Bachelor of Arts Degree and Minor Programs
The university offers a variety of interdisciplinary curricula to meet the growing need and interest in work beyond collegiate division. The following undergraduate majors and minors are under the supervision and jurisdiction of several committees, departments, or colleges as indicated. The programs include:
Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)/Minors
- General Studies Major
- Individual Studies Major
- Liberal Studies, Bachelor of
- Interactive Digital Studies Major (also listed in Department of Communication and Media)
- Interactive Digital Studies Minor (also listed in Department of Communication and Media)
- International Business Minor (also listed under College of Business)
- International Business Minor (Non-Business Majors) (also listed under College of Business)
- Russian and East European Studies Minor
- Studies in Sexuality, Women and Gender Minor (also listed under College of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
General Studies Major
The General Studies major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
This is a diversified liberal arts major supervised by the Coordinator of the Individual Studies Program.
| Required | ||
| a minimum of 15 semester hours of 3000/4000-level courses from each of three of the four colleges for a minimum total hours | 45 | |
| Total Hours | 45 | |
A General Studies major enables students to take a wide variety of courses from many different departments. This can lead to a well-rounded liberal arts education. The major is not directed toward any particular vocation or certification. The emphasis of this major is on distribution rather than concentration. Each General Studies major student is encouraged to develop a program of study according to their own needs, interests, and career goals. The selection of courses is largely left to the student. Students may not declare a second major and be registered for the General Studies major.
*The four colleges are:
- College of Business;
- College of Education;
- College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences; and
- College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
See General Information section for a list of the departments under each college.
(See General Studies program for registered nurses.)
Individual Studies Major
The Individual Studies major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements (under the discretion of the Individual Studies Program Coordinator), plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
| Required | ||
| A coherent, interdisciplinary area of study (minimum of 33 hours) | 33 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
An undergraduate thesis, internship, practicum, research project or portfolio may be required for your program of study (1-6 hours).
If it is found the university does not offer the major desired, it may be possible, through the Individual Studies Program, for a student to create her/his own program of study. The purpose of the Individual Studies major is twofold:
- to enable a student to design an individualized major by selecting courses from several academic departments, and
- to explore interdisciplinary areas of study before those areas are formally adopted as departmental or interdepartmental majors.
Students interested in this major should have at least one semester's experience in university study before applying. A student shall consult first with the Individual Studies Coordinator concerning the feasibility of designing an Individual Studies major in a particular area. If the university does not have faculty or curricular resources for the area requested, the student will be so advised. Also, if the student does not appear to be academically prepared, or if their plans are not sufficiently clear, specific steps to correct these problems will be recommended.
Once an advisor is appointed, the student and the advisor will develop a list of courses to comprise the proposed major, and an interdisciplinary faculty committee will be selected to take action on the specific program. In some cases, with the approval of the faculty advisor and the program coordinator, an extraordinary amount of independent study may be counted toward the major. In some cases, an undergraduate thesis, internship, practicum, research project or portfolio will be required of this major.
The Individual Studies major is not intended to provide a secondary alternative to existing majors.
Liberal Studies Degree, Bachelor of
The Bachelor of Liberal Studies (B.L.S.) program is offered by the three Iowa Regents’ Universities: University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa. The purpose of the B.L.S. is to offer educational opportunities to those students who are unable to attend college as full-time, on-campus students. Students often use guided independent study and other distance learning opportunities to earn credit. This major may not be declared with any other major.
See Undergraduate Degree Requirements section for further details regarding this degree.
Interactive Digital Studies Major
The Interactive Digital Studies (IDS) major is interdisciplinary in nature and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Communication and Media. The Interactive Digital Studies major requires a minimum of 120 total hours to graduate. This total includes UNIFI/General Education requirements and the following specified major requirements, plus electives to complete the minimum of 120 hours.
| Required | ||
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 2555 | Interactive Digital Communication I | 3 |
| COMM 4544/5544 | Digital Culture and Communication | 3 |
| COMM COR 1010 | Mass Communication and Society | 3 |
| University, Interdisciplinary: | ||
| COMM 3555 | Interactive Digital Communication II | 3 |
| COMM 3900/5900 | Internship in Communication | 3 |
| Electives - select two bundles (emphases) from the following: | 30-32 | |
| Total Hours | 45-47 | |
EMPHASES
1. Digital Visualization (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| COMM 4558/5558 | Advanced Digital Visualization: (Topic) | 3 |
| COMM DM 1611 | Media and Power | 3 |
| or COMM 4213/5213 | Visual Rhetoric | |
| COMM DM 3659 | Editing and Design | 3 |
| COMM DM 4655 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
2. Digital Computation (17 hours)
| Computer Science: | ||
| CS 1510 | Introduction to Computing | 4 |
| CS 1520 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 2530 | Intermediate Computing * | 3 |
| CS 3110 | Web Application Development | 3 |
| CS 3120/5120 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
- *
CS 2530 has the following prerequisites: CS 1510; CS 1520; CS 1800; or department approval. The prerequisite CS 1800 not included in requirements for this bundle is waived for Interactive Digital Studies majors and minors.
3. Digital Writing (15 hours)
| English: | ||
| ENGLISH 2770 | Introduction to Workplace Writing | 3 |
| ENGLISH 4785/5785 | Applied Writing: Projects, Grants and Careers | 3 |
| or ENGLISH 4770/5770 | Applied Writing: Proposals and Grants | |
| ENGLISH 4025/5025 | Theory and Practice of Writing | 3 |
| or ENGLISH 4040/5040 | Digital Writing: Theory and Practice | |
| Select 2 from the following courses (6 units total) | 6 | |
| Electronic Literature * | ||
| Issues in Digital Humanities | ||
| Applied Writing: Workplace Communication | ||
| Applied Writing: Specialized Documents | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
Prerequisite(s): COMM 2555 or ENGLISH 2120 or consent of instructor; junior standing.
4. Digital Music (15 hours)
| Music Theory (required): | ||
| MUS THEO 1300 | Topics in Music Composition (Electronic composition section) | 2 |
| MUS THEO 3220/5220 | Music and Technology | 4 |
| MUS THEO 3230/5230 | Music Technology, Advanced | 4 |
| Music Theory (select two of the following): | 4 | |
| Introduction to Music Theory | ||
| Theory I | ||
| Theory II | ||
Theory class placement is determined by a diagnostic examination. | ||
| Music elective | 1 | |
| Total hours | 15 | |
Additionally, it is recommended that students taking this bundle elect to take MUSIC 1100 as part of their UNIFI/General Education courses. | ||
5. Digital Imaging (15 hours)
| Graphic Technologies: | ||
| TECH 1055 | Graphic Communications Foundations | 3 |
| TECH 2070 | Digital Pre-Media | 3 |
| TECH 3169 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| TECH 4158/5158 | Graphic Communication Data Visualization | 3 |
| TECH 4161 | Digital Graphic Communications | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
6. Digital Advertising (15 hours)
| Economics: | ||
| ECON 1031 | Introduction to Business Economics | 3 |
| or ECON 1041 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Marketing: | ||
| MKTG 2110 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG 3143 | Advertising and Promotion | 3 |
| MKTG 3146 | Digital Advertising | 3 |
| MKTG 3148 | Digital Customer Experience * | 3 |
| or ENTR 3583/5583 | Entrepreneurship | |
| or MKTG 4150 | Advertising Campaign Development | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
ENTR 3583/5583 has a prerequisite of ENTR 2010 or (ACCT 2120; ACCT 2130; prerequisite or corequisite FIN 3130/5130; STAT 1772 or equivalent; ECON 1011; MKTG 2110; ECON 1031 or (ECON 1041 and ECON 1051)); junior standing.
7. Digital History (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| COMM 4412/5412 | Performing History | 3 |
| History: | ||
| HIST 1010 | Introduction to Historical Skills | 3 |
| HIST 4010/5010 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| HIST 4020/5020 | Introduction to Museum Studies | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
8. Web Development (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| Computer Science: | ||
| CS 1100 | Web Development: Client-Side Coding | 3 |
| CS 2100 | Web Development: Server-side Coding | 3 |
| CS 3120/5120 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| Marketing: | ||
| MKTG 3148 | Digital Customer Experience * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
MKTG 3148 has a prerequisite of MKTG 2110 or consent of instructor. This prerequisite is waived for all Interactive Digital Studies majors and minors.
9. Digital Video (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM DM 1651 | Digital Media Production I | 3 |
| COMM DM 1652 | Writing for Digital Media | 3 |
| COMM DM 2651 | Digital Media Production II | 3 |
| COMM DM 3658 | Digital Journalism: (Topic) | 3 |
| COMM DM 4630/5630 | Digital Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| or COMM DM 4644/5644 | Global Media | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
10. Digital Mapping (15 hours)
| Geography: | ||
| GEOG 1310 | Digital Earth | 3 |
| GEOG 2320 | Drones for Mapping and Communication | 3 |
| GEOG 2410 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG 2420 | Cartographic Design | 3 |
| GEOG 4335/5335 | Web Mapping and GIS | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
Interactive Digital Studies Minor
The Interactive Digital Studies minor is interdisciplinary in nature and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Communication and Media. This minor requires a 12-hour core plus 15-17 hours from one of the nine emphases.
| Required | ||
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 2555 | Interactive Digital Communication I | 3 |
| COMM 4544/5544 | Digital Culture and Communication | 3 |
| COMM COR 1010 | Mass Communication and Society | 3 |
| COMM 3555 | Interactive Digital Communication II | 3 |
| Electives - select one bundle (emphasis) from the following: | 15-17 | |
| Total Hours | 27-29 | |
1. Digital Visualization (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| COMM 4558/5558 | Advanced Digital Visualization: (Topic) | 3 |
| COMM DM 1611 | Media and Power | 3 |
| or COMM 4213/5213 | Visual Rhetoric | |
| COMM DM 3659 | Editing and Design | 3 |
| COMM DM 4655 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
2. Digital Computation (17 hours)
| Computer Science: | ||
| CS 1510 | Introduction to Computing | 4 |
| CS 1520 | Data Structures | 4 |
| CS 2530 | Intermediate Computing * | 3 |
| CS 3110 | Web Application Development | 3 |
| CS 3120/5120 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
- *
CS 2530 has the following prerequisites: CS 1510; CS 1520; CS 1800; or department approval. The prerequisite CS 1800 not included in requirements for this bundle is waived for Interactive Digital Studies majors and minors.
3. Digital Writing (15 hours)
| English: | ||
| ENGLISH 2770 | Introduction to Workplace Writing | 3 |
| ENGLISH 4025/5025 | Theory and Practice of Writing | 3 |
| or ENGLISH 4040/5040 | Digital Writing: Theory and Practice | |
| ENGLISH 4785/5785 | Applied Writing: Projects, Grants and Careers | 3 |
| or ENGLISH 4770/5770 | Applied Writing: Proposals and Grants | |
| Select 2 from the following courses (6 units total) | 6 | |
| Electronic Literature * | ||
| Applied Writing: Workplace Communication | ||
| Applied Writing: Specialized Documents | ||
| Issues in Digital Humanities | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
Prerequisite(s): COMM 2555 or ENGLISH 2120 or consent of instructor; junior standing.
4. Digital Music (15 hours)
| Music Theory (required): | ||
| MUS THEO 1300 | Topics in Music Composition (Electronic Composition section) | 2 |
| MUS THEO 3220/5220 | Music and Technology | 4 |
| MUS THEO 3230/5230 | Music Technology, Advanced | 4 |
| Music Theory (select two of the following): | 4 | |
| Introduction to Music Theory | ||
| Theory I | ||
| Theory II | ||
Theory class placement is determined by a diagnostic examination. | ||
| Music elective | 1 | |
| Additionally, it is recommended that students taking this bundle elect to take MUSIC 1100 as part of their UNIFI/General Education courses. | ||
| Total Hours | 15 | |
5. Digital Imaging (15 hours)
| Graphic Technologies: | ||
| TECH 1055 | Graphic Communications Foundations | 3 |
| TECH 2070 | Digital Pre-Media | 3 |
| TECH 3169 | Digital Imaging | 3 |
| TECH 4158/5158 | Graphic Communication Data Visualization | 3 |
| TECH 4161 | Digital Graphic Communications | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
6. Digital Advertising (15 hours)
| Economics: | ||
| ECON 1031 | Introduction to Business Economics | 3 |
| or ECON 1041 | Principles of Macroeconomics | |
| Marketing: | ||
| MKTG 2110 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKTG 3143 | Advertising and Promotion | 3 |
| MKTG 3146 | Digital Advertising | 3 |
| MKTG 3148 | Digital Customer Experience * | 3 |
| or ENTR 3583/5583 | Entrepreneurship | |
| or MKTG 4150 | Advertising Campaign Development | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
ENTR 3583/5583 has prerequisite of ENTR 2010 or (ACCT 2120; ACCT 2130; prerequisite or corequisite FIN 3130/5130; STAT 1772 or equivalent; ECON 1011; MKTG 2110; ECON 1031 or (ECON 1041 and ECON 1051)); junior standing.
7. Digital History (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| COMM 4412/5412 | Performing History | 3 |
| History: | ||
| HIST 1010 | Introduction to Historical Skills | 3 |
| HIST 4010/5010 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| HIST 4020/5020 | Introduction to Museum Studies | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
8. Web Development (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM 3558 | Introduction to Digital Visualization | 3 |
| Computer Science: | ||
| CS 1100 | Web Development: Client-Side Coding | 3 |
| CS 2100 | Web Development: Server-side Coding | 3 |
| CS 3120/5120 | User Interface Design | 3 |
| Marketing: | ||
| MKTG 3148 | Digital Customer Experience * | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
- *
MKTG 3148 has prerequisite of MKTG 2110 or consent of instructor. This prerequisite is waived for all Interactive Digital Studies majors and minors.
9. Digital Video (15 hours)
| Communication and Media: | ||
| COMM DM 1651 | Digital Media Production I | 3 |
| COMM DM 1652 | Writing for Digital Media | 3 |
| COMM DM 2651 | Digital Media Production II | 3 |
| COMM DM 3658 | Digital Journalism: (Topic) | 3 |
| COMM DM 4630/5630 | Digital Media Law and Ethics | 3 |
| or COMM DM 4644/5644 | Global Media | |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
10.Digtial Mapping (15 hours)
| Geography: | ||
| GEOG 1310 | Digital Earth | 3 |
| GEOG 2320 | Drones for Mapping and Communication | 3 |
| GEOG 2410 | Geographic Information Systems I | 3 |
| GEOG 2420 | Cartographic Design | 3 |
| GEOG 4335/5335 | Web Mapping and GIS | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
International Business Minor
The interdepartmental minor in International Business is available to College of Business students majoring in Accounting, Business Teaching, Economics - Business Economics emphasis, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Real Estate, and Supply Chain Management. The International Business minor enhances the common body of knowledge gained through the business core by focusing on international trade and commerce issues/perspectives.
| Required | ||
| World Affairs: | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
Geography: | ||
| Global Geography | ||
Political Science: | ||
| International Relations | ||
| International Business core: | 12 | |
| Marketing: | ||
| Distribution and Logistics | ||
| Global Marketing | ||
| Management: | ||
| International Management | ||
| Financial: | ||
| International Financial Management | ||
| Economics: | ||
| Economic Development | ||
| International Experience: | 0 | |
| International Experience ** | ||
| International Electives | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2-3 | |
Business, Interdepartmental: | ||
| Socio-Economic Reality of Central America * | ||
Management: | ||
| Supply Chain and Purchasing | ||
Political Science: | ||
| Politics of the Global Economy | ||
| International Law | ||
| International Organizations | ||
Sociology/Anthropology: | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective | ||
International Internship | ||
Or any additional course listed within the international business core above. | ||
| Total Hours | 17-18 | |
- *
This course fulfills the Liberal Arts Core Capstone requirement. Other global perspective Capstone courses may be approved, by student request, to fulfill the requirements of this elective.
- **
This BUSINESS 3169 course requires the successful completion of an approved study abroad experience, or a departmental internship or cooperative education experience that includes a significant international component. Department internships or cooperative education credits that meet the requirements of the international experience can, by student request, be used to fulfill the elective requirement.
International Business Minor (Non-Business Majors)
The interdepartmental minor in International Business (Non-Business Majors) is available to any non-business major. The purpose of this minor is to allow non-business majors to build a basic body of knowledge concerning business and business operations and expand this knowledge with respect to international business, trade, and commerce.
| Required | ||
| World Affairs | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Geography: | ||
| Global Geography | ||
| Political Science: | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Business Core | 15 | |
| Accounting: | ||
| Principles of Financial Accounting | ||
| Marketing: | ||
| Principles of Marketing | ||
| Management: | ||
| Legal and Social Environment of Business | ||
| Organizational Behavior | ||
| Economics: | ||
| Introduction to Business Economics | ||
| International Business core | 8-9 | |
| Management: | ||
| International Management | ||
| International electives: | ||
| Select two from the following: | ||
Business, Interdepartmental: | ||
| Socio-Economic Reality of Central America * | ||
Marketing: | ||
| Distribution and Logistics | ||
| Global Marketing | ||
International Internship | ||
| International Experience | 0 | |
| International Experience ** | ||
| Total Hours | 26-27 | |
- *
This course fulfills the Liberal Arts Core Capstone requirement. Other global perspective Capstone courses may be approved, by student request, to fulfill the requirements of this elective.
- **
This BUSINESS 3169 course requires the successful completion of an approved study abroad experience, or a departmental internship or cooperative education experience that includes a significant international component. Department internships or cooperative education credits that meet the requirements of the international experience can, by student request, be used to fulfill the elective requirement.
NOT available to majors in: Accounting, Business Teaching, Economics-Business Economics Emphasis, Finance, Management, Management Information Systems, Marketing, Real Estate, and Supply Chain Management.
NOT available to General Business Concepts minors.
Russian and East European Studies Minor
This minor is offered by the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
| Required | ||
| Language * | 12-20 | |
| History: | 3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Modern Central and Eastern Europe | ||
| History of Imperial Russia | ||
| History of Soviet Russia | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
Humanities/Languages (required): | ||
| Russia/Soviet Union | ||
Political Science: | ||
| Nationalism | ||
| Russian Politics | ||
| An additional literature or language class, with the approval of a REES advisor. A Russian/East European topics course or seminar, with the approval of a REES advisor **,*** | ||
| Total hours *** | 18-29 | |
- *
Four semesters. Must include fourth-semester course in Intermediate Russian Language and Culture II or equivalent Slavic/East European language satisfied through, for example, transfer credit.
Students may also satisfy the language requirement through native or heritage (home-based) knowledge of a Slavic/East European language. Students wishing to satisfy the language requirement in this manner may have to complete a language placement exam. Finally, students who do satisfy the language requirement through native/heritage knowledge will be required to complete 9 hours of course work in lieu of the 12-20 hours of language study. This will be arranged with the student’s REES advisor.
- **
Several UNI departments (e.g., History) occasionally offer topics courses or junior-senior seminars on Central and Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. Consult a REES advisor each semester on these offerings.
- ***
The low range of 18 credit hours will apply only to students satisfying the language requirement through native or heritage (home-based) knowledge of a Slavic/East European language. (See * note.) The low range for students satisfying the language requirement through normal class language study will be 21 credit hours.
Study Abroad: Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad for at least one summer, preferably one semester. Study abroad may be used to satisfy program requirements for language or non-language course work, with the approval of a REES (Russian and East European Studies) advisor.
Studies in Sexuality, Women and Gender Minor
Studies in Sexuality, Women and Gender Minor is an interdisciplinary and multicultural program that engages in research and exploration concerning all areas of human experience. Its unique perspective strengthens the abilities of students within any major to critically analyze theory and research emphasizing the importance of gender while including other essential categories of analysis such as race, class, sexuality, ethnicity, and nationality. This 18 credit hour program provides skills that are useful to all majors. This program is offered under the jurisdiction and general supervision of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. For more information, contact the Women's and Gender Studies office, Sabin 225, wgs@uni.edu, or csbs.uni.edu/womenstudies.
| Required | 6 | |
| Humanities: | ||
| Women's and Gender Studies: Introduction | ||
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Human Relationships and Sexuality | ||
| Good Sex: The Ethics of Human Sexuality | ||
| Electives: | 12 | |
| Anthropology: | ||
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective * | ||
| Communication and Media: | ||
| Gender Issues in Communication | ||
| Voices from the Margin: Performance, Rhetoric, and Social Change | ||
| Criminology: | ||
| Women, Crime and Society * | ||
| Educational Psychology: | ||
| Social Psychology in Educational Contexts | ||
| Languages and Literature: | ||
| Literature: (topic) (Topics in Women's and Gender Studies ONLY) | ||
| Literature, Gender and Intersectionality * | ||
| The American Renaissance * | ||
| American Realism and Naturalism to WWI * | ||
| Family Services: | ||
| Human Relationships and Sexuality | ||
| Violence in Intimate Relationships | ||
| Public Health and Education: | ||
| Introduction to Women's Health | ||
| Selected Topics in Women's Health | ||
| History: | ||
| United States Women's History | ||
| Modern European Women's History | ||
| Humanities: | ||
| Black Women in America: Challenge, Spirit, Survival | ||
| Philosophy: | ||
| Money, Sex and Power: Theories of Race, Class and Gender | ||
| Psychology: | ||
| Psychology of Gender * | ||
| Gender in Cross-Cultural Perspective * | ||
| World Religions: | ||
| Religions of the World (Family Life emphasis only) ** | ||
| Women and Christianity | ||
| Social Sciences: | ||
| Women, Men, and Society | ||
| Sociology: | ||
| Social Movements * | ||
| Social Inequality * | ||
| Men and Masculinities | ||
| Sociology of Gender | ||
| Feminist Theories in the Social Sciences * | ||
| Women's and Gender Studies: | ||
| Introduction to LGBTQ Studies | ||
| Internship in Women's and Gender Studies * | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Notes:
No more than 9 hours from courses with the same prefix.
A minimum of 9 hours from the 3000-level or above.
No more than one of the following may be counted for WGS credit: COMM 4446/5446 or SOC 2040
- *
These courses have additional prerequisites.
- **
Students must submit a student request form to receive WGS minor credit for this course.
Bachelor of Liberal Studies, B.L.S.
Four essential student learning outcomes have been identified for the Bachelor of Liberal Studies and General Studies majors. They are:
1) effective written communication;
2) critical thinking;
3) information literacy and
4) integrative learning.
These student outcomes are expressly meant to prepare GS and BLS students for success in a rapidly changing, globally competitive and culturally diverse world and to lead productive and responsible lives. The details of each outcome are defined as follows:
● Learning Outcome #1: Effective written communication – written communication is the development and expression of ideas in writing. For written communication to be effective, one must possess the ability to use written language in a precise and user- friendly way in order to clearly express oneself to the intended audience. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Composing and presenting effective written messages with a variety of audiences using appropriate academic discourse and technologies.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Written Communication VALUE Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate written communication.
● Learning Outcome #2: Critical thinking – critical thinking is the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. To exercise critical thinking, one must possess the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking and understand the logical connection between ideas. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Clearly identifying an issue or problem and carefully analyzing it using relevant sources of information in order to formulate logical conclusions.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Critical Thinking VALUE Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate critical thinking.
● Learning Outcome #3: Information literacy – information literacy is the ability to know when information is needed. To be an information literate person, one must be able to identify, locate, evaluate and effectively use sources of information for an issue or problem at hand. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Determining the extent of information needed, accessing information using welldesigned strategies and evaluating it critically through ethical and legal means.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the Information Literacy Rubric (adopted from the AAC&U Information Literacy VALUE Rubric, the ACRL Information Literacy Framework and the PALNI consortium information literacy learning objectives) for artifacts submitted to demonstrate information literacy.
● Learning Outcome #4: Integrative Learning – integrative learning is the ability to make connections across disciplines. To effectively use integrative learning, one must be able to make connections among ideas and experiences and transfer learning to new situations. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Connecting relevant experience and academic knowledge across disciplines and applying them to new situations.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Integrative Learning Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate integrative learning.
General Studies, B.A.
Four essential student learning outcomes have been identified for the Bachelor of Liberal Studies and General Studies majors.
They are:
1) effective written communication;
2) critical thinking;
3) information literacy and
4) integrative learning.
These student outcomes are expressly meant to prepare GS and BLS students for success in a rapidly changing, globally competitive and culturally diverse world and to lead productive and responsible lives. The details of each outcome are defined as follows:
● Learning Outcome #1: Effective written communication – written communication is the development and expression of ideas in writing. For written communication to be effective, one must possess the ability to use written language in a precise and user- friendly way in order to clearly express oneself to the intended audience. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Composing and presenting effective written messages with a variety of audiences using appropriate academic discourse and technologies.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Written Communication VALUE Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate written communication.
● Learning Outcome #2: Critical thinking – critical thinking is the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion. To exercise critical thinking, one must possess the ability to engage in reflective and independent thinking and understand the logical connection between ideas. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Clearly identifying an issue or problem and carefully analyzing it using relevant sources of information in order to formulate logical conclusions.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Critical Thinking VALUE Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate critical thinking.
● Learning Outcome #3: Information literacy – information literacy is the ability to know when information is needed. To be an information literate person, one must be able to identify, locate, evaluate and effectively use sources of information for an issue or problem at hand. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Determining the extent of information needed, accessing information using welldesigned strategies and evaluating it critically through ethical and legal means.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the Information Literacy Rubric (adopted from the AAC&U Information Literacy VALUE Rubric, the ACRL Information Literacy Framework and the PALNI consortium information literacy learning objectives) for artifacts submitted to demonstrate information literacy.
● Learning Outcome #4: Integrative Learning – integrative learning is the ability to make connections across disciplines. To effectively use integrative learning, one must be able to make connections among ideas and experiences and transfer learning to new situations. Students will achieve this goal by:
- Connecting relevant experience and academic knowledge across disciplines and applying them to new situations.
- Scoring a 4, 3, or 2 for all components within the AAC&U Integrative Learning Rubric for artifacts submitted to demonstrate integrative learning.
Individual Studies, B.A.
This program operates differently with regard to learning outcomes (since it provides a mechanism to create a major), Establishing learning outcomes for the Individual Studies program is in progress.