Students who major in social justice expand their knowledge by integrating theory and engagement with real world field experiences. They approach social justice through the arts, history, literature, comparative religious studies, political science, philosophy, health education, and gender, women’s, and sexuality studies.
Social justice students:
- explore how the intersections of geography, race, class, gender, sexuality, health, economics, and history create networks of privilege and oppression across the globe through coursework and reflect on situations they encounter in the field;
- read, write, listen, and act through coursework and fieldwork in order to understand how conditions are created for change on the local, regional, and national level historically, ethically, politically, and personally;
- learn about selected history of social movements, how those movements emerged, and the impacts those movements had on policy, populations, the environment, and culture through engagement in a core course;
- develop a deeper understanding of issues, practice, research, and theory related to social justice in one or more areas of study within the traditional disciplines of the liberal arts through 9 s.h. of coursework in an area of specialization; and
- prepare for employment and/or for graduate study in various fields through high quality internships and educational experiences, including anthropology, political science, law, criminology, health, the cultural sector, social services, business, nonprofit management, or public history projects.
Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a degree in social justice will:
- explore how an intersectional lens can magnify the tensions within constructed identities based on race, ethnicity, gender and gender expression, geography, language, citizenship, sexuality, class, age, ability, and religion to practices of oppression and discrimination;
- learn about historical moments when oppression and discrimination have influenced policy, culture, law, and corporeal practices and find recurring patterns in current events, culture, and policy; and
- express ways their personal experiences and scholarly ideas connect to larger political, environmental, social, and geographical contexts, issues, and problems.
The Bachelor of Arts with a major in social justice requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including at least 39 s.h. of work for the major. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all courses for the major and in all UI courses for the major. They also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core.
Students may declare the major at any time. They are advised by the Academic Advising Center until they have earned 30 s.h. of credit. Transfer credit is evaluated case by case; a maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be counted toward the degree. Foundation courses must be completed at the University of Iowa. Students may count a maximum of 9 s.h. completed for another major, minor, or certificate toward the social justice major.
Work for the major consists of foundation coursework, core courses, an emphasis area, and a capstone experience. A course may only be applied to one area for credit.
The B.A. with a major in social justice requires the following coursework.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 12 | |
| Core Courses | 12 | |
| Social Justice Emphasis Area | 9 | |
| Capstone | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
Foundation Courses
The foundation consists of four courses (minimum of 12 s.h.). Two introductory courses, SJUS:1001 Introduction to Social Justice and SJUS:2000 Theories of Social Justice, orient students to the major conceptual areas that constitute social justice as an interdisciplinary field; SJUS:2250 The History of Social Justice Movements explores past and present social justice movements in the U.S. and their impact on policy and culture; and GWSS:3138 Writing to Change the World provides students with opportunities to enhance their writing skills to effect change.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| SJUS:1001/GWSS:1003 | Introduction to Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:2000 | Theories of Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:2250/GWSS:2250/HIST:2250 | The History of Social Justice Movements | 3 |
| GWSS:3138/SJUS:3138 | Writing to Change the World | 3 |
Core Courses
Human Rights, Diversity, Activism
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| SJUS:1600/AMST:1600/LATS:1600 | War Stories | 3 |
| SJUS:2050/GWSS:2050/HIST:2150/RELS:2250 | Jews, Judaism, and Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:2135/RHET:2135 | Rhetorics of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| SJUS:2200/GWSS:2200 | The Racial and Gender Construction of Identity, Citizenship, and Rights in America | 3 |
| SJUS:2500/ENGL:2570/GWSS:2500 | Love, War, Activism: Stories About Women from Across the World | 3 |
| SJUS:2571/ENGL:2571/GWSS:2571 | Visualizing Human Rights | 3 |
| SJUS:3130/GWSS:3130/HIST:3252 | Blacks and Jews: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in America | 3 |
| SJUS:3133/ANTH:3133/GWSS:3133 | Anthropology of Race | 3 |
| SJUS:3475/GWSS:3475 | Working for Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:3620/GWSS:3620 | Narrative Medicine, Social Justice, and the End of Life | 3 |
| GWSS:2080/GHS:2080 | The Cultural Politics of HIV-AIDS | 3 |
| GWSS:2172 | The History of African American Women from Slavery to Freedom | 3 |
| GWSS:2800/AFAM:2800 | African American Women, Health, Hair, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:3157/HIST:3157 | Gender, Sexuality, and Human Rights | 3 |
| GWSS:3177/NURS:3739 | Women and Their Bodies in Health and Illness | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:4140/ANTH:4140/CBH:4140/GHS:4140 | Feminist Activism and Global Health | 3 |
| HIST:3217/LAS:3217/LATS:3217 | Latina/o/x Immigration | 3 |
| HIST:3232 | History of American Inequality | 3 |
| HIST:3275/AFAM:3275 | History of Slavery in the U.S.A. | 3-4 |
| HIST:4101 | History of Human Rights | 3 |
| HIST:4478 | Holocaust in History and Memory | 3 |
| HRTS:2115/IS:2115 | Introduction to Human Rights | 3 |
| HRTS:3910/IS:3910 | Human Rights Advocacy | 3 |
| HRTS:3906 | Global Crises and Human Rights | 3 |
| LATS:3104/LAS:3104/POLI:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| NAIS:2292/HIST:2292 | Introduction to Native American Law and Policy | 3 |
| PHIL:3430 | Philosophy of Human Rights | 3 |
| POLI:1900 | Introduction to the Politics of Race | 3 |
| RELS:3855/IS:3855 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| RHET:3560/PBAF:3560/POLI:3560/SJUS:3560 | Public Policy and Persuasion | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SSW:3712/NURS:3712 | Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society | 3 |
| SSW:3847 | Discrimination, Oppression, and Diversity | 3 |
Social Justice Movements: Politics, History, Culture, Art
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two of these: | ||
| SJUS:2294/HIST:2294/NAIS:2294 | Indigenous Art Activism and Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:2300/GWSS:2300 | Race, Class, Gender, and Labor: Worker Struggles for Legal Rights in the United States | 3 |
| SJUS:3171/ENGL:3171/GWSS:3171 | Higher Education and Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:3250/ENGL:3170 | Literature and Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:3459/GWSS:3459/HIST:3259 | Making Change, Making History: Iowa's Black Activists and Digital History | 3 |
| SJUS:3550/GWSS:3550/RELS:3550 | Social Justice, Religion, and Spirituality: Faith and Belief Ignited | 3 |
| GWSS:2650/GHS:2650 | Global Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:2700 | Transgender People, Politics, and Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:3280/HIST:3280 | Women and Power in U.S. History Through the Civil War | 3 |
| GWSS:3282/HIST:3282 | Women and Power in U.S. History Since the Civil War | 3 |
| GWSS:3600 | Art, Feminist Practice, and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFAM:3053/AMST:3053/HIST:3253 | The Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| COMM:2054 | Movements, Protest, Resistance | 3 |
| ENGL:2463/AFAM:2463 | Topics in African American Literature (when topic is the Harlem Renaissance) | 3 |
| ENGL:3515 | Topics in Postcolonial Studies (when topic is revolutionary Caribbean: Cuba and Puerto Rico) | 3 |
| HIST:3232 | History of American Inequality | 3 |
| HIST:4260 | The Sixties in America | 3 |
| IS:3200 | Sustainable Development | 3 |
| LATS:3550 | Topics in Latina/o/x Studies: History and Culture | 3 |
Social Justice Emphasis Area
Students choose one emphasis area from the following lists and complete three or more courses for 9 s.h.; two of the courses must be numbered 3000 or above. A course used to satisfy the core requirement cannot be taken to satisfy an emphasis area requirement. Students may substitute courses with approval of the social justice advisor. They also may include one study abroad course related to social justice, including the India Winterim Program; see Study Abroad in the Catalog. In addition, students may create their own emphasis area in collaboration with the social justice advisor.
The Arts and Social Change
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SJUS:3171/ENGL:3171/GWSS:3171 | Higher Education and Social Justice | 3 |
| SJUS:3250/ENGL:3170 | Literature and Social Justice | 3 |
| GWSS:3600 | Art, Feminist Practice, and Social Justice | 3 |
| AFAM:3245/RELS:3745 | Twentieth- and Twenty-first-Century African American Religion: Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter | 3 |
| ARTS:3400 | Grant Writing in the Arts | 3 |
| ASIA:2450 | India Beat: The Aesthetics and Politics of India Today | 3 |
| DANC:2065 | Performing Power/Performing Protest: The Body, Identity, and the Image | 3 |
| EDTL:3204 | Art Education Studio and Field Components | 3 |
| MUS:1687 | Orientation to Music Therapy | 2 |
| THTR:2605/EDTL:2963 | Monsters, Victims, and Villains: Changing Perceptions | 3 |
| THTR:3421/GWSS:3421 | Performing Autobiography | 3 |
| THTR:4510/DPA:4510/ENTR:4510/INTD:4510 | Arts Leadership Seminar | 3 |
| WRIT:2100 | Writing and Community Outreach | 3 |
| WRIT:2101 | Writers in the Community | 1 |
| WRIT:4100 | Iowa Youth Writing Project Mentorship Practicum | 1-3 |
The Environment and Ecological Justice
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SJUS:1046/ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/GWSS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| ANTH:3103 | Environment and Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:4130/RELS:4730 | Religion and Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| CPH:2200 | Climageddon: Understanding Climate Change and Associated Impacts on Health | 2 |
| CPH:4200 | Agriculture, Food Systems, and Sustainability | 3 |
| EES:3070 | Marine Ecosystems and Conservation | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| GEOG:2410 | Environment and Development | 3 |
| GEOG:2930 | Water Resources | 3 |
| GEOG:2950 | Environmental Conservation | 4 |
| GEOG:3340 | Ecosystem Services | 3 |
| GEOG:3400 | Iowa Environmental Policy in Practice | 3 |
| GEOG:3760/GHS:3760 | Hazards and Society | 3 |
| GEOG:3920/URP:3001 | Planning Livable Cities | 3 |
| GEOG:4770/AFAM:4770/GHS:4770 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| RHET:3700 | Advocacy and Sustainability: Crafting Stories of People, Place, and Resilience | 3 |
Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GWSS:1001 | Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:1046/ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| GWSS:2000 | Desire, Consent, and Sex in U.S. Culture(s): Replacing Coercion and Violence with Respect | 3 |
| GWSS:2108/ANTH:2108 | Gendering India | 3 |
| GWSS:2160/AMST:2160 | Love and Romance in America | 3 |
| GWSS:2190/ANTH:2190/IS:2190 | Love Rules: Law and the Family Across Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:2500/ENGL:2570/SJUS:2500 | Love, War, Activism: Stories About Women from Across the World | 3 |
| GWSS:2650/GHS:2650 | Global Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:2900/ANTH:2191 | Love, Sex, and Money: Sexuality and Exchange Across Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:3005/SJUS:3005 | Practicum | 3 |
| GWSS:3010/GHS:3015 | Transnational Sexualities | 3 |
| GWSS:3100 | LGBTQ/Queer Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:3118/ANTH:3118 | Politics of Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:3200 | Theories for Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:3280/HIST:3280 | Women and Power in U.S. History Through the Civil War | 3 |
| GWSS:3300/ANTH:3300 | Mothers and Motherhood | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:3350/ANTH:3125/IS:3350 | Transnational Feminism | 3 |
| GWSS:3750/SOC:3750 | Born in the USA: Fertility and Reproduction | 3 |
| AMST:3430/GWSS:3430/THTR:3430 | Women on Stage | 3 |
| ANTH:4140/CBH:4140/GHS:4140/GWSS:4140 | Feminist Activism and Global Health | 3 |
| COMM:2041/GWSS:2041 | Gender, Communication, and Culture | 3 |
| COMM:2075/GWSS:2075 | Gender, Sexuality, and Media | 3 |
| COMM:4169/GWSS:4169 | Feminist Rhetorics | 3 |
| HIST:3282/GWSS:3282 | Women and Power in U.S. History Since the Civil War | 3 |
| JMC:3175 | Gender and Mass Media | 3 |
| POLI:3114 | Women and Politics in the United States | 3 |
| RELS:3431/ASIA:3431/GWSS:3131 | Gender and Sexuality in East Asia | 3 |
| SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 | Inequality in American Sport | 3 |
| SSW:3712/NURS:3712 | Human Sexuality, Diversity, and Society | 3 |
Global and Transnational Studies
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GWSS:2108/ANTH:2108 | Gendering India | 3 |
| GWSS:2151/ANTH:2151/IS:2151 | Global Migration in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| GWSS:2500/ENGL:2570/SJUS:2500 | Love, War, Activism: Stories About Women from Across the World | 3 |
| GWSS:2650/GHS:2650 | Global Reproduction | 3 |
| GWSS:2700 | Transgender People, Politics, and Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:2900/ANTH:2191 | Love, Sex, and Money: Sexuality and Exchange Across Cultures | 3 |
| GWSS:3010/GHS:3015 | Transnational Sexualities | 3 |
| GWSS:3121/ANTH:3121 | Love, Marriage, and Family in India | 3 |
| GWSS:3326/GHS:3327 | The Politics of Progress: NGOs, Development, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:3350/ANTH:3125/IS:3350 | Transnational Feminism | 3 |
| GWSS:4140/ANTH:4140/CBH:4140/GHS:4140 | Feminist Activism and Global Health | 3 |
| ASIA:2450 | India Beat: The Aesthetics and Politics of India Today | 3 |
| COMM:2086 | Global Media Studies | 3 |
| COMM:4131/IS:4131 | Globalization and Culture | 3 |
| HIST:3126 | History of Globalization | 3 |
| POLI:3104/LAS:3104/LATS:3104 | Immigration Politics | 3 |
| POLI:3512 | International Conflict | 3 |
| RELS:3431/ASIA:3431/GWSS:3131 | Gender and Sexuality in East Asia | 3 |
| RELS:3855/IS:3855 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| SPAN:2200/LAS:2200 | Introduction to Spanish American Cultures | 3 |
| SPAN:3230 | Modern Mexico | 3 |
Health
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SJUS:3620/GWSS:3620 | Narrative Medicine, Social Justice, and the End of Life | 3 |
| GWSS:2080/GHS:2080 | The Cultural Politics of HIV-AIDS | 3 |
| GWSS:2400/CPH:2240/LATS:2400 | Health, Intersectionality, and Diversity | 3 |
| GWSS:2600 | Men, Masculinity, Identity, and Health | 3 |
| GWSS:2800/AFAM:2800 | African American Women, Health, Hair, and Sexuality | 3 |
| GWSS:3177/NURS:3739 | Women and Their Bodies in Health and Illness | 3 |
| ANTH:2164/GHS:2164 | Culture and Healing: An Introduction to Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2181/ASP:2181/GHS:2181 | The Anthropology of Aging | 3 |
| ANTH:2182/GHS:2182 | Africa: Health and Society | 3 |
| ANTH:3110/GHS:3110/NAIS:3110 | Colonialism and Indigenous Health Equity | 3 |
| ANTH:3151/ASP:3151/GHS:3151 | The Anthropology of the Beginnings and Ends of Life | 3 |
| ANTH:3152/ASP:3152/GHS:3152 | Anthropology of Caregiving and Health | 3 |
| ASP:3150 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| CPH:2200 | Climageddon: Understanding Climate Change and Associated Impacts on Health | 2 |
| CPH:2400 | The U.S. Health System in a Global Context | 3 |
| CPH:3400/GEOG:3210 | Health, Work, and the Environment | 3 |
| CPH:3500/GHS:3500 | Global Public Health | 3 |
| ENGL:2560 | Topics in Culture and Identity (when topic is stories about HIV/AIDS) | 3 |
| GHS:3620 | Global Health and Human Rights | 3 |
| GHS:3720 | Contemporary Issues in Global Health | 3 |
| HIST:3162/GHS:3162 | History of Global Health | 3 |
| JMC:3150/CBH:3150/GHS:3150 | Media and Health | 3 |
| PSY:2930 | Abnormal Psychology: Health Professions | 3 |
| RELS:3580/ANTH:3113/ASIA:3561/GHS:3113 | Religion and Healing | 3 |
Race and Ethnicity in the U.S.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SJUS:1600/AMST:1600/LATS:1600 | War Stories | 3 |
| SJUS:3130/GWSS:3130/HIST:3252 | Blacks and Jews: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in America | 3 |
| GWSS:3133/ANTH:3133/SJUS:3133 | Anthropology of Race | 3 |
| GWSS:3459/HIST:3259/SJUS:3459 | Making Change, Making History: Iowa's Black Activists and Digital History | 3 |
| AMST:2700/AFAM:2700 | The Black Image in Sequential Art: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Anime | 3 |
| ANTH:2165/AMST:2165/NAIS:2165 | Native Peoples of North America | 3 |
| COMM:2076/AFAM:2076 | Race, Ethnicity, and Media | 3 |
| ENGL:2463/AFAM:2463 | Topics in African American Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:2465/AFAM:2465 | Selected African American Authors | 3 |
| ENGL:3444 | Literatures of the American Peoples | 3 |
| ENGL:3459/AFAM:3459 | African American Literature Before 1900 | 3 |
| ENGL:3460/AFAM:3460 | African American Literature After 1900 | 3 |
| HIST:2267/AFAM:2267 | African American History to 1877: From Slave Cabin to Senate Floor | 3 |
| HIST:3217/LAS:3217/LATS:3217 | Latina/o/x Immigration | 3 |
| HIST:4216/LAS:4216 | Mexican American History | 3 |
| LATS:3420/AMST:3420/POLI:3427/SJUS:3420 | Latinas/os/x and the Law | 3 |
| POLI:1900 | Introduction to the Politics of Race | 3 |
| RELS:3745/AFAM:3245 | Twentieth- and Twenty-first-Century African American Religion: Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter | 3 |
| SOC:2830 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SPAN:3400/LATS:3400 | Chicano Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN:3440/LATS:3440 | Topics in Latina/o/x Literature and Culture | 3 |
| SPAN:4820/AMST:4800/LATS:4800 | Latina/o/x Popular Culture | 3 |
| SSW:3847 | Discrimination, Oppression, and Diversity | 3 |
| An African American studies course (prefix AFAM) numbered 2000 or above that does not fulfill a GE CLAS Core requirement | ||
| A Latina/o/x studies course (prefix LATS) numbered 2000 or above that does not fulfill a GE CLAS Core requirement | ||
| A Native American and Indigenous studies course (prefix NAIS) numbered 2000 or above that does not fulfill a GE CLAS Core requirement | ||
Capstone
Students complete all of the requirements for either Option A or Option B.
Option A
Students complete a senior project and the following two courses.
In the fall semester of their final year, students complete SJUS:3400 Advocacy and Engagement Colloquium which requires community service work at a related social justice organization. In the spring, students complete SJUS:4080 Advocacy and Engagement Capstone, in which they develop an individual creative or scholarly project that pulls together their lived and community experiences, their academic learning, and significant research. The project culminates with a poster shown at the Senior Research Poster Show.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| SJUS:3400/GWSS:3400 | Advocacy and Engagement Colloquium | 3 |
| SJUS:4080 | Advocacy and Engagement Capstone | 3 |
Option B
Students prepare for the capstone by completing GWSS:3900 Research for Public Engagement during the fall semester which focuses on developing advanced research, reading, and writing skills and choosing their capstone topics. Senior Research Seminar (GWSS:4090), taken during the spring semester of their final year, provides a platform for students to share their capstone research and writing. Students create either extended essays that document their research using the style manual of their choice or produce creative work alongside an annotated research bibliography. At the end of the semester, students make posters that represent the subject, content, and significance of their research and present them at the Senior Research Seminar Poster Show.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| GWSS:3900 | Research for Public Engagement | 3 |
| GWSS:4090 | Senior Research Seminar | 3 |
Honors in the Major
Students have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Departmental honors students must maintain a cumulative University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 in all work for the major. Honors students must write an honors thesis that requires two semesters of work during the senior year: fall (thesis research by enrolling in GWSS:3990 Independent Readings and Research in Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies) and spring (thesis writing by enrolling in SJUS:4085 Social Justice Bachelor of Arts Honors Senior Thesis).
Students who intend to graduate with honors in the major should meet with the social justice advisor before the end of their junior year. They also must select a faculty member to serve as their honors thesis supervisor before they begin their thesis work. The department recommends that students consider faculty members from whom they have taken SJUS/GWSS courses.
Capstone Option A
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| SJUS:3400/GWSS:3400 | Advocacy and Engagement Colloquium (fall) | 3 |
| SJUS:4085 | Social Justice Bachelor of Arts Honors Senior Thesis | 3 |
Capstone Option B
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Both of these: | ||
| GWSS:3900 | Research for Public Engagement | 3 |
| GWSS:4095 | Honors Senior Thesis | 3 |
University of Iowa Honors Program
In addition to honors in the major, students have opportunities for honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the University's honors program.
Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the social justice major.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences GE CLAS Core requirements provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge and a focused practice of transferable skills necessary for a lifetime of learning.
GE CLAS Core courses are particularly valuable for students making the transition into the University of Iowa. They help students understand the academic expectations of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences while providing the knowledge and skills needed for more advanced work in the major.
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who wish to earn an undergraduate degree—Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), or Bachelor of Music (B.M.)—must complete the requirements of the GE CLAS Core.
GE CLAS Core Areas and Requirements
The GE CLAS Core has 11 required areas, grouped into three categories. Students must fulfill the requirements in each GE CLAS Core area. The requirements below are for students who entered the University of Iowa during Summer 2022 or after. Students who entered during a previous semester are held to different requirements as indicated on a student's degree audit.
Communication and Literacy:
- Diversity and Inclusion: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Interpretation of Literature: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Rhetoric: a minimum of 4 s.h.
- World Languages: required credit varies by language (see "World Languages" below)
Sustainability:
Students complete this requirement by choosing an approved GE CLAS Core course that integrates Sustainability (with no additional semester hours) with a course from the Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences category or the Culture, Society, and the Arts category.
Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences:
- Natural Sciences: a minimum of 7 s.h.; must include one lab
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Social Sciences: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Culture, Society, and the Arts:
- Historical Perspectives: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- International and Global Issues: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts: a minimum of 3 s.h.
- Values and Culture: a minimum of 3 s.h.
Students may count transfer credit and/or credit by exam toward some GE CLAS Core requirements. See CLAS Core Policies for details regarding use of transfer credit, credit by exam, and other policies for how GE CLAS Core requirements may be fulfilled.
Communication and Literacy
Diversity and Inclusion
Courses in the Diversity and Inclusion area help to develop students’ recognition of their positions in an increasingly pluralistic world while fostering an understanding of social and cultural differences. Students reflect critically on their own social and cultural perspectives while increasing their ability to engage with people who have backgrounds or ideas different from their own. Students also explore the historical and structural bases of inequality and the benefits and challenges of diversity.
Transfer credit is not accepted for the Diversity and Inclusion requirement; students must complete this requirement with coursework taken at the University of Iowa.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Diversity and Inclusion area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM:1020/AMST:1030 | Introduction to African American Culture | 3 |
| AFAM:1030 | Introduction to African American Society | 3 |
| AFAM:1130 | The History of African American Film | 3 |
| AFAM:1241/MUS:1741 | The Soundtrack of Black America | 3 |
| AFAM:2064/SOC:2064 | African American Families: Urban and Suburban | 3 |
| AFAM:2070/COMM:2069 | Black Television Culture | 3 |
| AFAM:2500 | Black Culture and Experience: Contemporary Issues | 3 |
| AMST:2025 | Diversity in American Culture | 3 |
| ANTH:2151/GWSS:2151/IS:2151 | Global Migration in the Contemporary World | 3 |
| ANTH:2165/AMST:2165/NAIS:2165 | Native Peoples of North America | 3 |
| ARTS:2100 | Printmaking and Politics of Protest | 3 |
| ASIA:2222/GWSS:2222/WLLC:2222 | Women in Premodern East Asian Literature | 3 |
| CCCC:2220 | Foundations of Critical Cultural Competence | 3 |
| CINE:1195 | Video Games and Identity | 3 |
| CINE:1625 | Race, Gender, and Sexuality on Screen | 3 |
| CLSA:2620/RELS:2620 | Politics, Sex, and the Bible | 3 |
| CLSA:2800 | Race and Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean World | 3 |
| COMM:1168 | Music and Social Change | 3 |
| COMM:1898/LATS:1898 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Communication and Culture | 3 |
| CSD:1200 | Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| DANC:2065 | Performing Power/Performing Protest: The Body, Identity, and the Image | 3 |
| DANC:2085 | Introduction to African Caribbean Dance Practices | 3 |
| DST:1101 | Introduction to Disability Studies | 3 |
| EDTL:2670 | Peacebuilding, Singing, and Writing in a Prison Choir | 3 |
| EDTL:4900 | Foundations of Special Education | 3 |
| EPLS:1240 | Finding Your Path in Higher Education | 3 |
| GRMN:2600 | Witch Hunts in Fact and Fiction: A Global History of Exclusion | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2620/WLLC:2620 | Anne Frank and Her Story | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2675 | The Politics of Memory: Holocaust, Genocide, and 9/11 | 3-4 |
| GWSS:1001 | Introduction to Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies | 3 |
| GWSS:1002 | Diversity and Power in the U.S. | 3 |
| HHP:1045 | Diversity and Inclusion in Healthy Living | 3 |
| HHP:2280 | Cultural Competency in Health Promotion | 3 |
| HIST:1040 | Diversity in History | 3 |
| HIST:2267/AFAM:2267 | African American History to 1877: From Slave Cabin to Senate Floor | 3 |
| HIST:2268/AFAM:2268 | African American History Since the Civil War | 3 |
| IS:2020 | World Events Today! | 3 |
| ITAL:2660 | The Italian American Experience | 3 |
| JMC:2500 | Community Media | 3 |
| JMC:2600 | Freedom of Expression | 3 |
| LATS:2280/HIST:2280/SPAN:2280 | Introduction to Latina/o/x Studies | 3 |
| LING:1070 | Language Attitudes: Is How You Sound How You Are Seen? | 3 |
| MATH:1210 | Diverse Perspectives in the Mathematical Sciences | 3 |
| NAIS:1290/AMST:1290/GHS:1290/HIST:1290 | Native American Foods and Foodways (GE status effective fall 2022; students with a first degree-seeking session of summer 2017 and beyond may use this course for the Diversity and Inclusion GE requirement) | 3 |
| PHIL:2425 | Sex, Marriage, Friendship, and the Law (GE status effective fall 2022; students with a first degree-seeking session of summer 2017 and beyond may use this course for the Diversity and Inclusion GE requirement) | 3 |
| POLI:1601 | Introduction to Social Media and Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1800 | Introduction to the Politics of Class and Inequality | 3 |
| POLI:1900 | Introduction to the Politics of Race | 3 |
| POLI:1950 | Introduction to the Politics of Religion | 3 |
| PSY:1501 | Everyone's a Little Bit Biased: The Science Behind Prejudice | 3 |
| RELS:1015 | Global Religious Conflict and Diversity | 3 |
| RELS:2000 | Engaging Religious Diversity for Leadership and Entrepreneurship (GE status effective fall 2022) | 3 |
| RELS:2330 | Wealth, Inequality, and Islam | 3 |
| RHET:2135/SJUS:2135 | Rhetorics of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| RUSS:2232 | Romani (Gypsy) Cultures of Eastern Europe | 3 |
| SJUS:1001/GWSS:1003 | Introduction to Social Justice | 3 |
| SOC:1030 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3-4 |
| SOC:2830 | Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SPAN:2050 | Spanish in the United States | 3 |
| SPST:1074/AMST:1074/GWSS:1074 | Inequality in American Sport | 3 |
| THTR:2320 | Playwriting in a Global World | 3 |
| THTR:2405 | Staging Americans: U.S. Cultures Through Theatre and Performance | 3 |
| THTR:2601 | Theatre for Community Engagement | 3 |
| THTR:2605/EDTL:2963 | Monsters, Victims, and Villains: Changing Perceptions | 3 |
| TRNS:2000 | Translation and Global Society | 3 |
| WLLC:1200/DST:1200/GHS:1200/GRMN:1200 | Disabilities and Inclusion in Writing and Film Around the World | 3 |
| WLLC:2001/ASIA:2001/FREN:2010/RUSS:2001/SPAN:2001/TRNS:2001 | Global Science Fiction | 3 |
| WRIT:2100 | Writing and Community Outreach | 3 |
Interpretation of Literature
Courses in the Interpretation of Literature area focus on the major genres of literature (short and long fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama), improving students' abilities to read and analyze a variety of texts. Small group discussions in these courses challenge students to think critically, to share insights, and to listen thoughtfully to the arguments of others.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Interpretation of Literature area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSA:1200 | Interpretation of Ancient Literature | 3 |
| ENGL:1200 | The Interpretation of Literature | 3 |
| FREN:1005 | Texts and Contexts: French-Speaking World | 3 |
| FREN:1007 | Nature/Ecology French Philosophy and Fiction | 3 |
| WLLC:1510/ASIA:1510 | Ghost Stories and Tales of the Weird in Premodern Chinese Literature | 3 |
Rhetoric
Rhetoric courses develop speaking, writing, listening, and critical reading skills and build competence in research, analysis, and argumentation.
All entering first-year students are required to complete RHET:1030 Rhetoric (4-5 s.h.). Because rhetorical skills lay the foundation for further study at the University, most students register for RHET:1030 during their first year at Iowa.
Students who must enroll in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses as determined by their English proficiency evaluation must complete all ESL courses before they may register for RHET:1030 Rhetoric.
Students who have transfer credit in composition, speech, and argumentation but have not been granted an A.A. degree must complete the equivalent of RHET:1030 Rhetoric and often must take RHET:1040 Writing and Reading or RHET:1060 Speaking and Reading in addition to their transfer courses in composition and/or speech.
Each entering student's degree audit shows the course(s) that must be completed in order to fulfill the Rhetoric requirement.
The following courses are approved for the Rhetoric area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RHET:1030 | Rhetoric | 4-5 |
| RHET:1040 | Writing and Reading | 3 |
| RHET:1060 | Speaking and Reading | 3 |
Transfer of Credit for Rhetoric
Transfer students who have been granted an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from an Iowa community college, Waldorf College in Iowa, or Black Hawk College in Illinois have satisfied the Rhetoric requirement.
Transfer credit for students without an A.A. degree is evaluated as follows:
- transfer students who have completed composition I, composition II, and speech at another institution have satisfied the GE CLAS Core Rhetoric requirement of RHET:1030 Rhetoric;
- transfer students who have completed only composition I must complete RHET:1030 Rhetoric at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed composition I and speech must complete RHET:1040 Writing and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed only speech must complete RHET:1040 Writing and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- transfer students who have completed composition I and II or only composition II must complete RHET:1060 Speaking and Reading at the University of Iowa;
- for transfer students who have completed any other course at another institution that may be equivalent to RHET:1030 Rhetoric, the University of Iowa Office of Admissions examines the content of the course and decides on equivalency based on the content of that course, conferring with the Department of Rhetoric on the correct equivalency, if necessary.
World Languages
GE CLAS Core courses in World Languages provide the practice of important communication skills in a second language as well as the knowledge of the cultures in which the language is spoken. This in-depth study allows students to better understand how languages as a whole function, encouraging students to learn more about their own first language, including how it creates both inclusion and diversity. To fulfill the GE CLAS Core requirement in World Languages, students may choose one of the following options:
- complete four years of a single world language in high school; or
- achieve the fourth level of proficiency in a world language by completing the appropriate sequence of courses offered at the University of Iowa; or
- achieve the fourth level of proficiency by completing appropriate courses at another college or university or through approved study abroad courses; or
- achieve an equivalent score on a related Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or other approved college-level examination accepted by the University of Iowa and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (see Credit By Exam Options on the Office of Admissions website); or
- earn an equivalent score on both a UI written placement test and on a UI oral proficiency exam in a language taught at the University of Iowa (see World Languages Placement Test (WLPT) on the New Student Services website); or
- earn an equivalent score on a proficiency exam in a language that is not taught at the University of Iowa (see Proficiency Examinations for Languages Not Taught at UI on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website).
A fourth level of proficiency is equivalent to the successful completion of an intermediate II language course (or of a second-year second semester course, for example) as taught at the University of Iowa. Depending on a student's placement test results and the language taken, a student may need to take four semesters of a language, starting with a beginning course and ending with a second semester intermediate course. Other students may be able to start elsewhere in the language sequence and complete the GE World Language requirement by taking two or three courses. See "World Languages Placement Tests" under Placement Tests on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.
Semester hours earned for these courses vary by language. Students should be sure to take the placement test for the language of interest and should be aware of the course sequence required to fulfill the GE requirement in World Languages for that particular language.
Once the World Languages requirement is completed, a student may earn up to an additional 8 s.h. of college credit while studying a world language. See Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) on the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences website.
Students may use the following language course sequences to fulfill the World Languages requirement. To avoid duplication or regression, consult the appropriate language department before registering for courses.
American Sign Language
Courses in American Sign Language (ASL) are offered by the American Sign Language Program. The following sequence fulfills the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ASL:1001 | American Sign Language I | 4 |
| ASL:1002 | American Sign Language II | 4 |
| ASL:2001 | American Sign Language III | 4 |
| ASL:2002 | American Sign Language IV | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of American Sign Language should consult the ASL program for placement.
Arabic
Courses in Arabic are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence fulfills the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARAB:1001 | Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I | 5 |
| ARAB:1002 | Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II | 5 |
| ARAB:2001 | Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I | 5 |
| ARAB:2002 | Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II | 5 |
Students with previous knowledge of Arabic should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Chinese
Courses in Chinese are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. For students without previous knowledge of Chinese, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHIN:1111 | First-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:1112 | First-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2101 | Second-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2102 | Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of Chinese language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Heritage learners and students who have studied Chinese abroad may be able to fulfill the requirement by substituting CHIN:2103 Accelerated Second-Year Chinese: First Semester and CHIN:2104 Accelerated Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester for CHIN:2101 and CHIN:2102. Consult the department for more information.
French
Courses in French are offered by the Department of French and Italian. For students without previous knowledge of French, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FREN:1001 | Elementary French I | 5 |
| FREN:1002 | Elementary French II | 5 |
| FREN:2001 | Intermediate French I | 5 |
| FREN:2002 | Intermediate French II | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of French language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of French may be able to fulfill the requirement by substituting FREN:1010 First-Year French Review for FREN:1001 and FREN:1002 in the sequence above. Some students may be evaluated as ready for FREN:2001 or FREN:2002. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
German
Courses in German are offered by the Department of German. For students without previous knowledge of German, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| GRMN:1001 | Elementary German I | 4 |
| GRMN:1002 | Elementary German II | 4 |
| GRMN:2001 | Intermediate German I | 4 |
| GRMN:2002 | Intermediate German II | 4 |
Students may use varied combinations of German language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of German may be able to fulfill the requirement by substituting GRMN:1010 First-Year German Review for GRMN:1001 and GRMN:1002 in the sequence above. Some students may be evaluated as ready for GRMN:2001 or GRMN:2002. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
The department also offers GRMN:2020 Intensive Intermediate German, which may be appropriate for students with strong language learning abilities or experience. The intensive course may be combined with other courses to create other sequences that may be used to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Consult the department to identify an appropriate course sequence.
Greek
Courses in Greek are offered by the Department of Classics. Students without previous knowledge of Greek should fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement with the following sequence.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSG:1001 | Classical and New Testament Greek I | 5 |
| CLSG:1002 | Classical and New Testament Greek II | 5 |
| CLSG:2001 | Second-Year Greek I | 3 |
| CLSG:2002 | Second-Year Greek II | 3 |
Students with previous knowledge of Greek should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Italian
Courses in Italian are offered by the Department of French and Italian. Students without previous knowledge of Italian should fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement with the following sequence.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ITAL:1101 | Elementary Italian I | 5 |
| ITAL:1102 | Elementary Italian II | 5 |
| ITAL:2203 | Intermediate Italian I | 4 |
| ITAL:2204 | Intermediate Italian II | 4 |
Students with strong language learning abilities or a background in another Romance language may be able to complete the requirement by substituting ITAL:1103 Intensive Elementary Italian for ITAL:1101 and ITAL:1102 in the sequence above. Consult the department for appropriate placement.
Japanese
Courses in Japanese are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. For students without previous knowledge of Japanese, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:1001 | First-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:1002 | First-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2001 | Second-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2002 | Second-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
Students may use varied combinations of Japanese language courses approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of Japanese should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Korean
Courses in Korean are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. For students without previous knowledge of Korean, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KORE:1101 | First-Year Korean: First Semester | 4 |
| KORE:1102 | First-Year Korean: Second Semester | 4 |
| KORE:2101 | Second-Year Korean: First Semester | 4 |
| KORE:2102 | Second-Year Korean: Second Semester | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Korean should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Latin
Courses in Latin are offered by the Department of Classics. Students without previous knowledge of Latin should fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement with the following sequence. Students must take both CLSL:2001 and CLSL:2002 in order to fulfill the World Languages requirement. These courses require a similar knowledge of Latin, but one focuses on poetry and the other on prose. Other world languages permit a student to complete the last courses in the sequence to meet the GE CLAS Core requirement since the final course is more difficult than the previous ones. This is not true with the Latin sequence, and thus, both courses must be successfully completed.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CLSL:1001 | Elementary Latin I | 5 |
| CLSL:1002 | Elementary Latin II | 5 |
| CLSL:2001 | World of Cicero | 3 |
| CLSL:2002 | Golden Age of Roman Poetry | 3 |
Students with previous knowledge of Latin should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Portuguese
Courses in Portuguese are offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. Two sequences in Portuguese are approved to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. All courses are open to entering first-year students.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PORT:2000 | Accelerated Elementary Portuguese | 5 |
| PORT:2500 | Accelerated Intermediate Portuguese | 5 |
Students may also substitute PORT:2010 Elementary Portuguese I and PORT:2015 Elementary Portuguese II for PORT:2000 in the sequence above.
Students with previous knowledge of Portuguese should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Russian
Courses in Russian are offered by the Department of Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures. Students without previous knowledge of Russian should fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement with the following sequence.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RUSS:1111 | First-Year Russian I | 5 |
| RUSS:1112 | First-Year Russian II | 5 |
| RUSS:2111 | Second-Year Russian I | 4 |
| RUSS:2112 | Second-Year Russian II | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Russian should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Spanish
Courses in Spanish are offered by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. For students without previous knowledge of Spanish, the department recommends the following sequence to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPAN:1001 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN:1002 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
| SPAN:1501 | Intermediate Spanish I | 4 |
| SPAN:1502 | Intermediate Spanish II | 4 |
Students may use varied combinations of Spanish language courses to fulfill the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Those with previous knowledge of Spanish may be able to fulfill the requirement by substituting SPAN:1003 Elementary Spanish Review for SPAN:1001 and SPAN:1002 in the sequence above.
The summer course SPAN:1004 Accelerated Elementary Spanish, which combines SPAN:1001 and SPAN:1002, may be appropriate for some students.
The accelerated course SPAN:1503 Accelerated Intermediate Spanish, which combines SPAN:1501 and SPAN:1502, may be appropriate for some students.
The accelerated course SPAN:1505 Intermediate Spanish for Heritage Speakers may be appropriate for other students.
Students with previous knowledge of Spanish should take the language placement test in Spanish to help determine proper placement.
Swahili
Courses in Swahili are offered by the Department of French and Italian. The following sequence fulfills the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Each of these courses is open to entering first-year students.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SWAH:1001 | Elementary Swahili I | 4 |
| SWAH:1002 | Elementary Swahili II | 4 |
| SWAH:2001 | Intermediate Swahili I | 4 |
| SWAH:2002 | Intermediate Swahili II | 4 |
Students with previous knowledge of Swahili should consult the department for appropriate placement.
Other Course Sequences
A student who successfully completes a four-semester world language sequence that has not been approved for the GE CLAS Core may have the sequence substituted for a proficiency test to fulfill the GE CLAS Core requirement.
Students who complete a world language sequence this way should notify the department that offers the sequence; the department will contact Graduation Analysis in the Office of the Registrar, which will update a student's degree audit to show fulfillment of the World Languages requirement.
Sustainability
Courses in the Sustainability area focus on identifying concepts and terminology associated with sustainability and systems-thinking, investigating the interconnectedness of human and natural systems, and evaluating how students’ own actions affect and are affected by society’s ability to meet sustainability goals. Students also investigate institutional and/or cultural processes or natural systems processes.
Sustainability learning outcomes are integrated with the outcomes for another GE CLAS Core area so that one approved course satisfies this requirement without adding semester hours. Students complete this requirement by choosing one of the following courses that have been approved for Sustainability and another GE CLAS Core area.
Sustainability and Natural Sciences
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EES:1080/ENVS:1080 | Introduction to Environmental Science | 3-4 |
| EES:1085/ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science | 4 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment | 3 |
Sustainability and Social Sciences
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
Sustainability and Historical Perspectives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EES:1115/ENVS:1115/GEOG:1115/HIST:1115 | The History and Science of Oil | 3 |
Natural, Quantitative, and Social Sciences
Natural Sciences
Courses in the Natural Sciences area explore the scope and major concepts of a scientific discipline. Students learn the attitudes and practices of scientific investigators: logic, precision, experimentation, tentativeness, and objectivity. In courses with a laboratory component, students gain experience in the methods of scientific inquiry.
All students must complete at least 7 s.h. of coursework in the Natural Sciences area, including at least one natural science lab component. The following courses are approved for the area; courses with a lab component are noted "(lab)."
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1301 | Human Origins | 3 |
| ASTR:1060/BIOL:1060/EES:1060 | Big Ideas: Origins of the Universe, Earth, and Life | 3 |
| ASTR:1070 | Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| ASTR:1079 | Introductory Astronomy Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| ASTR:1080 | Exploration of the Solar System (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| ASTR:1085 | Citizen Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR:1091 | Life in the Universe | 3 |
| ASTR:1771 | Introductory Astronomy I: Basic Astrophysics and Planetary Astronomy (lab) | 4 |
| ASTR:1772 | Introductory Astronomy II: Stellar, Galactic, and Extragalactic Astronomy (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1140 | Human Biology: Nonmajors (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1141 | Human Biology: Health Professions (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1251 | How the Brain Works (and Why it Doesn't) | 3 |
| BIOL:1260 | Plants and Human Affairs | 2-3 |
| BIOL:1261 | Introduction to Botany (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1370 | Understanding Evolution (formerly Ecology and Evolution) | 3 |
| BIOL:1411 | Foundations of Biology (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:1412 | Diversity of Form and Function (lab) | 4 |
| BIOL:2120 | Good Genes Gone Bad: Genetic Disorders of Notable Celebrities | 3 |
| CHEM:1050 | Chemistry of Our World | 3 |
| CHEM:1060 | Technology and Society Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| CHEM:1070 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM:1080 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM:1100 | Chemistry in Industry and the Economy | 3 |
| CHEM:1110 | Principles of Chemistry I (lab) | 4 |
| CHEM:1120 | Principles of Chemistry II (lab) | 4 |
| CHEM:1160 | Principles of Chemistry Lab (lab only) | 2 |
| EES:1030/CEE:1030 | Introduction to Earth Science (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| EES:1031/CEE:1031 | Introduction to Earth Science Laboratory (lab only; students must have previously completed EES:1030/CEE:1030 without the lab) | 1 |
| EES:1040 | Evolution and the History of Life (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| EES:1050 | Introduction to Geology (lab) | 4 |
| EES:1070 | Age of Dinosaurs (lab) | 4 |
| EES:1080/ENVS:1080 | Introduction to Environmental Science (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.; not for students who have taken EES:1085 or ENVS:1085) | 3-4 |
| EES:1085/ENVS:1085 | Fundamentals of Environmental Science (lab; not for students who have taken EES:1080 or ENVS:1080) | 4 |
| EES:1081/ENVS:1081 | Introduction to Environmental Sciences Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| EES:1290 | Energy and the Environment | 3 |
| EES:1400 | Natural Disasters | 3 |
| GEOG:1020 | The Global Environment (GE status effective summer 2022) | 3 |
| GEOG:1021 | The Global Environment Lab (lab only) | 1 |
| HHP:1100 | Human Anatomy | 3 |
| HHP:1110 | Human Anatomy Laboratory (lab only) | 1 |
| HHP:1150 | Human Anatomy Lecture with Lab (lab) | 4 |
| HHP:1300 | Fundamentals of Human Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:1400 | Human Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| HHP:2310 | Nutrition and Health | 3 |
| PCOL:2220 | Drug Use and Abuse | 3 |
| PHYS:1200 | Physics of Everyday Experience | 3 |
| PHYS:1400 | Basic Physics (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| PHYS:1409 | Basic Physics Lab (lab only) | 1 |
| PHYS:1410 | Physics of Sound (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| PHYS:1511 | College Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1512 | College Physics II (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1611 | Introductory Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1612 | Introductory Physics II (with lab 4 s.h.; without lab 3 s.h.) | 3-4 |
| PHYS:1619 | Introductory Physics II Lab (lab only) | 1 |
| PHYS:1701 | Physics I (lab) | 4 |
| PHYS:1702 | Physics II (lab) | 4 |
Quantitative or Formal Reasoning
Courses in the Quantitative or Formal Reasoning area help develop analytical skills through the practice of quantitative or formal symbolic reasoning. Courses focus on presentation and evaluation of evidence and argument; understanding the use and misuse of data; and organization of information in quantitative or other formal symbolic systems, including those used in computer science, linguistics, mathematics, philosophy, and statistics.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Quantitative or Formal Reasoning area. Students also may fulfill this GE CLAS Core requirement by completing a course that lists an approved GE CLAS Core course as a prerequisite. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM:1117 | Advocacy and Argument | 3 |
| CPH:1600 | Public Health Science: Inquiry and Investigation in Public Health | 3 |
| CS:1020 | Principles of Computing | 3 |
| CS:1110 | Introduction to Computer Science | 3 |
| CS:1210 | Computer Science I: Fundamentals | 4 |
| LING:1050 | Language and Formal Reasoning | 3 |
| MATH:1020 | Elementary Functions | 4 |
| MATH:1120 | Logic of Arithmetic | 4 |
| MATH:1250 | Mathematics for Arts and Humanities | 3 |
| MATH:1260 | PokeMath: The Mathematics of Pokemon Go | 3 |
| MATH:1340 | Mathematics for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1350 | Quantitative Reasoning for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1380 | Calculus and Matrix Algebra for Business | 4 |
| MATH:1440 | Mathematics for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1460 | Calculus for the Biological Sciences | 4 |
| MATH:1550 | Engineering Mathematics I: Single Variable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH:1850 | Calculus I | 4 |
| PHIL:1636 | Principles of Reasoning: Argument and Debate | 3 |
| POLI:1050/RELS:1050 | Big Ideas: Introduction to Information, Society, and Culture | 3 |
| POLI:1700 | Introduction to Political Analysis | 3 |
| PSY:2811 | Research Methods and Data Analysis in Psychology I | 3 |
| STAT:1010 | Statistics and Society | 3 |
| STAT:1020/PSQF:1020 | Elementary Statistics and Inference | 3 |
| STAT:1030 | Statistics for Business | 4 |
| STAT:2010 | Statistical Methods and Computing | 3 |
Social Sciences
Courses in the Social Sciences area focus on human behavior and the institutions and social systems that shape and are shaped by that behavior. Courses provide an overview of one or more social science disciplines, their theories, and their methods.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Social Sciences area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1101/IS:1101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:1401 | Language, Culture, and Communication | 3 |
| ANTH:2100 | Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2261 | Human Impacts on the Environment | 3 |
| ASP:1800/CSD:1800/NURS:1800/SSW:1800/TR:1800 | Aging Matters: Introduction to Gerontology | 3 |
| COMM:1170 | Communication Theory in Everyday Life | 3 |
| COMM:1174 | Media and Society | 3 |
| CPH:1400 | Fundamentals of Public Health | 3 |
| CRIM:1410 | Introduction to Criminology | 3 |
| CSD:3117/LING:3117 | Psychology of Language | 3 |
| CSD:3118/LING:3118 | Language Acquisition | 1-3 |
| ECON:1100 | Principles of Microeconomics | 4 |
| ECON:1200 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:1090 | Globalization and Geographic Diversity | 3 |
| GEOG:2013/BUS:2013/SUST:2013/URP:2013 | Introduction to Sustainability (GE status effective summer 2022; students with a first degree-seeking session of summer 2011 and beyond may use this course for the Social Sciences GE requirement) | 3 |
| GEOG:2110/GHS:2110 | Seven Billion and Counting: Introduction to Population Dynamics | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| JMC:1100 | Introduction to Media Effects | 3 |
| LING:1010 | Language and Society | 3 |
| LING:1060 | Languages of the World | 3 |
| MUSM:3001/ANTH:3001/EDTL:3001/SIED:3001 | Introduction to Museum Studies | 3 |
| POLI:1100 | Introduction to American Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1200 | Introduction to Political Behavior | 3 |
| POLI:1300 | Introduction to Political Thought and Action | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1401 | Introduction to Russian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1445 | Introduction to Asian Politics: China | 3 |
| POLI:1449 | Introduction to European Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1500 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:1600 | Introduction to Political Communication | 3 |
| POLI:2415/LAS:2415 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| PSQF:2115 | Introduction to Counseling Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:1001 | Elementary Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:2301 | Introduction to Clinical Psychology | 3 |
| PSY:2401 | Introduction to Developmental Science | 3 |
| PSY:2601 | Introduction to Cognitive Psychology | 3 |
| SOC:1010 | Introduction to Sociology | 3-4 |
| SOC:1220 | Principles of Social Psychology | 3-4 |
| TR:1070 | Perspectives on Leisure and Play | 3 |
| URP:2020/PBAF:2020 | Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy, and Politics | 3 |
Culture, Society, and the Arts
Historical Perspectives
Courses in the Historical Perspectives area help students comprehend the historical processes of change and continuity; develop the ability to generalize, explain, and interpret historical change; and understand the past in its own terms.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Historical Perspectives area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1201 | World Archaeology | 3 |
| ARTH:1010 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1050 | From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals: Survey of Western Art I | 3 |
| ARTH:1060 | From Mona Lisa to Modernism: Survey of Western Art II | 3 |
| ARTH:1070 | Asian Art and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1090 | Earthly Paradises: A Global History of Gardens | 3 |
| ARTH:2320/CLSA:2226 | Ancient Art from the Great Pyramids of Egypt to the Colosseum in Rome | 3 |
| ARTH:2920 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| CLSA:1181/GHS:1181 | Ancient Medicine | 3 |
| CLSA:1830 | Greek Civilization | 3 |
| CLSA:1840 | Roman Civilization | 3 |
| EES:1115/ENVS:1115/GEOG:1115/HIST:1115 | The History and Science of Oil | 3 |
| FREN:3120 | French Civilization | 3 |
| HIST:1010 | History Matters | 3 |
| HIST:1016 | The History That Made Our World | 3 |
| HIST:1101 | The Modern World | 3 |
| HIST:1261 | American History to 1877 | 3 |
| HIST:1262 | American History 1877-Present | 3 |
| HIST:1401 | The West and the World: Ancient | 3 |
| HIST:1402 | The West and the World: Medieval | 3 |
| HIST:1403 | The West and the World: Modern | 3 |
| HIST:1601/ASIA:1601 | Civilizations of Asia: China from Origins to the 17th Century | 3 |
| HIST:1602/ASIA:1602 | Civilizations of Asia: China from the 17th Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIST:1604/ASIA:1604 | Civilizations of Asia: Japan | 3-4 |
| HIST:1606/ASIA:1606/RELS:1606 | Civilizations of Asia: South Asia | 3-4 |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| HIST:2461/CLSA:2461/RELS:2361 | Middle East and Mediterranean: Alexander to Suleiman | 3 |
| HONR:1610 | Honors Seminar in Historical Perspectives | 3 |
| ITAL:2550 | Images of Modern Italy | 3 |
| JMC:1200 | Introduction to Media and Culture | 3 |
| JPNS:2127/ASIA:2127/CLSA:2127 | Global Manuscript Cultures | 3 |
| MUS:1303 | Roots, Rock, and Rap: A History of Popular Music | 3 |
| MUS:2301 | History of Western Music I | 3 |
| MUS:2302 | History of Western Music II | 3 |
| PHIL:1033 | The Meaning of Life | 3 |
| PHIL:1034 | Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness | 3 |
| RELS:1001 | Judaism, Christianity, and Islam | 3 |
| RELS:1225/HIST:1025 | Medieval Religion and Culture | 3 |
| RELS:1250/HIST:1050 | Modern Religion and Culture | 3 |
| RELS:2930/COMM:2079 | Digital Media and Religion | 3 |
| RUSS:1531 | Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSS:1532 | Traces of Ancient Russian Culture (IX-XVII Centuries): Vikings, Mongols, and Tsars | 3 |
| THTR:1400 | Theatre and Society: Ancients and Moderns | 3 |
| THTR:1401 | Theatre and Society: Romantics and Rebels | 3 |
| THTR:2410 | History of Theatre and Drama I | 3 |
| THTR:2411 | History of Theatre and Drama II | 3 |
International and Global Issues
Courses in the International and Global Issues area focus predominantly on countries or issues outside the United States, encouraging students to understand contemporary issues from an international perspective. Students develop knowledge of one or more contemporary global or international issues, gain a greater awareness of varied international perspectives, and improve their skills of analysis and critical inquiry.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the International and Global Issues area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH:1046/GEOG:1046/GWSS:1046/SJUS:1046 | Environmental Politics in India | 3 |
| ANTH:2100 | Anthropology and Contemporary World Problems | 3 |
| ANTH:2136 | Race, Place, and Power: Urban Anthropology | 3 |
| ARTH:1040 | Arts of Africa | 3 |
| FREN:1006 | Global Sports and National Cultures | 3 |
| FREN:1510 | Cultural Misunderstandings: France and U.S.A. | 3 |
| GEOG:1060 | Geography of Asia: From Japan to Pakistan | 3 |
| GEOG:1070 | Contemporary Environmental Issues | 3 |
| GEOG:1090 | Globalization and Geographic Diversity | 3 |
| GEOG:2910 | The Global Economy | 3 |
| GHS:2000/ANTH:2103 | Introduction to Global Health Studies | 3 |
| GRMN:2720/HIST:2420 | Germany in the World | 3 |
| GRMN:4315 | German Society Today | 3 |
| HIST:1016 | The History That Made Our World | 3 |
| HIST:1403 | The West and the World: Modern | 3 |
| HIST:1601/ASIA:1601 | Civilizations of Asia: China from Origins to the 17th Century | 3 |
| HIST:1602/ASIA:1602 | Civilizations of Asia: China from the 17th Century to the Present | 3 |
| HIST:1604/ASIA:1604 | Civilizations of Asia: Japan | 3-4 |
| HIST:1606/ASIA:1606/RELS:1606 | Civilizations of Asia: South Asia | 3-4 |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| IS:2000 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| ITAL:2770 | The Mafia and the Movies | 3 |
| LING:1040/ANTH:1040 | Language Rights | 3 |
| POLI:1400 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1401 | Introduction to Russian Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1445 | Introduction to Asian Politics: China | 3 |
| POLI:1449 | Introduction to European Politics | 3 |
| POLI:1500 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| POLI:1501 | Introduction to American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| POLI:2415/LAS:2415 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| RELS:1130/HIST:1030 | Introduction to Islamic Civilization | 3 |
| RELS:2852/GWSS:2052 | Women in Islam and the Middle East | 3 |
| RELS:3855/IS:3855 | Human Rights and Islam | 3 |
| RUSS:1132 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUSS:2050/WLLC:2050 | Women from an Unknown Land: The Fight for Independence | 3 |
| SPST:2170 | Sport and Globalization | 3 |
Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts
Courses in the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area provide students with opportunities to appreciate the arts and to analyze them within their historical and theoretical contexts. They also help students develop the analytic, expressive, and imaginative abilities necessary for understanding, appreciating, and creating art.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AFAM:1240/MUS:1740 | The Art of Listening to Jazz | 3 |
| AMST:1800 | American Gothic: Film, Literature, and Popular Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1010 | Art and Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1020 | Masterpieces: Art in Historical and Cultural Perspectives | 3 |
| ARTH:1030 | Themes in Global Art | 3 |
| ARTH:1040 | Arts of Africa | 3 |
| ARTH:1050 | From Cave Paintings to Cathedrals: Survey of Western Art I | 3 |
| ARTH:1060 | From Mona Lisa to Modernism: Survey of Western Art II | 3 |
| ARTH:1070 | Asian Art and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1095/NAIS:1095 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARTH:2920 | Introduction to American Art | 3 |
| ARTS:1010 | Elements of Art | 3 |
| ARTS:1030 | Elements of Jewelry and Metal Arts | 3 |
| ARTS:1050 | Elements of Printmaking | 3 |
| ARTS:1080 | Elements of Sculpture | 3 |
| CERM:2010 | Ceramics I: Handbuilding | 3 |
| CHIN:1702 | Chinese Popular Culture | 3 |
| CINE:1100 | The Art of Smartphone Filmmaking | 3 |
| CINE:1602 | Introduction to Film Studies | 3 |
| CINE:1610 | Contemporary Cinema | 3 |
| CL:1240/CLSA:1040/TRNS:1240 | World Literature in Translation I | 3 |
| CL:1241/TRNS:1241 | World Literature: 1700 to Present | 3 |
| CLSA:1010 | Hero, God, Mortal: Literature of Greece | 3 |
| CLSA:1020 | Love and Glory: The Literature of Rome | 3 |
| CLSA:1740/WRIT:1740 | Writing Strategies: Word Origins and Word Choice | 3 |
| CLSA:2016 | Classical Mythology | 3 |
| CNW:1620 | Introduction to Creative Nonfiction | 3 |
| CW:1800 | Creative Writing Studio Workshop | 3 |
| DANC:1010 | Beginning Tap | 2 |
| DANC:1020 | Beginning Jazz | 2 |
| DANC:1025 | Beginning Hip Hop Dance | 2 |
| DANC:1030 | Beginning Ballet | 2 |
| DANC:1040 | Beginning Modern Dance | 2 |
| DANC:1110 | Continuing Tap | 1-2 |
| DANC:1120 | Continuing Jazz | 2 |
| DANC:1125 | Continuing Hip Hop Dance | 2 |
| DANC:1130 | Continuing Ballet | 2 |
| DANC:1140 | Continuing Modern Dance | 2 |
| DANC:2020 | Intermediate Jazz | 2 |
| DANC:2025 | Intermediate Hip Hop Dance | 2 |
| DANC:2029 | Intermediate Ballet for Nonmajors | 2 |
| DANC:2040 | Majors Intermediate Contemporary Movement Practices | 3 |
| DANC:2060/DPA:2060 | Dance and Society in Global Contexts | 3 |
| EDTL:2122 | Creativity, Imagination, Play, and Human Development through the Arts | 3 |
| ENGL:1100 | City of Literature | 3 |
| FREN:4100 | French Cinema | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2275 | Scandinavian Crime Fiction | 3 |
| GRMN:2630 | German Cinema: Greatest Hits | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2666/WLLC:2666 | Pact with the Devil | 3 |
| GRMN:2785 | Cyborgs, Monsters, and the Uncanny | 3 |
| ITAL:2440 | Italian Arts for International Success | 3 |
| MUS:1001 | Group Piano I: Non-Music Majors | 1 |
| MUS:1009 | Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad | 3 |
| MUS:1012 | Creativity in Music | 3 |
| MUS:1020 | Performance Instruction for Nonmajors | 1 |
| MUS:1066 | Introduction to Film Music | 3 |
| MUS:1301 | Concepts and Contexts of Western Music | 3 |
| MUS:1302 | Great Musicians | 3 |
| MUS:1310 | World Music | 3 |
| MUS:1720 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUS:1800/DPA:1800 | World of the Beatles | 3 |
| MUS:2005 | Issues in Popular Music: Women Who Rock | 3 |
| MUS:2301 | History of Western Music I | 3 |
| MUS:2302 | History of Western Music II | 3 |
| MUS:2311/LAS:2311 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| PORT:2850/LAS:2850/SPAN:2850 | Brazilian Narrative in Translation | 3 |
| SCLP:2810 | Undergraduate Sculpture I | 3 |
| SPAN:1700/LATS:1700 | Latina/o/x Literature in the United States | 3 |
| SPAN:1800 | Contemporary Spanish American Narrative | 3 |
| THTR:1140 | Basic Acting | 3 |
| THTR:1400 | Theatre and Society: Ancients and Moderns | 3 |
| THTR:1401 | Theatre and Society: Romantics and Rebels | 3 |
| THTR:1412/DANC:1412/DPA:1412 | The Arts in Performance | 3 |
| THTR:2301 | Playwriting I | 3 |
| THTR:2410 | History of Theatre and Drama I | 3 |
| THTR:2411 | History of Theatre and Drama II | 3 |
Values and Culture
Courses in the Values and Culture area focus on how culture shapes the human experience and the role of values in society, with students asking fundamental questions regarding the human experience while exploring their own values and beliefs.
All students must complete at least 3 s.h. of coursework in the Values and Culture area. The following courses are approved for the area.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AMST:1010 | Understanding American Cultures | 3 |
| AMST:1154 | Food in America | 3 |
| AMST:2000 | Introduction to American Studies | 3 |
| ANTH:1101/IS:1101 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH:2175/JPNS:2175 | Japanese Society and Culture | 3 |
| ARTH:1030 | Themes in Global Art | 3 |
| ARTH:1045 | Race and Art in America | 3 |
| ARTH:1095/NAIS:1095 | Native American Art | 3 |
| ARTS:2000/ASP:2000/EDTL:2000/RHET:2000 | Big Ideas: Creativity for a Lifetime | 3 |
| ASIA:2450 | India Beat: The Aesthetics and Politics of India Today | 3 |
| CHIN:1504 | Asian Humanities: China | 3 |
| CHIN:1800 | Chinese Calligraphy and Culture | 3 |
| CLSA:1340 | Magic in the Ancient World | 3 |
| CLSA:1875 | Ancient Sports and Leisure | 3 |
| CLSA:2016 | Classical Mythology | 3 |
| CLSA:2482/RELS:2182 | Ancient Mediterranean Religions | 3 |
| CLSA:2651/GWSS:2651 | Gender and Sexuality in the Ancient World | 3 |
| COMM:1174 | Media and Society | 3 |
| DANC:1150/LAS:1150 | Brazilian Culture and Carnival | 3 |
| EPLS:4180 | Human Relations for the Classroom Teacher | 3 |
| GRMN:2550/WLLC:2550 | Mardi Gras and More: Cultures of Carnival | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2618/WLLC:2618 | Film and Literature of the Holocaust | 3 |
| GRMN:2650 | German Nationalism from Enlightenment to Present | 3-4 |
| GRMN:2655/IS:2600 | Muslim Minorities in the West | 3-4 |
| GWSS:1060/AMST:1060/ENGL:1410 | Sex and Popular Culture in America | 3 |
| HHP:2200 | Physical Activity and Health | 3 |
| HIST:1609/ASIA:1609 | India Now! Surveying the World's Largest Democracy | 3-4 |
| HIST:1708 | Civilizations of Africa | 3 |
| HONR:1670 | Values and Culture | 3 |
| ITAL:2550 | Images of Modern Italy | 3 |
| ITAL:2880 | Italian Food Culture | 3 |
| JMC:1500 | Introduction to Social Media | 3 |
| JPNS:1506 | Asian Humanities: Japan | 3 |
| LING:2900 | Language, Gender, and Sexuality | 3 |
| MUS:1009 | Jazz Cultures in America and Abroad | 3 |
| MUS:1720 | History of Jazz | 3 |
| MUS:2311/LAS:2311 | Music of Latin America and the Caribbean | 3 |
| NAIS:1049/AMST:1049/HIST:1049 | Introduction to Native American and Indigenous Studies | 3 |
| PHIL:1401 | Matters of Life and Death | 3 |
| PHIL:1861 | Introduction to Philosophy | 3 |
| PHIL:2402 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| POLI:1300 | Introduction to Political Thought and Action | 3 |
| RELS:1070 | Introduction to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament | 3 |
| RELS:1080 | Introduction to the New Testament | 3 |
| RELS:1130/HIST:1030 | Introduction to Islamic Civilization | 3 |
| RELS:1350/AFAM:1250 | Introduction to African American Religions | 3 |
| RELS:1404/ASIA:1040/HIST:1610 | Living Religions of the East | 3 |
| RELS:1506/ASIA:1060/HIST:1612 | Introduction to Buddhism | 3 |
| RELS:1702 | Religion in America Today | 3 |
| RELS:1810 | Happiness in a Difficult World | 3 |
| RELS:1903 | Quest for Human Destiny | 3 |
| RELS:2852/GWSS:2052 | Women in Islam and the Middle East | 3 |
| RELS:2986 | Religion and Women | 3 |
| RHET:2070 | Persuasive Stories | 3 |
| RUSS:1082 | Youth Subcultures After Socialism | 3 |
| RUSS:1131/WLLC:1131 | Introduction to Russian Culture | 3 |
| RUSS:1132 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUSS:1531 | Slavic Folklore | 3 |
| RUSS:1532 | Traces of Ancient Russian Culture (IX-XVII Centuries): Vikings, Mongols, and Tsars | 3 |
| RUSS:2100 | Russian Mindset: Sex, Business, and Politics | 3 |
| SOAS:1502/ASIA:1502/RELS:1502 | Asian Humanities: India | 3 |
| SOC:1310/GWSS:1310 | Gender and Society | 3 |
| SOC:2710 | The American Family | 3 |
| SOC:2810 | Social Inequality | 3 |
| SPAN:1700/LATS:1700 | Latina/o/x Literature in the United States | 3 |
| SPAN:2901 | Diversity and Cultures in Spain | 3 |
| SRM:1072 | Leisure and the Liberal Arts | 3 |
| SSW:1022/SOC:1022 | Social Justice and Social Welfare in the United States | 3 |
| THTR:1411 | Comedy and Society | 3 |
| THTR:1412/DANC:1412/DPA:1412 | The Arts in Performance | 3 |
The social justice major prepares students for careers in diverse fields. Graduates may work in nonprofit and governmental agencies, international organizations, think tanks, research and policy institutes, foundations, religious and cultural institutions, schools, universities, businesses, and health care settings. Their positions may relate to the emphasis areas they developed in the major, addressing issues such as human rights, the environment and ecological justice, racial and ethnic diversity, poverty, improving the lives of women and girls, sustainability, education, public health, and the arts and social change.
Students also are well prepared to continue their studies in a wide range of graduate programs and professional schools.
The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
Four-Year Graduation Plan
The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan.
Before the fifth semester begins: SJUS:1001 Introduction to Social Justice, SJUS:2000 Theories of Social Justice, SJUS:2250 The History of Social Justice Movements, and GWSS:3138 Writing to Change the World.
Before the seventh semester begins: two social justice movement courses; two courses in human rights, diversity, activism; and at least 90 s.h. earned toward the degree.
Before the eighth semester begins: 9 s.h. in the emphasis area and plan a capstone option with advisor.
During the eighth semester: capstone requirement, all remaining coursework in the major, all remaining GE CLAS Core courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Social Justice, B.A.
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| GE CLAS Core: Sustainability a | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| RHET:1030 or ENGL:1200 |
Rhetoric or The Interpretation of Literature |
3 - 4 |
| SJUS:1001 | Introduction to Social Justice b | 3 |
| GE CLAS Core: Natural Sciences with Lab c | 4 | |
| CSI:1600 | Success at Iowa | 2 |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL:1200 or RHET:1030 |
The Interpretation of Literature or Rhetoric |
3 - 4 |
| GE CLAS Core: Quantitative or Formal Reasoning c | 3 | |
| SJUS:2000 | Theories of Social Justice | 3 |
| GE CLAS Core: Social Sciences c | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 15-16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| SJUS:3138 | Writing to Change the World | 3 |
| SJUS:2250 | The History of Social Justice Movements | 3 |
| GE CLAS Core: Values and Culture c | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages First Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major: core course in human rights, diversity, activism | 3 | |
| Major: emphasis area course f | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Second Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Natural Sciences without Lab c | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Major: core course in social justice movements: politics, history, culture, art | 3 | |
| Major: emphasis area course (3000 level or above) f | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Second Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts c | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Major: emphasis area course (3000 level or above) f | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: World Languages Fourth Level Proficiency or elective course e | 4 - 5 | |
| Major: core course in social justice movements: politics, history, culture, art | 3 | |
| GE CLAS Core: Historical Perspectives c | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 16-17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| GWSS:3900 or SJUS:3400 |
Research for Public Engagement g, h or Advocacy and Engagement Colloquium |
3 |
| Major: core course in human rights, diversity, activism | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SJUS:4080 or GWSS:4090 |
Advocacy and Engagement Capstone g, i or Senior Research Seminar |
3 |
| GE CLAS Core: International and Global Issues c | 3 | |
| Major: emphasis area course (3000 level or above) f | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Elective course d | 3 | |
| Degree Application: apply on MyUI before deadline (typically in February for spring, September for fall) j | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 124-130 | |
- a
- Sustainability must be completed by choosing a course that has been approved for Sustainability AND for one of these General Education areas: Natural Sciences; Quantitative and Formal Reasoning; Social Sciences; Historical Perspectives; International and Global Issues; Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts; or Values and Culture.
- b
- Fulfills a major requirement and may fulfill a GE requirement.
- c
- GE CLAS Core courses may be completed in any order unless used as a prerequisite for another course. Students should consult with an advisor about the best sequencing of courses.
- d
- Students may use elective courses to earn credit towards the total s.h. required for graduation or to complete a double major, minors, or certificates.
- e
- Students who have completed four years of a single language in high school have satisfied the GE CLAS Core World Languages requirement. Enrollment in world languages courses requires a placement exam, unless enrolling in a first-semester-level course.
- f
- A course used to satisfy the core requirement cannot be taken to satisfy an emphasis area requirement.
- g
- Students who choose capstone option A complete SJUS:3400 and SJUS:4080. Students who choose capstone option B complete GWSS:3900 and GWSS:4090.
- h
- Typically this course is offered in fall semesters only. Check MyUI for course availability since offerings are subject to change.
- i
- Typically this course is offered in spring semesters only. Check MyUI for course availability since offerings are subject to change.
- j
- Please see Academic Calendar, Office of the Registrar website for current degree application deadlines. Students should apply for a degree for the session in which all requirements will be met. For any questions on appropriate timing, contact your academic advisor or Graduation Services.