Student Learning Outcomes
Guiding Principles & Assessment Processes
Guiding Principles
- The university recognizes that the primary motive for academic assessment is to improve student learning.
- The assessment of student learning should be meaningful to all stakeholders:
- Students will be better positioned to take responsibility for their own learning if educational goals and objectives are clearly defined and measured.
- The University of Northern Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. A primary component of achieving accreditation is evidence of an active program of assessment of student learning within all academic and co-curricular programs.
- Assessment provides faculty and staff with a forum to discuss student learning.
- Faculty/staff are expected to be active participants in assessment activities.
- Programs will engage in the continuous direct assessment of student learning.
- The process of assessment begins with the establishment of measurable student learning outcomes (SLOs).
Assessment Processes
Program faculty will demonstrate student achievement by engaging in the following four step continuous assessment process:
- Identify measurable student learning outcomes.
- Intentionally and systematically measure the SLOs using direct assessment methods.
- Note: While indirect assessment (or indirect evidence) of student learning can provide a program with useful information, it cannot be the sole evidence used to student learning and does not meet HLC requirements.
- Analyze the assessment results pertaining to the outcome being measured.
- Provide evidence that assessment results are being used to improve student learning.
Programs will ensure that each learning outcome is assessed at least once within academic program review or program accreditation cycles.
UNI Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
Critical Thinking
Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking through the ability to evaluate, analyze, and integrate information from a variety of sources in order to develop reasoned positions and solutions to problems.
Communication
Graduates will display competence in oral, written, and visual communication, as appropriate for their discipline.
Program Content Knowledge
Graduates will demonstrate discipline-specific knowledge and skills in their major fields of study.
Additionally, graduate and undergraduate programs have outcomes specific to their programs and degree offerings. We maintain that students are better positioned to take responsibility for their own learning if educational goals and objectives are clearly defined and measured. Program-specific student learning outcomes (SLOs) can be accessed via the links below.
Alphabetical listing by departments
Department of Accounting
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Accounting
- Graduate Major (Macc)
- Master of Accounting
Applied Human Sciences, School of
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Family Services
- Gerontology (also listed in Interdisciplinary section)
- Interior Design
- Textile and Apparel
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Counseling
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- School Counseling
- Counseling
Department of Art
- Undergraduate Major (B.F.A.)
- Art: Studio B.F.A.
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Art-Studio Emphasis
- Art-Art History Emphasis
- Art Education-Teaching
- Graphic Design
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Art Education
Department of Biology
- Undergraduate Major (B.S.)
- Biology
- Environmental Science (also listed in Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences)
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Biology
- Biology: Biomedical Emphasis
- Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology Emphasis
- Biology-Teaching
- Combined B.A./M.S. or B.S./M.S. Program Biology
- Environmental Resource Management (also listed in Department of Geography, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services)
- Graduate Major (M.S.)
- Biology
- Graduate Majors (P.S.M.)
- Biotechnology
- Ecosystem Management
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Biochemistry
- Chemistry
- Chemistry-Teaching
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Communication Disorders
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Speech-Language Pathology
Department of Communication Studies
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Communication (Liberal Arts)
- Communication-Theatre-Teaching (also listed in Department of Theatre)
- Communication/Digital Media
- Communication/Public Relations
- Interactive Digital Studies
- Political Communication (also listed in Department of Political Science)
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Communication Studies
Department of Computer Science
- Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
- Computer Science
- Networking and System Administration
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Computer Science
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Early Childhood Education-Teaching
- Elementary Education-Teaching (K-6 General Classroom Teacher)
- Middle Level Education Dual Major-Teaching
- Graduate Majors (M.A.)
- Instructional Technology
- School Library Studies
- Graduate Majors (M.A.E.)
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Education
- Literacy Education
- Graduate Major (Ed.D.)
- Doctor of Education: Curriculum and Instruction intensive study area
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
- Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
- Environmental Science (also listed in Department of Biology)
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Earth Science
- Earth Science-Teaching
- Environmental Resource Management (also listed in Department of Biology, Department of Geography, and Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services)
- Environmental Science
Department of Economics
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Economics
Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations, and Leadership Studies
- Graduate Majors (M.A.)
- Teacher Leadership for International Educators
- Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
- Graduate Majors (M.A.E.)
- Educational Psychology: Context and Techniques of Assessment
- Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers
- Principalship
- Graduate Major (Ed.S.)
- Specialist in Education: School Psychology
- Graduate Major (Ed.D.)
- Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership intensive study area
Department of Finance
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Finance
- Real Estate
Department of Geography
- Undergraduate Major (B.S.)
- Geographic Information Science
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Environmental Resource Management (also listed in Department of Biology, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services)
- Geography
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Geography
Department of Health, Recreation and Community Services
- Interdisciplinary
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Environmental Resource Management (also listed in Department of Biology, Department of Geography, and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences)
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Athletic Training
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Athletic Training and Rehabilitation Studies
- Graduate Major (M.ATR.)
- Masters of Athletic Training
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Health Promotion and Education
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Public Health and Education
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Health Education
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Leisure, Youth and Human Services
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Leisure, Youth and Human Services
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Leisure, Youth and Human Services
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- College of Education
- Graduate Major (Ed.D.)
Department of History
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- History-Liberal Arts
- History-Teaching
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- History
Interdisciplinary Programs (under the supervision and jurisdiction of a college or several colleges, several departments, or committees)
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)/Minors
- General Studies Major
- Gerontology Major (also listed in School of Applied Human Sciences)
- Global Studies Major
- Humanities Major
- Individual Studies Major
- Interactive Digital Studies Major (requirements listed in Department of Communication Studies)
- Interactive Digital Studies Minor (requirements listed in Department of Communication Studies)
- Liberal Studies, Bachelor of
- International Business Minor
- International Business Minor (Non-Business Majors)
- Russian and East European Studies Minor
- Studies in Sexuality, Women and Gender Minor (also listed in College of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.S.)
- Managing Business and Organizations (Continuing Education and Special Programs)
- Tactical Emergency Services with Vulnerable Populations (also listed in Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology)
- Graduate Majors (M.A.)
- Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development
- Women’s and Gender Studies (also listed in College of Social and Behavioral Sciences)
- Graduate Major (M.B.A.)
- Master of Business Administration (also listed in College of Business Administration)
Department of Kinesiology
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Physical Education-Teaching
- Movement and Exercise Science
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Physical Education
Department of Languages and Literatures
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- English
- English-Teaching
- Spanish
- Spanish-Teaching
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)-Teaching
- TESOL/Modern Language-Teaching
- Graduate Majors (M.A.)
- English
- Spanish
- Teaching English in Secondary Schools
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
- TESOL/Modern Language
Department of Management
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Supply Chain Management
- Business Teaching
Department of Marketing
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Marketing
Department of Mathematics
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Mathematics
- Mathematics-Statistics/Actuarial Science
- Graduate Majors (M.A.)
- Mathematics
- Mathematics
- Secondary Teaching
- Community College Teaching
- Mathematics for the Elementary and Middle Grades (K-8)
- Mathematics
- Graduate Majors (P.S.M.)
- Industrial Mathematics
Music, School of
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Music
- Undergraduate Majors (B.M.)
- Composition-Theory
- Music Education
- Performance
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Music
- Graduate Majors (M.M.)
- Composition
- Conducting
- Jazz Pedagogy
- Music Education
- Music History
- Performance
- Piano Performance and Pedagogy
Department of Philosophy and World Religions
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Philosophy
- Study of Religion
Department of Physics
- Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
- Physics
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Physics
- Physics-Teaching
Department of Political Science
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Political Communication (also listed in Department of Communication Studies)
- Political Science-Liberal Arts
- Public Administration
- Graduate Majors (M.P.P.)
- Master of Public Policy
Department of Psychology
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Psychology
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Psychology
Science Education
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Comprehensive Secondary Science Teaching
- Middle-Level Science Teaching Dual
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Science Education
Social Science
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Social Science-Teaching-Plan A - Specialist
- Social Science-Teaching-Plan B - All Social Science
- Graduate Major (M.A.)
- Social Science
Department of Social Work
- Undergraduate Major (B.A.)
- Social Work
- Graduate Major (M.S.W.)
- Social Work
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Anthropology
- Criminology
- Sociology
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.S.)
- Criminal Justice
- Tactical Emergency Services with Vulnerable Populations (also listed in Interdisciplinary section)
Department of Special Education
- Graduate Majors (M.A.E.)
- Special Education
- Undergraduate Majors (B.S.)
- Construction Management
- Electrical Engineering Technology (EET)
- Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- Technology and Engineering Education-Teaching
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Graphic Technology
- Technology Management
- Combined B.A./M.S. or B.S./M.S.-Technology
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.S.)
- Technology (also listed in interdisciplinary section)
- Graduate Major (M.S.)
- Technology
- Graduate Major (D.I.T.)
- Doctor of Industrial Technology
Department of Theatre
- Undergraduate Majors (B.A.)
- Communication-Theatre-Teaching (also listed in Department of Communication Studies)
- Theatre