Undergraduate Certificate in Great Plains Studies

Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers a certificate in Great Plains studies, an interdisciplinary program for undergraduate students. This certificate is for students interested in supplementing their major field of study with a concentration of courses from a number of disciplines focusing on a common topic, the Great Plains. Non degree adults can earn the certificate for professional or personal enrichment

Requirements

Undergraduate students must have a 2.500 overall GPA and sophomore standing. They must maintain at least a 2.500 cumulative grade point average with no grade below C in courses applied toward the certificate. Students may transfer 3 hours of coursework from another institution. Exceptions for additional transfer credit or other exceptions to the certificate requirements will be reviewed by the Great Plains studies coordinator and committee.

Certificate in Great Plains Studies

The program consists of 15 credit hours.

To complete with certificate program, students will take at least two courses from each the two areas:

Physical

  • GEOL 235 Meteorology (3).
  • GEOL 430 Field Studies in Geology (3)
  • GEOL 560 Geomorphology (3)
  • GEOL 562 Regional Geology of the United States (3)
  • GEOL 640 Field Geology (6).
  • BIOL 499 Undergraduate Research (3)
  • BIOL 503 Taxonomy and Geography of Flowering Plants
  • BIOL 532 Entomology (3)
  • BIOL 560 & 561, Plant Ecology (4)
  • BIOL 575 Field Ecology (3)
  • BIOL 610 Ecosystem Management & Restoration (3)

 

 

Course

Semester Taught

Biol 499-Undergraduate Research

Every semester, need faculty mentor

Biol 503-Field Botany

Every summer (first 4 weeks of term)

Biol 532-Entomology

Fall of odd years

Biol 560-Plant Ecology (we combined the lecture 560 & lab 561 into 1 course)

Fall of odd years

Biol 575-Field Ecology

No longer offered

Biol 610-Topics in Botany

This course is used as needed.  Biol 610 will always have a letter following the number.  If we teach a Topics in Botany course it will be in our course rotation.

Cultural

  • LASI 201 Introduction to Great Plains Studies (3).
  • ENGL 343 Great Plains Literature (3)
  • ENGL Great Plains Graphic Novel (3)
  • ANTH 612 Indians of the Great Plains (3).
  • ANTH 613 Archaeology of the Great Plains (3)
  • HIST 528 History of Wichita (3)
  • HIST 535 History of Kansas (3)

Courses whose content may emphasize the Great Plains, depending on instructor and semester, may be counted toward the Certificate. One or more of these courses may be used to satisfy the general education requirements of the student’s major as well (that is, double counting is allowed when possible).

Any substitution of the listed course must be approved by the coordinator and must meet the subject domain distribution requirement.

Courses that do not meet the learning outcomes of the Certificate will be taken off the approved course list.