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Degree Requirements

The University of Northern Iowa offers degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. At the undergraduate level, the University of Northern Iowa offers four traditional baccalaureate degrees: the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, the Bachelor of Music, and the Bachelor of Science. The external degree of Bachelor of Liberal Studies is also offered by UNI. Major goals in the programs leading to these degrees are the advancement of humane learning and the preparation of all students to cope intelligently, effectively, and reasonably with the complex and changing conditions of life in modern society. To attain these goals, while at the university, students are expected to make significant progress toward:

  1. understanding themselves and the society in which they live,
  2. developing the ability to read, write, and speak their own language well and to appreciate its literature,
  3. gaining an acquaintance with the literature of another language and the culture of its people, preferably in the original, but certainly through the study of translations,
  4. securing a thorough grounding in the history and cultural traditions of the modern world with a special sympathetic understanding for the economic, social, and political problems of our time,
  5. acquiring an understanding of the principles and methods of the natural sciences and mathematics and the part they play in modern society,
  6. developing the ability to perceive the values of the arts and derive an enjoyment from them,
  7. acquiring a knowledge of how to care for their own health and physical environment and to take an intelligent interest in the health and welfare of the community in which they live, and
  8. growing in the desire to secure knowledge.

To achieve these ends, students are obliged to take a variety of courses drawn from among the arts, humanities, philosophy, mathematics, and language, and from among the biological, physical, and social sciences. Concentration in a major field enables students to engage in intensive study, to think for themselves, and to exercise discriminating judgment. It prepares the student for more advanced work if s(he) decides to go on to graduate school, or for immediate employment. This emphasis on the academic program is not to exclude the contributions made by other parts of the university life to the substantial development of a student's personality -- social and athletic activities, public speaking and dramatic arts, music, art, public affairs, or other programs.

The desired result of these degree programs is not an individual who conforms to society as it is or sees her/his own vocation within the narrow confines of the day-to-day occupation, but rather a person enriched in mind and spirit and so stimulated that this person will seek with eagerness to contribute to the benefit of the world in which s(he) lives. Such a program is desirable for all students whatever their future professions may be.

All credit hours stated in this catalog, for a program, assume students have appropriate preparatory course work. If a student's preparation is inadequate, additional course work may be necessary and may extend the length of the program and the time required to complete graduation requirements.

For those who plan to become teachers, additional work is required in professional education. This work seeks to enhance the student's interest in and commitment to teaching, to instill loyalty toward the profession, and to encourage the desire for continuous professional growth. The student acquires the skills, techniques, and understanding necessary to good teaching by studying current knowledge concerning the physical, emotional, and mental growth of children and youth, the ways that they learn, and methods for guiding them to reach full potential. As part of her/his preparation, the student explores the mutual relationships and responsibilities of the teacher, the school, and the community.

The prospective teacher must also spend a significant part of her/his time in the area of learning chosen for concentration. The student's mastery of the subject matter of this area, its closely-related fields, and the skills and professional dispositions needed to present it effectively are essential aspects of successful teaching.

The teacher preparation program requires more hours to complete than many of the other programs in order to include the necessary professional work and to approximate, as far as possible in a four-year period, the other major goals previously listed. Students completing the teacher preparation program are strongly encouraged to continue their education beyond the bachelor's degree.

UNI Plan of Study (POS)

The University of Northern Iowa's Plan of Study (POS) project has been a two-phased approach over the last several years, and serves as a planning and advising support system for students and advisors.

Phase I, implemented in Fall 1998, brought the degree audit to the web, providing access to this official advising document to undergraduate students and advisors. Major and minor worksheets for both teaching and non-teaching were also published online during Phase I.

Phase II was implemented in Fall 2003 with the Plan of Study application. The Plan of Study (POS) has been created to help undergraduate students better plan their overall educational experience and to help students graduate as efficiently as possible. The POS is an electronic planning tool to help students think ahead through their entire program and should help students make strategic decisions about the courses they take and when they take them.

UNI Grad Pact -- Four-Year Graduation

The University of Northern Iowa, in response to a student body that is diverse in experiences, talents, expectations, and goals, has developed a "pact" that is designed to assist students in completing an undergraduate degree within four calendar years of their initial freshman enrollment. Students may follow many paths to graduation, with dozens of majors and concentrations offered through five undergraduate colleges. In addition, special programs can be tailored to the needs and interests students bring to the campus or discover once they are here. Students who wish to participate in the four-year graduation plan must average from 16 to 18 credits per semester (one quarter of the applicable credits for their major each year) and will need to make academic and personal choices that will result in graduation within four years.

UNI's four-year graduation plan is called UNI Grad Pact. Students who enroll as freshmen with well-defined interests, in "pact-approved" majors, and who want to complete their undergraduate study as expeditiously as possible, are assured of being able to enroll in courses allowing graduation in four calendar years. UNI Grad Pact is an agreement between the university and those students who choose to participate in the plan.

Students accept responsibility for monitoring their own progress toward degrees and for making choices that will allow them to graduate within four calendar years. The university is responsible for maintaining systems of advising so that students can track their progress, and agrees to provide the needed courses or their equivalents.

The university continues to encourage breadth and exploration as essential parts of a university education. UNI Grad Pact is designed to assure that students are carefully guided in their course choices while still benefiting from the rich educational opportunities offered by the university. Those students who conclude that UNI Grad Pact does not meet their academic and/or personal goals are encouraged to develop, in consultation with their academic advisor, a plan and timetable for completing the courses in their major that will allow them to achieve their individual academic, career, professional, and personal aspirations. Those students who do not participate in the plan will still benefit from descriptions of recommended patterns of progress toward degrees and enhanced advising services that will be available to all students.

General Conditions

  1. Students must enter the university as freshmen with appropriate high school preparation to begin a four-year graduation plan.
  2. Students must sign up for UNI Grad Pact and declare their interest in a major that qualifies for the four-year plan.
  3. Students are responsible for meeting deadlines and requirements of the pact. Therefore, students must regularly monitor their progress toward graduation. Such monitoring includes meeting each semester, in a timely manner prior to registration, with their academic advisor.
  4. For courses required by the major and for graduation, students must accept any available section that can be accommodated in their course schedule and must register at their assigned registration time.
  5. Students must be admitted and remain in good academic standing to the colleges and departments which offer their major.
  6. Students may change majors and remain in the program if, at the time the student decides to make the change, he or she can still meet the requirements of the new major and graduate within the four calendar years. Students may enroll in an additional major or in programs leading to additional licensing and certification, and remain in UNI Grad Pact, if they can complete these additional requirements and those of their first major within the four calendar years. Students must see their academic advisor in a timely manner in order to accomplish these changes or additions.
  7. Students must accept responsibility for timely annual application for all necessary financial assistance.
  8. Students must complete a minimum of one quarter of the applicable credits for their major each year (including summer sessions).
  9. If, after working with their advisor, it appears that graduation may be delayed due to unavailability of a course, students must notify the Office of the Provost, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, in writing prior to the beginning of classes in the term in which the course would be needed.

If the student meets all the conditions of the four-year plan but is unable to graduate due to the unavailability of a course, the university will offer one of the following:

  1. Allow the student to graduate in four years by substituting a different course or an independent study assignment, as determined by the department and the college offering the student's major.
  2. Allow the student to graduate in four years by waiving the requirement to be met by the unavailable course, as determined by the department and college offering the student's major.
  3. Allow the unavailability of a course to delay the student from graduating in four years, in which case the university will waive UNI tuition and mandatory fees for this course in order for the student to graduate within the next year.

These procedures will be the exclusive remedy for the four-year plan (UNI Grad Pact) agreement. The university is under no obligation to provide one of these adjustments unless the student submits a written request for an accommodation to the Provost prior to the beginning of classes in the last term of the student's four-year plan.

Undergraduate Curricula

Bachelor of Arts Degree

Two programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree are available.

A. Bachelor of Arts -- Teaching Program -- 130 semester hours

Note: Programs requiring more than 130 semester hours (see major requirements) are identified as extended and may include up to 152 semester hours.

On this program students are prepared as:

  1. Secondary teachers of art, business, biology, chemistry, communications, earth science, geography, English, foreign languages, health, industrial arts, mathematics, modern languages, music, physical education, physics, science, social science subjects (economics, history, etc.), and speech.
  2. Special teachers of art, industrial arts, music, physical education, special education, and speech.
  3. Early childhood and elementary teachers (kindergarten through sixth grade).
  4. Middle level education teachers in various areas of instruction.

B. Bachelor of Arts -- 120 semester hours

On this program students are prepared in the following areas:

  1. Liberal Arts -- accounting, art, biology, business, chemistry, communications, computer science, criminology, design, family and consumer sciences, economics, English, finance, geology, health, industrial technology, leisure services, management, marketing, mathematics, modern languages, music, philosophy, physical education, physics, psychology, speech, social science, social work, science, and theatre.
  2. Program for Registered Nurses. A student certified or licensed as a registered nurse (R.N.) may be recommended for a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in General Studies in accordance with the following provisions:
  3. a. A student who has taken the work required for certification or licensure, including the successful completion of required agency examinations, will have 34-45 semester hours accepted for transfer to apply on the bachelor's degree. Such work may have been earned in a two-year associate degree program or in an approved hospital diploma program.

    These hours of transfer work may be affected by a general university requirement that a maximum of 65 semester hours may be accepted from a two-year institution. The 34-45 semester hours of transfer credit for R.N. certification is considered part of this limit. Thus, a student who has earned more than 20 semester hours of other two-year college credit may not be able to use all of the nursing credits for graduation requirements. Such individuals should consult the Director of Admissions concerning the application of this requirement in her/his situation.

    b. Eleven of the total number of semester hours accepted as advanced standing for R.N. certification are applied to Liberal Arts Core requirements in the areas of biology, chemistry, and interpersonal relationships. Specifically, the 11 hours would be dispersed in the following way:

    Category 4. Natural Science and Technology
    (a) Life Sciences - 3 hrs.
    (b) Physical Sciences - 3 hrs.

    Category 5. Social Science
    (a) Group A (1 course) - 2-3 hrs.
    (b) Group B (1 course) - 2-3 hrs.

    One course from Group A, B, or C is required. The student will be held to courses required in the remaining Liberal Arts Core categories.

    c. The student shall complete a minimum of 15 hours of 100-level courses from each of two of the five colleges for a total of 30 hours. The student's program will be planned in consultation with the Individual Studies Program Coordinator.

    d. As an alternative to item "c", the student may complete the requirements for a major offered by any department and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in the chosen major.

    e. A student may not earn duplicate credit for courses taken at another institution and judged to be equivalent.

    f. The student shall earn enough credit in elective courses to have a total of 120 hours of academic credit.

    g. This program is under the jurisdiction and general supervision of Individual Studies. Students entering this program will confer with the Program Coordinator.

    This degree program is not recommended for students intending to work in nursing education at the collegiate level, in such areas as public health, or psychiatric nursing, nor those for whom the primary intention is graduate work in nursing.
  4. Joint Program
    Students interested in one of the following professional programs may complete the basic work on the University of Northern Iowa campus and transfer to UNI a year's credit from the professional school to complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree at UNI: Chiropractic
    Cytotechnology
    Dentistry
    Medicine
    Medical Technology
    Optometry
    Physician Assistant
    Pharmacy
    Physical Therapy
    Podiatry
    Veterinary A student shall complete at UNI all the requirements in the Liberal Arts Core (45 semester hours) and the requirements for the B.A. (Joint Program Option) in Biology and have a total of at least 92 semester hours at UNI. The professional courses transferred must bring the total hours to at least 120 semester hours. Credit is accepted only from professional schools which are fully accredited. Details of the B.A. (Joint Program Option) are available from the Biology Department.

    The student must know the requirements for entrance to the professional school so as to be able to take at the University of Northern Iowa the work required for admission while at the same time meeting UNI degree requirements. The student will work with the Biology Department advisor who will help in the selection of proper courses.

    Acceptance of credit from professional schools of chiropractic, cytotechnology, dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physician assistant, physical therapy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine toward meeting part of degree requirements:

    A student who has completed three years or more of college work with a minimum of 92 semester hours, of which at least the last 30 hours of work were completed at the University of Northern Iowa before admission to an accredited professional college, may use professional credit to satisfy the remaining hours required for the baccalaureate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. The student shall have completed all of the specific requirements for the B.A. (Joint Program Option).
C. Other Programs
  1. Pre-professional. Suggested programs are available for those planning to complete programs in dentistry, engineering, law, medicine, osteopathy, and podiatry. These program guides may be requested from the Admissions Office.
  2. Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree Program. Qualified students may pursue a dual-degree program leading to a B.S. Applied Physics degree from the University of Northern Iowa and a B.S. Engineering degree from Iowa State University or the University of Iowa. For details, please refer to the section of this catalog under Physics, Bachelor of Science Degree Programs, Applied Physics/Engineering Dual-Degree Major, on page xxx.
  3. Cooperative Programs.
    a. Cooperative Nursing Program with Allen College. The University of Northern Iowa offers the Liberal Arts Core component of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree offered by Allen College.

    b. Three-year Program in Medical Technology.
    The University of Northern Iowa cooperates with St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids and University of Iowa Medical School in Iowa City, to offer the first three years of work; St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids and University of Iowa Medical School in Iowa City offer the fourth year.

    c. Three-year Program in Cytotechnology.
    The University of Northern Iowa cooperates with Mayo School of Health-Related Sciences, Rochester, Minnesota; School of Cytotechnology, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, Wisconsin; and Mercy School of Cytotechnology, Des Moines, Iowa. The first three years of work are done at UNI; during the fourth year, cytotechnology will be taken at one of the three cooperating schools.

    d. Three-year program in chiropractic medicine with Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, MO.
    The first three years of work are done at UNI; during the fourth year, chiropractic classes will be taken at the cooperating school.

    A student who expects to transfer to another institution should declare her/his special interest at the time of admission. The student will be assigned to an advisor who is familiar with the type of program being sought. Before seeing her/his advisor for the first time, the student should secure a current copy of the catalog of the school to which the transfer is planned.
  4. Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
    a. The Four-Year Program. The Army ROTC Four-Year Program consists of two parts: the Basic Course and the Advanced Course.

    The Basic Course is usually taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Students taking a Basic Course class do not incur a military service obligation (except for scholarship students). The Basic Course teaches the student leadership, oral and written communication skills, survival skills, and basic soldier skills. There is no prerequisite that the basic courses be taken in sequence; however, a student must complete the basic course or the equivalent (see paragraph b. below), before progressing into the advanced course.

    The Advanced Course is usually taken during the junior and senior years. Students enrolled and contracted in the Advanced Course will incur a military obligation (either active or reserve). The Advanced Course teaches the student about small unit tactics, leadership, ethics, management of military organizations and resources, as well as military law. The Department of the Army will pay all contracted cadets up to $3,600 a year during the last two years of the program.

    b. Accelerated Program.
    The accelerated program is designed specifically to fill the needs of the students who did not take Army ROTC during the first two years. Placement credit for the basic course may be obtained in several ways. The most common methods are prior military service, enlisted basic training, or successful completion of a six-week summer ROTC basic camp.

    c. The Simultaneous Membership Program.
    The Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) allows contracted cadets to be members of the Iowa Army National Guard or the Army Reserve and Army ROTC simultaneously.
    ROTC SMP cadets are paid at the rate of a Sergeant (E-5) for their one weekend a month training assemblies, plus up to $3,600 a year subsistence allowance from the ROTC Advanced Course, and New G.I. Bill educational assistance benefits. Many ROTC SMP cadets also qualify for the Student Loan Repayment Program.

    d. ROTC Scholarships
    . U.S. Army ROTC three- and four-year scholarships are available. They cover up to $5,000 per year toward tuition and required educational fees at UNI, and provide $300 per semester for textbooks, supplies, and equipment.

    Army ROTC scholarships also provide a subsistence allowance of up to $3,600 for each school year that the scholarships are in effect. Winning and accepting an ROTC scholarship does not preclude accepting other scholarships. Additional ROTC scholarship information is contained on page xxx.

    e. Military Science Minor.
    The Military Science Department offers a minor in Military Science. Requirements for the minor are 24-30 hours and include Military Science courses as well as elective courses. More information is contained on page xxx.

    f. Additional Information.
    Additional information regarding the U.S. Army ROTC program is contained under the section titled Military Science, on page xxx. The specific courses offered by the Department of Military Science are listed under the Department of Military Science on page xxx. For additional information, write to the University of Northern Iowa, Department of Military Science, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0142; come in person to West Gym (Room 203), UNI campus; or call the student advisor at 319-273-6178 or 319-273-6337. Please visit our Web site http://www.uni.edu/rotc/.

Bachelor of Arts -- Liberal Arts Curricula

All candidates on this program will complete the following pattern:

Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core Minimum

45

 

Major, minor, foreign language, electives

75

Minimum
120
 

Not later than the beginning of the sophomore year, each student enrolled in this program will choose one major from the list below. A knowledge of a foreign language is required or recommended for several majors. Specific information regarding the foreign language requirements will be found with the departmental listings. It is recommended that the student include in her/his electives a course in the literature of some language or languages other than English (in translation if not in the original).

Majors and Minors

Specific requirements for the various majors and minors will be found with the departmental listings.

Majors

Accounting
American Studies
Anthropology
Art
Asian Studies
Athletic Training
Biology
Biology: Ecology and Systematics Emphasis
Biology: Biomedical Emphasis
Biology: Microbiology Emphasis
Biotechnology

Chemistry
Chemistry-Marketing

Communication
Communication/Electronic Media
Communication/Public Relations
Communicative Disorders

Computer Information Systems
Computer Science

Criminology
Earth Science
Earth Science: Interpretive Naturalist Emphasis

Economics
English
European Studies
Family Services
Finance
French
General Studies
General Studies for Registered Nurses

Geography
Geography: Environmental Emphasis
Geology
Geology: Environmental Science Emphasis
German
Graphic Communications

Health Promotion
History
Humanities
Individual Studies
Inter-American Studies
Interior Design
Leisure Services
Management
Management Information Systems

Marketing
Mathematics
Mathematics--Applied
Mathematics--Statistics and Actuarial Science

Modern Languages Dual Major
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Political Communication
Political Science

Psychology
Public Administration
Real Estate
Russian
Russian and East European Studies

Social Work
Sociology
Spanish
Study of Religion
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Technology Education and Training
Technology Management

Textile and Apparel (TAPP)
Theatre

   

Minors

Accounting
Business
American Ethnic Studies
Anthropology
Art
Asian Studies
Astronomy
Biology
Business Communication
Chemistry
Coaching
Communication
Communication/Journalism
Communication/Public Relations
Comparative Literature
Computer Information Systems
Computer Science
Criminology
Dance
Earth Science
Economics
Electrical and Electronics Technology (EET)
English
Environmental Studies
Ethics
Family Studies
Financial Services
Financial Services Business
French
General Business Concepts
Geography
Geology
German
Graphic Communications
Health Promotion
History
Humanities

Instructional Technology
Inter-American Studies
International Affairs
Jazz Studies
Leadership Studies
Leisure Services
Marketing
Mathematics
Media
Meteorology
Military Science
Music
Natural History Interpretation
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Politics and Law
Portuguese
Psychology
Real Estate
Real EstateBBusiness
Religion
Russian
Russian and East European Studies
Sociology
Spanish
Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
Statistics and Actuarial Science
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Technology Management
Textile and Apparel
Theatre
Women's Studies
Writing
Youth Services Administration


Bachelor of Arts -- Teaching Program Curricula

All candidates on this program will choose one of the following patterns not later than the beginning of the sophomore year.

 

A. Preparation for teaching in the secondary school or in special subjects.
   
Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core - Minimum

45

 

Professional Education Requirement

32

 

Major, minor, electives

53

 
Total
130
     
B. Preparation for teaching in the elementary school (kindergarten and grades 1-6).
   
Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core Minimum

45

 

Professional Education Requirement

33

 

Major requirements

31-33

 

Concentration area and electives

24-29

 
Total
130-140
     
C. Preparation for teaching in early childhood education (pre-K through grade 3).
   
Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core Minimum

45

 

Professional Education Requirement

33

 

Major requirements

37

 

Other requirements and electives

15

 
Total
130

 

Professional Education Requirements

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts--Teaching Program are required to take the courses in professional education and a minimum of one departmental methods course. In addition, all candidates must be admitted to the Teacher Education Program. Admission procedures are initiated at a required orientation session during Level I of the Professional Education sequence.

   
Semester Hours

220:150

Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in Classrooms

2

240:020

Educational Media or

240:031

Educational Media and Classroom Computing

2-3

280:070

Human Relations: Awareness and Applications

3

(Before enrolling in 280:070, the student must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program.)

     
Level I
 

200:017

Field Experience: Exploring Teaching

1

200:030

Dynamics of Human Development

3

     
Level II
 
 

(Before enrolling in Level II, the student must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program.)

 

200:128

Field Experience: Teacher as a Change Agent

1

200:148

Learning and Instruction in Classroom Contexts

3

250:150

Classroom Evaluation Instruments

2

     
Level III
 
 

(Before enrolling in Level III, the student must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program.)

 

260:119

Schools and American Society

3

     
Student Teaching
 
 

(Before enrolling in Student Teaching, the student must be fully admitted to the Teacher Education Program.)

 

280:1XX

Student Teaching (course number denotes area in which experience is gained: 280:132, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 250)

12

   
32-33

Professional Education Waivers/Substitutions

  1. Industrial Technology majors will be waived from 240:020. A student changing to a different education major from Industrial Technology would be required to complete 240:020.
  2. Physical Education majors may substitute 420:174 for 250:150. A Physical Education major changing to a different education major from Physical Education would be required to complete 250:150.
  3. Physical Education majors will be waived from 220:150. A student changing to a different education major from Physical Education would be required to complete 220:150.
  4. Music Education majors will be waived from 250:150. A student changing to a different education major from Music Education would be required to complete 250:150.
  5. Music Education majors will be waived from 240:020. A student changing to a different education major from Music Education would be required to complete 240:020.
  6. Art Education majors will be waived from 240:020. A student changing to a different education major from Art Education would be required to complete 240:020.
  7. Secondary science teaching majors (Science Education, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics) will be waived from 240:020. A student changing to a different education major from Science Education, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics would be required to complete 240:020.

Admission to the Teacher Education Program

Application for Admission to the Teacher Education Program must be made before enrolling in the Level II courses. At that time the student must also fulfill any additional requirements as prescribed by the Council on Teacher Education.

To be admitted to the Teacher Education Program, a student must:

  1. declare a major;
  2. have earned at least 24 semester hours of credit;
  3. have earned at least a 2.50 grade index in all course work;
  4. file an acceptable Application for Admission to Teacher Education in 159A Schindler Education Center;
  5. have successfully completed the speech and hearing evaluation;
  6. have successfully completed College Reading and Writing (620:005) or the equivalent;
  7. have successfully completed Oral Communication (48C:001) or the equivalent;
  8. have passed the required basic skills test.

In approving admission, the university gives special consideration to the scholarship, health, character, personality, and leadership potential of the applicant for a teaching curriculum. All requirements for full admission are to be completed by the start of Level II.

Information concerning fee payments for tests, registration procedures, and test dates are available by contacting Academic Services, 125 East Bartlett Hall, UNI, 319-273-6023 or the Director of Teacher Education, 159A Schindler Education Center, UNI, 319-273-2265.

Field and Clinical Experiences

At the University of Northern Iowa experiences in teaching and the observation of teaching are an integral part of the teacher education curriculum. The emphasis on experimentation and creative approaches gives the student insight into turning theory into practice. The professional laboratory experiences include field experiences and participation, with supervised observations, that culminate in the actual period of student teaching in the senior year.

Supervised observations give the student an opportunity to see the teaching-learning operation without becoming involved in the on-going activity itself. In the field experience and participation experiences, the student takes an active part under direction and guidance in the teaching-learning situation or other community activities.

Student involvement in all of the field and clinical experiences in teacher education is vital to the preparation of the prospective teacher. Observation and participation experiences are provided through specific courses in the Professional Education Program and through individual departments offering teaching majors. These experiences give the student the background needed to make professional course work and student teaching more meaningful.

Student Teaching

Student teaching is a period of guided teaching which is a full semester in length. During this time, the student assumes increasing responsibility for the teaching-learning activities in the classroom. The student receives twelve (12) semester hours of credit for student teaching, evaluated on a credit/no-credit/withdrawal system. Interinstitutional student teachers who enroll at UNI, including those on the Regents' Universities Student Exchange Program, may be evaluated on a graded basis (e.g., A, B, C, D, F) upon written request at the time of application from the Registrar of the home institution.

To be admitted to student teaching, a student must demonstrate:
  1. FULL admission to the teacher education program;
  2. a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher on work at all colleges and universities;
  3. a UNI GPA of 2.50 or higher;
  4. a 2.50 GPA in the academic major or department approval;
  5. a GPA of 2.50 or higher in courses completed in the Professional Education Program;
  6. completion of all methods courses listed as prerequisites for student teaching with a grade of C (2.00) or higher as well as other departmental requirements.
  1. Mathematics majors are required to have a major GPA of 2.25 or higher AND departmental approval; and
  2. Health Education and Physical Education majors and minors are required to have current First Aid and CPR certification prior to student teaching.
    Final student teacher assignment is based upon fulfillment of all established requirements and availability of placement.

Exit Requirements

To be recommended for teaching licensure in Iowa, a student who graduates from the UNI Teacher Education Program must satisfactorily complete the major and/or minor and the teacher education requirements, have an overall GPA of 2.50 and a cumulative UNI GPA of 2.50, submit fingerprint and waiver cards for mandated background checks, and pass additional exit requirements as may be prescribed by the Council on Teacher Education. A student not meeting these requirements may graduate but will not receive recommendation for licensure.

Exit tests may be prescribed by the Council on Teacher Education, the College of Education, or the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. (The National Teacher Examination, as well as the Pre-Professional Skills Tests, PPST, are now required to be taken by teacher education graduates to meet licensure requirements in some states. Neither is required in the State of Iowa.) Information concerning fee payments for tests, registration procedures, and test dates are available by contacting Academic Services, 125 East Bartlett Hall, UNI 319-273-6023.

For additional information on teacher licensure, see page xxx.

Majors and Minors -- Teaching

Elementary majors may choose either a university-approved endorsement minor or a 24-hour area of concentration.

Each student preparing to teach in the secondary school or in a special subject will choose a major not later than the beginning of the sophomore year. The student will also select at least one minor if a minor requirement is indicated under the description of the chosen major. Even if not required, a student may select a second major or one or more minors. Approved majors and minors will be chosen from the fields listed below.

Majors

All Science
Anthropology
Art Education
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Communication--Theatre
Early Childhood Education
Earth Science
Elementary Education
English
French

Geography
German
Health Education
History

Mathematics
Middle Level Education Dual Major
Middle/Junior High School Science
Modern Languages Dual Major
Physical Education
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Social Science
Sociology
Spanish
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Technology Education and Training
TESOL/Modern Language

   

Minors

Anthropology
Art
Art (K-6)
Basic Science (K-6)
Biology
Business
Chemistry
Communication--Theatre
Early Childhood Special Education
Earth Science (K-6)
Economics
Elementary School Media Specialist (K-6)
English
French
Geography
German
Health Education
History
History (K-6)

Library Media Specialist
Literacy Education Mathematics
Mathematics (K-6)
Modern Languages (K-6)
Physical Education--Elementary Teaching
Physics
Political Science
Portuguese
Psychology
Russian
Severe Disabilities
Social Studies (K-6)
Sociology
Spanish
Special Education
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Technology Education and Training

   

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

The program available under this degree is a major in Art, with an emphasis in any one of eight studio areas, offered by the Department of Art. A minimum total of 130 semester hours is required for the degree. The B.F.A. degree program is designed to provide professional career training in the following studio emphases: ceramics, drawing, graphic design, jewelry/metals, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree Curricula

Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will complete the following pattern of work:

 
Art Major
Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core

45

 

Major Requirements

77

 

General Electives

8

 
Total
130
     

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is generally recognized as the professional undergraduate degree in the visual arts. Students are required to pass a portfolio review before they are formally admitted to the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program in the Department of Art. Candidates for this degree are also required to present an exhibition of their creative works demonstrating competency in the studio arts in their senior year.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art does not provide for licensure to teach; additional hours are necessary to meet licensure requirements.

Major

Art: Studio Emphasis

Bachelor of Music Degree

Majors in this degree program have the choice of an educational major or two professional majors. The Music Education major carries licensure to teach music in grades K-6 and 7-12. The Performance major with emphases in voice, piano, organ, and band-orchestral instruments, and the Composition-Theory major are professional programs designed to prepare students for careers as artists-performers or composers, or for entrance to graduate schools where further excellence in a performance area might be pursued. Students earning the Bachelor of Music degree are prepared as performers, college teachers, and in all areas where a high degree of music or performing skill is required.

Bachelor of Music Degree Curricula

All candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree will complete a pattern similar to the following:

   
Semester Hours
 

Liberal Arts Core

42

 

Music requirements (applied, theory, history and literature, conducting, ensembles, recital, composition, electives)

66-82

 

General electives/professional sequence*

0-36

 

 

130*

The following majors are offered on this degree program:

 

Composition-Theory

82 hours

 

Music Education (teaching)

66, 67, or 77 hours

 

Performance (voice, piano, organ, band-orchestral instruments)

80 hours

 

*Music Education majors must also complete the Professional Education Requirements (see page xxx). The minimum semester-hour requirements vary with the specialization chosen. The Music Education major carries licensure to teach in grades K-6 and 7-12. (A course in human relations is also required for licensure to teach.)

The approval of the faculty, and the Associate Director of the School of Music must be secured before a student is admitted formally to this degree program. All students who have been admitted to the school and wish to pursue a music major curriculum must undertake a common core of required courses during the freshman year. During the second semester of the freshman year, an extensive evaluation of each music major will be conducted. In addition to the entrance audition required of all students who intend to major in music, transfer students are required to take a placement exam in music theory or start with level l in Theory, Aural Training, and Sight Singing. The music faculty will evaluate the performance in these areas to determine School of Music admissibility for each transfer student.

Participation in a performance organization such as band, chorus, orchestra, and other ensembles, is required of all degree students every semester in residence.

Majors

Composition-Theory
Music Education
Performance

Bachelor of Science Degree

Bachelor of Science Degree Curricula

The Bachelor of Science degree should be elected by those students who are preparing for careers in areas where effective application of knowledge and training requires a higher degree of concentration in subject matter and cognate areas, particularly in advanced-level course work. This degree is especially appropriate for students planning post-baccalaureate study in graduate or professional schools.

Requirements include:

  1. A minimum of 56 hours in the subject and cognate areas with:
    a. at least 36 hours in the subject area;
    b. at least one 100-level course in cognate areas;
  2. The completion of undergraduate research or internship carrying 1-2 semester hours of credit applicable to either the subject or cognate area(s). This project should result in the completion of a written report. The major department must certify to the Registrar that the research requirement has been met before the degree is granted;
  3. The completion of the Liberal Arts Core requirements selected from courses included in the six Liberal Arts Core categories.

Since this degree assumes a higher degree of concentration in subject matter, a major leading to this degree will ordinarily require at least eight 100-level semester hours of credit more than an identically-named major leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a minimum of 126 semester hours.

Majors

Applied Physics
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Construction Management
Electrical and Information Engineering Technology (EIET)
Geology
Manufacturing Technology
Physics

Bachelor of Liberal Studies Degree

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 may complete the degree at their own pace without attending on-campus courses. Students often use guided independent study and other distance learning opportunities to earn credit.

Admission to the Program

Each student entering the program must have earned:

  1. An Associate of Arts degree from an accredited, two-year college, or at least 62 semester hours of college credit acceptable toward graduation at UNI;
  2. A minimum 2.00 grade point average.
Total Credit Requirements

A total of at least 120 semester hours of credit, including transferable credit earned, is required for graduation. The total must fulfill the following specifications:

  1. 45 semester hours of credit earned at four-year colleges in courses defined as "upper-level" at the colleges in which courses are taken. At the University of Northern Iowa, upper-level courses are those numbered 100 and above;
  2. At least 30 hours of credit earned in the junior and/or senior years in courses at UNI. This total may include nonresidence credit.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements

Students must meet the basic undergraduate core requirements as specified and determined by the policies of the degree-granting institution.

Program Distribution Requirements

To insure sufficient breadth of study, each student's program must include, in addition to the credit used to fulfill the Liberal Arts Core requirements previously stated, a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit in each of the three (3) areas selected from the following list. Of the total 36 semester hours of credit applied to fulfill this requirement, 24 semester hours must be in upper-level credits as defined by the institution in which the courses are taken, with at least 6 semester hours of upper-level credits in each of the three areas chosen.

a) Humanities
b) Communications and Arts
c) Natural Sciences and Mathematics
d) Social Sciences
e) Professional fields (such as business, design, family and consumer sciences, social work, and education)

Information and details regarding admission to the B.L.S. program, evaluation of prior academic work, program advising, and declaration of major may be obtained from Continuing Education Credit Programs, at the corner of 27th Street and Hudson Road, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223. Students may also call the B.L.S. advisor at 1-800-648-3864 or 319-273-7740. Students are also encouraged to visit the B.L.S. Web site www.uni.edu/contined/gis/bls/bachelor.shtml.

Change of Degree Program

Students who change from one degree program to another will be held for all specific requirements of the program on which they expect to graduate. There will be little difficulty in making such a change if it is made not later than the beginning of the junior year. However, if the change is made later than that, there is no assurance that the student will be able to complete the work required for graduation within a four-year period.

Liberal Arts Core

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 experience in 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 American Association of Colleges and Universities Statement on Liberal Learning reflects the purposes of UNI's Liberal Arts Core:

A truly liberal education is one that prepares us to live responsible, productive, and creative lives in a dramatically changing world. It is an education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions. Liberal education requires that we understand the foundations of knowledge and inquiry about nature, culture and society; that we master core skills of perception, analysis, and expression; that we cultivate a respect for truth; that we recognize the importance of historical and cultural context; and that we explore connections among formal learning, citizenship, and service to our communities.

We experience the benefits of liberal learning by pursuing intellectual work that is honest, challenging, and significant, and by preparing ourselves to use knowledge and power in responsible ways. Liberal learning is not confined to particular fields of study. What matters in liberal education is substantial content, rigorous methodology and an active engagement with the societal, ethical, and practical implications of our learning. The spirit and value of liberal learning are equally relevant to all forms of higher education and to all students.

Because liberal learning aims to free us from the constraints of ignorance, sectarianism, and short-sightedness, it prizes curiosity and seeks to expand the boundaries of human knowledge. By its nature, therefore, liberal learning is global and pluralistic. It embraces the diversity of ideas and experiences that characterize the social, natural, and intellectual world. To acknowledge such diversity in all its forms is both an intellectual commitment and a social responsibility, for nothing less will equip us to understand our world and to pursue fruitful lives.

The ability to think, to learn, and to express oneself both rigorously and creatively, the capacity to understand ideas and issues in context, the commitment to live in society, and the yearning for truth are fundamental features of our humanity. In centering education upon these qualities, liberal learning is society's best investment in our shared future.

(The Association of American Colleges and Universitie's AStatement on Liberal Learning, 1999)
Requirements of the Liberal Arts Core*:
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*
     

*For students admitted to UNI prior to Fall 1994, the Speaking and Listening course included in the Core Competencies category is not required.

Courses numbered 000-099 are open primarily to freshmen and sophomores. Courses numbered 100-199 are open primarily to juniors and seniors.

Courses:
Category 1: Core Competencies
12 hours*

Courses in written and oral communication enhance student's abilities to read and listen critically and to write and speak effectively by attention to how the gathering, analyzing, and presenting of evidence and conclusions can be designed for specific purposes and audiences. Courses in quantitative techniques enhance student's abilities to use quantitative data effectively and to apply relevant mathematical and statistical concepts and methods to diverse problems and situations. Personal wellness promotes the acquisition of knowledge and the development of skills and attitudes necessary for implementing positive health-related decisions.

A. Reading and Writing (3 hours required)*

620:005 College Reading and Writing (3 hrs.)
620:015 Exposition and Report Writing (3 hrs.)
620:034 Critical Writing About Literature (3 hrs.),

B. Speaking and Listening (3 hours required)**

48C:001 Oral Communication (3 hrs.)

C. Quantitative Techniques and Understanding (3 hours required)***

800:023 Mathematics in Decision Making (3 hrs.)
800:060 Calculus I (4 hrs.)
800:072 Introduction to Statistical Methods (3 hrs.)
800:092 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling (3 hrs.)

D. Personal Wellness (3 hours required)

440:010 Personal Wellness (3 hrs.)

Category 2: Civilizations and Cultures
9 hours

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.

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)

680:121 Russia/Soviet Union (3 hrs.)
680:122 Japan (3 hrs.)
680:123 Latin America (3 hrs.)
680:124 China (3 hrs.)
680:125 India (3 hrs.)
680:127 Middle East (3 hrs.)
680:128 Africa (3 hrs.)
680:132/990:132 Native North America (3 hrs.)
680:137/990:137 Native Central and South America (3 hrs.)

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, ritual and symbol, 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 hrs.)
490:002 The Theatrical Arts and Society (3 hrs.)
520:020 Our Musical Heritage (3 hrs.)
520:030 Music of Our Time (3 hrs.)
600:002 Visual Inventions (3 hrs.)
600:004 Visual Perceptions (3 hrs.)
*590:011 may substitute for the Fine Arts requirement for all music majors.

B. Literature, Philosophy, or Religion (3 hours required)

620:031 Introduction to Literature (3 hrs.)
640:024 Religions of the World (3 hrs.)
650:021 Philosophy: Basic Questions (3 hrs.)
720:031 Introduction to Francophone Literature in Translation (3 hrs.)
740:031 Introduction to German Literature in Translation (3 hrs.)
770:031 Introduction to Russian Literature in Translation (3 hrs.)
790:031 Introduction to Portuguese and Hispanic Literatures in Translation (3 hrs.)

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.

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 hrs.)
840:012 Life: The Natural World (3 hrs.)
840:013* Life: The Natural World - Lab (1 hr.)
840:014 Life: Continuity and Change (3 hrs.)
840:015* Life: Continuity and Change - Lab (1 hr.)
990:010 Human Origins (3 hrs.)
* 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 hrs.)
860:010** Principles of Chemistry (3-4 hrs.)
860:011 Molecules and Life (3 hrs.)
870:010** Astronomy (3-4 hrs.)
870:021 Elements of Weather (3 hrs.)
870:031* Physical Geology (4 hrs.)
880:011* Conceptual Physics (4 hrs.)
880:012 Physics in Everyday Life (3 hrs.)
970:026** Physical Geography (3-4 hrs.)
* 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 hrs.)
970:010 Human Geography (3 hrs.)
970:040 World Geography (3 hrs.)
980:001 Introduction to Sociology (3 hrs.)
990:011 Culture, Nature, and Society (3 hrs.)

B. Group B Individual and Institutional Perspectives

31F:010 Human Identity and Relationships (3 hrs.)
400:001 Introduction to Psychology (3 hrs.)
920:024* Introduction to Economics (3 hrs.)
942:014 Introduction to American Politics (3 hrs.)
943:024 International Relations (3 hrs.)
*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 hrs.)
450:045/900:045/980:045 American Racial and Ethnic Minorities (3 hrs.)
900:020 Women, Men, and Society (3 hrs.)
900:080 Conflict and Social Reconstruction (3 hrs.)
900:085 The Nature of Social Issues (3 hrs.)
900:090 Children and Youth: Issues and Controversies (3 hrs.)
940:020 Contemporary Political Problems (3 hrs.)
980:060 Social Problems (3 hrs.)

VI. Capstone Experience
2 hours

Capstone courses provide opportunities for students to synthesize the diverse realms of thought they have studied and to apply the intellectual proficiencies they have acquired. The emphasis is on cultivating life-long learning through linking theory and academic preparation to practical problem-solving activities in multidisciplinary seminars or community-based learning courses. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing.

Capstone courses are designated in each Schedule of Classes.

 
TOTAL
45 hours

 

*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 800:060 or 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 either 800:060 or 800:092. Those not satisfying these criteria will be placed in 800:072.

Liberal Arts Core courses included in major or minor program requirements are distinguished by italics.

Administrative Policies:

  1. Liberal Arts Core courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both the Liberal Arts Core and the major, minor, and program emphases.
  2. 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.
  3. Liberal Arts Core requirements can be met through CLEP examinations, departmental examinations, and the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. A student who receives CLEP credit in both the physical and biological sciences shall be considered to have fulfilled the laboratory requirement.
  4. No Liberal Arts Core course may be taken for graduate credit.
  5. No Liberal Arts Core course may have a non-Liberal Arts Core course as a prerequisite.
  6. All courses taken to meet Liberal Arts Core requirements must be taken for graded credit.
  7. The Associate of Arts degree from Iowa community colleges shall continue to be accepted, according to an approved articulation agreement, to meet most Liberal Arts Core requirements.
  8. The Liberal Arts Core requirements apply to all undergraduate degree programs.
  9. Regents Articulation Agreement:

The University of Northern Iowa, the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Iowa, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University agree to accept fulfillment of the Liberal Arts Core at any one of them as equivalent to completion of Liberal Arts Core requirements at another, with the following stipulations:

  1. This agreement does not apply to those students who transfer without having fully completed the Liberal Arts Core prior to transfer.
  2. Validation of fulfillment of Liberal Arts Core requirements requires that a student transferring must have met the transfer requirements of the receiving institution with respect to semester hours and grade point average.
  3. When a foreign language proficiency, a capstone course, and/or a course in foreign culture is required, whether within or in addition to the Liberal Arts Core, a student may meet this requirement at either institution regardless of the institution whose Liberal Arts Core requirements the student fulfills.
  4. Liberal Arts Core validation is the responsibility of the student transferring and will be completed upon request to the Registrar of the institution from which the student is transferring.

Program Certificates

The University of Northern Iowa makes available, in addition to traditional programs, the opportunity for students to earn program certificates. Program certificates provide an alternative to programs leading to a degree, a major, or a minor; they certify that an individual has completed a program approved by the university. For further information concerning requirements for these certificates see pages xxx-xxx, or consult with the department listed or the Office of the Registrar, which serves as the centralized registry. Some of the certificates are interdisciplinary and involve several departments; however, only one department has been listed as the contact.

Program certificates now available include:
Department of Communication Studies

Certificate in Public Speaking
Graduate Certificate in Corporate Communication

Department of Computer Science

Computer Applications Certificate

Department of Design, Family and Consumer Sciences

Certificate Program in Long Term Care
Gerontology Program Certificate

Department of Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Postsecondary Education

Advanced Studies Certificate in Educational Leadership
Emphasis: Principalship
Emphasis: Superintendency Preparation Program

Department of Geography

Certificate in Cartography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

Certificate in Global Health/Culturally Competent Health Care
Environmental Health Certificate
Outdoor Recreation Certificate
School-Age Care Leadership Certificate
Tourism Certificate
Youth Agency Administration Program Certificate
Youth Development in Religious Settings Certificate (jointly offered by Departments of HPELS and Philosophy and Religion)

Department of History

Certificate in Public History

Department of Industrial Technology

Technology Management Certificate

Department of Management

Training and Development in Business Certificate

Department of Marketing

Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Certificate in Marketing Research and Consulting

Department of Modern Languages

Certificate in French Language Studies
Certificate in German Language Studies
Certificate in Hispanic and Portuguese Studies
Certificate in Portuguese Studies
Certificate in Russian Language Studies
Certificate in Spanish Language Studies
Certificate in Spanish For Special Purposes
International Commerce Certificate
Certificate in Translation (in French, German, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish)

School of Music

Artist Diploma (I)
Artist Diploma (II)

Department of Philosophy and Religion

Youth Development in Religious Settings Certificate (jointly offered by Departments of Philosophy and Religion and HPELS)

Department of Psychology

Industrial and Organizational Psychology Certificate

Department of Social Work

Social Work Certificate
Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Certificate in Criminology
Skills in Social Research Certificate

College of Business Administration

Certificate in International Business

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

Certificate in Leadership Foundations

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Conflict Resolution Certificate

Requirements for Graduation

In addition to the completion of one of the baccalaureate degree programs, there are other specific requirements for graduation which apply to all undergraduate students seeking any bachelor's degree, other than the Bachelor of Liberal Studies. These are listed below. See pages xxx, xxx, and xxx for graduation requirements for a graduate degree program.

A. Residence
  1. Not more than 32 semester hours earned in correspondence (specified as Guided Independent Study at UNI), extension, or television courses may be used toward graduation.
  2. At least 36 weeks spent in residence at this university while earning in such residence at least 32 hours of credit, of which 20 hours must be earned in the junior and senior years.
  3. At least 32 hours of credit earned in the junior and senior years in courses at this university. This total may include nonresidence credit.
  4. The last semester or full summer session before graduation spent in residence at this university.
B. Scholarship
  1. A student seeking the bachelor's degree with licensure to teach must successfully complete student teaching and achieve a cumulative grade index in all course work attempted, at this university and elsewhere, of at least 2.50 to be recommended for graduation. The student must also achieve a cumulative grade index of 2.50 on all work attempted at the University of Northern Iowa.
  2. A student seeking the bachelor's degree (without licensure) must achieve a cumulative grade index in all work attempted, at this university and elsewhere, of at least 2.00 to be recommended for graduation; the student must also achieve a cumulative grade index of 2.00 on all work attempted at the University of Northern Iowa.
    Note:
    A student may be held by her/his academic department to specific grade point requirements, for the major work and/or graduation, which are higher than the grade point requirements for all university students. Students are advised to refer to the section of this "Programs and Courses" that lists the specific major.
C. Communication

Competence in reading, speaking, and writing is required of all candidates seeking degrees or university recommendations for licensure. All students who enter UNI with or after the Fall 1988 semester who are candidates for baccalaureate degrees are required to demonstrate competence in writing by passing the Liberal Arts Core writing course and meeting the writing requirements for their academic major.

D. Foreign Language Competency Requirement

Students entering UNI who graduated from high school in 1989 or thereafter are required to demonstrate a level of competence in a foreign language (classical or modern) equivalent to that achieved after the second semester at the college level. One year of foreign language in high school is considered to be equivalent to one semester of foreign language at the university.

The foreign language competency requirement can be satisfied in the following ways:

  1. satisfactory* completion of two years of high school study in one foreign language;
  2. satisfactory* completion of a combination of high school and college study in one language equivalent to the competence achieved after the second semester at the college level;
  3. satisfactory performance in an achievement examination measuring proficiency equivalent to that attained after the second semester of college study in one foreign language.
  4. satisfactory* completion of either two years of high school study or one year of college study or the combined equivalent in American Sign Language (ASL). Study in any other language and culture for the hearing impaired will not automatically satisfy this graduation requirement.

*Satisfactory completion means a minimum grade of "C-" in the last course taken to meet this requirement.

E. Advanced Courses

At least 10 hours of work in a major in courses numbered 100-199 and taken at this university.

F. Maximum Credit by Examination

A maximum of 32 semester hours of credit earned by examination or by open credit is applicable toward degree requirements. This includes credit earned by CLEP, by departmental examination, by Advanced Placement, and credit established by examination of other colleges and universities.

G. Listing of Candidates for Graduation

A student may be listed as a candidate for graduation at the end of a semester if the completion of work for which s(he) is registered would meet all the requirements for graduation exclusive of grade points, and if the grade points to be earned do not exceed the number which could be earned for the hours for which the student is registered.

H. Application for Graduation

A student who expects to be graduated at the end of a semester must make written application at the opening of the semester. This application is filed in the Office of the Registrar.

I. Second Baccalaureate Degree

To receive a second baccalaureate degree, a student must meet all the requirements for the second degree, including at least 36 weeks in residence and earning not less than 32 hours of credit.

The university does not grant two degrees, one with a Teaching Program and one with a Liberal Arts Program, for the same basic hours of credit (130 hours). A student may have a double major, one in Teaching and one in Liberal Arts, but the Teaching major must be the first major and the degree granted on the teaching program since it has the higher hour and grade index requirement.

Additional Requirements for the Baccalaureate Teaching Program

  1. For the completion of any undergraduate curriculum the student must earn a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours of credit in student teaching at this university, except that an undergraduate student with three (3) or more semester hours of credit in student teaching earned at the same level in another college or university may be released from four (4) hours of student teaching at this institution.
  2. Not more than twelve (12) hours of credit in student teaching may be used toward the hours required for graduation.
  3. One year in advance of the time a student plans to enroll in student teaching, s(he) will be invited to attend a Student Teaching Roundup during which s(he) will complete the necessary steps to apply to student teach and to receive a student teaching assignment. To be eligible for assignment to a student teaching placement, s(he) must have completed the following requirements:
  1. FULL admission to the teacher education program;
  2. a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher on work at all colleges and universities;
  3. a UNI GPA of 2.50 or higher;
  4. a 2.50 GPA in the appropriate academic department or department approval;
  5. a 2.50 or higher GPA in courses completed in the Professional Education Program; and
  6. all methods courses listed as prerequisites for student teaching with a grade of "C" (2.00) or higher as well as other departmental requirements.
  7. Mathematics majors are required to have a major GPA of 2.25 or higher AND departmental approval; and
  8. Health Education and Physical Education majors and minors are required to have current First Aid and CPR certification prior to student teaching.

Teaching Licensure

Teaching licenses are issued by state departments of education and are valid only in the state of issue. A college or university recommendation is required for issuance of a license.

Students in the teaching program must meet requirements for an Iowa teaching license if they are to be recommended for licensure from the University of Northern Iowa. At graduation they are eligible for the Initial License, valid for a period of two years for the kind of service indicated by the endorsement on the license; e.g., elementary and early childhood teaching, secondary teaching in content areas, or teaching in a special area such as art or music. The student usually can secure appropriate licensure in other states by making proper application and fulfilling any additional requirements.

In addition to holding a license valid for a specific teaching level, the secondary teacher must also have ENDORSEMENT in each subject to be taught. Endorsements are issued by the Iowa Department of Education on the recommendation of an institution. To secure the recommendation of the University of Northern Iowa, the student must meet the requirements for a teaching major or a teaching minor (or equivalent) in the subject. Exceptions are made only with the authorization of the university department offering the major or minor.

This university may recommend for licensure those graduates of other colleges or universities who have completed their professional work here. However, this is a discretionary matter and the university will expect such students to demonstrate excellence of scholarship and meet standards required of its own graduates. Such students must have earned at least 20 hours of residence credit and at least 12 semester hours must be in the area for which endorsement is requested.

The State of Iowa requires an approved human relations component.

For additional information, contact the Office of the Registrar, 243 Gilchrist Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0006.

Hours of Credit Needed to Renew or Reinstate a License

Renewal and reinstatement requirements are established by the Iowa State Board of Educational Examiners and are subject to change by that body at any time. The Bureau of Practitioner Preparation and Development of the Department of Education distributes information concerning all changes in licensure requirements to city superintendents and to the teacher-education institutions. Information concerning the renewal or reinstatement requirements may be obtained from the Registrar of the university or from:

Board of Educational Examiners
Grimes State Office Building
Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0146

Graduate Curricula

The University of Northern Iowa offers twelve graduate degrees:

A. Master of Accounting -- a minimum of 30 semester hours

B. Master of Arts -- a minimum of 30 semester hours:

Majors

Art
Biology
Chemistry
Communication Studies
Computer Science Education
Curriculum and Instruction: Instructional Technology
English
French
Geography
German
Health Education
History
Leisure Services--Youth and Human Services
Mathematics
Mathematics for the Middle Grades (4-8)
Mental Health Counseling
Music
Performance and Training Technology

Physical Education
Physics Education
Political Science
Psychology
School Library Media Studies
Science Education
Science Education for Elementary Schools (K-6)
Sociology
Spanish
Speech-Language Pathology
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
Technology
TESOL/Modern Languages
Two Languages: French/German, Spanish/French, German/Spanish
Womens Studies

 

C. Master of Arts in Education -- a minimum of 30 semester hours.

Majors

Curriculum and Instruction: Specialty Area Focus

Curriculum and Instruction: Early Childhood Education
Curriculum and Instruction: Education of the Gifted
Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education
Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy Education
Curriculum and Instruction: Middle Level Education

Educational Psychology
Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers
Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
Principalship
School Counseling
Special Education

D. Master of Business Administration -- a minimum of 31 semester hours.

E. Master of Music -- a minimum of 30 semester hours.

Majors

Composition
Conducting
Jazz Pedagogy
Music Education
Music History
Performance
Piano Performance and Pedagogy

F. Master of Public Policy -- a minimum of 41-45 semester hours.

G. Master of Science -- a minimum of 30 semester hours (some majors may be more)

Majors

Athletic Training
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Environmental Health
Environmental Science
Environmental Technology

H. Master of Social Work -- a minimum of 38 or 60 semester hours

I. Specialist -- a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master's degree.

Major

Science Education

J. Specialist in Education -- a minimum of 30 semester hours beyond the master's degree.

Major

School Psychology

K. Doctor of Education -- a minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree.

Intensive Study Areas

Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Leadership
Leisure, Youth and Human Services
Special Education

L. Doctor of Industrial Technology -- a minimum of 64 semester hours beyond the master's degree.

 
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Last Modified: March 27, 2008