The Peacock Professional Experience (“general education”)

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General Education Program Philosophy

Students take general education courses across a broad range of disciplines within the program to develop key professional skills. These skills are supported by knowledge also imparted in the courses. We believe these skills are important for student success within their areas of academic focus (i.e., their majors and minors) and also for successful entry into the global society. UIU faculty assess the program learning outcomes to determine the level of student mastery of the key skills, which then informs improvement in teaching methodologies, which ideally leads to increased levels of student mastery. When benchmarks are achieved, the bar for the expected level of mastery is raised. The program learning outcomes are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they remain relevant to the needs of students in the dynamic global environment.

General Education Program Mission

Upper Iowa University is committed to ensuring that all undergraduate students participating in its general education program receive a broad education while gaining essential professional skills across multiple disciplines. The Peacock Professional Experience provides nine learning outcomes, each of which articulates a specific skill students should gain, and is supported by knowledge provided by the courses students choose to take within the guidelines of the program.

General Education Program Vision

The Peacock Professional Experience provides students with knowledge and professional skills which support their academic journey at UIU and beyond as productive members of the global society.

Fostering Career Readiness

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified eight core competencies that represent employer-desired skills and prepare to students to be career-ready. The Peacock Professional Experience has been designed to directly address four of the competencies, with special emphasis on critical thinking as applied to diverse ways of knowing. Click here to learn more about the NACE competencies.

Developing Professional Foundations

Graduates will be able to use strong communication skills both in writing and speaking to make persuasive arguments backed by evidence and communicate their ideas to diverse groups in their career and future endeavors.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Students will be able to engage as members of a diverse community.

NACE Competency: Equity and Inclusion.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
ANTH 110 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credit(s)
ANTH 120 - Culture and Difference 3 Credit(s)
COMM 107 - Human Communication 3 Credit(s)
COMM 221 - Intercultural Communication 3 Credit(s)
EDU 162 - Diversity for Teachers 3 Credit(s)
ENG 265 - African American Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 311 - African American Film 3 Credit(s)
ENG 365 - Women and Literature 3 Credit(s)
HIST 330 - African American History 3 Credit(s)
ID 200 - Short-Term International Travel 3 Credit(s)
PSY 321 - Death and Dying 3 Credit(s)
REL 120 - Introduction to World Religions 3 Credit(s)
SOC 240 - Diversity in the United States 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Professional Oral Communication

Students will be able to communicate effectively through oral communication.

NACE Competency: Communication.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
COMM 105 - Public Speaking 3 Credit(s)
COMM 200 - Interpersonal Communication 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Professional Written Communication

Students will be able to communicate effectively through written communication.

NACE Competency: Communication.

Required: 6 credits
ENG 101 - English Composition I 3 Credit(s)
ENG 102 - English Composition II 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 6

Success in Higher Education

Students will be able to transition to higher education at UIU through intellectual and university engagement.

NACE Competencies: Career in Self Development.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
FYS 120 - First Year Seminar 3 Credit(s)
FYS 122 - First Year Seminar 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Expanding Professional Horizons by Using Diverse Ways of Knowing

Graduates will be able to use diverse ways of knowing and think critically and creatively in their career and future endeavors.

Civics, Ethics and Citizenship as a Way of Understanding Societal Systems

Students will be able to effectively evaluate or critique an aspect of a societal system.

NACE Competency: Critical Thinking as applied to Civics, Ethics, and Citizenship.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
ECON 160 - Principles of Microeconomics 3 Credit(s)
EXSS 334 - Sport Law and Legal Issues 3 Credit(s)
PHIL 202 - Contemporary Ethics 3 Credit(s)
PS 100 - U.S. Government 3 Credit(s)
PS 211 - International Relations 3 Credit(s)
PS 212 - Comparative Politics 3 Credit(s)
PS 222 - Introduction to Political Society 3 Credit(s)
PS 230 - State and Local Government 3 Credit(s)
PSY 232 - Group Dynamics 3 Credit(s)
PSY 240 - Conflict Resolution 3 Credit(s)
SOC 304 - Globalization 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Creative Expression as a Way of Appreciating Ourselves

Students will be able to effectively evaluate or critique artistic or creative works.

NACE Competency: Critical Thinking as applied to Creative Expression.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
ART 100 - Introduction to Art 3 Credit(s)
ART 110 - Drawing 3 Credit(s)
ART 212 - Art History II 3 Credit(s)
ART 222 - Ceramics/Hand Building 3 Credit(s)
ART 223 - Ceramics/Wheel Throwing 3 Credit(s)
ART 305 - Environmental Art 3 Credit(s)
ART 330 - Watercolor/Water Media 3 Credit(s)
COMM 290 - The Movies 3 Credit(s)
ENG 125 - Introduction to Literature 3 Credit(s)
ENG 170 - Introduction to Creative Writing 3 Credit(s)
ENG 210 - American Literature II 3 Credit(s)
ENG 275 - Survey of Television 3 Credit(s)
ENG 290 - The Movies 3 Credit(s)
ENG 330 - Shakespeare 3 Credit(s)
ENG 352 - Best Sellers 3 Credit(s)
GRAF 112 - Introduction to Graphic Design 3 Credit(s)
GRAF 218 - Digital Photography 3 Credit(s)
MUS 100 - Introduction to Music 3 Credit(s)
MUS 202 - American Popular Music 3 Credit(s)
PHIL 150 - Introduction to Philosophy 3 Credit(s)
THE 240 - Oral Interpretation 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Quantitative Reasoning as a Way of Solving Problems

Students will be able to apply mathematical concepts and skills to solve problems and communicate solutions. Quantitative Reasoning courses require a minimum ALEKS test score as a prerequisite if you have not met the requirement in transfer.

NACE Competency: Critical Thinking as applied to Quantitative Reasoning.

Required: choose 3 credits from the following:
ACCT 201 - Accounting Principles I 3 Credit(s)
BA 256 - Quantitative Analysis for Business I 3 Credit(s)
MATH 101 - Math for Liberal Arts 3 Credit(s)
MATH 105 - College Mathematics with Applications 3 Credit(s)
MATH 107 - College Algebra 3 Credit(s)
MATH 115 - Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry 3 Credit(s)
MATH 220 - Elementary Statistics 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Science as a Way of Understanding the Universe

Students will be able to apply scientific methodology to problems or investigations in science.

NACE Competency: Critical Thinking as Applied to Quantitative Science

Required: Choose 3 credits from the following:
BIO 100 - General Biological Science 3 Credit(s)
BIO 135 - Principles of Biology I 4 Credit(s)
BIO 165 - Human Biology and Nutrition 3 Credit(s)
BIO 215 - Local Field Science 3 Credit(s)
BIO 268 - Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology 4 Credit(s)
BIO 270 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 Credit(s)
CHEM 102 - Introduction to Forensic Science 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 115 - Environmental Chemistry 3 Credit(s)
CHEM 140 - Chemistry for Everyday Life 3 Credit(s)
ES 100 - Introduction to Geology 3 Credit(s)
ES 117 - Natural Disasters 3 Credit(s)
ES 121 - Dinosaurs 3 Credit(s)
ES 161 - Introduction to Environmental Science 3 Credit(s)
ES 220 - Soil and Water Conservation 3 Credit(s)
ES 321 - Building an Eco-Economy 3 Credit(s)
PHY 110 - Introduction to Astronomy 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3

Social Science as a Way of Understanding Ourselves

Students will be able to apply scientific methodology to problems or investigations in social science.

NACE Competency: Critical Thinking as applied to Social Science.

Required: Choose 3 credits from the following:
ANTH 310 - Political Anthropology 3 Credit(s)
CJ 224 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 Credit(s)
ECON 281 - Western Economic History: 1600-Present 3 Credit(s)
EDU 142 - Human Growth, Development and Guidance 3 Credit(s)
GEOG 100 - Introduction to Physical Geography 3 Credit(s)
HIST 100 - World History to 1500 3 Credit(s)
HIST 101 - World History Since 1500 3 Credit(s)
HIST 110 - American History to 1877 3 Credit(s)
HIST 111 - American History Since 1877 3 Credit(s)
HIST 214 - World at War, 1914-1945 3 Credit(s)
HIST 281 - Western Economic History: 1600-Present 3 Credit(s)
PSY 190 - General Psychology 3 Credit(s)
PSY 212 - Developmental Psychology: Birth to Adolescence 3 Credit(s)
PSY 222 - Developmental Psychology: Young Adulthood to Late Adulthood 3 Credit(s)
PSY 270 - Human Sexuality 3 Credit(s)
SOC 110 - Principles of Sociology 3 Credit(s)
SOC 220 - Social Problems 3 Credit(s)
Total Credit(s): 3