Dec 10, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

General Education: K-State 8


Objective of the K-State 8

The K-State 8 General Education Program encourages students to be intellectual explorers. Students and advisors will plan programs of study to promote exposure to a breadth of learning that includes the eight areas below. The emphasis and the amount of study in each area will vary for each student, depending upon his/her choice of major and other interests.

The K-State 8 Areas: 

Aesthetic Experience and Interpretive Understanding Aesthetic Interpretation
 

Empirical and Quantitative Reasoning Empirical and Quantitative Reasoning
 

Ethical Reasoning and Responsibility Ethical Reasoning and Responsibility
 

Global Issues and Perspectives Global Issues and Perspectives
 

Historical Perspectives Historical Perspectives
 

Human Diversity within the U.S. Human Diversity within the U.S.
 

Natural and Physical Sciences Natural and Physical Sciences
 

Social Sciences Social Sciences
 

The K-State 8 icons shown above are also used in Kansas State University’s student information system (KSIS).

Overview of K-State 8 requirements

The intent of The K-State 8 is for students to explore the perspectives of disciplines that may be quite different from those of their own majors. For that reason, a minimum of four different course prefixes (e.g., AGEC, MATH, FSHS) must be represented to fulfill K-State 8 requirements.

Each student must successfully complete credit-bearing courses to cover all of the K-State 8 areas. Some of the K-State 8 areas may be covered in the student’s major.

Departments have decided which courses to designate for one or two K-State 8 areas. K-State 8 designations are noted both in the Undergraduate Catalog and in KSIS.

When a course is tagged for two K-State 8 areas, the student may count that course toward both areas. However, students are strongly encouraged to enroll in a variety of courses and experiences that offers them a genuine breadth of perspective.

For more information

K-State 8 policy for changing majors

Changing majors will not affect students’ general education requirements in the K-State 8.

K-State 8 policy for double majors and dual degrees

A student must meet K-State 8 requirements for only one degree/major.

K-State 8 policy for associate degree programs

A sound general education foundation is required of every K-State student, regardless of the major or the level of degree the student is seeking.  Students in K-State associate degree programs are required to meet a subset of the K-State 8 requirements that apply to bachelor’s degree programs. Specifically,

  • Each associate degree student’s plan of study will include courses that collectively are tagged with at least four of the K-State 8 areas.
  • The four K-State 8 areas may be chosen at the discretion of the student, in consultation with the student’s advisor.  Students are encouraged to enroll in a sufficient variety of courses to offer them a genuine breadth of experience.
  • At least two different course prefixes (MATH, PPIL, etc.) must be represented in the fulfillment of the K-State 8 requirements.
  • Students transferring into a K-State associate degree program from another institution are required to adhere to the rules stated above.

Transfer students

Transfer students are required to cover all eight (8) of the K-State 8 areas and should check with their academic advisors to determine how best to apply transfer credits to the K-State 8.