Learning and Teaching Mission
The primary mission of the College is to promote learning in all its dimensions
by providing the student with ample opportunities to acquire the requisite
knowledge, abilities, and skills to succeed in the world beyond the university.
Throughout coursework within the major and in general education, students
will develop skills in reasoning, analysis, and communication; achieve an
understanding of the intellectual, historical, and artistic foundations
of culture; and work to strengthen their abilities to interact with people,
cultures, and the environment in an ethical and sensitive manner.
To achieve these learning goals, the College asks students to acquire depth
in learning within disciplines of their own choosing, and to acquire breadth
through general education courses and electives.
Learning
Goals in General Education
Requirements
The central importance of a general education is reflected in the learning
goals of each of four disciplinary areas. Whereas the courses in a major
are designed to develop mastery of a specific field or discipline, courses
in general education are designed to establish a strong, intellectual foundation
for all specializations.
Students earn the minimum credits listed in each of the four general education
groups in courses not required by the department of the first major listed
on the degree program. Interdisciplinary courses may be used to satisfy
requirements in any group for which they have been approved, but a student
may not apply the same course to more than one group.
General Education Groups
I. Arts and humanities (minimum 12 credits).
The student should develop an understanding of human cultural heritage and
history, and an appreciation of reasoning and the aesthetic value of human
creativity.*
II. Verbal communication (minimum 2 credits).
The student should develop skill in and an understanding of the principles
involved in effective communication among people.*
III. Natural sciences and mathematical disciplines (minimum
11 credits including 3 in the mathematical disciplines and 8 in the natural
sciences).
The student should experience science as a rational search for understanding
the structure and behavior of the natural world, and should appreciate mathematics
as a valuable tool of the sciences and as an intrinsically important way
of thinking.*
IV. Social sciences (minimum 9 credits).
The student should develop an appreciation of principal methods of studying
human behavior and an understanding of the structure and functioning of
institutions. Courses must be taken in at least two disciplines represented
Group IV.*
Lists of approved courses are available from advisers or the Office of
the Dean, College Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Additional Learning Goals
Communication Proficiency
The faculty of Iowa State University believes that its graduates should
acquire competence communication - written, oral, visual, and electronic
- during their undergraduate careers. All students must earn an average
grade of C- or better in required basic composition
courses (e.g., Engl 104 and 105). This should be regarded as a minimally
acceptable grade standard. Departments may have stricter criteria as appropriate
to their disciplines.
The continued development of communication skills following the freshman
year is the responsibility of the student's major department.
The department promotes this development by adopting measures to certify
the writing proficiency of its own majors. Certification occurs a reasonable
time before graduation and is based upon satisfactory completion designated
course in the student's program in
which writing is evaluated or an advanced writing course offered in the
English department e.g. Engl 302, 305, or 314).
Library Proficiency
Library minimum proficiency requirement must be met by satisfactory completion
one of the following options:
- Library 160
- A test-out examination for credit to be administered by the library
staff, who controls the testing procedure and determines those students
who are eligible to take the examination.
Foreign Language Requirement
The faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences believes that
undergraduate students should acquire elementary practical experience
a second language, should be introduced to the theoretical study of language
structure, and should begin to develop an understanding of a second culture
through study of that culture's language. As a means of achieving this
objective, a student must satisfy a graduation requirement equivalent
to the first year university-level study in one foreign language (normally,
completion of a two-semester sequence in any one foreign language).
Advanced Credit Requirements
To obtain a baccalaureate degree from the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences, curriculum in liberal arts and sciences, a student must earn
at least 45 credits at the 300 level or above taken at a four-year college.
Credits earned in electives taken on a pass/not pass basis or in the major
or a minor may be used to meet this requirement.
Learning Goals of the Major
Students must show they have achieved depth in a specialized area by completing
successfully the requirements and learning goals of a major. A major is
comprised of 24 to 48 credits in a specific discipline as determined by
the faculty. Tracks within a major must have a
common 24 credit core. Some courses outside the major discipline may also
be required as supporting work for the major. (See Index for page reference
to individual department and program requirements.)
Academic Advising Learning Outcomes
Through their experience with academic advising, students will:
Develop an understanding of the structure, application, and goals of a
liberal arts education in relation to their academic development.
Be able to formulate appropriate questions, seek information, and evaluate
and apply academic advice.
Know the requirements, policies and protocol of the university, college,
and department as they relate to their educational experience.
Understand how degree programs can be enhanced by study and experiences
tailored to their intellectual and personal goals.
Be able to identify and utilize university resources effectively to
• Satisfy degree requirements
• Plan programs of study, including selection of appropriate courses
and registration
• Discover how interests, skills and goals connect to fields of
study and careers
• Link curricular and co-curricular activities
• Research and prepare for advanced study and/or careers
Share responsibility for a mentor-mentee relationship between advisee
and adviser. |
