University of Northern Iowa

General Information about the University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa is located on 900 acres to the west of the Waterloo and Cedar Falls metropolitan area. The university began awarding graduate degrees in 1951 and now offers 50 different master's degrees, doctoral degrees and certificate programs. Undergraduate students may choose from over 160 majors and minors.

The University of Northern Iowa's campus was first used as a collegiate institution in 1876. At that time there were 88 students enrolled. The 2009 enrollment was 13,080 students, and approximately 90% are Iowa residents. The school underwent several name changes, including the Iowa State Teachers' College and the State College of Iowa, before being named the University of Northern Iowa in 1967.

Admissions and Enrollment Information for the University of Northern Iowa

The University of Northern Iowa accepts new students directly from high school or transfer students who have completed some of their undergraduate requirements at other 2-year or 4-year institutions. Applicants who have just completed high school are assessed according to their ACT scores, high school rankings, high school grade point averages and the number of high school courses they completed in a set of core subject areas. Prospective students may apply to the graduate college either to earn degrees or to take graduate-level classes for enrichment purposes.

University of Northern Iowa Departments (by College)

The University of Northern Iowa is organized into six colleges. The university adopted the collegiate model in 1968 to organize its programs of study.

College of Business Administration

The College of Business Administration was founded in 1968 as the College of Business and Behavioral Sciences. The college continued to evolve and specialize until becoming the current College of Business Administration in 1989. The college offers undergraduate majors in accounting, economics, finance, marketing or management. The college also offers majors in applied fields such as business teaching, management information systems and real estate. Graduate students at the College of Business Administration may choose from an MBA program or a master's degree in accounting.

College of Education

The College of Education, established in 1968, offers non-teaching B.A. degrees in leisure, youth and human services and athletic training. Students interested in teaching can earn B.A. degrees in early childhood, elementary education, health education, middle level education and physical education. The college offers similar majors for its master's degree programs. Graduate students may also pursue school psychology degrees and doctoral degrees focused on curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, leisure, youth and human services or special education.

College of Humanities and Fine Arts

The College of Humanities and Fine Arts includes the departments of art, music and theater. The humanities divisions offers programs in English language and literature, modern languages and communications. The philosophy and world religion department and the women and gender studies program offer interdisciplinary studies of the human experience. Each of these departments offers both bachelor's and master's degrees. The College of Humanities and Fine Arts is one of the university's original four colleges, founded in 1968.

College of Natural Sciences

The College of Natural Sciences includes the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, earth science, mathematics, physics and science education. Founded in 1968, the college offers 15 master's degree programs and 43 bachelor's degree options, including new majors in networking and system administration, bioinformatics and nanotechnology. The college provides students opportunities to research and learn about solid waste issues through its Recycling and Reuse Technology Transfer Center. Students may pursue foundry research and experiences at the Metal Casting Center.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, created in 1981 when it split from the College of Business and Behavioral Sciences, includes the interdisciplinary department of design, textiles, gerontology and family studies. Students can study the social sciences in the departments of geography, history, political science, social work and anthropology. Students analyze human behavior in the psychology and criminology departments. The college offers 24 undergraduate majors, nine certificate programs and seven master's degree programs.

Graduate College

The Graduate College administers the various graduate degree programs offered by the other five colleges. Though the college was one of the original colleges founded in 1968, it did not receive funding and a formal structure until 1969. The college consists of graduate faculty who are assigned to departments within the other colleges. Some faculty serve on the graduate council, overseeing the college's administrative issues, such as curriculum proposals and degree requirements.

Contact Information

• Address: 1227 West 27th St, Cedar Falls, IA 50614
• Phone Number: (319) 273-2311