All students must fulfill the requirements of the university's Liberal Studies program. This involves a minimum of 40 credits among Learning Skills, Knowledge Areas, and Liberal Studies electives. The number of credits may rise slightly depending on student choices. Different colleges and sometimes departments within colleges may have specific variations as to how these Liberal Studies requirements are to be met.
Learning Skills: 9-10cr
- English Composition I and II 6cr
- Mathematics 3-4cr
Knowledge Areas: 31-32cr
Humanities: 9cr
- One course in history, one in literature, and one in philosophy or religious studies
Fine Arts: 3cr
- One course from list
Natural Science: Choose one option, 7-8cr
- Option I (8cr): Natural Science Laboratory Courses
- Any two courses with laboratories (four credits each) from the Natural Science Laboratory course list
- Option II (7cr): One laboratory course plus one non-laboratory course
- One course with a laboratory (4cr) from the Natural Science Laboratory course list and one course (3cr) from the Natural Science non-laboratory course list
Social Science: 9cr
- Three courses from list, 9cr
Dimensions of Wellness: 3-4cr
- One course from list
Liberal Studies Electives: 3-6cr
Global and Multicultural Awareness: 3cr
- One course from list. Most of these courses will at the same time fulfill other requirements set by Liberal Studies or in some cases by a college or department.
Writing Across the Curriculum
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Minimum of two “W” courses. All students must include among the total courses required for graduation a minimum of two designated writing-intensive courses. One of these courses must be in the student's primary major; the other(s) may be in Liberal studies, college or major requirements, or free electives. Such courses, which involve extensive use of writing as part of the learning experience, are identified with a “W” as part of the section number in each semester's schedule of classes listing on MyIUP.
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The departments of Anthropology, Biology, Communications Media (JRNL majors only), Criminology and Criminal Justice, English, Finance and Economics (ECON majors only) Food and Nutrition, Foreign Languages, History, Management, Nursing and Allied Health Professions (NURS majors only), Philosophy and Religious Studies, Political Science, Professional Studies in Education (Early Childhood Education majors only), Psychology, Safety Science, and Sociology currently have approved writing plans. For more information please see current department writing plans.