Oct 11, 2024  
2024-25 Academic Catalog 
  
2024-25 Academic Catalog

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.

Professional Oral Communication


Students will be able to communicate effectively through oral communication. 

NACE Competency: Communication.

Professional Written Communication


Students will be able to communicate effectively through written communication.

NACE Competency: Communication.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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