General Education
Fort Hays State University general-education programs enable the University to ensure that all students achieve a common set of learning outcomes that address the core skills essential for successful careers as well as the broad range of knowledge and ability required for success as global citizen leaders.
NEW! EFFECTIVE FALL 2023
In summer 2022, the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) approved policy revisions to develop a systemwide general education (GE) package under a common framework. The goal of this new program and framework is to provide maximum transferability and flexibility for students within the system. The six state universities and the participating coordinated institutions (for this policy, this includes the community colleges and Washburn University) will implement the systemwide GE. The new FHSU general education program will launch in Fall 2023 and is comprised of 34 credit hours organized in six discipline-based “buckets” and an institutionally designated bucket.
Effective for the Fall 2023 term, all new incoming students will automatically be placed on the KBOR Systemwide Transfer GE program. (Continuing FHSU students have the opportunity to opt-in to this new general education program and are encouraged to have a conversation with your advisor during your fall planning meeting to discuss the new general education program and whether or not it benefits you to switch your general education program.)
For a full listing of current FHSU courses that apply toward the new KBOR Systemwide Transfer GE program, beginning Fall 2023, please click here.
Previous General Education Programs for Continuing FHSU Students
Effective Fall 2022
General education requirements initially changed for fall 2022. Students who entered Fort Hays State University for the first time in the Fall 2022 semester, transferring fewer than 36 credit hours, were required to complete the FHSU CORE General Education program. Courses fulfilling CORE requirements can be found here.
Transfer students who completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science program at a Kansas community college will have fulfilled all FHSU general education requirements. Transfer students who completed an Associate’s degree through the Kansas Board of Regents’ Reverse Transfer Program within one year of matriculation to FHSU will have fulfilled all FHSU general education requirements upon receipt of an official transcript indicating conferral of the credential.
Students transferring 36 or more credit hours from any regionally-accredited institutions were required to complete the Transfer Agreement General Education program found here.
Bachelor of General Studies students were required to complete the BGS degree program found here.
All other students were required to complete this 55-hour General Education program.
Prior to Fall 2022
Students holding an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree or transferring 45 or more credit hours from any regionally-accredited institutions were required to complete the Transfer Agreement General Education program found here.
Bachelor of General Studies students were required to complete the BGS degree program found here.
All other students were required to complete this 55-hour General Education program. The program has two components: Foundation Studies and Liberal Arts. The Foundation Studies has two divisions: A) Analysis and Communication and B) Personal Wellness, and the Liberal Arts having three divisions: A) International Studies, B) Distribution and C) Upper-Division Integrative Courses. A downloadable guide to this program can be found here.