General Studies Information

REQUIREMENTS

45 Hours of General Studies Courses

All UNK students must satisfactorily complete the courses listed within the General Studies areas. Each student seeking a bachelor's degree at UNK must complete 45 hours of General Studies courses, in the form of a 12-hour Foundational Core, 3-hour Portal Course, 27-hour Distribution, and 3-hour Capstone Course. Students can take a maximum of 10 hours from the same discipline to apply to their General Studies Program. It should be noted that certain majors require that specific General Studies courses be taken. Students should make choices with the guidance of the academic advisor so that their interests and major requirements are met. Colleges and individual programs within a College can, with the approval of the appropriate College committee, require specific General Studies courses which will be listed under the requirements for the degree programs.

To ensure that the General Studies Program provides students with a wide variety of points of view and allows them to concentrate in their junior and senior years on their major subject, students are encouraged to complete the General Studies Program in their freshman and sophomore years.

The primary purpose of the Portal Course is to develop critical thinking skills. Students will be strongly encouraged to take the Portal in the first two semesters. All Portal courses are numbered 188. Students may choose to take the Portal in any department. Students transferring to UNK and presenting 24 or more hours of General Studies credit at the time of admission are exempt from taking the Portal, but must still complete a total of 45 hours of General Studies credit. Exemptions must be applied at the time of initial admission.

The Capstone Course is interdisciplinary and focuses on critical thinking. The Capstone is open to juniors and seniors, and to students within 6 hours of completion of their General Studies requirements. All Capstone courses are numbered 388. Students may choose to take the Capstone in any department. The Capstone will require the creation of an original semester project.

See requirements for:

  1. Foundational Core - 12 hours
  2. Portal Course - 3 hours
  3. Distribution - 27 hours (22 hours in minimum requirements; 5 hours of electives)
  4. Capstone Course - 3 hours

3 Apr 2013

ugradcatalog@unk.edu