Stephen E. White, Dean
Juanita McGowan, Assistant Dean
Lawrence Rodgers, Associate Dean
Beth Montelone, Associate Dean
Alison E. Wheatley, Assistant Dean
117 Eisenhower Hall
785-532-6900
Fax: 785-532-7004
www.k-state.edu/artsci
The College of Arts and Sciences is the home of a wide range of disciplines that, together, offer a liberal education to our students. These disciplines include the arts and humanities, the social sciences, and the natural and quantitative sciences. These areas embody the core studies of a university education.
A liberal education seeks to develop intellectual skills such as critical analysis, effective communication, and creativity. Majors offered by the college range from those related to specific jobs and professions to those related to vocation in a more general way.
Click on any of the following links for information:
Majors and Degrees
The undergraduate degrees offered in the College of Arts and Sciences are: bachelor of arts, bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of music education, and bachelor of science.
Below in the left column are majors, options, advising programs, and degrees offered. In the right column are names of the departments under which the major programs are offered. The specific requirements for a degree in the various curricula may be found in the department listings later in the College of Arts and Sciences catalog section.
Programs
|
Departmental Office
|
Anthropology, BA or BS
|
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
|
Art, BA or BFA
|
Art
|
Biochemistry, BA or BS
|
Biochemistry
|
Biology, BA or BS
|
Biology
|
Chemistry, BA or BS
|
Chemistry
|
Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology), BA or BS
|
Dean’s office
|
Communication Studies, BA or BS
|
Communication Studies, Theatre and Dance
|
Economics, BA or BS
|
Economics
|
English, BA
|
English
|
Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Biology, BA or BS
|
Biology
|
Geography, BA or BS
|
Geography
|
Geology, BA or BS
|
Geology
|
History, BA or BS
|
History
|
Interdisciplinary Studies
|
Dean’s office
|
Kinesiology, BA or BS
|
Kinesiology
|
Mass Communications, BA or BS
|
Journalism and Mass Communications
|
Mathematics, BA or BS
|
Mathematics
|
Microbiology, BA or BS
|
Biology
|
Modern Languages, BA
|
Modern Languages
|
Music, BA or BM
Music Theatre Option
Instrumental Performance
Vocal Performance
Composition
|
Music
|
Music Education, BME
|
Music
|
Philosophy, BA or BS
|
Philosophy
|
Physics, BA or BS
|
Physics
|
Political Science, BA or BS
|
Political Science
|
Pre-professional advising programs
Pre-chiropractic medicine
Pre-dentistry
Pre-health information management
Pre-Law
Pre-medicine
Pre-nursing
Pre-occupational therapy
Pre-optometry
Pre-pharmacy
Pre-physical therapy
Pre-physician assistant
Pre-respiratory care
Pre-veterinary medicine *
|
Dean’s office
|
Psychology, BA or BS
|
Psychology
|
Social work, BA or BS
|
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
|
Sociology, BA or BS
|
Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
|
Statistics, BA or BS
|
Statistics
|
Theatre, BA or BS
|
Communication Studies, Theatre and Dance
|
Women’s Studies, BA or BS
|
Women’s Studies
|
* Students who complete pre-veterinary medicine requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences will be eligible for the bachelor of science degree in life science from the College of Arts and Sciences upon completion of the first professional year in a College of Veterinary Medicine.
Secondary Majors and Minors
Secondary majors are majors that can be taken only in addition to the primary majors listed above.
Minors
Contact the appropriate program director:
Degree Requirements
At least 124 credit hours are required for graduation.
Courses numbered below 100 may not be applied toward a degree. In addition to the university’s limit on credits for extracurricular work, no more than 4 credit hours in lifetime sports and exercise activity classes may be applied toward a degree.
Common degree requirements
(Three courses, 8 credit hours minimum)
Purpose: to give students practice in oral presentation and in writing and analyzing expository and argumentative prose.
Course |
Course Title |
Credit hours |
ENGL 100
|
Expository Writing I |
3 |
ENGL 200 |
Expository Writing II |
3 |
SPCH 105 or |
Public Speaking IA or |
2 |
SPCH 106 |
Public Speaking I |
3 |
University general education requirements
As required by the university, students must complete at least 18 credit hours of approved UGE courses, at least 6 credit hours of which must be at the 300 level or above. Except for students in the college’s interdisciplinary majors (humanities, life sciences, physical science, and social science) courses used for UGE credit may not be in the student’s major field without the approval of the college and the university.
Within the above guidelines, any approved UGE courses offered by any college at Kansas State University may be used to satisfy these requirements. UGE courses approved as basic requirements in the College of Arts and Sciences (see Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences following this section) may be used to satisfy simultaneously both UGE and College of Arts and Sciences basic requirements.
For more information about UGE requirements, see the Degrees section of this catalog. For a current list of approved UGE courses, see the Registrar’s Office website.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences basic requirements
The aim of these requirements is to provide breadth in the major areas of knowledge outside of the student’s field of specialization. Introductory and intermediate-level courses are available in departments in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Basic requirements are to be fulfilled with courses chosen by students in consultation with their advisor. The requirement in the humanities enables students to appreciate and understand creative and conceptual human endeavor.
The requirement in the social sciences improves the student’s ability to analyze and understand human social systems. The requirement in the natural sciences develops the student’s knowledge of the principles of scientific method as they are applied in the life and physical sciences.
Up to two courses from one department may be used to fulfill the distribution requirements for humanities and the social sciences. They may be used at the same time to count towards the student’s major. No course may be used to satisfy more than one specific requirement for humanities and social sciences. Only courses taken for 2 or more credit hours satisfy these requirements; courses in excess of 5 credit hours count as two courses.
At least 124 credit hours are required for graduation. (Students who entered K-State before the fall of 2003 require only 120 hours for graduation.)
Humanities
Four courses, one course for each section, 11 credit hours minimum
Fine arts (one course, or at least two credits)
Purpose: to ensure some interpretive or expressive competence in a traditional nonliterary mode of artistic expression.
Choose from the following:
- DAS 100
- Anthropology—ANTH 515, 516, or 517
- Art—ART 301, 305, 400, or 560
- Art history—any course
- Art technique—ART 200 to 799
- Dance—DANCE 205, 323, 324, 325, 326, 371, 399, 459, or 520
- Music—MUSIC 100, 160, 210, 220, 230, 245, 250, 255, 280, 310, 385, 420, 424, 455, 480, 570, 601, or 650.
- Theatre—THTRE 260 to 799
Philosophy (one course)
Purpose: to ensure some interpretive or expressive competence in the fundamental conceptual issues of human thought and activity.
Choose any philosophy course except PHILO 110, 320, or 510.
Western heritage (one course)
Purpose: to ensure some interpretive or expressive competence regarding the institutions, traditions, and values that have shaped Western civilization.
Choose from the following:
- American ethnic studies—AMETH 160, 501, or 560
- Constitutional law—POLSC 614, 615, or 799
- English: ENGL 230, 231, 233, or 234 (Western Humanities)
- Foreign civilizations—FREN 514, GRMN 530, SPAN 565, or SPAN 566
- History—courses dealing with the Greco-Roman, Western European, or North American experience; HIST 515
- History of Sport (crosslisted with KIN 515)
- Kinesiology—KIN 515 (crosslisted with HIST 515)
- Music—MUSIC 245
- Political thought—POLSC 301, 661, 663, 667, 671, 675, or (SOCIO) 709
- Sociology—SOCIO 507
- Speech—SPCH 460
- Women’s studies—WOMST 105, 205, 410, 500, 551, or 610
Literary or rhetorical arts (one course)
Purpose: to ensure some interpretive or expressive competence in a traditional literary or rhetorical mode of artistic expression.
Choose from the following:
- English—literature or creative writing—ENGL 220 to 799 except 300, 400, 415, 430, 435, 476, 490, 499, 516, 600–604, 757, or 759
- Modern languages—literature courses including literature in translation
- Speech: SPCH 325, 480
- Theatre—THTRE 662 or 764
- History of rhetoric—SPCH 330, 331, 430, 432, 434, 460, 725, 730, 732, or 733
Exception: Students in BS programs who take two courses in one foreign language may use these to satisfy the requirements for Western heritage and for literary and rhetorical arts.
Social sciences
Four courses, 12 credit hours minimum, from at least three disciplines.
Purpose: to acquaint students with the adaptation of scientific method to the analysis of human social systems.
One course must be at 500 level or above, or carry a prerequisite in the same department.
Three of the four courses must be from these areas:
- Cultural anthropology—including archaeology
- Economics—any course
- Geography—any course except GEOG 220, 221, or 535
- History—any course
- Mass communications—MC 110, 111, 396, 466, 531, 612, 710, 715, 720, or 725
- Political science—any course
- Psychology—any course
- Sociology—any course
The fourth course must be from the above areas or from:
- American ethnic studies—AMETH 501
- Anthropology—ANTH 520
- Gerontology—GERON 315, 600, or 615
- Kinesiology—KIN 320, 340, 345, or 435
- Linguistics—any course except LG 601
- Speech—SPCH 323, 326, 425, 435, 526, 720, or 726
- Women’s studies—WOMST 105, 205, 450,
- 500, 551, 590, or 610
Natural sciences
Three courses, 11 credit hours minimum
Life sciences (one 3- or 4-hour course with laboratory)
Purpose: to introduce students to the systematic study of organisms and their interrelationships.
Choose from the following:
- Biology—any course
- Biochemistry—any course
- Paleobiology—GEOL 581 or 704
- Physical anthropology—ANTH 280, 281, 680, 684, 688, 691, 694, or 695
Physical science (one course with laboratory)
Purpose: to introduce students to the appropriate attitudes and methods that characterize the systematic study of matter and energy.
Choose from the following:
- Biochemistry—BIOCH 265 to 799
- Chemistry—any course
- Environmental geography—GEOG 221, 321, 535, or 735
- Geology—any course except GEOL 581 or 704
- Physics—any course
One additional natural science course selected from life sciences or physical sciences lists above, or from the natural science list: KIN 220.
International studies overlay
One course
Purpose: to equip students better to become citizens of a world where the most important problems are unavoidably defined in international terms and to understand cultures of the world outside the Western tradition.
A student must take one course of which at least half is devoted to: economic, political, and social relations or interactions between or among different countries, in which the major focus is upon the interdependency of nations of the modern world; or contemporary features or historical traditions of non-Western cultures (excluding those dealing primarily with Greek, Roman, Western European, or North American experience).
Students may satisfy the international studies requirement at the same time they satisfy requirements in the major, in the humanities, or the social sciences. These courses qualify:
- Anthropology—ANTH 200, 204, 220, 260, 505, 506, 508, 511, 512, 515, 516, 517, 536, 545, 550, 604, 618, 630, 634, 673, or 676
- Economics—ECON 505, 506, 507, 536, 681, or 682
- English—ENGL 580
- Geography—GEOG 100, 200, 201, 505, 506, 620, 640, 650, or 715
- History—HIST 112, 250, 303, 330, 505, 506, 509, 510, 514, 543, 545, 560, 561, 562, 576, 577, 578, 591, 592, 593, or 598
- Management—MANGT 690
- Marketing—MKTG 544
- Mass communications—MC 725
- Modern languages—RUSSN 250, 504, 508, or 552; FREN 503
- Political science—POLSC 333, 505, 506, 511, 541, 543, 545, 622, 623, 624, 626, 627, 629, 642, 645, 647, 651, 652, 653, or 655
- Sociology—SOCIO 363, 505, 506, 507, 535, 618, or 742
- Women’s studies—WOMST 380, 580
Students may use the fourth course in a single foreign language sequence (other than Latin) to satisfy the international studies overlay requirement.
Additional requirements for the BA
Foreign language
Level 4 (i.e., French 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a foreign language sequence offered by the Department of Modern Languages. (Conversation ‘‘4A’’ courses do not meet the level 4 requirement.)
Purpose: to give students the basis for a command of a foreign language—a key for access both to a foreign culture and to much primary and secondary material in many special fields.
Exception: Students who take a language that is normally offered for only two semesters (Latin 141 and 142, for example) may complete their requirement by taking two additional semesters in another language.
Mathematics
(One 3-credit-hour course, 100–799 level, or any other course for which there is a mathematics prerequisite)
Purpose: to give students a college-level competence in mathematical reasoning and analysis.
Any course used to satisfy this requirement cannot be used to satisfy any other general education requirement.
Additional requirements for the BS
Natural sciences
(One course, 3 credit hours minimum, with a prerequisite in the same department; for this requirement, biochemistry courses with a chemistry prerequisite qualify as upper-level courses.)
Purpose: to give students who elect the bachelor of science degree an especially solid foundation in the natural sciences.
Courses that qualify are those listed earlier under natural sciences, and:
- Kinesiology—KIN 330, 335, or 650
- Psychology—PSYCH 470 or 480
Quantitative and abstract formal reasoning
Purpose: to give students training in a clear, nonambiguous, simplified language for the efficient transfer and logical analysis of information—a language in which a good deal of discussion is conducted in the sciences.
A course that satisfies this requirement may at the same time be used to satisfy any major requirement for which it qualifies. Students may fulfill this requirement one of three ways:
- Three courses, 9 credit hours minimum, selected from:
Computer science—CIS 111 level or above
Mathematics—MATH 100 level or above
Philosophy—PHILO 110, 112, 320, or 510
Statistics—any course
- One course and its Level II prerequisite, selected from:
Geography—GEOG 700 (with a statistics course)
Physics- PHYS 113 (with MATH 150)
PHYS 223 (with MATH 221)
PHYS 224 (with MATH 221)
PHYS 325 (with MATH 222)
Sociology—SOCIO 520 or 725 (with STAT 325)
Social work—SOCWK 330 and 530 (with STAT 325)
- Equivalent competency:
Competency may be demonstrated by taking two Level II courses or a Level III course from:
Level II courses (two courses):
Computer science—CIS 200
Mathematics—MATH 150, 205, or 210
Philosophy—PHILO 510
Statistics—STAT 325, 340, 350, 702, or 703
Level III courses (one course):
Computer science—CIS 300 or 350
Mathematics—MATH 220
Philosophy—PHILO 701
Statistics—STAT 341, 351, 704, or 705
Bachelor of Fine Arts
At least 124 hours are required for graduation. (Students who entered K-State before the fall of 2003 require only 120 hours for graduation.)
The bachelor of fine arts degree is a professionally oriented undergraduate degree in art. It is designed primarily for those planning to become professional artists, artist-teachers, or art therapists. Greater emphasis is placed on actual practice in the creative disciplines. The degree is considered appropriate preparation for the master of fine arts degree, which is recognized as the terminal degree in studio arts, and for the master’s degree in art therapy, which is required for registration as an art therapist.
The BFA in art is a four-year, 124-hour program with concentration possible in painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, printmaking, drawing, metalsmithing and jewelry, illustration, digital arts, pre-art therapy, and photography. The degree requirements are as follows:
Basic requirements (45 hours)
- Communications—English composition, two courses; and oral communication, one course
- Social sciences—two courses
- Humanities—three courses
- Philosophy or mathematics—one course
- Natural sciences—two courses, one with a lab
- General electives—11-19 hours
Art courses (75 credit hours)
- Core—39 hours
- Major—21 hours
- Art electives and related courses—15 hours
Bachelor of Music
129–134 credit hours required for graduation
Areas of concentration offered in this curriculum are: all instruments, voice, and composition. A secondary performance area also is required.
Basic requirements (43 hours)
Course |
Course Title |
Credit hours |
ENGL 100 |
Expository Writing I |
3 |
ENGL 200 |
Expository Writing II |
3 |
PSYCH 110 |
General Psychology |
3 |
SPCH 106 |
Public Speaking I |
3 |
Any science course |
3 |
Modern language (two courses minimum) |
8-10 |
All students must complete 18 hours of UGE courses selected from the list of approved courses. At least 6 hours must be at the 300 level or above. These courses may overlap requirements specific to the BM degree, but may not include courses in the major.
The remaining hours are to be taken in the area of concentration. For specific music requirements, see the Music department of this catalog.
Bachelor of Music Education
141-143 credit hours required for graduation, depending on emphasis
The program of study leading to this degree is a nine-semester curriculum designed to prepare music teachers for grades K–12. With careful planning and enrollment during summer session(s), all requirements may be completed in four years. Within this curriculum there are two optional emphases—one in vocal/choral music, the other in instrumental music.
Basic requirements
Course |
Credit hours |
ENGL 100 - Expository Writing I |
3 |
ENGL 200 - Expository Writing II |
3 |
Any Department of English literature course (except ENGL 355 or 545) or
Department of Modern Languages literature course |
3 |
Any course offered in the Department of Philosophy (except PHILO 110 or PHILO 320) or
COMM 300 or higher or
any two courses in a modern language |
3-10 |
Fine arts elective (fulfilled by courses in the major) |
3 |
FSHS 110 - Introduction to Human Development |
3 |
Any course from the Department of History |
3 |
Any additional social science course that addresses cultures outside the Western tradition (excludes those dealing primarily with the Greek, Roman, Western European, or North American experiences) |
3 |
Two courses from the natural sciences (one course must include a lab) |
7 |
MATH 100 - College Algebra (or higher level math
course or grade of C or better on Algebra
CLEP test) |
3 |
PSYCH 110 - General Psychology |
3 |
SPCH 106 - Public Speaking I |
3 |
STAT 325 - Introduction to Statistics (or higher level statistics course) |
3 |
Electives (not more than 3 hours of music may be counted) |
46 |
Students must complete at least 18 credit hours of approved UGE courses, one-third (6 credit hours) of which must be at the 300-level or above. Courses may overlap with the Basic Requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences, as listed above. The 18 credit hours may not include music courses, or courses taken in the area of concentration. For specific music requirements, see the Music department section of this catalog.
University Honors Program Requirements - College of Arts and Sciences
The honors program offers challenging experiences of unusual breadth in the arts and humanities and in the social-behavioral and natural sciences. By stressing liberal studies in the freshman and sophomore year, interdisciplinary study in the junior year, and independent study in the senior year, the honors program enables students to develop both broad and focused intellectual interests.
The program further enriches the experiences of its members by creating opportunities to develop a sense of community and to meet faculty and university guests in informal settings.
Students with high ACT scores are invited to enter the honors program during the freshman year. A student who has a GPA of 3.3 and who receives a positive evaluation by the director may be admitted to the program as late as the beginning of the junior year. Students who wish to be considered for late admission should contact the director.
Students are expected to complete both university and college honors requirements, including a senior project.
The senior project culminates in an honors thesis or other documentation of performance, which is filed with the director. This project is invaluable as evidence of a student’s ability to organize and complete a study independently. It provides evidence of capability to do well in graduate studies and may enable the student to strengthen significantly an application to graduate school. It may also help make the case for a scholarship application or serve as the impetus for more detailed investigation later in the student’s career.
For more information, contact the director of the honors program, College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office, or the director of the university honors program, Office of the Provost.
Minimum of 15 Credit Hours
I. University Level - 7 credit hours required
A. RETREAT for new students prior to fall semester (optional)
B. DAS 020 University Honors Program - (0 credit)
Students enroll in program each semester (0 credit)
C. DAS 189 Introduction to University Honors Program (1 credit)
D. Other Requirements (6 credits)
University honors courses and new courses generated by departments. These courses can be honors sections of required courses or elective seminars (most are 3 credit hours).
Alternative opportunities (e.g., study abroad) to generate university level honor credit hours must be approved by both the Director of the University Honors Program and the college coordinator (or appropriate college representative). Students cannot use a given activity for both university and college level. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to arrange for credit after the experience is completed.
II. College Level - Minimum of 8 credit hours or equivalent required
Required experiences
- The College of Arts and Sciences will generate the courses and experiences that will be required of their students. This plan will be approved by the college faculty, the Director of the University Honors Program (working with the Honors Advisory Council), and Faculty Senate.
- The program includes a capstone Honors Project for each student, an activity that represents a significant body of work and supervised by a faculty member.
- The total credit hours and/or equivalent credit must add to a minimum of 8 hours.
Alternative opportunities (study abroad, internships, community service, etc.) can be used to fulfill this requirement, whether it for academic credit or an equivalent. As noted above, these alternative opportunities must be approved by both the appropriate college representative and the University Honors Program Director and must be in place before the activity occurs.
III. Total UHP Requirements - 15 credit hours or equivalent required
For information about the university honors program, available to all students entering K-State in fall 2006 or later, see the Degrees section of this catalog. Check the honors program website for applications, requirements, current classes, and more.
Study of the Arts and Sciences Through Primary Texts Certificate
Laurie M. Bagby, Director
226 Waters Hall
785-532-0441
E-mail: lauriej@k-state.edu
www.k-state.edu/artsci/primary/
This program provides an opportunity to take part in a conversation with some of the best thinkers humankind has produced. The study of primary texts or original works in philosophy, politics, literature, and the sciences encourages critical thinking, and there is a growing acknowledgment among employers that this type of training develops lifelong learners and future leaders. This program also gives students who want to pursue graduate education early experience in grappling with original works such as they will inevitably encounter in graduate school.
The certificate is an 18-hour program of study that students can tailor to their needs. Students must take DAS 300: The Great Conversation: Primary Texts Core Course, preferably early in the Primary Texts coursework. At least nine hours must be at the 400 level or above. Selected courses must cover at least two academic disciplines. Transfer courses that can be documented to have substantial primary text content may be accepted, but at least half of the courses must be completed at K-State. To receive the certificate, students must complete a capstone paper and have a minimum 2.75 GPA in the program at the time they graduate.
Students must submit to the director an essay on a question listed on the certificate website and/or approved by a participating professor. This essay will be kept on file until students are taking or have completed their final course in the program, whereupon they will be asked to revisit the question and improve the essay as a capstone assignment. To receive the certificate, students must have a minimum 2.75 GPA in the program at the time they graduate.
Students can count certificate courses towards the fulfillment of other College of Arts and Sciences requirements. As long as they are also designated as university general education in the line schedule, courses taken for the certificate can also be counted toward the 18 hours of UGE needed to graduate. Certificate courses that also fit the basic or distribution requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences can be used to fulfill those requirements. Certificate courses that also happen to be a part of a student’s major or minor can be counted for fulfillment of the requirements of both the certificate and the major or minor. DAS 300 can be taken by Honor students for Honors credit. Consult with the directors of the Primary Texts and Honors programs on additional courses that may count in both programs.
Students who think they have fulfilled part or all of the requirements before enrolling in the program should contact the director. Students should notify the director of their interest in the program as soon as possible in their college career. The director will assist them with enrollment. Students can find a description of the program, a list of Primary Texts courses, and information on the capstone paper requirement on the certificate website.
Study Abroad
304 Fairchild Hall
785-532-5990
Fax: 785-532-6550
E-mail: oip@k-state.edu
www.k-state.edu/oip/students
The Office of Study Abroad should be the first stop for students who wish to study in another country for a year, a semester, a summer, or an intersession.
Students may apply for scholarships, such as the Fulbright or the Pearson, or scholarship-exchanges, such as the K-State/Justus Liebig year abroad. Through the International Student Exchange Program it is possible to study for a semester or a year at one of 100 colleges and universities outside the U.S. for the same cost as tuition, room, and board at K-State. Financial aid from almost every agency is applicable to all credit-earning programs.
For more information, see the International Programs section of this catalog.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative education is the integration of academic experience with planned, paid employment experiences related to a student’s academic major or career goals. Check with Career and Employment Services for eligibility requirements, available opportunities, and faculty contacts.
Secondary teacher licensure
An arts and sciences major may apply some elective hours toward the requirements for secondary teacher license. In most arts and sciences departments, students can complete an academic major and earn licensure within the 124 hours of course work required for a degree. (Students who entered K-State before the fall of 2003 require only 120 hours for graduation.) Because the teacher training courses are offered through the College of Education, students who choose to combine these two programs are entitled to two advisors, one in the major field of study, the other in secondary education.
By combining a traditional academic major with teaching licensure, students can be assured of varied choices after graduation. By pursuing an arts and sciences major, students also have the option of working toward a bachelor of arts degree and studying a foreign language. In addition, the teaching license will qualify graduates to teach in a public secondary school. For specific licensure requirements in secondary education, see the College of Education section of this catalog.
Women in Engineering and Science Program
Kimberly D. Douglas, Director
125 Seaton Hall
785-532-3395
Fax: 785-532-3349
E-mail: wesp@k-state.edu
www.k-state.edu/wesp
The Women in Engineering and Science Program at Kansas State University is jointly administered by the Colleges of Arts and Sci- ences and Engineering. WESP has a two-fold mission of recruitment and retention of women in engineering and science from the middle school through post-graduate levels. The program is designed to help create an academic and social climate at K-State that is conducive to both women and men in science and engineering. WESP is a catalyst for building community, promoting awareness, and providing support for female students with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
WESP activities include on-campus speakers, career exploration panels, workforce preparation programs, and social events to facilitate student and faculty contact. Students are also encouraged to become involved in WESP’s ongoing research and outreach programs to middle and high school girls.
While WESP programs are specifically designed to meet the needs of women, many of the offerings are available to all students and make K-State a better place for all students to pursue STEM fields. Program offerings include:
- K-State STEP: offers retention programs that employ WESP and MEP students to serve as tutors in STEM fields, a freshmen internship program, job shadowing and a family connections program.
- Women Mentoring Women: a group peer mentoring program designed to link freshmen women with upper-division women to support student retention.
- WESP Distinguished Lecture Series: female engineers and scientists come to campus to provide presentations and serve as role models for all students, particularly female students.
- Making a Difference Awards: recognizes individuals across campus that have had an impact on women pursuing STEM fields.
- GROW: Girls Researching Our World is an outreach program for girls in grades six through eight that provides a wide-range of hands-on exposure to science and engineering.
- EXCITE!: “EXploring Science, Technology and Engineering” is a program designed for girls in ninth and tenth grades to gain focused hands-on experience in STEM fields.
Advising
Students from any college who have declared open option, interdisciplinary, or preprofessional majors are advised in the office of the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Students with other majors within the College of Arts and Sciences are assigned an advisor by the department head who supervises the majors.
Interdisciplinary Studies
The College of Arts and Sciences offers four interdisciplinary majors that provide opportunities to study multiple disciplines rather than the narrower focus required by a major in a single discipline. Students create their own fields of emphasis and choose multidisciplinary approaches to their area of academic interest.
Major |
Degree(s) |
Credit hours |
Humanities |
BA only |
36 |
Life science |
BA or BS
|
39 |
Physical science |
BA or BS
|
37 |
Social science |
BA or BS |
36 |
The requirements for each of the interdisciplinary options are flexible to allow students, in consultation with their advisor, to devise degree programs designed to meet their particular needs, interests, and career goals.
Humanities
Humanities is a multidisciplinary major that deals with human thought and culture. Creativity, imagination, and interpretation are central to humanistic study. The humanities disciplines include art, art history, creative writing, dance, history, literature, modern languages, music, philosophy, speech communication, theater, and selected women’s studies and American ethnic studies courses. A humanities major leads to the traditional liberal arts degree, the bachelor of arts.
Students develop a plan of study with an interdisciplinary humanities advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office, who acts as a liaison with the Humanities Advisory Committee. The student also confers with other humanities faculty members who have expertise in the areas of the student’s interest. The student’s proprosal must include a rationale or thematic design for the interdisciplinary degree and a tentative listing of courses. The proposal must be approved by the Humanities Advisory Committee. This procedure must be accomplished before or during the semester in which the student completes 90 credit hours toward the degree.
The humanities major consists of 36 credit hours. Students must select two humanities disciplines and complete 15 hours in each discipline, including at least 6 hours of 500–699 level course work in one discipline and 9 hours of 500–699 level course work in the second discipline. Six hours of humanities electives are also required.
Up to 9 credit hours of major course work may be applied to basic requirements of the BA degree. Courses used in the two selected disciplines may not also be applied toward another major. Students who select music as one discipline must seek additional advising in the music department.
A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.
Life Science
Life science is an interdisciplinary major that deals with studies of living oraganisms and life processes.
Course |
Course Title |
Credit hours |
ANTH 280 /281 |
Introduction to Physical Anthropology and Lab |
4 |
BIOCH 265
CHM 350 /351 |
Introductory Organic and Biochemistry or
General Organic Chemistry and Lab |
5 |
BIOL 198 |
Principles of Biology |
4 |
BIOL 201 |
Organismic Biology |
5 |
BIOL 455 |
Microbiology |
4 |
Psychology course with prerequisites |
3 |
Electives |
14* |
*The 14 elective hours must be at or above the 300 level and they must be selected from two or more of the following fields: biochemistry, biology, microbiology, organic chemistry, physical anthropology, and psychology.
A minimum of 15 hours in the major must be taken at K-State. Only transfer courses accepted by departments to meet requirements in their majors will be accepted to meet requirements in the life sciences major.
To obtain a life science degree a student must earn at least a 2.0 GPA in the required science courses (including transfer work).
The life science degree is not available to students who will earn a degree in biochemistry, biology, or microbiology.
Pre-vet option
Students who complete the College of Arts and Sciences basic requirements, the preveterinary prerequisites, all the life sciences major requirements except the electives, and a minimum of 84 hours prior to enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State may earn a life sciences degree after successful completion of the first year of veterinary medical school.
Physical Science
Physical science is an interdisciplinary major that deals with nonliving matter.
Students may earn a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts degree. Although the classes within the major are the same for the BA or the BS degree, the college’s basic requirements for the two degrees will differ as described in the College of Arts and Sciences section. (The significant difference between the BA and the BS for the Physical Science degree is that the BA requires the equivalent of a level 4 in a foreign language sequence.)
Both the BA and the BS require a minimum of 124 credits for degree completion. A minimum of 37 of these credits must be from classes within the major. Students must also complete the College of Arts and Sciences basic requirements for degree. These requirements can be individualized so working with an advisor is recommended.
Students majoring in Physical Science must earn grades of C or better in all courses required for the major, including electives and transfer work.
*Students must complete a total of 37 hours in the major.
Electives must be selected from the following:
- Computing and information sciences—200 or above
- Chemistry—350, 351, 371, 500 or above
- Geology—100, 102, 103, 105, 130, 500 or above, except 512
- Geography—221
- Mathematics—221, 222, 240, 510, or 551
- Physics—122, 191, 300 or above, except 515
- Statistics—341, 511, or above
Problems, seminar, and topics courses are not acceptable unless listed above. At least five elective hours must have a prerequisite.
Students majoring in physical science must earn grades of C or better in all courses (including transfer work) prescribed for this curriculum.
DAS 499 Physical Sciences Senior Report (1) I, II. Individual exploration of an area of physical sciences culminating in a final formal written report. Capstone course required of physical sciences interdisciplinary major. Pr.: Permission of physical sciences advisor.
Social Science
Social Science is a branch of learning that examines society’s institutions—their structures, theoretical foundations, evolution, and interrelationships—and how they affect and are affected by human behavior. The social sciences disciplines include American ethnic studies, anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology, and women’s studies. Selected courses in mass communication may also qualify.
A student works closely with a social sciences advisor to determine a plan of study with a thematic emphasis. This theme includes a minimum of 12 hours of courses in the major. In general, only one course outside the stipulated social sciences disciplines may be used to count toward the major, if the course fits the student’s theme.
The student’s social sciences advisor may encourse him or her to confer with other social sciences faculty members who have expertise in the area of the student’s interest.
A total of 36 credit hours must be completed with at least 3 credits being completed in each of four different social sciences disciplines.
At least 9 credit hours must be completed in one social sciences discipline, including at least one course at the 500-699 level.
At least 15 credit hours must be completed in social sciences discipllines at the 500-699 level.
Students must complete at least one course in social science research methods or data analysis. This course may be any statistics (STAT) course that a student is qualified to take, or it may be selected from : GEOG 700 Quantitative Analysis in Georgraphy; HIST 586 Junior Seminar in History; POLSC 400 Political Inquiry and Analysis; POLSCI 700 Research Methods in Political Science; PSYCH 350 Experimental Methods in Psychology; SOCIO 520 Methods of Social Research.
The research/data course cannot be used to fulfill any other requirement in the major. It can, however, be used to fulfill a general requirement.
No more than 9 credit hours may be counted toward both the general requirements and the major.
A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for graduation.
The social sciences major is not available to students who will earn a degree in anthropology, economics, geography, history, mass communications, political science, psychology, sociology, or women’s studies.
Pre-Law
Students interested in Pre-law are advised in the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Law is a part of all aspects of our lives from the environment to the music business, from athletics to the international arena, and from adoption to elder law. Students interested in the legal profession can therefore major in any area that interests them and Pre-Law students choose majors in all of the Colleges of the University. As law schools select students from a wide variety of majors, there is no Pre-Law major or prescribed curriculum at Kansas State; rather, Pre-Law is an interest area for students considering law school.
Law schools do not require any specific courses, but certain areas of expertise are recommended by the American Bar Association as preparation for the study of law. Students need to select rigorous courses to develop critical reading and writing skills, excellent oral communication and listening skills, analytical and problem-solving skills, research skills, time management, and an understanding of our society’s institutions and values. Law schools are looking for breadth and depth, so appropriately challenging courses will be selected in consultation with the Pre-Law advisor and with the major advisor.
A number of the colleges and departments of the University have pre-law tracks. Currently, these are found in the department of Agricultural Economics in the College of Agriculture, in the departments of Communication Studies, Philosophy, and Political Science in the College of Arts and Sciences, and in the elective sequences in the College of Business.
Students in all majors who are considering law school should consult with the University’s Pre-Law advisor in 112 Eisenhower Hall early in their undergraduate career. Additional information about Pre-Law can be found on the Pre-Law website.
Pre-Health Professions Program
Students interested in pre-professional programs are advised in the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office.
As careers in health professions continue to be plentiful, applicants to the professional training programs become more numerous and requirements for admission into those programs become more stringent. One of the universal requirements for admission is a high grade point average. For this reason, students declaring interest in a health profession and entering K-State for the first time as freshmen will be admitted to the pre-health professions program (PHPP) or a specific pre-health curriculum. Students who have previous academic work at K-State or elsewhere must have a 2.75 or higher GPA to declare PHPP or a specific pre-health curriculum. For purposes of declaring pre-health, GPAs will be based on all courses attempted at colleges or universities.
After completing 24 semester hours, students with a GPA below 2.75 or who no longer have an interest in pursuing a health profession are required to find an alternative to a pre-health curriculum.
Academic prerequisites for successful application to health professions schools and programs are different for each profession and vary from program to program within individual professions. Some programs require only the completion of a bachelor’s degree before entering the professional program, while others require only the completion of specific course work. Creating a competititve applicant profile takes time and includes more than academics. Therefore, all students who are considering a health profession should consult with the appropriate health professions advisor in the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office early in their undergraduate career.
DAS 240 Practicum in Pre-Health (1) I, II, S. Forty hours spent observing the practice of denistry, medicine, or optometry. Students are under the supervision and direction of individual dentists, physicians, or optometrists. Pr.: Sophomore standing, permission of the health professions advisor.
DAS 001 Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology). (Var.) I, II, S. Enrollment in this course allows students attending a hospital-based clincal program to complete the 30 credit hours of clinical work required for the bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science (medical technology). Pr.: Completion of the 94 credit hours of undergraduate course work required for the clinical laboratory science (medical technology) degree.
Clinical courses (taken during internship)
DAS 401 Clinical Microbiology (6-8) I. The theory and laboratory study of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, richettsiae, fungi, and parasites. Includes morphology, physiology, taxonomy, and medical significance.
DAS 402 Clinical Chemistry (6-8) I. Theory and laboratory study of analytical biochemistry, incorporating both routine and special chemical procedures.
DAS 403 Clinical Hematology (4-6) S. Study of blood cell derivation, maturation, and function, principles of hemastasis, and blood coagulation. Methodology used in routine and special hematology studies.
DAS 404 Clinical Immunology (2-6) I. Immunohematology, the study of fundamentals of antigen-antibody reactions, blood groups and types, crossmatches, blood components, and the laboratory methods used in immunohematology studies; and serology, the theory of immunologic responses and procedures used in determination of serological studies.
DAS 405 Topics in Clinical Laboratory Science (Medical Technology). (3-6) II. Basic principles and practices of the medical laboratory, techniques and special projects.
Because requirements for admission into clinical programs may change or vary, consultation with a clinical laboratory science advisor is recommended.
Contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office for more information.
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Certificates
Non-Degree
Secondary Major