KSU graduates applying to professional schools have the advantage of coming from an institution that emphasizes the liberal studies foundation in addition to specialized training. It is very important for students contemplating graduate school to continue their pursuit of liberal studies into the junior and senior years with the goal of achieving a liberal studies major or minor, even in conjunction with a specialized major. Among the selection criteria mentioned by the UK medical school is the following (1997–1998 University of Kentucky Bulletin):

“Often the physician’s ability to communicate effectively will determine the degree of success in the diagnosis and management of a patient’s health. . . . Thus, consideration is given to the communication skills demonstrated by each applicant. Communication is a two-way process and involves the ability to listen perceptively, as well as to speak and write clearly.”

Regarding “Prelegal Study,” the UK Law School has written that legal education “is not a technical or scientific training that builds upon a specific preparation in basic techniques and knowledge acquired in undergraduate school.” Rather, legal education requires that students come having developed three fundamental capacities:

“a thorough preparation in the use of language”;

“a comprehensive, exploratory undergraduate experience”; and

the completion of a degree program in which the student will learn “to think clearly, form sound study habits, and have the opportunity to master the methodology and knowledge of a particular field under the guidance of experienced instructors.”

These are precisely the skills developed by a liberal studies major or minor.

Many Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies students plan careers in a pre-professional program. Each of these students benefits from an advisor in the Honors School and in the pre-professional program. Many pre-medical students remain in the college to complete a major in liberal studies. Students majoring in Business, Biology, and Education can complete a minor in Liberal studies in four years. Liberal Studies curricula for pre-law students are listed in the following pages. Engineering students, who finish their final two years at another university, are often able to complete both an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from Kentucky State University, and the engineering degree from the cooperating university.

In addition to the honors core, the Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies serves the University’s liberal studies mission by offering major and minors, by housing the Integrative Studies program for the general core, and by the support activities of the Institute for Liberal Studies.

Courses taken in study-abroad programs may be used to satisfy course requirements at the discretion of the School faculty.

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Honors Option) Students may pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies (Honors Option) having taken either the general liberal studies core or the honors core. The Liberal Studies major is often used as a preparation for law school, graduate school, or a business training program. Students may double major, combining a major in Liberal Studies with a major in some other field (such as Psychology or English).

Students pursuing the honors option Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies must satisfy the following requirements. They must complete a minimum of 128 semester credit hours, including a mandatory minor or second major, and the required courses in the major. The required courses are LST 301, 302, 311, 401, 421, and the Senior Essay—LST 441—which may represent any discipline and is the basis for the Comprehensive Examination. In addition, three semester credit hours must be selected from LST 241, 242, 251, 252, 331, 332, 351, 352, 431, 432, or 491. The remaining 6 credit hours may be selected from LST 241, 242, 251, 252, or any LST 300- or 400-level course, or from the acceptable liberal studies electives listed below. (LST 491 may be taken twice, and LST preceptorials covering differing topics may be taken twice or more.) Care must be taken to ensure that, together with the required minor (or second major), 45 credit hours of upper division courses are completed in accordance with rule III.M of the Academic Regulations and Policies. In addition, the student must demonstrate competency in the basic use of computers, either by satisfactory performance on the LST Computer Competency Exam, or the computer literacy portion of the Rising Junior Exam, or by passing any appropriate course in computer skills (e.g., COS 101, BUA 101). LST 341 (1 credit hour) is recommended as preparation for the senior thesis.