Associate of Arts Degree
To receive an associate of arts degree, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
- Complete a minimum of 60 semester credits. (UIU courses numbered below 100 will not count toward the 60 credits)
- Meet the general education requirements listed in The Peacock Professional Experience (“general education”) .
- Achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
- Complete a minimum of 15 semester credits from Upper Iowa University.
- Complete 12 of the last 15 semester credits required for graduation from Upper Iowa University.
Graduation Requirements
Students will normally have seven years after initial enrollment to complete the associate or baccalaureate program under the requirements in effect at the time of enrollment. If the program is not completed within seven years, the requirements in effect at the time of the next enrollment will be used to determine graduation requirements. The University reserves the right to make changes in its academic regulations and requirements when, in its judgment, the best interests of the institution are served. In addition, changes in licensure requirements of the Iowa Department of Education may affect requirements for students seeking licensure to teach. Financial aid guidelines may vary.
Please see The Peacock Professional Experience (“general education”) for General Education requirements.
A student may earn only one Associate of Arts degree from Upper Iowa University.
Students may not have an associate degree and bachelor’s degree conferred with the same conferral date. At least one session and one course must be completed after the associate degree is conferred in order to have both degrees conferred.
Certificate Programs
Upper Iowa University offers a variety of certificate programs designed to provide students an additional method to learn new skills in a specific area. These certificate programs provide an opportunity for students to gain experience in a specific area by successfully completing a cluster of college credit courses. Students may also choose to use the courses as part of a degree program.
Certificate courses for credit: To pursue a certificate students must complete an application for admission as a non-degree seeking student.
Acceptance into a UIU Certificate Program:
- Students with no college experience must submit an Official High School Transcript or GED.
- Students with previous college experience must provide an unofficial college transcript for a course used to meet a prerequisite. An official college transcript must be provided if a course is transferring to meet a course required in the certificate.
Students accepted into a UIU Certificate Program do not qualify for Federal/State/Institutional Aid. Acceptance into a UIU Certificate Program does not guarantee admission into an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s Degree Program.
Current degree-seeking UIU students may seek a certificate while working on their degree program. An academic advisor can assist in coordinating certificate courses as part of the student’s degree program. No additional application or paperwork is necessary to begin working on a certificate.
Upon successful completion of all required courses in the certificate, a Certificate Claim Form must be completed. Certificates are free for electronic copies. There is a certificate claim fee of $15 for paper copies. Certificates are awarded on the same dates as the established graduation dates published by the Registrar’s Office (see Academic Calendar ).
Financial aid is only available to students who are degree-seeking with UIU and have gone through the standard application and award process. Financial aid is not available to non-degree seeking students pursuing certificates. Certificate courses must also apply to degree requirements to be eligible towards financial aid hours.
As with other course preparation, prerequisite courses represent foundational knowledge the student needs to be most successful. An academic advisor can assist in the selection of the most appropriate sequence of courses to match academic preparation.
Upper Iowa University will accept transfer credit towards the certificate, including courses taken at other accredited colleges/universities (see Academic Regulations/Policies ), experiential learning portfolio credit through UIU, and CLEP (see policies listed on Academic Regulations/Policies ). The amount transferred and applied to the certificate will not exceed nine of the 15 credits required. A minimum of six-semester credits through Upper Iowa University must be completed to earn an Upper Iowa University certificate. If transfer credit is being used for the certificate, an official transcript must be provided.
The Certificate Programs available at the undergraduate level are listed here. The Certificate Programs available at the graduate level are listed in the graduate section of this catalog. See Graduate Programs .
Micro-Credentials
A Micro-Credential signifies the achievement of specific competencies or skills acquired through a short, structured learning experience. Unlike traditional degree programs, Micro-Credentials are designed to be concise, focusing on mastering distinct skills relevant to particular professional areas. They serve as both a complement to existing degrees and a stand-alone representation of proficiency in a focused domain. The modular nature of a Micro-Credential allows learners to customize their educational pathways, aligning with UIU’s core values.
The value of a Micro-Credential lies in its ability to meet the evolving needs of both students and the labor market. For students, they offer a means to differentiate themselves in a competitive job market by acquiring and demonstrating mastery of skills that are in high demand. For employers, micro-credentials clarify a candidate’s specific abilities beyond what a traditional degree might convey. To qualify for financial aid, Micro-Credentials are courses that contribute toward degree requirements.
Upon successful completion of all required courses in the Micro-Credential, a Micro-Credential Claim Form must be completed. Micro-Credentials are free for electronic copies. There is a Micro-Credential claim fee of $15 for paper copies. Micro-Credentials are awarded on the same dates as the established graduation dates published by the Registrar’s Office (see Academic Calendar ).
Micro-Credential Guidelines
- Eligibility Criteria
- Institutional Requirement: Micro-Credentials must be taken at UIU. UIU needs to ensure the student learns the depth of the material being Micro-Credentialed. UIU cannot ensure the depth of the material from other institutions; therefore, UIU requires all courses in the Micro-Credentials to be taken at UIU. Pre-requisite courses for Micro-Credential courses may be transferred in from other institutions.
- Enrollment Status: Students must be a currently enrolled degree-seeking student to use previously earned credits to count towards a Micro-Credential.
- Grade Requirement: Students must achieve a grade of C or better in all courses included in the Micro-Credential.
- Coursework and Credit Hours
- Core Courses: Each Micro-Credential must consist of a set of core courses specifically designated for the credential; NO SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED.
- Advising and Approval
- Approval Process: Final approval of the micro-credential completion must be granted by the Registrar’s Office. Students must complete the form in order to receive their certificate and to list the Micro-Credential on their resume. Paper copies are $15; digital copies are free.
- Degree Overlap
- Courses used to satisfy Micro-Credential requirements can also count towards degree requirements, provided they meet the criteria for both.
- Self-Contained Credential
- Micro-Credentials can be pursued as a self-contained experience. In this instance, the student applies as a non-degree-seeking student and, therefore, is not eligible for financial aid. Any pre-requisite courses may be required in addition to the curriculum posted.
- Academic Integrity
- Adherence to UIU’s academic integrity policies is mandatory. Any form of academic dishonesty will be followed per the policy and may result in removal from the Micro-Credential.
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