Undergraduate Academic Programs

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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. 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. Almost every department has one or more major programs; many majors include specific emphases.

Northern Illinois University is a large, complex institution with a mission that includes a strong commitment to undergraduate education. Central to this commitment is the establishment of an intellectual environment that encourages the formation of the essential habits of the educated person–curiosity, rigorous observation, tolerant understanding, and informed judgment. The diverse academic programs in each of the distinctive colleges are unified by common expectations for the achievement of the baccalaureate degree.

Baccalaureate degree holders from NIU should be able not only to appreciate the intrinsic value of human knowledge, but also to use it to engage in both scientific and philosophical inquiry, imaginative and creative–as well as abstract and critical–thinking, the solving of problems, and integrative thinking synthesizing knowledge derived from varied disciplines. The individual with a baccalaureate degree, moreover, should possess intellectual curiosity, understanding of diverse cultural heritages, and a proper regard for different values, ideas, and ways of life. All who aspire toward a baccalaureate degree from NIU are expected to seek responsibility for self and others, to achieve a basis for moral integrity and a philosophy of life, and to arrive at an appreciation of artistic and other creative endeavors, in addition to achieving physical, emotional, and intellectual self-awareness with the ability for self-assessment, along with an understanding of the potential for human freedom amidst global interdependence.

The baccalaureate degree includes general education requirements for all students and an in-depth study in at least one major area as well as individual elective choices. These obligations are met simultaneously and, together, fulfill the curricular intent of the degree.

Successful completion of the baccalaureate degree should mean that the student will have developed (a) effective habits in logical thinking, (b) communication skills, (c) quantitative skills, (d) an understanding of and ability to use modern technology, (e) sophisticated practices in using resources, (f) mature interpersonal behavior in various settings, and (g) those unique skills necessary for one’s chosen area of in-depth study.

Individual departments should be consulted in the catalog for major requirements and to determine emphases and areas of study which may be pursued within a major.

Baccalaureate Degrees Offered

Northern Illinois University offers 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.) degrees in six colleges. The following lists these degrees and indicates the colleges and departments/schools offering them. 

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

College of Business

Accountancy (B.S.)
Finance (B.S.)
Management (B.S.)
Marketing (B.S.)
Operations Management and Information Systems (B.S.)

College of Education

Kinesiology and Physical Education (B.S.)
Teaching and Learning (B.S.)

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology

Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
Industrial and Systems Engineering (B.S.)
Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
Technology (B.S.)

College of Health and Human Sciences

Allied Health Professions (B.S.)
Communicative Disorders (B.S.)
Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences (B.S.)
Nursing (B.S.)

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Anthropology (B.A./B.S.)
Biological Sciences (B.S.)
Chemistry and Biochemistry (B.S.)
Communication (B.A./B.S.)
Computer Science (B.S.)
Economics (B.A./B.S.)
English (B.A.)
Foreign Languages and Literatures (B.A.)
Geography (B.A./B.S.)
Geology and Environmental Geosciences (B.S.)
History (B.A./B.S.)
Mathematical Sciences (B.S.)
Philosophy (B.A.)
Physics (B.S.)
Political Science (B.A./B.S.)
Psychology (B.A./B.S.)
Sociology (B.A./B.S.)

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Art (B.A.)
Music (B.A.)
Theatre and Dance (B.A.)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Art
Theatre and Dance

Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.)

College of Education
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology
College of Health and Human Sciences
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Music

Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.)

College of Education

Kinesiology and Physical Education
Teaching and Learning

College of Health and Human Sciences

Allied Health Professions

College of Visual and Performing Arts

Art

Baccalaureate Degree Majors

The following list of undergraduate majors shows the degree(s) available. In addition, 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. and B.S.), and Visual and Performing Arts (B.A.)

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.
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.
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.
Theatre studies–B.A.

The University Honors Program provides a challenging educational experience for students of high academic promise and achievement who have a commitment to excellence. The program permits such students to participate actively in the plan and design of their own educational directions within the overall university and departmental curricula. The Honors Program is broad and inclusive enough to provide this opportunity to students in all undergraduate colleges.

Honors sections are available in all general education areas, as electives, and, by prior arrangement, in virtually all majors. These courses differ from other courses in that they encourage more open exchange between the student and the professor, both inside and outside the classroom. Students are encouraged to pursue a subject in depth and to develop their own interests through independent study.

Since all honors credit applies toward graduation requirements, an honors student may complete the program without additional time requirements; a student may also withdraw from the program without loss of credit. Graduation With University Honors frequently gives the student a distinct advantage in applying for professional or graduate school and for employment.

Departmental honors are offered in a number of departments. Credit earned in departmental honors programs may be included within the 27-hour requirement for University Honors. Qualified students are encouraged to apply for departmental honors as well as University Honors.

Academic Program

The program is divided into two phases. Recognition for Phase I, Lower Division Honors, requires 15 semester hours of honors course work with a minimum GPA of 3.20 in honors courses and a minimum overall GPA of 3.00. Included within these 15 hours is a Cornerstone course taken in the fall semester of the freshman year. Recognition for Phase II, Upper Division Honors, requires completion of 12 semester hours of 300- and 400-level honors course work with a minimum GPA of 3.20 in those courses and a minimum overall GPA of 3.20. Included within these 12 hours are an Honors Seminar, taken during the first year of Phase II, and an honors independent study project, completed during the senior year.

The total program, University Honors, involves a minimum of 27 semester hours (approximately nine courses) of honors work, 12 of which must be outside the major. Students may earn honors credit in general education, elective, and major courses with a grade of A, B, or C. However, the student must earn an A or B in all contract and independent study courses in order to receive honors credit for these courses. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 in all honors course work accepted for honors credit and a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.20 are required for recognition of University Honors.

Admission Requirements

The program welcomes not only freshmen but students who wish to enroll in the University Honors Program during or after the freshman year, either from within NIU, as transfer students, or as graduates of community colleges with an associate’s degree (A.A. or A.S.) in a baccalaureate-oriented program.

Admission of entering freshmen into Phase I of the University Honors Program is based on a minimum composite ACT score of 27 or SAT score of 1220 and graduation in the upper 10 percent of the high school class. Students whose academic record reflects quality work but who do not meet the above criteria are invited to apply for admission on probationary status as space permits. Students at NIU or who transfer from other institutions as freshmen or sophomores may enter Phase I if they have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale). Admission into Phase II of the program for transfer and native students who have attained junior status is based on a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale).

Honors Transfer Credit

A maximum of 15 semester hours of honors transfer credit will be accepted and applied toward meeting only Phase I requirements for University Honors with no recognition of Lower Division Honors. The following conditions must be met for acceptance of Honors transfer credit.

The honors course work must have been completed in an established Honors Program that is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council.

The honors course work must be accepted by NIU toward the student’s major(s), minor(s), or general education requirements, or as electives.

A grade of B or better must have been earned in the honors course work offered for honors transfer credit.

The student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 on a 4.00 scale for all college course work attempted at all institutions attended.

It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of honors course work to the NIU University Honors Program for evaluation and verification.

Degrees with Distinction

Students who complete only Phase I will be awarded the distinction of Lower Division Honors on the official transcript.

Students who complete only Phase II will be awarded the distinction of Upper Division Honors on the official transcript and on the diploma.

Students who complete both Phase I and Phase II of the University Honors Program and have attained an overall GPA of at least 3.20 will graduate With University Honors. This designation will appear on the official transcript and on the diploma.

Additional Program Services

New freshman honors students are required to attend an overnight orientation session at the Lorado Taft Field Campus. Other services include help in designing an academic program, housing on honors residence floors in Douglas Hall, regular advising, and a variety of extracurricular academic, cultural, and social events, both on and off campus. Honors students also have opportunities to participate in special honors seminars sponsored by the National Collegiate Honors Council, to study outside of the United States, and to attend state, regional, and national honors conferences.

Further information about the honors program may be obtained from the office of the University Honors Program, Campus Life Building 110, 815-753-0694.

Assessment at Northern Illinois University

Northern Illinois University engages in assessment processes to answer important questions about the quality of students’ baccalaureate experiences. Assessment is one of the techniques the university uses to measure the extent to which it fulfills its educational mission, and information from 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. Most importantly, assessment processes tell us how well the university is meeting students’ needs.

Many assessment activities at NIU occur as a part of instruction within the degree program.  Other assessment activities, including surveys and projects, occur with the goal of measuring students’ abilities 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. Students’ performances on these measures reflect on the quality of the university and its undergraduate programs.   All student performance data are aggregated; no individual student information is reported.

Questions regarding assessment should be directed to Assessment Services, 815-753-7120. Assessment Services is located in the Campus Life Building, Room 111.

Teacher Certification Programs

See “Teacher Certification Requirements.”