The Institute for Liberal Studies provides leadership in the continuous development and implementation of a comprehensive program in liberal studies. It seeks to enhance the mission of the University through academic and scholarly activities, focusing on the intellectual enrichment of faculty and students.
The numerous functions of the Institute for Liberal Studies include the production of an annual interdisciplinary conference attracting scholars from all over the nation and the world. The Institute publishes selected lectures which are made available to a broad readership that participates in the ongoing national debate on liberal studies. Finally, the Institute sponsors a summer institute designed to improve teaching in liberal studies areas. The Institute for Liberal Studies was created to provide opportunities for developing activities which are of direct interest to the interdisciplinary community of scholars at Kentucky State University, in the nation, and worldwide.
Integrative Studies is a basic component of the 53 semester credit hour Liberal Studies Requirements. It elicits from faculty and students a commitment to analyze and interpret a body of knowledge that links the perennial questions of human life with the greatest works of history, literature, art, philosophy, and the sciences. It challenges faculty and students to view learning as an integrative process by suggesting conceptual bridges which span historical moments, cultural perspectives, and various disciplines of study.
Integrative Studies emphasizes critical and analytical ability in dealing with events, individuals, ideas, artifacts, and texts that have contributed to human achievements. The program consists of seven seminars, four of which are required of all baccalaureate degree-seeking students not enrolled in the Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies. Three of these courses (IGS 200, 201, and 300) are organized as a sequence, giving students the opportunity to encounter a variety of cultural and intellectual perspectives. The sequence begins with ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, and Greece and extends to the 20th century. The fourth course required is selected by the student from courses exploring specific world cultures (IGS 301, 302, 303, or 304). In addition to those required courses, Integrative Studies also offers a Senior Seminar (IGS 499) for students who are interested in exploring a specific interdisciplinary theme. The program became an integral part of the curriculum in the fall of 1983. Faculty from all disciplines are invited to participate. Completion of ENG 101 with a grade of "C" or better is a prerequisite for all IGS courses.
courses, Integrative Studies also offers a Senior Seminar (IGS 499) for students who are interested in exploring a specific interdisciplinary theme. The program became an integral part of the curriculum in the fall of 1983. Faculty from all disciplines are invited to participate. Completion of ENG 101 with a grade of “C” or better is a prerequisite for all IGS courses.
The number of Integrative Studies semester credit hours required of transfer students varies in accordance with the number of transfer credit hours accepted by the University toward fulfillment of graduation requirements. The University follows the guidelines for the transfer of general education requirements as established by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. Transfer students should read the section of the Catalogue that deals with the transfer of credits, particularly the section discussing the “33-Hour Core Component” of the Certification of General Education Blocks. It is the basis for the Integrative Studies requirements for transfer students. Those requirements are as follows:
Students who transfer with courses similar to the University's Integrative Studies offerings may be exempted from these courses, with the consent of the Coordinator of Integrative Studies or the Dean of the Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies. Those exemptions will be determined on an individual basis.