The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday approved 17 general education courses that will transfer among the 32 institutions of public higher education in the state.

“The difficulty of students to easily transfer credit hours has been a barrier to some in achieving their higher education goals,” said Regents Chair Ed McKechnie of Arcadia.

“Students that take one of the courses approved today can rest easy knowing their credit will transfer between any of the state’s public community colleges, technical colleges and universities,” McKechnie said.

Depending on the credit hours taken and awarded, students may be able to transfer up to 59 credit hours.

The courses approved for transfer include American Government, Chemistry I and Lab, College Algebra, English Composition I, English Composition II, General Biology and Lab, Introduction to Literature, Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physical Science I and Lab, Physics I and Lab, Public Speaking, U.S. History to 1877, U.S. History since 1877, and World Regional Geography.

“Making sure courses transfer across the system, seamlessly, is a great way to improve quality, keeps educational costs to a minimum for students and families, and creates extraordinary value in the Kansas public higher education system,” said Regent Fred Logan of Leawood, who served on the board’s transfer and articulation advisory council.