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Liberal Arts
Requirements
To view the Liberal Arts Core
website
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To view the UNI
Catalog online
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What is the LAC?
The Liberal Arts Core consists of courses from a broad variety of
disciplines. As stated in the University of Northern Iowa mission
statement, the University's undergraduate programs are founded on a strong
liberal arts curriculum. The Liberal Arts Core exposes students to the
broad areas of knowledge embodied in the whole of the environment and
liberates students to further develop the knowledge, skills and values
necessary to live thoughtful, creative and productive lives. The Oxford
Dictionary defines liberal arts as "the studies (language, philosophy,
history, literature, abstract science) in a college or university intended
to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop general intellectual
capacities (as reason and judgment) as opposed to professional or
vocational skills." Students at UNI take 45 hours of courses from the
following categories.
Summary:
Category 1: Core Competencies 12 hours
Category 2: Civilizations and Cultures 9 hours
Category 3: Fine Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Religion
6 hours
Category 4: Natural Science and Technology 7 hours
Category 5: Social Science 9 hours
Category 6: Capstone Experience 2 hours
Total Program Minimum 45 hours*
Category 1. Core Competencies 12
hours
A. Reading and Writing (3 hours required)
620:005 College Reading and Writing, 3 hours
620:015 Expository Writing, 3 hours
620:034 Critical Writing About Literature, 3 hours
B. Speaking and Listening (3 hours required)
48C:001 Oral Communication, 3 hours
C. Quantitative Techniques and Understanding (3 hours
required)
800:023 Mathematics in Decision Making, 3 hours
800:060 Calculus I, 4 hours
800:072 Introduction to Statistical Methods, 3 hours
800:092 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling, 3 hours
D. Personal Wellness (3 hours required)
440:010 Personal Wellness, 3 hours
Category 2. Civilizations and Cultures 9 hours
A. Humanities (6 hours required)
680:021 Humanities I: The Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Worlds, 3
hrs
680:022 Humanities II: The Renaissance, Reformation, and
Enlightenment, 3 hrs
680:023 Humanities III: The Age of Revolution to the Present, 3 hrs
B. Non-Western Cultures (3 hours required)
Courses in this category promote an understanding of Western and
Non-Western cultures and civilizations from ancient times to the present
through historical accounts, literatures, philosophies, religions, and
fine arts. Using methods of critical inquiry, students explore aspects of
human nature, the shaping of thoughts and values, and their
interrelations.
680:121 Russia/Soviet Union, 3 hours
680:122 Japan, 3 hours
680:123 Latin America, 3 hours
680:124 China, 3 hours
680:125 India, 3 hours
680:127 Middle East, 3 hours
680:128 Africa, 3 hours
680:132/990:132 Native North America, 3 hours
680:137/990:137 Native Central and South America, 3 hours
Category 3. Fine Arts, Literature, Philosophy and Religion
6 hours
Courses in this category explore diverse forms of human expression and
enhance understanding of how religious, philosophical, literary, and
aesthetic ideas and experiences shape and reflect cultures and common
patterns of human life. Students will develop knowledge of the complex
interplay of culture, history, and human experience through critical
examination of ideas and beliefs, rituals and symbols, moral codes and
social values, story and poetry, visual art, music theater, and dance.
A. Fine Arts (3 hours required)*
420:034 Survey of Dance History, 3 hours
490:002 The Theatrical Arts and Society, 3 hours
520:020 Our Musical Heritage, 3 hours
520:030 Music of Our Time, 3 hours
600:002 Visual Inventions, 3 hours
600:004 Visual Perceptions, 3 hours
*590:011 may substitute for the Fine Arts requirement for all music
majors, 3 hours
B. Literature, Philosophy, or Religion (3 hours
required)
620:031 Introduction to Literature, 3 hours
640:024 Religions of the World, 3 hours
650:021 Philosophy: Basic Questions, 3 hours
720:031 Introduction to Francophone Literature in Translation, 3
hours
740:031 Introduction to German Literature in Translation, 3 hours
770:031 Introduction to Russian Literature in Translation, 3 hours
790:031 Introduction to Portuguese and Hispanic Literatures in
Translation, 3 hours
Category 4. Natural Science and Technology 7
hours
Courses in natural science promote an understanding of science as a
human process that investigates matter and energy acting within complex
organic and inorganic systems. Fundamental principles of both physical and
life sciences are included. A capstone course demonstrates the
relationships among science, technology, society, and the natural
environment.
(Students are required to take a course with a scheduled laboratory from
either Life Sciences or Physical Sciences or another laboratory course
offered by the College of Natural Sciences. Only 6 hours are required for
students who meet the Liberal Arts Core laboratory requirement with a
course other than one listed in Life or Physical Sciences.)
A. Life Sciences (3 or 4 hours required)
For all courses listed under Life Sciences and Physical Sciences, with
the exception of 990:010, a student must have satisfied University
entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (College of Natural
Science majors may meet the Life Sciences requirement by completing
840:051 or 840:052.)
820:032* Inquiry into Life Science, 4 hours
840:012 Life: The Natural World, 3 hours
840:013* Life: The Natural World - Lab, 1 hour
840:014 Life: Continuity and Change, 3 hours
840:015* Life: Continuing and Change - Lab, 1 hour
990:010 Human Origins, 3 hours
*Lab course
B. Physical Sciences (3 or 4 hours required)
For all courses listed under Life Sciences and Physical Sciences, with
the exception of 990:010, a student must have satisfied University
entrance requirements in English and Mathematics. (College of Natural
Sciences majors may meet the Physical Sciences requirement by completing
860:044, 860:070, 880:054, or 880:130. Design, Family and Consumer
Sciences majors may meet the Physical Sciences requirement by completing
860:044 or 860:061.)
820:031* Inquiry into Physical Science, 4 hours
860:010** Principles of Chemistry, 3-4 hours
860:011 Molecules and Life, 3 hours
870:010** Astronomy, 3-4 hours
870:021 Elements of Weather, 3 hours
870:031* Physical Geology, 4 hours
880:011* Conceptual Physics, 4 hours
880:012 Physics in Everyday Life, 3 hours
970:026** Physical Geography, 3-4 hours
* Lab Course
** Lab Course if 4-hour option elected
Category 5. Social Science 9
hours
Courses in this category introduce students to the description and
analysis of human behavior from different perspectives, ranging from the
societal and cultural to the institutional, individual and topical
viewpoints. Students are exposed to the diversity of sociocultural systems
created by human beings during their evolutionary development, and examine
the manner in which behavior is influenced by environmental, sociocultural,
psychological, and historical processes.
Required: one course from group A, one course from group
B, and one course from group A, B, or C. (Students cannot count both
970:010 and 970:040 toward the Liberal Arts Core.)
A. Group A Sociocultural and Historical Perspectives
900:023 American Civilization, 3 hours
970:010 Human Geography, 3 hours
970:040 World Geography, 3 hours
980:001 Introduction to Sociology, 3 hours
990:011 Culture, Nature, and Society, 3 hours
B. Group B Individual and Institutional Perspectives
31F:010 Human Identity and Relationships, 3 hours
400:001 Introduction to Psychology, 3 hours
920:024* Introduction to Economics, 3 hours
942:014 Introduction to American Politics, 3 hours
943:024 International Relations, 3 hours
*Satisfactory completion of both 920:053 and 920:054 by all
non-business majors and Business Teaching majors, through UNI or
transfer, may substitute for 920:024.)
C. Group C Topical Perspectives
450:041/900:041 Social Welfare: A World View, 3 hours
450:045/900:045/980:045 American Racial & Ethnic Minorities, 3 hours
900:020 Women, Men, and Society, 3 hours
900:080 Conflict and Social Reconstruction, 3 hours
900:085 The Nature of Social Issues, 3 hours
900:090 Children and Youth: Issues and Controversies, 3 hours
940:020 Contemporary Political Problems, 3 hours
980:060 Social Problems, 3 hours
Category 6. Capstone Experience 2 hours
(Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.)
640:173 Bio-Medical Ethics, 3 hours
640:194(g) Perspectives on Death and Dying, 3 hours
820:140 Environment, Technology, and Society, 2 hours
(Prerequisite for 820:140: completion of both Life Sciences and
Physical Sciences.)
820:150 Science, Mathematics, and Technology in the Americas, 3 hours
TOTAL 45 HOURS
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES
- Liberal Arts Core courses may be used to satisfy requirements for
both the Liberal Arts Core program and the major, minor, and program
emphasis.
- Departments offering a liberal arts core course may preclude their
major or minor students from taking that particular course to satisfy
the requirements for the liberal arts core, the major, or the minor.
- Liberal Arts Core requirements can be met through CLEP examinations,
departmental examinations and the Advanced Placement Program of the
College Entrance Examination Board.
CLEP examinations do not include the mandatory laboratory course
requirement. A student who receives CLEP credit in both the physical and
biological sciences shall be considered to have fulfilled the laboratory
requirement.
- No Liberal Arts Core course may be taken for graduate credit.
- No Liberal Arts Core course may have a non-Liberal Arts Core course
as a prerequisite.
- All courses taken to meet liberal arts core requirements must be
taken for graded credit.
- The Liberal Arts Core program requirements apply to all
undergraduate degree programs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Courses numbered 000-099 are open primarily to freshmen and sophomores.
Courses numbered 100-199 are open primarily to juniors and seniors.
*620:005 recommended for students with ACT English and Reading scores
of 18-26;
620:015 has prerequisite of combined ACT English and Reading scores of
54 or higher;
620:034 recommended for English majors and minors with prerequisite of
ACT English and Reading scores of 54 or higher.
**For students admitted to UNI prior to Fall 1994, the Speech and
Listening course included in the Communication Essentials category is not
required.
***Students with Math ACT scores that are 26 or higher will be placed
in 800:072 or 800:092 as follows:
Those with four years of college prep math with a grade of B or higher
in the senior-level course will be placed in the highest math course,
800:092 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling.
Those not satisfying these criteria will be placed in 800:072
Introduction to Statistical Methods.
Liberal Arts Core courses included in major or minor program
requirements are distinguished by italics.
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