General Studies
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
With the General Studies major, you'll get to experience a variety of courses from different departments, allowing you to create the experience and curriculum you need to achieve your own professional and/or personal goals.
The General Studies major may be a great fit if you:
- have a well-defined career goal and wish to design your curriculum utilizing coursework from three of UNI's colleges
- need flexibility and want courses that are offered in a variety of delivery modes
- have a variety of interests and desire a well-rounded degree
Begin classes in the fall, spring or summer semesters!
Requirements
- completion of 120 units of credit, including the university's 45-unit Liberal Arts Core requirement
- minimum of 15 units of credit from upper-level (3000- or 4000- level) coursework from three of the four colleges of instruction:
- College of Education
- College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences
- College of Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Wilson College of Business
A Well-rounded Education with Flexibility and Diversity
Courses are offered through a variety of delivery methods. Students can choose hybrid or on-campus courses to complete their degree. Each general studies curriculum consists of courses selected from the departmental offerings of three of the four colleges in the university.
Bring Focus to Your Major
General Studies majors are encouraged to select at least one minor in order to bring focus to this liberal arts major. Minors frequently selected include:
- Marketing
- General Business Concepts
- Coaching
- Psychology
- Health Promotion
- Leadership Studies
- Family Studies
Please note: General Studies majors may not declare a second major.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
A Well-rounded Education with Flexibility and Diversity
Courses are offered through a variety of delivery methods. Students can choose hybrid or on-campus courses to complete their degree. Each general studies curriculum consists of courses selected from the departmental offerings of three of the four colleges in the university.
Bring Focus to Your Major
General Studies majors are encouraged to select at least one minor in order to bring focus to this liberal arts major. Minors frequently selected include:
- Marketing
- General Business Concepts
- Coaching
- Psychology
- Health Promotion
- Leadership Studies
- Family Studies
Please note: General Studies majors may not declare a second major.
Individualized Support Services
Throughout every step of your program, you'll have a dedicated team of support staff ready to assist you. You'll also have access to UNI services such as:
- Personalized academic advising
- Support from Financial Aid, Career Services and Rod Library staff
- Academic support and tutoring opportunities from the Learning Center
- Access to student accessibility services and staff
- Technical support assistance
As a General Studies major, you'll work closely with your academic advisor to plan your courses and make progress toward your degree. If you have any questions about the program or next steps, contact Linda, our individual studies coordinator.
Linda Emery
Individual Studies Coordinator
linda.emery@uni.edu
319-273-2504
Request Information
If you are a registered nurse wishing to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree, the General Studies major is one of the most expedient and flexible options for registered nurses.
The flexibility of the major enables you to experience a variety of courses from many different departments, such as communication studies, psychology and management. You will receive a well-rounded education in a number of areas targeted toward your professional and/or personal interests. Graduates of the General Studies for Registered Nurses major have entered such fields as management, counseling and health.
Prerequisites
- You must currently be a registered nurse to participate in this program. 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 whose primary intention is graduate work in nursing.
- If you have completed the work required for certification or licensure, including the successful completion of required agency examinations, UNI will typically accept 34 to 45 units of credit for transfer to apply to your bachelor's degree. Such work may have been earned in a two-year associate degree program or in an approved hospital diploma program. To verify that you have met such requirements, you must submit a copy of your licensure card from the Iowa Board of Nursing and your official college and/or school of nursing transcripts to the Admissions Office.
Liberal Arts Core Requirements
- Complete 120 units of credit, including the university's 45-unit Liberal Arts Core requirement. Eleven of the total number of credit units accepted as advanced standing for RN certification are applied to Liberal Arts Core requirements in the areas of biology, chemistry and social science. Specifically, the 11 units would be dispersed as follows:
- Category IV (Natural Science and Technology)
- (a) Life Sciences, 3-4 units
- (b) Physical Sciences, 3-4 units
- Category V (Social Science)
- (a) Group A, 1 course required, 3 units
- (b) Group B, 1 course required, 3 units
- (c) Group C, 1 course required, 3 units
- Category IV (Natural Science and Technology)
- Complete a minimum of 15 units of credit from upper-level (3000- or 4000-level) coursework from two of the four colleges of instruction. For your convenience, we've developed a list of colleges and their respective departments or subject areas. You may find it necessary to take courses which are prerequisites to the 3000- or 4000-level courses. Credit earned for these prerequisites may possibly apply toward the Liberal Arts Core, minor or elective requirements.
|
Distribution of credit for an RN completing a General Studies major: |
|
|---|---|
| Transfer credit for RN Licensure | 34-45 units |
| Liberal Arts Core | 36 units |
| Upper-level Courses, 1st College | 15 units |
| Upper-level Courses, 1st College | 15 units |
| Electives | 9-20 units |
| Total required: 120 units | |
Express Interest
Complete our online information request form. We'll send program updates, important information and application deadlines directly to your inbox!
Apply Now or Declare Your Major
If you are a current UNI student, you can declare your major here.
If you're new to UNI, begin your application to get started with your General Studies degree!
Build Your Program of Study
Your program will be planned in consultation with your advisor, who will help you select appropriate courses and monitor your progress towards graduation.
Assessment Plan & Student Learning Outcomes
- Overview
The General Studies major requires the completion of 15 hours of upper-level (100-level) coursework from each of three of the four undergraduate colleges. The 45-semester-hour major enables students to take a wide variety of courses from many different departments. This can lead to a well-rounded liberal arts education. The major is not directed toward any particular vocation or certification; it is designed to lead students toward many different career paths. For example, a General Studies major may prepare for a career in event planning by taking public relations courses from the College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences, leisure services courses from the College of Education, and business courses from the College of Business. The General Studies major is designed to enhance students’ critical and analytical thinking skills through repeated exposure to interdisciplinary knowledge and to deepen their understanding of how interdisciplinary learning differs from traditional learning focused on single-subject topics.
- Mission
The purpose of the General Studies major is to provide a program of study that may appeal to students who are interested in integrating various academic disciplines. The major is designed to contribute to the development of students by providing unique and diverse educational experiences, which enable students to explore a wide range of scholarly endeavors.
- Program Goals
- Promote student learning and academic success • Provide a setting for academic and social support
- Provide students with information about relevant and applicable learning opportunities (e.g., student organizations, internships/co-ops, volunteer programs, student exchange programs)
- Inform students about institutional policies and procedures
- Inform students about the purpose of the major and its requirements (e.g., how to read a degree audit)
- Explain the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge • Assist students with career exploration and development
- Student Outcomes
Through the General Studies major, students will be able to:
- Discover the value of integrating various academic disciplines
- Tailor courses toward a specific career goal
- Combine course offerings in different academic departments to create a unique field of study Explore intellectual interests that are not realized through existing degree programs
- Understand the relations among perspectives derived from different disciplines
- Evaluation Methods
- Indirect measures – program evaluation (pre/post-test) surveys, alumni surveys, student satisfaction surveys, etc.
- Documentation review from other on-campus sources (e.g., Career Services, Office of Institutional Research) – percentage of students who go on to graduate school, graduate follow-up studies, retention and transfer studies, job placement statistics, graduation rates
Method Overall Purpose Implementation Program Evaluation (pre/post-test) To gain information regarding students’ understanding of interdisciplinary studies and to gauge their growth of knowledge. To be administered when students declare the major and during the last semester prior to graduation. Alumni Surveys To gain information regarding employment history, life-long learning and job satisfaction To be administered to General Studies graduates every five years. Student Satisfaction Surveys To assess the services provided by the Individual Studies Office to General Studies majors. To be administered to General Studies majors every three years. Documentation Review To gain information concerning successful employment, continuing education, job placement statistics, etc. Information will be gathered from Career Services and the Office of Institutional Research and will be included in assessment reports as well as posted on the General Studies website. - Use of Results
Assessment results will be used to improve the overall quality of the General Studies major and guide future practices. Results will be communicated and shared with the Dean of Continuing Education & Special Programs, General Studies majors, members of the General Studies Faculty Advisory Committee and other pertinent university faculty and staff.