GUIDE TO MAJORS AND PROGRAMS
College of Arts & Sciences
Interdisciplinary Majors
Interdisciplinary majors offered by the College
of Arts & Sciences provide options for those
who have not chosen a specialized major.
They offer opportunities to create individual
fields of emphasis for people who want to
pursue multidisciplinary solutions to today’s
complex problems.
Despite the popularity of specialized majors,
employers have a growing recognition that
individuals who are broadly trained, have
knowledge of a culture other than their own,
think well and analyze logically, and express
themselves clearly and persuasively both in
writing and speaking are highly desirable
employees.
These students also are readily accepted in
graduate and professional programs. It is
important, however, for students to focus their
programs somewhat. Consequently, the College
of Arts & Sciences offers the following four
interdisciplinary majors: humanities, life science,
physical science and social science.
Sciences dean’s office to develop a plan of
study with a thematic emphasis. The student’s
humanities advisor may encourage him or
her to confer with other humanities faculty
members who have expertise in the area of the
student’s interest. Students who select music
as a thematic emphasis must seek additional
advising in the music department.
The humanities major consists of 36 credit
hours in two or more humanities disciplines. In
general, only one course outside the stipulated
humanities disciplines counts toward the major
if the course fits the student’s theme. At least 15
credit hours must be completed in humanities
disciplines at the 500 level or above, or from
equivalent advanced coursework, as determined
by the department. Up to 9 credit hours of
major coursework may be applied to basic
requirements of the degree.
A 2.0 GPA in the major is required for
graduation. For the most up-to-date curriculum
requirements, please visit catalog.k-state.edu.
Humanities
Life science
Humanities is a multidisciplinary major that
explores human thought and culture. Cultural
study enables students to understand their
own places in existing traditions and contribute
positively to the development of new ones.
Creativity, imagination and interpretation are
central to humanistic study. The humanities
disciplines include American ethnic studies,
anthropology, art, art history, communication
studies, creative writing, dance, history,
literature, mass communications, modern
languages, music, philosophy, theater and
women’s studies.
Life science is a multidisciplinary major that
deals with studies of living organisms and life
processes.
A student works closely with an interdisciplinary
humanities advisor in the College of Arts &
Points of pride
The Princeton Review picked K-State among
the best colleges in the country. K-State is
a national leader among state-supported
universities in its total of Rhodes, Marshall,
Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholarship
winners.
Basic requirements: 14-16 Credit Hours
Hrs.Courses
4
BIOL 198
3 CHEM 110
and
1
CHEM 111
or
4
CHEM 210
or
5
CHEM 220
3
MATH 100
3
PSYCH 110
or
4
PSYCH 115
Principles of Biology
General Chemistry
General Chemistry Lab
Chemistry I
Honors Chemestry I
College Algebra
General Psychology
General Psychology (Honors)
Required Courses: 24-27 hours
4
ANTH 280
Introduction to Biological Anthropology
5
BIOL 201
Organismic Biology
or
8
BIOL 340
Structure and Function of the Human Body
or
8
KIN 360
Anatomy and Physiology
4
BIOL 455
General Microbiology
5
BIOCHM 265 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry
k-state.edu/admissions/academics
or
3
CHEM 350 General Organic Chemistry
and
2
CHEM 351 General Organic Chemistry Lab
or
3
CHEM 531 Organic Chemistry I
and
2
CHEM 532 Organic Chemistry Lab
3
STAT 325 Introduction to Statistics
or
3
STAT 340 Biometrics I
or
3
STAT 350 Business and Econonics Statistics I
3
Psychology course with prerequisite
14Electives
52-57
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. Any restrictions placed on
transfer work by departments for their majors
will apply to the life science degree. 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 and microbiology.
Physical science
Physical science is a multidisciplinary major
that deals primarily with nonliving matter.
It concerns itself with the theoretical and
observable natural phenomena of our world and
universe.
Students majoring in physical science must earn
grades of C or better in all courses (including
transfer work) prescribed for this curriculum,
including electives, as outlined below:
Hrs.Courses
4
3
4
MATH 220Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
STAT 325, 410 or 510
CHM 210
Chemistry I
or
5 CHM 220
Chemical Principles I
4 CHM 230
Chemistry II
or
5 CHM 250
Chemical Principles II
4 PHYS 113
General Physics I
or
5 PHYS 213
Engineering Physics I
4 PHYS 114
General Physics II
or
5 PHYS 214
Engineering Physics II
4 GEOL 100/
Earth in Action and Geology lab
103
or
4 GEOG 221
Introduction to Physical Geography I
1 DAS 499Physical Sciences Senior Report
5–9*Electives
*Students must complete a total of 37 hours in the
major. Electives must be selected from the following:
Computing and Information Sciences —
­ CIS 200 to 799
Chemistry — 350, 351, 371, 500 to 799
Geology — 100, 102, 103, 105, 501 to 799, except 512
Geography — 235, 302, 508, 535, 605, 711, 725, 735
Mathematics — 221, 222, 240, 510, 540 or 551
Physics — 122, 191, 300 to 799, except 515
Statistics — 341, 510 to 799
Problems, seminar or topics courses are not acceptable
unless listed above. At least five elective hours must
have a prerequisite.
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
science disciplines include American ethnic
studies, anthropology, economics, geography,
history, political science, psychological sciences,
sociology, women’s studies and select courses in
mass communications.
A student works closely with an interdisciplinary
social science advisor in the College of Arts and
Sciences dean’s office to develop a plan of study
with a thematic emphasis.
The social science major consists of 36 credit
hours in four or more social science disciplines.
In general only one course outside the social
science disciplines may be used toward the
major, if the course fits the student’s theme.
At least 15 hours must be completed in social
science disciplines at the 500 and above level.
Up to 9 credit hours of major coursework may
be applied to basic requirements of the degree.
Students must complete at least one course in
social science research methods or data analysis,
typically statistics.
A minimum 2.0 GPA in the major is required for
graduation.
The social science major is not available to
students who are simultaneously pursuing
a degree in American ethnic studies,
anthropology, economics, geography, history,
mass communications, political science,
psychological sciences, sociology or women’s
studies.
Advising
Interdisciplinary major requirements are flexible
enough to allow students and advisors to design
programs to meet individual needs, interests
and career goals. Advising for interdisciplinary
majors is in the College of Arts & Sciences.
For more information about
interdisciplinary majors, contact:
Interdisciplinary Advising
College of Arts & Sciences
Kansas State University
113 Eisenhower Hall
1013 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-1005
785-532-6900
k-state.edu/artsci/student-resources/
interdisciplinary/
For more information about
Kansas State University, contact:
Office of Admissions
Kansas State University
119 Anderson Hall
919 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506-0102
1-800-432-8270 (toll free) or
785-532-6250
k-state@k-state.edu
k-state.edu/admissions
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concerning nondiscrimination policies is the University’s Title IX Coordinator: the
Director of the Office of Institutional Equity, equity@k-state.edu, 103 Edwards Hall,
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, (785) 532-6220. The campus
ADA Coordinator is the Director of Employee Relations, charlott@k-state.edu, who
may be reached at 103 Edwards Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
66506, (785) 532-6277.
2016