Liberal Arts Associate of Arts (AA) Degree Requirements

Program Details
Award Associate of Arts (AA)
Credits
Program Start Fall, Spring, Summer

Flexible Scheduling

You can complete the Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts entirely online, in the evening, during the day, or with a combination of online, evening, and daytime courses.

You can also arrange your schedule with courses with varying start dates and course lengths so you can focus on fewer classes at one time while completing the same number of credits per semester.

The courses listed below are marked to show you at a glance some of the different formats the course may be offered, however, course offerings change semester by semester. Search My Hawkeye for specific course offerings.

Planning Your Class Schedule

Work with an academic and transfer advisor to select courses, make a transfer plan, and review your progress. Contact the admissions office at the college to which you plan to transfer during your first year at Hawkeye in order to obtain specific program and transfer requirements

Courses and costs are subject to change. See what's included in the cost calculation.

Course Descriptions: Show All | Hide All

I. Natural Science and Mathematics

10 credits (minimum)
Requires one course from each area A, B, and C. Need 7 credits from A and B, including one 4-credit science laboratory course.

A. Biological Sciences

BIO-105 Introductory Biology 4 $877.00
BIO-112 General Biology I
(Fall Only)
4 $878.00
BIO-113 General Biology II
(Spring Only)
4 $887.00
BIO-154 Human Biology O 3 $652.50
BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology O 4 $902.00
BIO-166 Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology O 4 $870.00
BIO-168 Human Anatomy and Physiology I O E 4 $891.00
BIO-186 Microbiology O E 4 $870.00
CNS-121 Environmental Conservation *** 3 $672.50

*** CNS-121 or ENV-115/116: Only one can be taken toward the 7 hours of science.

B. Physical Sciences

CHM-122 Introduction to General Chemistry O E 4 $870.00
CHM-165 General Chemistry I
(Fall Only)
4 $947.00
ENV-115 Environmental Science *** O 3 $652.50
ENV-116 Environmental Science Lab *** O 1 $234.50
GEO-131 Physical Geography O 3 $652.50
GEO-132 Physical Geography Lab 1 $217.50
PHS-120 Exploring Physical Science 4 $870.00
PHS-142 Principles of Astronomy 3 $652.50
PHS-152 Astronomy E 4 $870.00
PHY-162 College Physics I
(Fall Only)
4 $870.00
PHY-212 Classical Physics I 5 $1087.50

*** CNS-121 or ENV-115/116: Only one can be taken toward the 7 hours of science.

C. Mathematics

3 credits (minimum)
(Assessment Required)
MAT-110 Math for Liberal Arts O E 3 $652.50
MAT-121 College Algebra 4 $870.00
MAT-128 Precalculus 4 $870.00
MAT-134 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry 3 $652.50
MAT-156 Statistics O E 3 $652.50
MAT-210 Calculus I O 4 $870.00

II. Humanities

9 credits (minimum)

A. Western Civilization

3 credits (minimum)
HIS-117 Western Civilization I: Ancient and Medieval O 3 $652.50
HIS-118 Western Civilization II: Early Modern O 3 $652.50
HIS-119 Western Civilization III: The Modern Period O E 3 $652.50

B. Humanities

6 credits (minimum)
Requires one course from two different areas: 1, 2, or 3.

1. Literature and Fine Arts

ART-101 Art Appreciation O 3 $652.50
ART-203 Art History I 3 $652.50
ART-204 Art History II
(Spring Only)
3 $652.50
DRA-107 Theatrical Arts and Society O 3 $652.50
LIT-101 Introduction to Literature O 3 $652.50
MUS-100 Music Appreciation O 3 $652.50

2. Philosophy and Religion

PHI-101 Introduction to Philosophy O 3 $652.50
PHI-105 Introduction to Ethics O 3 $652.50
REL-101 Survey of World Religions O 3 $652.50
REL-130 Introduction to Religions of the East O 3 $652.50

3. Non-Western Cultures

CLS-130 African Cultures * O 3 $652.50
CLS-141 Middle Eastern History and Culture * 3 $652.50
CLS-150 Latin American History and Culture O 3 $652.50
CLS-160 East Asian Cultures * O 3 $652.50
CLS-164 Japanese History and Culture * O 3 $652.50
CLS-172 Russian Civilization * 3 $652.50

* Meets the Non-Western Cultures requirement at UNI.

III. Social Sciences

9 credits (minimum)
Requires one course from each area A, B, and C.

A. People and Their Relationships

PSY-111 Introduction to Psychology O E 3 $652.50
SOC-110 Introduction to Sociology O 3 $652.50

B. American Society

HIS-151 U.S. History to 1877 O 3 $652.50
HIS-152 U.S. History Since 1877 O 3 $652.50
POL-111 American National Government O E 3 $652.50

C. Topics in Social Sciences

GEO-121 World Regional Geography O 3 $652.50
POL-121 International Relations E 3 $652.50
POL-125 Comparative Government and Politics 3 $652.50
PSY-121 Developmental Psychology 3 $652.50
PSY-251 Social Psychology
(Spring Only)
3 $652.50
SOC-115 Social Problems O 3 $652.50
SOC-120 Marriage and Family O E 3 $652.50
SOC-135 Death and Dying O 3 $652.50
SOC-208 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
(Spring Only)
3 $652.50
SOC-220 Sociology of Aging 3 $652.50

IV. Communications

9 credits (minimum)

A. Written Communications

6 credits (minimum)
(Assessment required)
ENG-105 Composition I O E 3 $652.50
ENG-106 Composition II O E 3 $652.50

B. Oral Communications

3 credits (minimum)
SPC-101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication O E 3 $652.50

V. Social Diversity

3 credits (minimum)
COM-148 Diversity and the Media 3 $652.50
EDU-223 Multicultural Education
(For Education Emphasis Only)
E 3 $652.50
LIT-133 Minority Voices in U.S. Literature O 3 $652.50
PSY-262 Psychology of Gender O 3 $652.50
SOC-200 Minority Group Relations O 3 $652.50
SOC-205 Diversity in America O E 3 $652.50
WST-101 Women's Studies O 3 $652.50

VI. Elective Courses

22 credits (minimum)

A. Required Elective Course

1 credit (minimum)
SDV-108 The College Experience O E 1 $217.50
SDV-109 College 101 3 $652.50

B. Suggested Elective Courses for the Liberal Arts

21 credits (minimum)
Electives are courses beyond general education requirements. May include courses from any area I, II, III, or V. Up to 16 technical credits may be used as electives. Additional courses may be available. For more information, contact an advisor.
ACC-131 Principles of Accounting I O E 4 $870.00
ACC-132 Principles of Accounting II O E 4 $870.00
ART-133 Drawing (Fall Only) 3 $717.50
ART-134 Drawing II (Spring Only) 3 $697.50
ART-143 Painting 3 $732.50
ART-144 Painting II 3 $732.50
ART-173 Ceramics 3 $822.50
ART-174 Ceramics II 3 $822.50
ART-184 Photography 3 $707.50
BIO-151 Nutrition O 3 $652.50
BIO-173 Human Anatomy and Physiology II O E 4 $930.00
BIO-269 Foodology E 3 $652.50
BUS-102 Introduction to Business O 3 $652.50
BUS-180 Business Ethics O 3 $652.50
BUS-183 Business Law O 3 $652.50
BUS-210 Business Statistics O 3 $652.50
BUS-230 Quantitative Methods for Business Decision Making 3 $652.50
CHM-132 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry E 4 $915.00
CHM-175 General Chemistry II (Spring Only) 4 $1020.00
CHM-260 Organic Chemistry I 3 $652.50
CHM-270 Organic Chemistry II 3 $652.50
CLS-150 Latin American History and Culture * O 3 $652.50
COM-140 Introduction to Mass Media (Fall Only) 3 $652.50
COM-152 ETC: Art and Literary Magazine (Spring Only) E 2 $435.00
CRJ-100 Introduction to Criminal Justice O 3 $652.50
CRJ-120 Introduction to Corrections O 3 $652.50
CRJ-200 Criminology O 3 $652.50
CRJ-201 Juvenile Delinquency O 3 $652.50
CRJ-233 Probation, Parole, Community-Based Corrections O 3 $652.50
CRJ-316 Juvenile Justice O 3 $652.50
CRJ-317 White Collar Crime O 3 $652.50
CRJ-318 Crime Analysis 3 $652.50
CRJ-320 Criminal Justice Ethics O 3 $652.50
CSC-110 Introduction to Computers O 3 $652.50
CSC-116 Information Computing O 3 $652.50
DRA-110 Introduction to Film O 3 $652.50
DRA-130 Acting I 3 $652.50
ECN-110 Introduction to Economics (Fall Only)
No credit if ECN-120 or ECN-130 earned
3 $652.50
ECN-120 Principles of Macroeconomics O 3 $652.50
ECN-130 Principles of Microeconomics O 3 $652.50
EDU-130 Home, School, and Community Relations O 3 $652.50
EDU-210 Foundations of Education 3 $652.50
EDU-235 Children's Literature O 3 $652.50
EDU-240 Educational Psychology 3 $652.50
EDU-246 Including Diverse Learners O 3 $652.50
EDU-255 Technology in the Classroom O 3 $652.50
EDU-901 Academic Service Learning Experience O 1 $217.50
EDU-920 Field Experience O 1 $257.50
ENG-221 Creative Writing 3 $652.50
ENG-230 Creative Writing: Fiction 3 $652.50
ENG-235 Playwriting and Screenwriting 3 $652.50
HIS-201 Iowa History 3 $652.50
HIS-257 African American History O 3 $652.50
HUM-141 J.R.R. Tolkien: Mythology and Methodology 3 $652.50
LIT-189 Women and Literature 3 $652.50
LIT-949 Special Topics (1-3 credits) 1 $217.50
MAT-102 Intermediate Algebra 4 $870.00
MAT-216 Calculus II 4 $870.00
MAT-219 Calculus III 4 $870.00
MGT-101 Principles of Management O 3 $652.50
MGT-208 Introduction to Information Systems O E 3 $652.50
MIL-103 Military Survival Skills 2 $435.00
MIL-110 Leadership and Personal Development
(ROTC at UNI)
1 $217.50
MIL-115 Foundations of Tactical Leadership
(ROTC at UNI)
1 $217.50
MIL-121 Leadership and Decision Making
(ROTC at UNI)
2 $435.00
MIL-122 Leadership in Changing Environment
(ROTC at UNI)
2 $435.00
MKT-110 Principles of Marketing O 3 $652.50
MUA-101 Applied Voice 1 $217.50
MUA-106 Class Voice 1 $217.50
MUA-120 Applied Piano 1 $217.50
MUA-121 Applied Piano II 2 $435.00
MUA-180 Applied Percussion 1 $217.50
MUA-181 Applied Percussion II 1 $217.50
MUS-102 Music Fundamentals (Spring Only) 3 $652.50
MUS-154 Chorus 1 $217.50
MUS-202 World Music 3 $652.50
PEA-117 Bowling I 1 $337.50
PEA-123 Circuit Training 1 $217.50
PEA-145 Crosstraining and Core Fitness 1 $217.50
PEA-150 Powerwalking O 1 $217.50
PEA-187 Weight Training I 1 $217.50
PEA-191 Pilates O 1 $217.50
PEA-194 Vinyasa Yoga O 1 $217.50
PEA-287 Weight Training II E 1 $217.50
PEA-294 Weight Training III E 1 $217.50
PEC-110 Coaching Ethics, Techniques, and Theory O 1 $217.50
PEC-115 Athletic Development and Human Growth O 1 $217.50
PEC-123 Anatomy for Coaching O 1 $217.50
PEC-127 Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries O 2 $435.00
PEH-111 Personal Wellness O 3 $652.50
PEH-141 First Aid 2 $465.00
PEH-162 Introduction to Physical Education 3 $652.50
PEH-909 Cooperative Education O 1 $217.50
PHY-100 Physics in Everyday Life 3 $652.50
PHY-172 College Physics II 4 $870.00
PHY-222 Classical Physics II 5 $1087.50
PSY-241 Abnormal Psychology O 3 $652.50
PSY-261 Human Sexuality 3 $652.50
SDV-131 Career Exploration O 2 $435.00
SOC-160 Introduction to Social Work O 3 $652.50
SOC-180 Social Work Interactional Skills O 3 $652.50
SOC-181 Field Experience (Social Work emphasis) O 1 $217.50
SPC-112 Public Speaking (Spring Only) 3 $652.50
SPC-120 Intercultural Communications (Fall Only) O 3 $652.50
SPC-122 Interpersonal Communication (Spring Only) 3 $652.50
SPC-132 Group Communication (Fall Only) 3 $652.50
SPC-140 Oral Interpretation 3 $652.50

Cost Calculation

Calculations are based on 2023–2024 resident tuition and fees and course fees.

  • Course Cost Calculation: $217.50 × course credits + course fee (if applicable).

  • Total Tuition + Course Fees Calculation: Sum of tuition and course fees for all courses for the term.

    • If more than one course can be taken to fulfill the requirement, the first course listed is used in the total tuition and fees calculation.

Additional costs not included in the cost calculations:

Course Tracking Sheet

2023 Degree Tracking form [pdf]

Contact Information

Administrative Assistant

Kate Childers
Black Hawk Hall 258
319-296-4007
Email Kate Childers

Dean

Liberal and Applied Arts and Human Services

Catharine Freeman
Black Hawk Hall 258
319-296-4041
Email Catharine Freeman

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