CAT Communities
What is a CAT Community?
It's all about building community through shared learning experiences!
You and your peers (about 22 of you) are learning the same content by enrolling in two regular 3-credit-hour courses and another one-credit-hour opportunity to discover course connections. You'll learn together, be taught by an expert and engaging faculty member, and a Learning Assistant peer mentor (an experienced student who has taken the courses before) helps support you throughout the semester.
What are CAT Communities about?
Some are organized around your general academic interests, which allow you to explore a bit more and focus on the interdisciplinary ways we build knowledge (consider Exploring Scientific Research, Find Your Fit, or Leadership and Service).
Other CAT Communities offer discipline specific topics, and these pre-professional CAT Communities allow you and your peers with the same major and/or career interest to take courses in your field of study (consider Child Development Around the World, Global Engineers, or Horses and Hounds).
Fall 2027 CAT Community options:
Below are the CAT Communities planned so far for Fall 2027. Information and options are drafts, and final updated list will be available in December 2026. Click on the titles for more information about each one and a welcome from the Learning Assistant peer mentor!
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CAT Community |
College or Academic Interest |
Open/Closed |
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This unique program connects you with hands-on learning about animal health science and ethics, a built-in support network of fellow pre-vet students, and close mentorship from dedicated pre-vet advisors. |
Open |
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Child Development Around the World You will dive deep into how societies shape child development, examining critical topics like childrearing practices, attachment, socialization, and the complex interplay between cultural beliefs and actual practices. |
Open |
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Join a community where students and industry professionals collaborate to address real-world engineering challenges. |
Open |
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Exploring the Health Professions Interested in becoming a healthcare professional? Explore this interest by taking part in different experiences and activities that assist you in understanding the path to becoming a successful a pre-health applicant. |
Open |
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Learn more about yourself and your decision-making journey as you uncover your strengths, values, and a world of majors and careers that can lead to a life of passion, purpose, and fulfillment. |
Open |
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Discover a transformative community for nature enthusiasts and future environmental leaders. Connect with the Park Management and Conservation (PMC) Program to explore the intricate world of natural resource management. |
Open |
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Health Technology and Engineering Explore how biology, chemistry and engineering tools can be combined to improve human and animal health. |
Open |
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Honors Community: Breaking the Art/Science Divide Explore the intersection of the arts and science so we can begin to understand how science shapes our understanding of the arts and the ways in which literature and art teach us about science. |
Open |
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Horses and Hounds: Exploring Animal Biology From Beagles to Bulldogs and Appaloosas to Arabians, the animal kingdom has significant diversity across - and even within - each species. Connect how biological diversity is related to your pets and companions. |
Open |
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Identity, Pop Culture, and Performance Explore identity through cinema, theatre, pop culture, and performance. Together we will attend plays, read comics, and examine films in this exploration. |
Open |
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Explore the dynamic relationships between languages, cultures, and travel. Examine mobility, globalization, and cultural diversity, transforming your college experience into a literal and metaphorical journey of discovery. |
Open |
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Mahatma Gandhi said "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." Identify common interests, develop meaningful service projects, and spend time together learning through service. |
Open |
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Learn how to approach the next four years to gain the knowledge needed to become a next generation farm or ranch owner and operator. |
Open |
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Nutrition and the Health Professions We’ve all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Explore the implications behind the saying and gain an understanding of how nutrition is important to promoting the optimal health and wellness of patients. |
Open |
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What do the foods we eat, the gardens we grow, and the plants we use in everyday life reveal about our cultures and communities? People and plants have shaped one another for thousands of years. |
Open |
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Explore the nature and functions of law, the links between political change and legal reform, and between law and morality. You'll also interact with the Pre-Law advisor and discuss the many career paths available to students interested in the law. |
Open |
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Learn the physical and behavioral attributes of physical fitness, health and movement. |
Open |
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Press Start: Designing Game Controllers & Human Interface Devices Explore how engineering, electronics, and human-centered design come together in modern gaming interfaces. |
Open |
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You have big goals, and starting a business degree at K-State is the first step toward achieving them. This is a welcoming, supportive community that also challenges you to succeed, because we see your potential and believe in what you can become. Designed for new business students who want both encouragement and accountability in your transition to K-State. |
Section I - Open Section II - Open Section III - Open |
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Small but Mighty: How Insects Impact Your World A Pre-Vet focused community: from beekeeping to the transmission of pathogens, we'll look at the impact of insects and related arthropods on agriculture and health. |
Open |
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Trace the rise and fall of a variety of American sports, discuss current-day trends, and engage in activities geared toward understanding the role of sports in the fabric of society. |
Open |
How do I sign up?
If you are interested in enrolling in a CAT Community, follow the directions:
- Read through the page above to find the best fit for your academic needs and interests. When considering a CAT Community, you should NOT have earned credit through transfer or AP courses in any of the courses that make up the CAT Community, as all three courses are required. If you do or will have credit for one of the classes by the time the fall semester begins, consider a different CAT Community based on your interests and degree needs.
- Talk with your advisor during your advising appointment in the spring/summer to get connected. Learn more about how to make your advising appointment online.
- You can also fill out our CAT Community interest survey. This is not a guarantee for a spot, but our team will reach out to you with next steps for enrollment directly before you work with your advisor if you choose to indicate your interest this way.