General Education Requirements
Competencies will be met at the level appropriate to the credential.
A general education core curriculum will enable KCTCS colleges to graduate men and women who are intellectually flexible, articulate, reflective, creative, and prepared for continuous learning. For all students, this implies some understanding of the value of higher education and the world of work and career fields related to their own abilities, interests, and needs. The general education core competencies will enable students to develop their own values, pursue goals, and contribute to the political, moral, social, and cultural enrichment of society.
General Education Competencies
Students should prepare for twenty-first century challenges by gaining:
- Knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural worlds through study in the sciences and mathematics, social sciences, humanities, histories, languages, and the arts.
- Intellectual and practical skills, including
- inquiry and analysis
- critical and creative thinking
- written and oral communication
- quantitative literacy
- information literacy
- teamwork and problem solving
- Personal and social responsibility, including
- civic knowledge and engagement (local and global)
- intercultural knowledge and competence
- ethical reasoning and action
- foundations and skills for lifelong learning
- Integrative and applied learning, including synthesis and advanced accomplishment across general and specialized skills.
Written Communication
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | ||
| TEC 200 | Technical Communications | 3 |
| Any Writing course approved for the AAS, AA, or AS | ||
| AAS, AA, AS, AFA | ||
| ENG 101 | Writing I | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Writing II | 3 |
| ENG 105 | Writing: An Accelerated Course | 3 |
Oral Communications
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, AAS, AA, AS, AFA | ||
| COM 181 | Basic Public Speaking | 3 |
| COM 205 | Business and Professional Communication | 3 |
| COM 252 | Introduction to Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COM 281 | Communication in Small Group | 3 |
| COM 287 | Persuasive Speaking | 3 |
Quantitative Reasoning
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | ||
| Any mathematics course approved for the AAS, AA, AS, or AFA | ||
| AAS | ||
| MAT 105 | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT 110 | Applied Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT 116 | Technical Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT 126 | Technical Algebra and Trigonometry | 3 |
| Any mathematics course listed below | ||
| AA, AS & AFA | ||
| MAT 141 | Liberal Arts Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT 146 | Contemporary College Mathematics | 3 |
| MAT 150 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MAT 151 | Introduction to Applied Statistics | 3 |
| MAT 154 | Trigonometry | 2 |
| MAT 155 | Trigonometry | 3 |
| MAT 159 | Analytic Geometry and Trigonometry | 4 |
| MAT 160 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MAT 161 | Statistics and Algebra | 5 |
| MAT 165 | Finite Mathematics and its Applications | 3 |
| MAT 170 | Brief Calculus with Applications | 3 |
| MAT 171 | Precalculus | 5 |
| MAT 174 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MAT 175 | Calculus I | 5 |
| MAT 184 | Calculus II | 4 |
| MAT 185 | Calculus II | 5 |
| MAT 206 | Mathematics For Elementary and Middle School Teachers II | 3 |
| MAT 261 | Introduction to Number Theory | 3 |
| MAT 275 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MAT 285 | Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHI 250 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| STA 151 | Introduction to Applied Statistics | 3 |
| STA 210 | Statistics: A Force in Human Judgement | 3 |
| STA 220 | Statistics | 3 |
| STA 251 | Applied Statistics | 3 |
Natural Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | ||
| PHX 150 | Introductory Physics | 3 |
| Any Science course approved for the AAS, AA, AS, or AFA | ||
| AAS, AA, AFA, AS | ||
| ANA 209 | Principles of Human Anatomy | 3 |
| ANT 230 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 231 | Biological Anthropology Laboratory * | 1 |
| AST 101 | Frontiers of Astronomy | 3 |
| AST/BIO 155 | Astrobiology | 3 |
| AST 191 | The Solar System | 3 |
| AST 192 | Stars, Galaxies and the Universe | 3 |
| AST 195 | Introductory Astronomy Laboratory * | 1 |
| BIO 112 | Introduction to Biology | 3 |
| BIO 113 | Introduction to Biology Lab * | 1 |
| BIO 114 | Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 115 | Biology Laboratory I * | 1 |
| BIO 116 | Biology II | 3 |
| BIO 117 | Biology Laboratory II * | 1 |
| BIO 118 | Microbes and Society | 3 |
| BIO 120 | Human Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 121 | Human Ecology Laboratory * | 1 |
| BIO 122 | Introduction to Conservation Biology | 3 |
| BIO 124 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| BIO 130 | Aspects of Human Biology | 3 |
| BIO 135 | Basic Anatomy and Physiology with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 137 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 139 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 140 | Botany | 3 |
| BIO 141 | Botany with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 142 | Zoology | 3 |
| BIO 143 | Zoology with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 144 | Insect Biology | 3 |
| BIO 145 | Insect Biology Laboratory * | 1 |
| BIO 150 | Principles of Biology I | 3 |
| BIO 151 | Principles of Biology Laboratory I * | 2 |
| BIO 152 | Principles of Biology II | 3 |
| BIO 153 | Principles of Biology Laboratory II * | 2 |
| BIO/AST 155 | Astrobiology | 3 |
| BIO 209 | Introductory Microbiology Laboratory * | 2 |
| BIO 220 | The Genetic Perspective | 3 |
| BIO 225 | Medical Microbiology with Laboratory * | 4 |
| BIO 226 | Principles of Microbiology | 3 |
| BIO 227 | Principles of Microbiology with Laboratory * | 5 |
| CHE 120 | Chemistry in Society | 3 |
| CHE 125 | Chemistry in Society Laboratory * | 1 |
| CHE 130 | Introductory General and Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 135 | Introductory General and Biological Chemistry Laboratory * | 1 |
| CHE 140 | Introductory General Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 145 | Introductory General Chemistry Laboratory * | 1 |
| CHE 150 | Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry | 3 |
| CHE 155 | Introduction to Organic and Biological Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 1 |
| CHE 170 | General College Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHE 175 | General College Chemistry Laboratory I * | 1 |
| CHE 180 | General College Chemistry II | 4 |
| CHE 185 | General College Chemistry Laboratory II * | 1 |
| CHE 270 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHE 275 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory I * | 2 |
| CHE 280 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHE 285 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory II * | 2 |
| EST 140 | Introduction to Ecology | 3 |
| EST 141 | Introduction to Ecology Laboratory * | 1 |
| EST 150 | Introductory Ecology * | 4 |
| EST 160 | Hydrological Geology | 3 |
| EST 161 | Hydrologic Geology Lab * | 1 |
| GEO 130 | Earth's Physical Environment | 3 |
| GEO 131 | Earth's Physical Environment Laboratory * | 1 |
| GEO 251 | Weather and Climate | 3 |
| GEO 280 | Environmental Science * | 4 |
| GLY 101 | Physical Geology | 3 |
| GLY 102 | Historical Geology | 3 |
| GLY 110 | Environmental Geology | 3 |
| GLY 111 | Physical Geology Laboratory * | 1 |
| GLY 112 | Historical Geology Laboratory * | 1 |
| GLY 114 | Environmental Geology Laboratory * | 1 |
| GLY 125 | Geology of the National Parks and Monuments | 3 |
| GLY 130 | Dinosaurs and Disasters: A Brief History of the Vertebrates | 3 |
| GLY 131 | Dinosaur Laboratory * | 1 |
| GLY 140 | Introduction to Oceanography | 3 |
| GLY 220 | Principles of Physical Geology * | 4 |
| PHY 151 | Introductory Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 152 | Introductory Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 160 | Physics and Astronomy for Elementary Teachers * | 3 |
| PHY 161 | Introductory Physics I Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHY 162 | Introductory Physics II Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHY 171 | Applied Physics * | 4 |
| PHY 172 | Physics for Health Sciences * | 2 |
| PHY 201 | College Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 202 | College Physics I Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHY 203 | College Physics II | 4 |
| PHY 204 | College Physics II Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHY 231 | General University Physics I | 4 |
| PHY 232 | General University Physics II | 4 |
| PHY 241 | General University Physics I Laboratory * | 1 |
| PHY 242 | General University Physics II Laboratory * | 1 |
| SCI 110 | Science and Society | 3 |
| SCI 295 | Scientific Investigations | 3 |
- *
Course satisfies the General Education requirement for a laboratory experience.
Social and Behavioral Sciences
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma | ||
| EFM 100 | Personal Financial Management | 3 |
| WPP 200 | Workplace Principles | 3 |
| Any Social Interaction course approved for the AAS, AA, AS, or AFA | ||
| AAS, AA, AS, AFA | ||
| AGR 101 | The Economics of Food and Agriculture | 3 |
| ANT 101 | Introduction to Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT/REL 130 | Introduction to Comparative Religion 1 | 3 |
| ANT 160 | Cultural Diversity in the Modern World | 3 |
| ANT 220 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANT 221 | Native People of North America | 3 |
| ANT 223 | Culture Change and Globalization | 3 |
| ANT 235 | Food and Culture | 3 |
| ANT 240 | Introduction to Archaeology | 3 |
| ANT 241 | Origins of Old World Civilization | 3 |
| ANT 242 | Origins of New World Civilization | 3 |
| COM 101 | Introduction to Communications | 3 |
| COM 249 | Mass Media Communication | 3 |
| COM 254 | Introduction to Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ECO 101 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 3 |
| ECO 150 | Introduction to Global Economics | 3 |
| ECO 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ECO 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| FAM 252 | Introduction to Family Science | 3 |
| FAM 253 | Human Sexuality: Development, Behavior, and Attitudes | 3 |
| FLK 280 | Cultural Diversity in the United States | 3 |
| GEN 140 | Development of Leadership | 3 |
| GEN 225 | Lifelong Learning Applications | 3 |
| GEO 152 | Regional Geography of the World | 3 |
| GEO 160 | Lands and Peoples of the Non-Western World | 3 |
| GEO 172 | Human Geography | 3 |
| GEO 210 | Pollution, Hazards, and Environmental Management | 3 |
| GEO 222 | Cities of the World | 3 |
| GEO 240 | Geography and Gender | 3 |
| HUM 135 | Introduction to Native American Literature 2 | 3 |
| HUM 202 | Survey of Appalachian Studies I 2 | 3 |
| HUM 203 | Survey of Appalachian Studies II 2 | 3 |
| HUM 204 | Appalachian Seminar 2 | 3 |
| HUM 221 | Contemporary Perspectives on Peace and War | 3 |
| POL 101 | American Government | 3 |
| POL 210 | Introduction to European Politics: East and West | 3 |
| POL 212 | Culture and Politics in Developing Nations | 3 |
| POL 235 | World Politics | 3 |
| POL 255 | State Government | 3 |
| POL 280 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| PSY 110 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 180 | Human Relations | 3 |
| PSY 185 | Human Potential | 3 |
| PSY 223 | Lifespan Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 230 | Psychosocial Aspects of Death and Dying | 3 |
| PSY 297 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| PSY 298 | Essentials of Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| RAE 120 | Introduction to Chinese Culture | 3 |
| REL 101 | Introduction to Religious Studies 2 | 3 |
| REL 130 | Introduction to Comparative Religion 1 | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 151 | Social Interaction | 3 |
| SOC 152 | Modern Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 220 | The Community | 3 |
| SOC 230 | Deviant Behavior | 3 |
| SOC 235 | Inequality in Society | 3 |
| SOC 249 | Media, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 250 | Sociology of Popular Culture | 3 |
| SOC 260 | Population, Resources and Change | 3 |
| SPA 115 | Hispanic Culture: (Country or Region) | 3 |
| SUS 101 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| SUS 102 | Sustainable Built Environment | 3 |
| SUS 201 | Sustainable Societies | 3 |
| SUS 202 | Sustainable Urban Systems | 3 |
| SWK 124 | Introduction to Social Services | 3 |
| SWK 275 | The Family | 3 |
| WGS 200 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies in the Social Sciences | 3 |
- 1
A student may not receive credit for both ANT 130 Introduction to Comparative Religion (3 credit hours) and REL 130 Introduction to Comparative Religion (3 credit hours).
- 2
May be used to fulfill either Social and Behavioral Sciences or Arts & Humanities competency, but may not be used to fulfill both general education categories.
Arts and Humanities
Heritage
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, AAS, AA, AS, AFA | ||
| FLK 276 | Introduction to Folk Studies | 3 |
| HIS 101 | World Civilization I | 3 |
| HIS 102 | World Civilization II | 3 |
| HIS 104 | A History of Europe Through the Mid-Seventeenth Century | 3 |
| HIS 105 | A History of Europe from the Mid-Seventeenth Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIS 106 | Western Culture: Science and Technology I | 3 |
| HIS 107 | Western Culture: Science and Technology II | 3 |
| HIS 108 | History of the United States Through 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 109 | History of the United States Since 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 120 | The World at War, 1939-45 | 3 |
| HIS 202 | History of British People to the Restoration | 3 |
| HIS 203 | History of the British People Since the Restoration | 3 |
| HIS 206 | History of Colonial Latin America | 3 |
| HIS 207 | History Modern Latin America, 1810 to Present | 3 |
| HIS 215 | Historical Perspectives on Prisons and Police Work | 3 |
| HIS 220 | Native American History: Pre-Contact to 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 221 | Native American History: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| HIS 240 | History of Kentucky | 3 |
| HIS 247 | History of Islam and Middle East Peoples, 500-1250 A.D. | 3 |
| HIS 248 | History of Islam and Middle East Peoples, 1250 to the Present | 3 |
| HIS 254 | History of Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 |
| HIS 260 | African American History to 1865 | 3 |
| HIS 261 | African-American History 1865 - Present | 3 |
| HIS 265 | History of Women in America | 3 |
| HIS 271 | Medieval Europe | 3 |
| HIS 295 | East Asia to 1800 | 3 |
| HIS 296 | History of Asia II | 3 |
Humanities
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma, AAS, AA, AS, AFA | ||
| ANT/REL 130 | Introduction to Comparative Religion 1 | 3 |
| ART 100 | Introduction to Art | 3 |
| ART 104 | Introduction to African Art | 3 |
| ART 105 | Ancient Through Medieval Art History | 3 |
| ART 106 | Renaissance Through Modern Art History | 3 |
| ART 108 | Introduction to World Art | 3 |
| ART 109 | Women in Art & Art History | 3 |
| ART 201 | Ancient Art History | 3 |
| ART 202 | Medieval Art History | 3 |
| ART 203 | Renaissance Art History | 3 |
| ART 204 | Modern Art History | 3 |
| ART 205 | African American Art | 3 |
| ENG 135 | Greek and Roman Mythology in Translation | 3 |
| ENG 161 | Introduction to Literature | 3 |
| ENG 190 | Introduction to Dystopian Literature and Film | 3 |
| ENG 221 | Survey of English Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 222 | Survey of English Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 230 | Literature and Theme (subtitle required) | 3 |
| ENG 231 | Literature and Genre (Subtitle required) | 3 |
| ENG 232 | Literature and Place (Subtitle required) | 3 |
| ENG 233 | Literature and Identities (Subtitle required) | 3 |
| ENG 234 | Introduction to Women's Literature | 3 |
| ENG 251 | Survey of American Literature I | 3 |
| ENG 252 | Survey of American Literature II | 3 |
| ENG 261 | Survey of Western Literature from the Greeks Through the Renaissance | 3 |
| ENG 262 | Survey of Western Literature from 1660 to the Present | 3 |
| ENG 264 | Major Black Writers | 3 |
| ENG 270 | The Old Testament as Literature | 3 |
| ENG 271 | The New Testament as Literature | 3 |
| ENG/HUM 281 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| ENG/HUM 282 | International Film Studies | 3 |
| FLK 276 | Introduction to Folk Studies | 3 |
| GEN 125 | Applied Meta-Thinking | 3 |
| HNR 101 | Intro to Contemporary Thought | 3 |
| HON 101 | The Ancient World | 3 |
| HON 102 | The Medieval and Renaissance World | 3 |
| HON 201 | The Early and Modern World | 3 |
| HON 202 | The Contemporary World | 3 |
| HRS 101 | An Integrated Survey of Western Civilization I | 3 |
| HRS 102 | An Integrated Survey of Western Civilization II | 3 |
| HRS 201 | An Integrated Survey of Western Civilization III | 3 |
| HRS 202 | An Integrated Survey of Western Civilization IV | 3 |
| HUM 120 | Introduction to the Humanities | 3 |
| HUM 121 | Peace Studies | 3 |
| HUM 135 | Introduction to Native American Literature 2 | 3 |
| HUM 140 | Introduction to Latino Literature | 3 |
| HUM 150 | Introduction to African Literature | 3 |
| HUM 160 | Introduction to Holocaust Literature and Film | 3 |
| HUM 202 | Survey of Appalachian Studies I 2 | 3 |
| HUM 203 | Survey of Appalachian Studies II 2 | 3 |
| HUM 204 | Appalachian Seminar 2 | 3 |
| HUM 220 | Historical Perspectives on Peace and War | 3 |
| HUM 230 | Contemporary Japanese Literature and Culture in Translation | 3 |
| HUM 250 | Appalachian Literature Survey | 3 |
| HUM 251 | Contemporary Appalachian Literature | 3 |
| HUM/ENG 281 | Introduction to Film | 3 |
| HUM/ENG 282 | International Film Studies | 3 |
| MU 101 | Folk and Traditional Music of the Western Continents | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Introduction to Music | 3 |
| MUS 104 | Introduction to Jazz History | 3 |
| MUS 206 | American Music History | 3 |
| MUS 207 | African American Music History | 3 |
| MUS 208 | World Music | 3 |
| MUS 222 | History and Sociology of Rock Music | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality | 3 |
| PHI 110 | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 120 | Introductory Logic | 3 |
| PHI 130 | Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 140 | The Ethics of War and Peace | 3 |
| PHI 150 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 160 | Philosophy Through Pop Culture | 3 |
| PHI 170 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| PHI 180 | Animal and Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 200 | Professional Responsibility | 3 |
| PHI 260 | History of Philosophy I: From Greek Beginnings to the Middle Ages | 3 |
| PHI 270 | History of Philosophy II: From the Renaissance to the Present Era | 3 |
| REL 101 | Introduction to Religious Studies 2 | 3 |
| REL 120 | Introduction to the Old Testament | 3 |
| REL 121 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| REL/ANT 130 | Introduction to Comparative Religion 1 | 3 |
| REL 150 | Comparative Ethics of Major World Religions | 3 |
| REL 160 | Religious Expressions of Forgiveness and Justice | 3 |
| REL 170 | Philosophy of Religion | 3 |
| THA 101 | Introduction to Theatre: Principles and Practice | 3 |
| THA 200 | Introduction to Dramatic Literature | 3 |
| THA 283 | American Theatre | 3 |
| WGS 201 | Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies in the Arts and Humanities | 3 |
- 1
A student may not receive credit for both ANT 130 Introduction to Comparative Religion (3 credit hours) and REL 130 Introduction to Comparative Religion (3 credit hours).
- 2
May be used to fulfill either Social and Behavioral Sciences or Arts & Humanities requirement, but may not be used to fulfill both general education categories.
Course Transitions
A significant number of courses have changed prefixes and/or course numbers. This does not change the ability of the courses to fulfill general education course requirements as long as courses were eligible at the time of enrollment. Course changes for General Education courses are available in Appendices -E (through 2013-2014 academic year).