration in four different areas: general sociology, criminology, chemical dependency certification, and interdisciplinary social sciences. All concentrations provide students with extensive critical and analytical abilities that can be applied in a variety of situations. Basic courses in theory and research methods are required for all concentrations.

The program requires the completion of at least 30 total credit hours. The core courses for all concentrations include quantitative research for the social sciences, social thought and theory, globalization, and qualitative research methods. For the general sociology, criminology, and interdisciplinary social sciences concentrations, students have the ability to choose a thesis or non-thesis option. Students pursuing the chemical dependency certification must complete a 135-hour practicum component. After finishing the course and thesis requirements (if applicable), students must receive a passing score on a comprehensive exit examination.

The program also requires a capstone course or professional development class that prepares students for their designated career paths. Upon completion of the MA in Sociology program, students will possess a sound understanding of sociological theories and quantitative and qualitative methodologies. They will demonstrate their understanding by analyzing scholarly works and conducting original research. Many students who graduate with a master's degree in sociology from Morehead State University pursue careers in social justice participation, environmental activism, local and global democratic participation, and teaching.