College Student Academic Services

CLAS General Education Requirements

• English Requirement
• Argument and Reason
• Mathematics Requirement
• Western Civilization Requirement
• Non-Western Culture Requirement
• Principal Course Distribution Requirement: Humanities, Natural Science/Mathematics, and Social Sciences
• Laboratory Science Requirement
• Foreign Language Requirement (BA)
• Minor, Co-major, or Second Major Requirement (BGS)
  
  

During the first two years of college, students are expected to take courses to fulfill general education requirements. All CLAS degrees require general education courses, which include study in English, mathematics, humanities, social science, natural science, and in some cases, speech or logic, laboratory science, foreign language, Western civilization, and non-Western culture.

Study in these areas help students meet the undergraduate education goals set by the University of Kansas.

Please check our principal course and non Western culture course lists.

Courses Fulfilling Two Requirements

• Principal Course and Laboratory Science.
• General Education requirement and Jr/Sr concentration.
• General Education and minor.
• General Education and major.
• General Education and supporting science major requirement.
• One course overlap between major and minor.
• Minor and B.S. , B.A. , or B.G.S. supporting science.

English Requirement

Students typically complete three ENGL courses to fulfill their English general education requirements unless they are exempt based on ACT English, SAT verbal scores, or AP scores.

B.A. and B.G.S. degrees require that students complete:

1. ENGL 101 Composition or exemption, and
2. ENGL 102 Composition and Literature or ENGL 105 Freshman Honors English, and
3. One of the following 200-level writing courses:
   • ENGL 203, Topics in Reading and Writing (Note: topics change each semester, please check Enroll and Pay under Manage Student Records-Establish Courses-Inquire-Class Search or check open sections with the Registrars' Office.)
   • ENGL 205, Freshman/Sophomore Honors Proseminar (Note: topics change each semester, please check Enroll and Pay under Manage Student Records-Establish Courses-Inquire-Class Search or check open sections with the Registrars' Office.)
   • ENGL 209, Introduction to Fiction
   • ENGL 210, Introduction to Poetry
   • ENGL 211, Introduction to Drama

• Astronomy: ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and any 200-level ENGL or ENGL 362, Professional Writing
• Atmospheric Science: ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and any 200-level ENGL or ENGL 362, Professional Writing
• Biological Sciences (all concentrations): same as the B.A.
• Chemistry: six hours
• Economics: same as the B.A.
• Environmental Studies: ENGL 101, ENGL 102 and ENGL 362, Professional Writing (if not available, any 200-level ENGL writing course)
• Geography: same as the B.A. , but ENGL 362, Professional Writing is strongly recommended as a substitute for a 200-level ENGL course
• Geology: same as the B.A.
• Mathematics: same as the B.A.
• Physics: ENGL 101, ENGL 102, and any 200-level ENGL or ENGL 362, Professional Writing

Argument and Reason Requirement

• COMS 130, Speaker-Audience Communication
• COMS 131, Speaker-Audience Communication (honors)
• COMS 230, Fundamentals of Debate
• PHIL 148, Reason and Argument
• PHIL 310, Introduction to Symbolic Logic

• Astronomy: not required
• Atmospheric Science: COMS 130, COMS 150, or COMS 330
• Biological Sciences: all majors same as the B.A.
• Chemistry: not required
• Economics: not required
• Environmental Studies: same as the B.A.
• Geography: same as the B.A.
• Geology: COMS 130 or COMS 150
• Mathematics: three hours
• Physics: not required

• MATH 105, Introduction to Topics in Math
• MATH 111, Matrix Algebra, Probability, and Statistics
• MATH 115, Calculus I (3 hour course)
• MATH 121, Calculus I (5 hour course)
• MATH 141, Calculus I, (honors version of MATH 121)
• MATH 365, Elementary Statistics
• BIOL 570, Introduction to Biostatistics

• If a student is planning to take MATH 121. (This generally includes students majoring in mathematics, science and engineering. )
• If a student is planning to take PHSX 114/115. (Trigonometry is heavily used in these courses. )
• If a student is planning to take MATH 116 and has not had a trigonometry course in high school or college. (Trigonometry is a prerequisite for Math 116. Math 116 is required for admission to the Business School. Biological Sciences majors can generally choose between MATH 115-116 and MATH 121; both require previous study of trigonometry. )
• If a student has demonstrated interest and strength in mathematics and may wish to continue taking mathematics courses.

• Taught in large lectures: MATH 105 consists of a lecture section of 350
• No discussion section
• MATH 105 syllabus varies by instructor
• Offered every fall and spring; generally offered in the summer

• Taught in a small class of 30 students in the fall-one section only
• No discussion section
• Combines two major topics, matrix algebra and statistics, but focused within each
• May be offered in summer.

• Two alternative formats each semester
  • Many (up to 30) small sections of 30 to 40 students, or
  • One large lecture of 175 students
• No discussion sections
• All sections have a common syllabus, common midterm and final exams
• Subsequent course is Math 116, Calculus II
• Syllabus is focused, building on itself through the term
• Good algebra skills are particularly important
• Offered fall, spring and summer
  
  

• Five-credit calculus course for math, science and engineering majors and others interested in math
• Taught in small sections of 30 to 40 students
• No discussion section
• All sections have a common syllabus, common midterm and final exams.
• Subsequent course is Math 122, Calculus II
• Syllabus is focused, building on itself through the term
• Good algebra skills are very important
• Offered fall, spring and summer

• Taught in medium-size classes of 60 students
• All sections have a common syllabus, but there are no common exams
• No discussion section
• Syllabus is focused, building on itself through the term
• Offered fall, spring and summer

MATH 105,111, and 365 are not prerequisites for any other courses. MATH 115 or 121 can be taken as a one-semester introduction to calculus, or can lead to more mathematics courses. The six-credit hour sequence MATH 115 - 116 can substitute for MATH 121 as the prerequisite for MATH 122, but MATH 121 is better preparation for MATH 122. Students who think they might continue in mathematics courses should start in MATH 121 instead of MATH 115.

Western Civilization Requirement

Students pursuing the B.A. or B.G.S. must complete the two-course sequence:

• HWC 204, Western Civilization I
• HWC 205, Western Civilization II

Before enrolling in the courses, students should have: 1) attained at least sophomore status, and 2) completed ENGL 102, Composition and Literature to gain the writing experience needed. It is recommended that Western Civilization I be taken before Western Civilization II.

Students in the University Honors Program and those with outstanding backgrounds in the humanities are encouraged to enroll in the honors sequence:

• HWC 114, Western Civilization I
• HWC 115, Western Civilization II.

Students having difficulty finding open sections may consider the following:

• Taking the course(s) through KU Continuing Education or
• Taking a transferrable course at another Kansas institution or a course listed in KU's CredTran.

Students pursuing the following B.S. degrees also must complete the Western Civilization requirement:

• Astronomy
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Economics
• Environmental Studies
• Mathematics
• Microbiology
• Physics
• Cognitive Psychology
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Non-Western Culture Requirement

Students pursuing the B.A. or B.G.S. must complete an approved non-Western culture course. (Consult the Office of the University Registrar for a list of open sections.)

No B.S. degrees require non-Western culture.

Principal Course Distribution Requirement:

Humanities, Natural Science/Mathematics, and Social Sciences

Students pursuing a B.A. degree must complete three courses in each of the following areas: humanities, natural science, and social science. These topical groups include historical studies, literature and the arts, and philosophy and religion in the humanities; biological science, earth science, mathematical science, and physical science in the natural sciences; and culture and society, individual behavior, and public affairs in the social sciences. Students pursuing a B.G.S. degree must complete two approved principal courses in each division, each from a different topical group. (Consult the Office of the University Registrar for a list of open sections.)

Students pursuing the following B.S. degrees also must take Principal Courses:

• Astronomy: Two humanities principal courses and two social science principal courses
• Biochemistry: One humanities principal course, one social science principal course, and three additional courses chosen from different humanities or social science topical groups or foreign language courses
• Biology: One humanities principal course, one social science principal course, and three additional courses chosen from different humanities or social science topical groups or foreign language courses
• Economics: Same as for the B.A. degree
• Environmental Studies: Three principal courses chosen from humanities or social science principal courses or at least two courses in a foreign language
• Geography: Two humanities principal courses and two social science principal courses
• Microbiology: One humanities principal course, one social science principal course, and three additional courses chosen from different humanities or social science topical groups or foreign language courses
• Physics: Two humanities courses, including at least one humanities principal course, and two social science principal courses, including at least one social science principal course

Laboratory Science Requirement

Students pursuing a B.A. degree must complete one course in the natural sciences which includes a lab or a natural science lecture course with an associated lab which constitutes 4 to 5 hours of academic credit.

The lab science course (or combined lecture and lab course) may fulfill both the lab science requirement and one of the natural science principal course distribution requirements if the course is designated a principal course. (NOTE: a free-standing lab course does not by itself fulfill either the lab science requirement or a principal course requirement.)

Students pursuing a B.G.S. are not required to complete a laboratory science course.

Because most B.S. degrees are offered within the science departments and programs, students pursuing these degrees take laboratory science courses as part of the requirements for the major. The following B.S. degrees also require their students to complete a laboratory science course:

• Mathematics
• Cognitive Psychology
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Foreign Language Requirement

KU offers courses in many foreign languages. Students pursuing a B.A. degree must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language through the fourth-semester level. This may be done in any of the following ways:

1. Pass the proficiency exam in one foreign language, or

2. Complete a fourth-semester-level course in one foreign language, or

3. Complete any foreign language course that has a fourth-semester-level course as a prerequisite.

Students whose native language is not English are exempt from the foreign language requirement if they can show that the high school they attended was taught in a language other than English. These students must pass the Applied English Center's proficiency examination. (Contact College Student Academic Services for more information.)

We strongly encourage all students explore a world language. Students pursuing a B.G.S. are not required to demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language through the fourth-semester level. (See your particular degree requirements for more detail.)

Students pursuing the following B.S. degrees must complete a foreign language requirement, may use language courses to fulfill general education requirements, or are encouraged to take language courses as electives:

• Astronomy: Foreign language courses recommended as electives
• Biochemistry: Foreign language courses may be used to fulfill the three-course humanities/social science/language requirement
• Biology: Foreign language courses may be used to fulfill the three-course humanities/social science/language requirement
• Chemistry: Foreign language courses will fulfill the "Language or Skill" requirement. Both the chemistry department and the ACS recommend study of a foreign language.
• Environmental Studies: Foreign language courses may be used to fulfill the three-course humanities/social science principal course/language requirement (if using language, at least two courses must be completed).
• Mathematics: Two foreign language courses may be used to fulfill the four-course humanities/foreign language requirement.
• Microbiology: Foreign language courses may be used to fulfill the three-course humanities/social science/language requirement

Less Commonly Taught Languages at KU:KU offers coursework in many foreign languages. The Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center works closely with the language departments on campus and maintains a list of frequently and less frequently taught languages.  Please note that although KU offers instruction in many foreign languages, not all languages are taught through the fourth-level and, therefore, cannot be used to fulfill the B.A. language requirement.

Languages Not Offered at KU: Students may be exempted based on languages not offered at KU, provided that the University has some way of verifying reading, writing and speaking proficiency in that language. These exemptions are considered on a case by case basis in which the student is examined by a KU faculty member fluent in the language or another approved examiner. (Please call The College Student Academic Services Office at 864-3500 for details.) One language, Cherokee, is offered infrequently through KU at Haskell Indian Nations University. Completion of fourth-semester-level course work in a language at another institution fulfill the language requirement.

American Sign Language (ASL) as Foreign Language Requirement: Although CLAS accepts ASL to fulfill the foreign language requirement, Introduction to Sign Language is the only KU ASL course available to the majority of CLAS students. The School of Education will give permission for ASL I-IV to students majoring in Speech-Language-Hearing but not other non-school of education students. The following KU courses fulfill the requirement:

• SPED 501, ASL I (3 hours)
• SPED 502, ASL II (3 hours)
• SPED 503, ASL III (3 hours)
• SPED 504, ASL IV (3 hours)

Students with prior non-college-level ASL course work should meet with the School of Education to determine proper placement.

Most college-level ASL courses do not automatically transfer to KU, with the exception of the following Johnson County Community College (JCCC) courses:

FL 180 - Elementary American Sign Language I
FL 181 - Elementary American Sign Language II
FL 270 - American Sign Language III
FL 271 - American Sign Language IV
INTR 120 - Elementary American Sign Language I
INTR 121 - Elementary American Sign Language II
INTR 122 - Intermediate American Sign Language I
INTR 123 - Intermediate American Sign Language II

The following require admission to the JCCC Interpreter Training Program prior to enrollment.

INTR 125 - American Sign Language I
INTR 132 - American Sign Language II
INTR 140 - American Sign Language III
INTR 230 - American Sign Language IV

Students with college-level courses (except JCCC) should obtain a CLAS requirement substitution petition form (gray petition) from 109 Strong Hall. The completed petition and course syllabi should be taken to the School of Education for evaluation and recommendation before returning to The College Student Academic Services office.

Once ASL courses from other institutions have been approved for transfer to KU, they will be added to the students record as foreign language credit.

Retroactive Credit Policy: Some foreign language departments award retroactive KU credit for high school work in a foreign language. Some use the following policy, but others (i.e., EALC) do not. (Please check with the department for the appropriate policy.) Students with no prior college or university foreign language course credit are eligible for retroactive credit according to the following formula:

• Three hours are awarded to students with two or three years of high school foreign language who enroll initially at KU in a 3rd-level language course and receive a grade of C or better.
• Six hours are awarded to students with three or four years of high school foreign language who enroll initially at KU in a 4^th-level course and receive a grade of C or better.
• Nine hours are awarded to students with four years of high school foreign language who enroll initially at KU in a language course with a 4^th-level course as a prerequisite and receive a grade of C or better.

Important Note: To qualify, the initial university-level enrollment in the foreign language must be at KU. Please check with the appropriate foreign language department for guidelines. Initial enrollment in the wrong course may eliminate the opportunity for retroactive credit.

After completing the KU course with a grade of C or better, students must verify their high school records with the appropriate foreign language department. The KU transcript will show the number of credits awarded but no letter grade.

Additional B.G.S. Requirements:

Students pursuing the B.G.S. degree must take courses in one department or program outside of their major.

Students whose initial term was Fall 2008 or after must choose one of the following:

• An approved minor outside their major. Requirements vary, but all approved minors are at least 18 hours (12 hours at the junior/senior level at least 9 of which must be taken at KU). Completion of a minor requires a minimum KU GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken for the minor.
• Completion of a co-major.
• Completion of a second major
  .


Students whose initial term was prior to Fall 2008 must choose one of the following:

• The junior/senior concentration requires a minimum of three upper-level courses (numbered 300 or above) totaling at least 9 credit hours in one CLAS department outside the CLAS major, or in one major or minor in a school outside the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Please note: It is not sufficient to simply complete three upper-level courses in one school outside the College. The three courses must be requirements for one specific major or minor in that school. (Check with your advisor if you have questions about which courses can fulfill this requirement.)

• An approved minor outside their major. Requirements vary, but all approved minors are at least 18 hours (12 hours at the junior/senior level at least 9 of which must be taken at KU). Completion of a minor requires a minimum KU GPA of 2.0 in all courses taken for the minor.
• Completion of a co-major
• Completion of a second major

Students pursuing either the B.A. or B.S. degrees are not required to complete this requirement but may chose to complete both minor(s) and/or additional majors.

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B.S. Degree Requirements

Each B.S. degree has a variety of general education and cognate course requirements. The individual department or program section of the Undergraduate Catalog or the department's web site should be consulted or, preferably, students should meet with an academic advisor in the department or program.