Navigating Academic Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to the Iowa State University Course Catalog

The Iowa State University Course Catalog serves as a comprehensive resource for students, faculty, alumni, and researchers. It provides detailed information on academic programs, policies, procedures, and course offerings. This guide explores the key components of the catalog, its purpose, and how to effectively utilize it for academic planning and exploration.

Understanding Academic Programs

Iowa State University offers a diverse range of academic programs across six colleges. These programs are categorized into majors, secondary majors, options, certificates, and minors, each with distinct characteristics and requirements.

Majors

A major represents the primary subject area of study, culminating in a named baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree upon successful completion of all specified requirements. Iowa State University offers a wide variety of undergraduate majors. Examples of majors include:

Biochemistry, B.S.
Biology, B.S.
Culinary Food Science, B.S.
Diet and Exercise, B.S./M.S.
Dietetics, B.S.
Environmental Science, B.S.
Food Science, B.S.
Genetics, B.S.
Nursing, B.S.N.
Nutritional Science, B.S.
Professional Studies, B.L.S.
Software Engineering, B.S.

Secondary Majors

A secondary major is designed to be earned concurrently with a primary major, providing students with the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in a related field. A secondary major can only be earned in conjunction with a primary major.

Options

Within an undergraduate major, options allow students to focus their coursework on a specific subset of the subject area. These options, also referred to as specializations, tracks, emphasis areas, or focus areas, share common degree requirements with the broader major while enabling students to tailor their studies to their interests. Credits within an undergraduate major in which students choose coursework focused on a subset of the subject area of study. The remainder of the degree requirements are common to all students in the major.

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Certificates

A certificate is an academic credential earned in a focused area of study, providing specialized knowledge and skills. Certificates may be earned at the same time as an ISU baccalaureate degree or after the completion of a baccalaureate degree from any accredited institution. Exhibition of artwork completed in the Post Baccalaureate program, required for fulfillment of certificate.

Minors

A minor represents an academic area of emphasis pursued in addition to a major, allowing students to broaden their academic horizons and gain expertise in a complementary field. An academic area of emphasis that is in addition to a major.

Navigating Pre-Professional Programs

Iowa State University provides pathways for students interested in pursuing professional academic programs such as pre-law or pre-med. These pre-professional programs are not degree-granting majors but rather tracks for students who plan to attend professional school (e.g., dental, medical, optometry, physical therapy, law, or veterinary medicine) after their undergraduate studies. Requirements for admission to most professional academic programs can be met by study at Iowa State University.

Course Information and Descriptions

The Iowa State University Course Catalog contains descriptions for nearly 5000 undergraduate and graduate courses. These descriptions provide essential information about course content, credits, prerequisites, and any associated fees.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Many courses at Iowa State University offer experiential learning opportunities, including field trips, international travel, and hands-on activities. These experiences enhance students' understanding of course material and provide valuable real-world skills.

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Examples of Experiential Learning Courses:

Global Public Health Infrastructures and Processes: This course explores global public health infrastructures and processes through experiential learning. It includes discussion of challenges in global public health and application of best practices to enhance quality of public health service delivery in low- and upper-middle income country through a field trip. Location and duration of international travel will vary. (Credits: 3)
Global Resource Systems: This course covers global resource systems topics including the agricultural industries, climate, crops, culture, economics, food, geography, government, history, livestock, marketing, natural resources, public policies, soils, and preparation for travel to locations to be visited. (Credits: 1-2, Repeatable)
Agricultural Production in Unique Regions of the World: This course focuses on agricultural production in unique regions of the world. Students visit farms, industries, and educational institutions for hands-on classes, tours, food tasting, and social interactions with students, researchers, farmers, and business people. (Credits: 3, Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits)
International Agricultural and/or Nonagricultural Economies, Markets, and Institutions: This course involves a tour and study of international agricultural and/or nonagricultural economies, markets, and institutions. Locations and duration of tours will vary. Limited enrollment. Pre-trip sessions arranged. (Credits: 1-3, Repeatable)
Environmental Topics in Varied Locations: These extended field trips focus on studying environmental topics in varied locations. Location and duration of trips will vary. Trip expenses paid by students. (Credits: 1-30, Repeatable)
European Capital Markets and Multinational Corporate Finance: This course focuses on banking, capital markets, and corporate finance in a particular European country. It includes exposure to European capital markets, the European Monetary Union and the banking system. Current and historical banking practices within the EU and how they changed since the EMU implementation. It also helps students understand financial decisions faced by firms located in the EU. Students study banks, institutions, and companies in Europe to gain specific knowledge of their practices. (Credits: 3) (Dual-listed with FSHN 5960A)
Food Industry, Dietetic and Nutritional Agencies Tours: These tours involve the study of food industry, dietetic and nutritional agencies in different regions of the world. Pre-travel session arranged. Travel expenses paid by students. (Credits: 1-4, Repeatable, One credit per week traveled. Limited enrollment.) (Dual-listed with FSHN 5960B and FSHN 4960A/B)
Geological Region or Theme Field Excursion: This course includes a weekly seminar that introduces students to a selected geological region or theme that is visited on a required ten-day field excursion. (Credits: 1-2, Repeatable, Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course)
International Topics in Sociology and Rural Sociology: This course involves a tour and study of international topics in sociology and rural sociology. Locations and duration of tour will vary. (Credits: 1-3, Repeatable, maximum of 3 credits, Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course)
Horticultural Regions Study and Tour: This course includes the study and tour of production methods in major horticultural regions of the US. Influence of climate, economics, geography, soils, landscapes, markets, cultures, and history of horticultural crops. Location and duration of tours will vary. Tour expenses paid by students. (Credits: 1-4, Repeatable)
Preparation for International Travel (Horticulture/Agriculture Focus): This course prepares students for safe international travel, focusing on the horticultural/agricultural industries, climate, crops, economics, geography, history, marketing, soils, culture, traditions, and horticultural/agricultural development of the country to be visited. (Credits: Required, Repeatable, Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course, Limited enrollment. Students enrolled in this course also intend to register for Hort 496 the following term.)
Livestock Production Systems Study and Tour: This course includes an international tour and study of livestock production systems and impacts of animals on society and the ecosystem. Influence of climate, economics, geography, landscapes, markets, and other factors on both livestock and other domesticated animals. Locations and duration of tours will vary. Information usually available 9 months before departure. Tour expenses paid by students. (Credits: 1-30, Repeatable, Limited enrollment.)
Domestic Livestock Production Systems Study and Tour: This course involves a domestic tour and study of livestock production systems and impacts of animals on society and the ecosystem. Influence of climate, economics, geography, landscapes, markets, and other factors on both livestock and other domesticated animals. Locations and duration of tours will vary. Information usually available 9 months before departure. (Credits: 1-30, Repeatable, Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course, Limited enrollment.)
Focused Short Courses: These courses are focused short courses on timely concepts. Check with Greenlee School for course availability. (Credits: 1, Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.) (Cross-listed with ADVRT 3910/ PR 3910/ SMC 3910 and other combinations.)
Pre-Departure Course for ME 4020: This course covers safety and health issues while on site; travel logistics; required travel documents and deadlines; cultural norms. Offered irregularly. (Credits: 1)
Ecological and Management Topics in Varied Environments: These extended field trips focus on studying ecological and management topics in varied environments. Location and duration of trips will vary. Pre-trip sessions arranged. Trip expenses paid by students. (Credits: 1-5, Repeatable, maximum of 3 times. Limited enrollment.) (Dual-listed with NREM 5960A/B and NREM 4960A/B)

Experimental Courses

New courses developed and offered since catalog publication are called experimental courses. A list of current experimental courses can be found in Workday using the Find ISU Course Definitions tool and filtering with the course tag "Experimental Course."

Academic Policies and Procedures

The Iowa State University Catalog is a one-year publication, which lists all academic policies, and procedures. Versions prior to 2011 were two-year publications and available in hard copy as well as online. The catalog outlines the university's academic policies and procedures, including information on admissions, enrollment, registration, grading, academic standing, and graduation requirements. Students are responsible for understanding and adhering to these policies.

Curriculum Updates

The curriculum process is governed by the Faculty Senate. The ad hoc committee, Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee considers new curricula proposals, changes and discontinuations to the catalog. Additional information may be in the college governance documents. The curriculum approval process generally consists of a proposal from the department/program level, approved by the department/program curriculum committee (if applicable), college curriculum committee, and the dean. Additional approvals are needed from the Graduate College if the program proposal is a graduate program. The program proposal is submitted to the Faculty Senate Curriculum committee for review. The Academic Affairs Committee reviews the proposal before passing it onto the Faculty Senate. The Board of Regents, State of Iowa approves all new programs and majors. For additional information about the approval process, see the link to Faculty Senate/Faculty Handbook Curriculum Approvals â Section 10.8. See the Office of the Provost web site for more information.

Catalog updates are generally processed with approvals from department, college, and Faculty Senate Curriculum Committee representatives. Editing begins in late February with course changes due to the Office of the Registrar by June 1. Curriculum and other general information are due to the Office of the Registrar by December 1. Publication is the following February.

Accessing the Catalog

The Iowa State University Catalogs are accessible online for the years 1983/1985 through 2005/2007.

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Historical Context

Course catalogs have a long history at Iowa State University, providing students with essential information for making informed decisions about their education. They are also valuable resources for alumni and researchers interested in the history of the university, its departments, and the development of specific courses. Iowa State Normal School, "Catalog of State Normal School, 1894" (1894). UNI Programs and Courses Catalogs.

Important Considerations

Every effort has been made to make the catalog accurate as of the date of publication. However, all policies, procedures, fees, and charges are subject to change at any time by appropriate action of the faculty, the university administration, or the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

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