A summary of significant additions or revisions to CLAS undergraduate programs and policies made during the 2014-2015 academic year is below, with details on curricular changes available in the 2015-2016 General Catalog.

• Most of these changes are effective beginning with the Fall 2015 semester, unless otherwise noted.
• Students may declare new programs of study beginning with the first day of the fall semester, August 24, 2015.

We have also included significant information from several other undergraduate colleges that may be of interest to members of CLAS.

Less significant revisions made to the requirements of a CLAS undergraduate major, minor, or certificate are not included in this memo but may be found in the 2015-2016 General Catalog.

Departmental Name Change

Effective with April 23, 2015, the Board of Regents approved a new name for the Department of Psychology, now known as the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Please note that the names of the major, minor, and other programs of study offered by the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences have not changed. Likewise the subject acronym for courses offered by the area remains PSY (as in PSY:1001 Elementary Psychology).

Reactivation of Division

The Division of Interdisciplinary Programs has been reactivated and is now the administrative home of the following academic programs administered by CLAS:  Enterprise Leadership; Global Health Studies; Interdepartmental Studies; International Studies; Latin American Studies; and the Magid Center of Undergraduate Writing. Questions may be addressed to Helena Dettmer (Director, Division of Interdisciplinary Programs).

New Certificates

The Certificate in Event Planning is designed to serve the career goals of a growing number of students who want to create and manage events. The certificate, administered by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is open to any student earning a baccalaureate at the University of Iowa. Courses from the Department of Communication Studies and from the Sport and Recreation Management program are also part of the certificate. For more information, contact Heather Spangler (Journalism and Mass Communication).

The Certificate in Large Data Analysis is administered by the Department of Computer Science and is supported by course work from the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science. The certificate is designed for undergraduates studying math, computer science, and statistics and will encourage students to gain the necessary experience to prepare for related careers or graduate study in the field. Students should be advised that the certificate requires 21 s.h. in computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Contact Suely P. Oliveira (Computer Science) for more information.

The Certificate in Social Science Analytics offers an opportunity for interdisciplinary training on how data can be used to address important questions in the social sciences, preparing students for a first career where these skills are increasingly important. The certificate is part of the larger UI Informatics Initiative and is administered by the Department of Political Science with support from related departments, including Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, Sociology, Statistics and Actuarial Sciences, and Computer Science.  Frederick J. Boehmke (Political Science) may be contacted for additional information.

New Minors

The Sport and Recreation Management minor, administered by the Department of Health and Human Physiology, requires 15 s.h. in sport and recreation management courses and is open to all undergraduates except those earning the BS in Sport and Recreation Management. Please contact Michael Teague (HHP) for information.

The minor in Translation for Global Literacy encourages undergraduate students to explore translation both as a practical application and as a tool for global literacy. The minor might especially appeal to students with a primary major in the languages, international studies, and related areas. The minor is administered by the Division of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Aron Aji (Director, MFA in Literary Translation) may be contacted for more information.

New or Revised Tracks

The Department of Anthropology has renamed the areas of specialization within the Anthropology major (BA and BS) as tracks; as tracks, these may be declared by students.

• Gender and Culture
• Cultural Resource and Heritage Management
• Environmental Anthropology
• Medical Anthropology
• Health Professions (BS only and created last year as a track)

Questions may be directed to James Enloe (DEO, Department of Anthropology).

The Department of Art and Art History has renamed the Jewelry and Metalsmithing studio art discipline as Jewelry and Metal Arts. The name of the area related to the BFA program of study has also been changed.

The Department of Classics has added a track in Ancient Mediterranean Religions to the Ancient Civilization major (BA). The track explores and compares the many religions of that region and their associated literatures, cultures, and languages. Students may also choose from the existing track of Egypt and the Ancient Near East. Questions may be addressed to John Finamore (DEO, Classics).

The Department of Health and Human Physiology has added a new track to the Sport and Recreation Management major (BS) called Communications Public Relations/Journalism. Students may also choose from tracks in business studies; coaching and sport instruction; entrepreneurship; event management; sport and diversity; or the student-designed concentration. Michael Teague (HHP) may be contacted for more information.

The Department of Sociology has added the following two optional tracks to its Sociology major (BA, BS), which already offers the Criminology track:

• The Family, Health, and Well-Being track examines family structures and practices, differences between and within families, and those social institutions and forces that shape families or are shaped by them. Additionally, the track cultivates students’ understanding of the social context of health, illness, and health care. It will appeal to students who are interested in pursuing careers in the fields of social service and health.
• The Organizations, Networks and Careers track provides intensive training in both theoretical and empirical approaches to organizations and combines micro-level insights into work groups with macro-level perspectives on the influence of organizations’ environments. It is especially appropriate for students who are interested in pursuing careers in educational services, social assistance, business services, or government.

Removal of Selective Admission for Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Health and Human Physiology has removed the selective admission process for the declaration of the Health Promotion track within the Health and Human Physiology major (BA).  Any undergraduate student in CLAS may now declare the Health Promotion track within the Health and Human Physiology major (BA), with the change effective May, 2015. Questions may be addressed to Kelly Cole (DEO, Health and Human Physiology).

The Journalism and Mass Communication major (BA and BS) within the School of Journalism and Mass Communication no longer requires an application for the major or completed course work before declaration. Any CLAS student may now declare the major, with the change effective last fall. Please contact David Ryfe (Director, Journalism and Mass Communication) with questions.

New Modes for Offering Programs of Study

The Department of Political Science within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will offer the Political Science major (BA) online. Some of the related courses have been offered online for a number of years, but it will now be possible for students to complete the major through online course work. Students wanting to complete the Political Science BA online must first earn 60 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or must finish an AA or AS degree from an Iowa community college (or Black Hawk in Illinois) with a cumulative GPA of 2.00.  Students must complete all requirements for the major in Political Science as well as all requirements for a BA degree awarded by CLAS.

CLAS is participating in the Iowa Degree in Three program that offers UI students an advising plan that will allow them to graduate in three years. Students have a choice of five CLAS majors: Communication Studies, English, History, International Studies, and Theatre Arts. (Students may also choose the Marketing major from Tippie.) Requirements in the plan remain identical to all current requirements for the CLAS major and degree. Students must complete 18 s.h. each semester and 6 s.h. during two summers. Information on the program is at this Admissions web site.

CLAS Undergraduate Policy Revisions

Student Enrollment Blocked by Unmet Prerequisites

Beginning with registration for the Spring 2016 semester, undergraduate students will be blocked at the time of registration for enrollment in any course for which the student has not met the prerequisites. Prerequisites supported by this new policy and procedure include single courses; a selection of courses (such as more than one course; courses requiring “either or choices”; or a selection of courses such as 4 out of 5 courses). Other supported prerequisites include the ALEKS math placement test and the Math Placement Test Level 2 and Level 3. Other placement or proficiency tests are not supported and thus will not block a student’s enrollment. In some rare cases, a grade (such as a C-) for a prerequisite course has been allowed if approved in previous years by the College and if requested by the department offering the course. The UI cumulative grade point average is supported in extremely rare cases. Corequisites will not be checked or used to block or allow registration. Additional details about the operational aspects of prerequisite blocking will be forthcoming.

Proposal Deadline for General Education Status

Beginning with Fall 2015, proposals for course GE status are accepted only in the fall semester and generally no later than September 15. Information for faculty on the GE Program and on how to propose GE status for a course is at this link.

Numbering of General Education Courses: Reminder

Since GE courses often act as an introductory and transitional experience for new students, these courses are now required to use numbers between 1000-2999. Generally, 1000-level courses are designed for first-year students and 2000-level courses are for second-year undergraduates. Graduate students may enroll in courses numbered 3000 and over for credit.

Cessation of Individualized Language Proficiency Testing for Languages not Taught at UI

As of May 16, 2015, CLAS no longer offers individualized language proficiency testing for languages not taught within CLAS at the University of Iowa. Students seeking proficiency testing in a language that is taught within CLAS at the University Iowa should be referred to the department or program in question, following current procedures. Those procedures have not changed. See the GE World Languages policy at this link.

Certificate in Global Health Studies and Baccalaureate Requirement

Students who have earned the Doctorate of Pharmacy may now be awarded the undergraduate Certificate in Global Health Studies even though the student has not earned a baccalaureate. This change in policy only applies to this certificate and to this specific population of students. CLAS certificates are generally awarded only to students who have earned the baccalaureate degree.

Important Changes and Additions in Other Undergraduate Colleges

University College Required Course for First-Year Undergraduates and Transfer Students

Success at Iowa CSI:1600 is now a required course for all new domestic first-year and transfer students at the University of Iowa and replaces the previously required College Expectations and Online at Iowa. (International students will still complete a version of Online at Iowa instead of Success at Iowa.) The new course is designed to help students to make a successful transition to the University of Iowa. Students complete part 1 of the course before participating in summer orientation and before registering for the fall semester; part 2 will be completed before the fall semester begins. Students will then finish the course during the first three weeks of the fall semester. The course familiarizes students with the Iowa Student Information Systems (ISIS); Iowa Courses Online (ICON); resources on campus; financial aid literacy; strategies for making healthy behavioral choices; sexual assault awareness and prevention; and academic integrity (particularly plagiarism) as well as other topics. Students generally earn 2 s.h. for the course. Success at Iowa is offered online through ICON and is graded as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U).

The College of Engineering General Education Requirements

For students entering the College of Engineering during Summer 2015 or later, the General Education Component (GEC) of the College of Engineering has changed. Additional details and the course lists from which students choose may be found at the College of Engineering website.

Modification to the Tippie College of Business Admission Standards for 2016

• Direct Admission (first-year high school students):  Effective for Fall 2016, the Direct Admission criteria for the Tippie College of Business will change from a 27 ACT & 3.70 GPA to a 26 ACT & 3.60 GPA. Students who do not met the 26 ACT & 3.60 GPA will be carefully considered and a petition process will be available, as always.  Updates to websites, presentations, and printed materials for the new Direct Admission criteria will occur on July 1, 2015. 
• Standard Admission (current UI and transfer students):  Effective for students applying for admission to Tippie for Spring 2016, the application deadline to apply for standard admission will change. The deadline to apply for spring will change from October 1 to December 1, and the deadline to apply for fall will change from March 1 to May 1.  Updates to websites, presentations, and printed materials will take place shortly.    

Additionally, Tippie will be requiring Fall 2015 direct admits (or later) and Fall 2016 standard admits (or later) to complete at least one of the following Tippie RISE experiences: a research experience; an internship; a study abroad experience; or an experiential course.

New Undergraduate Major in the College of Public Health

The Board of Regents on April 23, 2015 approved the request for a new major in Public Health (BA and BS), administered by the College of Public Health. The major will begin admitting new first-year students (i.e. non-continuing) during the upcoming admission cycle, with the first class of students beginning the program in Fall 2016. More details will be forthcoming from the College of Public Health.