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Curriculum in Liberal Arts and Sciences:
Planning the Program of Study
Careful, comprehensive planning is important for
meeting graduation requirements and taking advantage of the resources offered by the
university. Each student is encouraged to work with his or her academic adviser in
developing a four year plan as soon as possible after declaration of the major. A degree
audit listing all completed courses and those remaining to be taken for fulfillment of the
degree requirements in the student’s chosen major is provided to the student and the
adviser each semester. The student should review the audit each semester and consult with
the adviser when changes are required. Any changes to the audit must be approved by the
academic adviser and by the dean’s office. It is essential that the audit be reviewed
and updated in a timely fashion in order to avoid delay in the student’s graduation.
During the first year, students should meet
proficiency requirements in English and in library. They should also make progress toward
meeting the general education requirements, a large part of which should be completed by
the end of the second year. The third and fourth years should emphasize completion of the
major (and minor, if elected) and of general education requirements, and should give the
student an opportunity to take electives.
The Open Option
Recognizing the fact that many students entering
Iowa State University will not have selected a major, the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences provides the open option in order to give them time to explore possible majors
and programs. Open option students who enter as freshmen are expected to declare a major
by the beginning of the third semester of enrollment. Entering students who have completed
three semesters in another school and students who wish to change majors but are not yet
ready to declare the new major may register under the open option for one semester,
provided they have completed no more than 75 credits.
Program planning information is available
through advisers of open option students, in departmental offices, and in the office of
the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Early enrollment in certain course
sequences is essential for students who are considering sciences or mathematical
disciplines, and selection of a major field by the end of the first year is strongly
recommended.
Honors Program
For information on the Honors Program in the
College of Liberal ARts and Sciences, see Index, Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Cross-Disciplinary Programs, Honors Program.
ROTC Programs
Teacher Licensure
Preprofessional Programs
Students in the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences may participate in preprofessional programs in human health-related fields, law,
and theology by taking the courses required for admission to professional schools.
Students may enter the college with the designation Premed, Prelaw, or Preprofessional
Health Programs. Most will earn a bachelor’s degree by choosing a major and meeting
the requirements for the major while taking the preprofessional courses. Others will spend
one to three years as students in the college before transferring to a professional school
to which they have applied and been accepted. For further information, see Index,
Preprofessional Study.
Experiential Learning
(Internship/Co-op) Program
The Experiential Learning (Internship/Co-op)
Program assists students in gaining career-related experience while going to school.
Internships/Co-ops provide students with the opportunity to gain specific skills, apply
academic knowledge in practical situations, pretest their career choice, earn a salary,
and establish a network of professional contacts.
Most internships are full-time and last for a
semester or a summer, but a part-time experience is possible. Students wishing to receive
academic credit for their internship must make arrangements with a faculty member in their
major department. In contrast, co-op students work full-time on an extended basis (work
two semesters) or on an alternating basis (work, school, work, etc.) during any semester
(fall, spring, summer).
It may take students participating in the
Experiential Learning (Internship/Co-op) Program an additional semester or more to
complete their academic curriculum requirements. For additional information, contact
Business/Liberal Arts and Sciences Career Services.
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