The Whitney Young School offers both Bachelor and Associate liberal
studies degrees. Also, every Kentucky State University student who is
seeking a baccalaureate degree in any field must satisfy the University
Liberal Studies Requirements. These requirements and the degree
programs are briefly described below; for fuller details, please
consult the KSU Catalog.
Honors Program option for Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Students can major in Liberal Studies through the Honors Program,
whether or not they have completed their core liberal studies
requirements in the Honors Program. The Liberal Studies major is
compatible with many other majors, and provides excellent preparation
for graduate or professional schools.
The Honors Liberal Studies major is KSU's designated pre-law
program; for more information on how the Honors Program prepares one
for law school, click here: Pre-Law.
Many students "double major" by combining a Liberal Studies major
with another major such as English, Computer Science, or Psychology.
Students may also minor in liberal studies. Upper-division Honors
seminars are thematically designed and so easily complement other major
courses of study. The seminar on Ethics and Leadership (LST 301) may be
of special interest to business majors. The seminar on Science,
Religion, and Ethics (LST 302) may be of special interest to majors in
science or the health professions. The seminar on Philosophy and
Literature (LST 401) may be of special interest to students of
philosophy or English.
For a sample of what Liberal Studies majors have done with their degrees, click here: Careers with a Liberal Arts Education
Student-Designed option for Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Students also have the option to design their own curriculum leading
to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. In cases where
students have a clear professional or educational objective that is not
met by an existing KSU major, students in collaboration with their
faculty advisors can design a coherent sequence of courses to meet
their objective.
General Studies option for Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies
Students who have completed all general University requirements for
a B.A. degree, but have not completed the requirements for any
particular major, may apply for this general studies "completion
degree" through the Whitney Young School.
Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies
Students may earn an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies
either through the Honors Program core option or the general liberal
studies core option. The A.A. in Liberal Arts may be used as a transfer
program for students who intend to complete their baccalaureate degree
elsewhere. The Area of Applied Human Sciences also offers coursework
leading to a A.A. degree in Liberal Studies with a Specialization in
Early Childhood Education.
University Liberal Studies Requirements
As the Commonwealth's unique public liberal studies institution, KSU
has a special mission to foster liberal studies. The liberal studies
courses provide the foundation for other courses and constitute the
core of one's college education. The University Liberal Studies
Requirements may be completed either through the Honors Program core or
the general liberal studies core:
-
Honors Program Core The course of studies in the first two
years of the Honors Program provides one way to fulfill all the
University's Liberal Studies Requirements. The Honors core sequence is
compatible with every major. Honors students majoring in natural
science complete only the Honors seminars and language tutorials; the
math-science component of their core requirements is fulfilled through
courses taken in the division of Mathematics and Sciences.
-
General Liberal Studies Core Students who do not complete
their core Liberal Studies requirements through the Honors Program take
a carefully designed program of 53 semester credit hours that are
selected from the various academic offerings of the University. An
important feature of this 53 credit-hour program is the sequence of
Integrative Studies courses, which is described in more detail here:
Intergrative Studies