Kentucky State University follows a comprehensive plan that governs the offering of courses on a long-term basis. The University’s Nine-Semester Schedule of Courses permits students and their advisors to develop an effective plan which identifies when required and elective courses may be taken. In general, all upper-division courses (elective or required), necessary to complete undergraduate degree requirements for a program, shall be offered at least once every two academic years.
Project Graduate focuses on adults who have earned 90 or more college credit hours. Kentucky State University's Project Graduate Campus Action Plan is designed to provide academically qualified individuals the chance to complete a baccalaureate degree, improve their earning power and contribute more to their community and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. More specifically, the institution collaborates with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in a systematic effort to identify, recruit and support students who have left Kentucky State University after completing the majority of work required to attain a baccalaureate degree.
Kentucky State University offers preparatory programs for students intending to enter the fields of medicine, dentistry, law, engineering, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, community health, cytotechnology, clinical laboratory sciences, nuclear medicine technology, and physical therapy. Most of these programs are housed in various divisions of the College of Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Health. The requirements for a pre-law curriculum can be fulfilled by a strong major, such as English or Political Science, which are housed in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies.
In addition to preparing students for entrance into the professional schools of their choice, Kentucky residents attending Kentucky State University and meeting certain requirements, will be eligible for three percent of the openings annually at Kentucky’s publicly-supported law schools. Students interested in entering law school should contact the University’s pre-law advisors in the College Arts, Social Science and Interdisciplinary Studies. Information regarding veterinary medicine may be found in the section of this Catalogue describing the Division of Mathematics and Sciences.
Kentucky State University is embarked on a pilot program beginning with the fall 2008 semester to work with students entering the University with academic disadvantages. This program is designed to create small groups of 15-18 students in living/learning communities that will extend through their sophomore year. These students share classes, supplemental instruction, advisors, living locations, and other services. The University has been grouping students using block scheduling for several years; this is a natural extension of this practice. Sixty students participated in the initial pilot; eventually, the majority of students entering with major developmental needs will be residents of this program. Faculty and staff will be comprehensively trained to help meet the academic, developmental, and social needs of these students. University Orientation (UNV 101) serves as the hub for each living/learning group in the pilot program, and the course's instructor serves as the advisor to each student within the group. Students interested in exploring this exciting learning opportunity are encouraged to contact the director for this program.
The genesis of this innovative approach to developmental education is the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) which is part of the institution’s ten-year accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, our regional accrediting body.
Cooperative education at Kentucky State University is an academic program incorporating alternating and parallel periods of employment and classroom study. This educational process is a joint or cooperative effort on the part of the Cooperative Education Office, the faculty instructing the student, and the employer furnishing opportunities for practical applications of the student’s class work. Students are limited to a maximum of twelve hours in cooperative education courses for their academic career at KSU.
Cooperative education helps the student bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, and it allows the student to observe and participate in practical applications of coursework. Cooperative education enables students to be more valuable contributors upon returning to the classroom; they gain self-confidence and become more involved in the educational process. Full-time employment is of significant financial benefit to the student and is valuable in adding to the student’s credentials for employment. Upon graduation, the co-op student has a decided edge in competing for professional positions.
The University believes that supervised work experience is worth college credit; therefore, upon successful completion of each semester of work experience, semester credit hours are awarded. Cooperative education
25