2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog
Life Science (BA)
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Life Science is an interdisciplinary major that deals with studies of living organisms and life processes. It is a flexible major combining biology, psychology, chemistry, and biological anthropology. It provides students a well-rounded approach to the science of people and associated career paths with its interdisciplinary approach. Life Sciences promotes critical thinking and problem solving skills that can be applied to real-world issues. The flexibility and content within this major provide training and readiness for those interested in health, research, non-profit, and other people and science centered careers.
This major combines a series of fundamental courses key in the life sciences along with open major electives so that students have the flexibility to build an academically diverse educational experience across the life science disciplines in a way that highlights their interests and career goals.
Towards the end of the major, students will participate in an applied experience. The applied experience for the Life Science major allows students to engage in an experience (i.e. internship, practicum, research, project, etc) and have opportunities to connect it to their life science studies and career goals through guided reflection.
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Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours
K-State Core is the foundation for an impactful life and career after time at K-State. The K-State Core framework covers six disciplinary areas: English, Communications, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural & Physical Sciences, Social & Behavioral Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. In addition, a seventh area is reserved for institutionally designated use, which K-State is keeping as free electives. In total, the framework takes up 34-35 credit hours of 100 and 200-level coursework. Students who complete their general education elsewhere cannot be required to take additional general education coursework in the disciplinary areas of the framework without permission from KBOR to continue requiring courses in the K-State Core. Program Requirements
Arts & Sciences common degree requirements for the BA are satisfied by the following: - BIOL 300-799 (at least one course at 300 level or above)
- Quantitative Requirement (either MATH or STAT)
- Psychological Requirement
- BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Restricted Electives
- BA Second Language Requirement
Orientation: 1 credit hour
Outside Concentration: 9 credit hours
Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, and Chemistry, OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit). OR Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for BIOL, ANTH [only biological anth courses], BIOCH, PSYCH, CHM) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). OR Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program). Overlays: [9] Credit Hours
May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself. - Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
- Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
- US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]
Life Science Foundation: 37-45 credit hours
Foundational knowledge in the primary Life Science disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Biological Anthropology.
Biology Requirement: 12 credit hours
12 credits of any Biology course level 300-799, including BIOL 198
Anthropology Requirement: 4 credit hours
Psychology Requirement: 6 credit hours
6 credits of any Psychology course level 300-799, including PSYCH 110
Quantitative Requirement: 3 credit hours
Choose one MATH or STAT course from below. If not met through K-State Core requirements, MATH 100 is required.
Organic (Bio)chemistry Requirement: 9-16 credit hours
Choose one option from below Option 2: 13 credit hours
Option 3: 16 credit hours
Option 4: 13 credit hours
Integrated Elective and Applied Experience: 4 credit hours
Integrated Medicine, Health, or Life Elective: 3 credit hours
Choose one of the following: Applied Learning: 1 credit hour
Choose one of the following: Major Electives: 12 credit hours
The 12 elective credit hours must be at or above the 300 level and they must be selected from two or more fields, which may include the following areas in Arts & Sciences: - Biochemistry - BIOCH 300 TO BIOCH 799
- Biology - BIOL 300 TO BIOL 799
- Organic Chemistry - CHM 531,CHM 532,CHM 550,CHM 551
- Biological Anthropology - ANTH 380 TO ANTH 389, ANTH 580 TO 589, ANTH 680 TO 689, ANTH 780 TO 789
- Psychology - PSYCH 300 TO PSYCH 799
While all 12 hours may be taken from the A&S disciplines listed above, up to two elective courses, totaling no more than six credit hours may be chosen from selected courses in other college from the approved list below: BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Requirement: 12 credit hours
3 credit hours in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline. (The other 6 hours are fulfilled in program) One course in Humanities Credits: 3 credit hours
Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts Credits: 3 credit hours
BA Second Language Requirement: 6 credit hours
Choose one of the following: Option 1: 3-14 credit hours
At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., Frech 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence. Option 2: 16 credit hours
At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level. Option 3: 3 credit hours
Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program. Free Electives: 0-52 credit hours
Once college and major requirements are fulfilled, the remaining hours to hit a baseline of 120 may be of your choosing. Pre-vet option
Students who complete the College of Arts and Sciences basic requirements, the preveterinary prerequisites, all the life science major requirements except the electives, and a minimum of 84 credit hours prior to enrolling in the College of Veterinary Medicine at K-State may earn a life science degree after successful completion of the first year of veterinary medical school. WSU Nursing Pathways option
Students who complete the K-State CORE, College of Arts and Sciences restricted electives, the pre-nursing prerequisites, all the life science major requirements prior to enrolling in the WSU Nursing Pathway program specific to KSU students may earn a life science degree after successful completion of nursing school. Additional Professional Option
Students who already hold a baccalaureate- or graduate-level health professional degree (e.g., nursing, dental hygiene, chiropractic, etc) may be allowed to transfer up to nine hours of upper-level health-related courses from the health professional school to the life science degree for elective credit. Such transfers must be approved by the Life Science Steering Committee. Notes
*A minimum of 15 credit 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 science major. To obtain a life science degree a student must earn a C or better in all courses (including transfer work) used to fulfill the Life Science Foundational Degree Requirements, Integrated Elective, and Major Elective Block. The life science degree is not available to students who will earn a degree in biochemistry, biology, or microbiology. Total Hours Required for Graduation: 120
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