LOPERs General Studies Program

The LOPERs General Studies Program, effective for students initially enrolling or transferring in the 2020-21 academic year or after, is designed to provide students with a solid foundation for advanced study with fewer hours (30-31credit hours of general studies classes). The Program thus provides greater flexibility for students to add a second major or additional minor to their degree or explore their interests with more unrestricted elective credits. The Program also seeks to ease transfer for students from community colleges.

Transfers with Completed Associates or Bachelor's Degree: Students admitted to UNK with an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS), or Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution will have fulfilled UNK’s General Studies program requirements. Such students must still complete any GS requirements specified within their program of study. 

Credit Hours: 30-31 hours in total. Students must complete 3 credit-hours that satisfies each learning objective/program essential requirement (LOPER) for LOPERs 1 through 10. LOPER 11 is optional, but may be required by a major. LOPER 8 (Natural Science) may be satisfied with a 3- or 4-credit hour course.

The first-year seminar is waived for students admitted as transfer students with a minimum of 18 hours of GS coursework; transfer students and re-admit students still must fulfill the requirements of a minimum of 30 hours of GS coursework that meets LOPERs 2-10.

Program Requirements within General Studies: Departments are permitted to require that their majors complete particular courses for LOPERs 2-11. Students should consult the program requirements in their major to choose appropriate GS courses for their degree. 

General Studies Courses from a Single Department: A student may not take more than 3 courses with the same department/discipline prefix in their General Studies program. Lecture/lab combinations from a single department that must be taken as co-requisites count as one course for this rule.

Electives in the General Studies Program:  There are designated courses with the appropriate content approved to satisfy one of the Broad Knowledge requirements (LOPERs 5-8) plus LOPER 9 or a Broad Knowledge requirement plus LOPER 10. 

A student who satisfies LOPER 9 or LOPER 10 with a course that also meets another requirement will have 3 hours of elective GS credits in the 30-hour program.  A student who satisfies both LOPERs 9 and 10 with courses that also meet other requirements will have 6 hours of elective credits.

Students may use their elective credits (where applicable) for additional coursework in LOPERs 2-10, or for LOPER 11 (Wellness).

Learning Objectives/Program Essential Requirements (LOPERs): The LOPERs General Studies Program is structured to teach students: Foundational academic skills (LOPERs 1-4), Broad knowledge of the arts & sciences (LOPERs 5-8), and Dispositions that prepare students for responsible, productive lives in a democratic, multicultural society (LOPERs 9-11).