Exploring Degree Programs at Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a comprehensive institution committed to providing a strong undergraduate education. NIU fosters an intellectual environment that encourages curiosity, rigorous observation, tolerant understanding, and informed judgment, which are essential habits of an educated person. NIU's baccalaureate degree experience enables graduates to think critically, create, and communicate effectively. The university emphasizes the importance of context, preparing graduates to understand the impact of history on modern society, the relationship between our society and others around the globe, and the unity and diversity of the American experience. Students are exposed to a broad range of experiences and knowledge through the study of natural science, social science, the humanities, and the arts, developing their knowledge, capacities, and abilities through an intentionally developed curriculum that integrates general education, the students’ majors, and opportunities outside the classroom.

Academic Structure and Degree Offerings

Undergraduate programs at NIU are organized under the Colleges of Business, Education, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts, and Office of the Provost. Each of these six colleges coordinates programs for a group of departments of related disciplines and offers specialized academic services for students majoring in one of its departments. NIU offers a variety of degrees, including the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.). In addition to these traditional degrees, contract majors are offered by the Colleges of Education (B.S.), Engineering and Engineering Technology (B.S.), Health and Human Sciences (B.S.), Liberal Arts and Sciences (B.A.)

The most popular majors at Northern Illinois University include: Psychology, General; Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse; Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other; Marketing/Marketing Management, General; Computer Science; Mechanical Engineering; Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies; Elementary Education and Teaching; Speech Communication and Rhetoric; and Accounting.

Specific Undergraduate Majors and Available Degrees

Accountancy: B.S.
Anthropology: B.A. and B.S.
Art: B.A.
Art Education: B.S.Ed.
Art History: B.A.
Biological Sciences: B.S.
Business Administration: B.S.
Chemistry: B.S.
Clinical Laboratory Sciences: B.S.
Communication Studies: B.A. and B.S.
Communicative Disorders: B.S.
Community Leadership and Civic Engagement: B.A.
Computer Science: B.S.
Early Childhood Studies: B.S.
Economics: B.A. and B.S.
Electrical Engineering: B.S.
Elementary Education: B.S.Ed.
English: B.A.
Environmental Studies: B.A.
Family and Child Studies: B.S.
Finance: B.S.
French: B.A.
Geography: B.A. and B.S.
Geology and Environmental Geosciences: B.S.
German: B.A.
Health Education: B.S.Ed.
Health Sciences: B.S.
History: B.A. and B.S.
Industrial and Systems Engineering: B.S.
Journalism: B.A. and B.S.
Kinesiology: B.S.
Management: B.S.
Marketing: B.S.
Mathematical Sciences: B.S.
Mechanical Engineering: B.S.
Meteorology: B.S.
Music: B.A. and B.M.
Nursing: B.S.
Nutrition, Dietetics, and Hospitality Administration: B.S.
Operations and Information Management: B.S.
Philosophy: B.A.
Physical Education: B.S.Ed.
Physics: B.S.
Political Science: B.A. and B.S.
Psychology: B.A. and B.S.
Public Health: B.S.
Russian: B.A.
Sociology: B.A. and B.S.
Spanish: B.A.
Special Education: B.S.Ed.
Studio Art: B.F.A.
Technology: B.S.
Textiles, Apparel, and Merchandising: B.S.
Theatre Arts: B.F.A.
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: B.A.

The University Honors Program

The University Honors Program (UHP) at NIU provides an enriched educational experience for students of high academic promise and achievement who have a commitment to excellence. The UHP courses differ from other courses in that they encourage more open exchange between students and professors, are designed to engage students in practical and enhanced learning opportunities, and provide direct access to the best faculty both inside and outside the classroom. Graduation with UHP recognition frequently gives students a distinct advantage in applying for professional or graduate school and for employment as they can articulate both their curricular and co-curricular accomplishments. In particular, the UHP has preferred admission agreements with several NIU graduate programs and the College of Law.

Program Structure and Requirements

The UHP is divided into two distinct options for students to complete - each with its own separate requirements:

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Associate University Honors: Requires a combination of six (6) curricular and co-curricular activities. Students pursuing this distinction must complete a minimum of three (3) honors designated courses, each greater than or equal to three-credits. Among these, one must be outside the major, and one must be a University Honors Seminar. In addition, students must complete a minimum of two (2) Honors Engaged approved co-curricular activities.
Full University Honors: Requires students to complete a combination of six (6) honors designated courses, four (4) Honors Engaged approved co-curricular activities, and two (2) electives, satisfied either through additional honors designated course work or Honors Engaged approved experience(s) or a combination of the two options. Each course must be greater than or equal to three-credits. Students must complete three (3) of the honors designated courses outside their major, and honors coursework must also include one (1) University Honors Seminar, and one (1) Honors Capstone independent study project usually completed during the senior year. For the Capstone Project, students are encouraged to pursue a subject of their choosing in depth and to develop their interests through independent, yet guided, research, study, or artistry.

Within either option, students may earn honors course credit in general education, elective, and major courses with a grade of B- or higher. Honors curricular credit is earned when a course is honors designated through an “H” after the course designator and number or when the course designator is HON.

University Honors Seminars

University Honors Seminars may be courses from particular colleges and departments, or, in some cases, are from the Honors course list provided here. Seminars labeled HON 300 Topics A-C earn general education credit in the knowledge domain listed in the course description; seminars labeled HON 400 Topics A-C identify seminars that earn both general education credit in the knowledge domain listed in the course description and writing infused credit; seminars labeled HON 400 Topic D earn writing infused credit; seminars labeled HON 410 earn human diversity credit; seminars labeled HON 410 Topics A-C identify seminars that earn both general education credit in the knowledge domain listed in the course description and human diversity credit. Seminars labeled HON 410 Topic D earn Human Diversity credit. HON 420 Topics A-C identify seminars that earn general education credit in the knowledge domain listed in the course description, writing infused credit, and human diversity credit; seminars labeled HON 420 Topic D earn writing infused and human diversity credit.

Admission to the University Honors Program

The UHP welcomes not only freshmen but students who wish to enroll in the UHP during or after their freshman year, either from within NIU, as transfer students, or as graduates of community colleges with an associate’s degree (A.A.). Admission into the UHP is based on a holistic review of applications, including GPA, UHP admission essay, and other information provided in the application. Students who have previously completed Honors course work or completed co-curricular experiences may have these counted for up to half the requirements to complete the program.

Additional Opportunities

The UHP also offers accelerated programs, including:

Accelerated B.A. or B.S./J.D.
Accelerated B.S. or B.A./M.A.
Accelerated B.S./M.S.
Accelerated B.S./M.S.
Accelerated B.S./M.S.

*Consistent with the American Bar Association requirements, for students to take advantage of this opportunity they must submit an application for review, successfully complete a minimum of ¾ of their undergraduate course work, and earn a score on the LSAT at or above the 50th percentile of the previous year’s matriculating law class.

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Additional Support Programs

The McKinley “Deacon” Davis CHANCE Program

The McKinley “Deacon” Davis CHANCE Program provides academic, social, financial and organizational guidance through personalized coaching and a unique campus-wide support system to ensure long-term student success. NIU will conduct a holistic review of each student application to determine eligibility for the CHANCE program and if the student would benefit from its services.

The Pre-Health Professions Program (PHP)

The Pre-Health Professions Program (PHP) offers an enriched academic experience tailored for students pursuing professional schools in health-related areas. Designed to support students in achieving their professional goals, the PHP program is a limited retention opportunity open to students from all undergraduate colleges. The program integrates critical coursework with engagement opportunities that span across research, clinical practice, diversity and inclusion, leadership, teamwork, communication, and civic engagement. Graduating with PHP recognition provides students with a valuable credential to enhance their applications to medical, veterinary, or other healthcare professional schools, or for employment in healthcare fields. Requirements include a combination of designated courses and co-curricular activities.

Assessment of Student Learning

Northern Illinois University engages in assessment processes to answer important questions about the quality of students’ baccalaureate experiences. Assessment student learning outcomes is one of the ways the university measures the extent to which it fulfills its educational mission. Information gained from programmatic assessment processes helps the university improve courses, degree programs, and academic and student support services. Additionally, assessment activities provide information that is required at the state and national levels for certification and accreditation purposes. Many assessment activities at NIU occur as a part of instruction within the degree program. Other assessment activities, including testing, surveys and projects, occur with the goal of measuring students’ knowledge and skills by evaluating performance at selected points in time. As students progress through degree programs, they will be expected to participate in assessment measures, which they should complete to the best of their abilities.

Key Factors in the NIU Experience

Student-Faculty Ratio: The student-faculty ratio at Northern Illinois University is 15:1, indicating a relatively accessible learning environment.
Class Size: The school has 35.7% of its classes with fewer than 20 students, allowing for more personalized attention.
Freshman Retention Rate: The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 68%.

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