Dec 04, 2024

NIACC Catalog 2024-2025

General Education and Other Transfer Courses

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North Iowa Area Community College considers education to be the foundation of a democratic society. At the core of the educational experience is general education, an ongoing endeavor that engages students in acquiring the knowledge and tools necessary to understand their environment and contribute to their communities.

Each of NIACC’s degree programs provides varying levels of general education skill development through their distribution requirements:

To earn an Associate in Arts degree, a student must complete a minimum of 9 semester hours (s.h.) of credit in the communication distribution category and 8 s.h. in each of the humanities, social science, and natural science/mathematics distribution categories listed below, plus an additional 8 s.h. of credit selected from any of the aforementioned categories for a total minimum of 41 s.h. of general education credit within the degree program. Within the natural science/mathematics category, a student must select at least one mathematics and one science course.

To earn an Associate in Science degree, a student must complete a minimum general education core of 41 s.h. distributed in the following fashion: communication (9 s.h.); humanities and/or social science (8 s.h.); natural science/mathematics (20 s.h.); and distributed requirement (4 s.h.). Within the natural science/mathematics category, a student must select at least one mathematics and one science course.

Listed as follows are the general education courses for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees.

Communications

English Composition

ENG - 105 Composition I (3 s.h.)
ENG - 106 Composition II (3 s.h.)

Speech

SPC - 112 Public Speaking (3 s.h.)
SPC - 122 Interpersonal Communication (3 s.h.)

Humanities

Art

Drama

DRA - 119 Introduction to Theatre, TV and Film (3 s.h.)

Foreign Language

ASL - 131 American Sign Language I (3 s.h.)
ASL - 161 American Sign Language II (3 s.h.)
ASL - 241 American Sign Language III (3 s.h.)
ASL - 271 American Sign Language IV (3 s.h.)
FLS - 141 Elementary Spanish I (4 s.h.)
FLS - 142 Elementary Spanish II (4 s.h.)
FLS - 241 Intermediate Spanish I (4 s.h.)
FLS - 242 Intermediate Spanish II (4 s.h.)
FLS - 261 Advanced Spanish I (3 s.h.)
FLS - 262 Advanced Spanish II (3 s.h.)

History

HIS - 110 Western Civilization I: Ancient to Early Modern (3 s.h.)
HIS - 111 Western Civilization II: Early Modern to Present (3 s.h.)
HIS - 151 U.S. History to 1877 (3 s.h.)
HIS - 152 U.S. History Since 1877 (3 s.h.)
HIS - 260 Latin American History and Culture (3 s.h.)

Journalism

JOU - 115 Introduction to Journalism (3 s.h.)

Literature

EDU - 235 Children’s Literature (3 s.h.)
LIT - 150 World Literature I (3 s.h.)
LIT - 151 World Literature II (3 s.h.)
LIT - 160 Short Story/Novel (3 s.h.)
LIT - 170 Poetry/Drama (3 s.h.)

Music

MUA - 120 Applied Piano (1 s.h.)
MUA - 130A-B Applied Voice (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 131A-B Applied Voice II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 132A-B Applied Voice III (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 184A-B Applied Saxophone I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 186A-B Applied Flute I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 187A-B Applied Oboe I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 188A-B Applied Clarinet I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 189A-B Applied Bassoon I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 191A-B Applied Trumpet I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 192A-B Applied French Horn I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 193A-B Applied Trombone I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 194A-B Applied Euphonium I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 195A-B Applied Tuba I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 196A-B Applied Percussion I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 197A-B Applied Drum Set I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 198A-B Applied Guitar I (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 286 Applied Flute II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 287A-B Applied Oboe II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 288A-B Applied Clarinet II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 289A-B Applied Bassoon II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 290A-B Applied Saxophone II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 291A-B Applied Trumpet II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 292A-B Applied French Horn II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 293A-B Applied Trombone II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 294A-B Applied Euphonium II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 295A-B Applied Tuba II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 296 Applied Percussion II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 297A-B Applied Drum Set II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 298A-B Applied Guitar II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 299A-B Applied Piano II (1-2 s.h.)
MUA - 399A-B Applied Piano III (1-2 s.h.)
MUS - 100 Music Appreciation (3 s.h.)
MUS - 120 Music Theory I (3 s.h.)
MUS - 121 Music Theory II (3 s.h.)
MUS - 130 Aural Skills I (2 s.h.)
MUS - 131 Aural Skills II (2 s.h.)
MUS - 132 Aural Skills III (2 s.h.)
MUS - 133 Aural Skills IV (2 s.h.)
MUS - 140 Concert Choir (1 s.h.)
MUS - 141 Concert Choir II (1 s.h.)
MUS - 142 Concert Choir III (1 s.h.)
MUS - 144 Orchestra (1 s.h.)
MUS - 145 Concert Band (1 s.h.)
MUS - 150 Chamber Ensemble (1 s.h.)
MUS - 152 Vocal Ensemble (1 s.h.)
MUS - 174 North Iowa Choral Society (1 s.h.)
MUS - 179 Jazz Band (1 s.h.)
MUS - 220 Music Theory III (3 s.h.)
MUS - 221 Music Theory IV (3 s.h.)
MUS - 244 Orchestra II (1 s.h.)
MUS - 245 Concert Band II (1 s.h.)
MUS - 252 Vocal Ensemble II–NIACC Singers (1 s.h.)
MUS - 274 North Iowa Choral Society II (1 s.h.)
MUS - 279 Jazz Band II (1 s.h.)
MUS - 344 Orchestra III (1 s.h.)
MUS - 345 Concert Band III (1 s.h.)
MUS - 379 Jazz Band III (1 s.h.)

Philosophy/Ethics

PHI - 101 Introduction to Philosophy (3 s.h.)
PHI - 105 Introduction to Ethics (3 s.h.)

Natural Science/Mathematics

Biological Sciences

BIO - 102 Introductory Biology (3 s.h.)
BIO - 103 Introductory Biology Lab (1 s.h.)
BIO - 123 Inquiry Into Life Science (4 s.h.)
BIO - 151 Nutrition (3 s.h.)
BIO - 152 Health and Nutrition (3 s.h.)
BIO - 157 Human Biology (4 s.h.)
BIO - 186 Microbiology (4 s.h.)
BIO - 196 Introduction to Bio-Technology (4 s.h.)
BIO - 202 Biology I (4 s.h.)
BIO - 203 Biology II (4 s.h.)
BIO - 206 Anatomy and Physiology I (4 s.h.)
BIO - 207 Anatomy and Physiology II (4 s.h.)
ENV - 110 Environmental Science (3 s.h.)

Physical Sciences

CHM - 122 Introduction to General Chemistry (4 s.h.)
CHM - 129 Allied Health Chemistry (4 s.h.)
CHM - 132 Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry (4 s.h.)
CHM - 166 General Chemistry I (5 s.h.)
CHM - 176 General Chemistry II (5 s.h.)
CHM - 263 Organic Chemistry I (5 s.h.)
CHM - 273 Organic Chemistry II (5 s.h.)
PHS - 125 Physical Science (4 s.h.)
PHS - 142 Principles of Astronomy (3 s.h.)
PHY - 106 Survey of Physics (4 s.h.)
PHY - 162 College Physics I (4 s.h.)
PHY - 172 College Physics II (4 s.h.)
PHY - 212 Classical Physics I (5 s.h.)
PHY - 222 Classical Physics II (5 s.h.)

Math

MAT - 110 Math (for Liberal Arts) (3 s.h.)
MAT - 121 College Algebra (4 s.h.)
MAT - 128 Precalculus (4 s.h.)
MAT - 134 Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry (3 s.h.)
MAT - 140 Finite Math (3 s.h.)
MAT - 150 Discrete Math (3 s.h.)
MAT - 153 Math for Elementary Teachers I (4 s.h.)
MAT - 154 Math for Elementary Teachers II (4 s.h.)
MAT - 156 Introduction to Statistics (3 s.h.)
MAT - 161 Business Statistics (3 s.h.)
MAT - 165 Calculus (Business) (3 s.h.)
MAT - 210 Calculus I (4 s.h.)
MAT - 216 Calculus II (4 s.h.)
MAT - 219 Calculus III (4 s.h.)
MAT - 226 Differential Equations with Laplace Transforms (3 s.h.)

Social Sciences

Economics

ECN - 110 Introduction to Economics (3 s.h.)
ECN - 120 Principles of Macroeconomics (3 s.h.)
ECN - 130 Principles of Microeconomics (3 s.h.)
FIN - 121 Personal Finance (3 s.h.)

Geography

GEO - 121 World Regional Geography (3 s.h.)

Government/Political Science

POL - 111 American National Government (3 s.h.)
POL - 112 American State and Local Government (3 s.h.)
POL - 121 International Relations (3 s.h.)
POL - 125 Government and Comparative Politics (3 s.h.)

Psychology

PSY - 111 Introduction to Psychology (3 s.h.)
PSY - 121 Developmental Psychology (3 s.h.)
PSY - 211 Psychology of Adjustment (3 s.h.)
PSY - 223 Child and Adolescent Psychology (3 s.h.)
PSY - 241 Abnormal Psychology (3 s.h.)
PSY - 251 Social Psychology (3 s.h.)
PSY - 281 Educational Psychology (3 s.h.)

Sociology

SOC - 110 Introduction to Sociology (3 s.h.)
SOC - 115 Social Problems (3 s.h.)
SOC - 120 Marriage and Family (3 s.h.)

Business Electives

Business Electives (Career/Technical)

Note: Up to 16 semester hours of Career/Technical courses can be used as elective credit. See Course Descriptions for a complete list of Career/Technical courses.

Career/Technical

ACC - 111 Introduction to Accounting (3 s.h.)
ACC - 135 Personal Income Tax (3 s.h.)
ACC - 161 Payroll Accounting (3 s.h.)
ACC - 311 Computer Accounting (3 s.h.)
ADM - 105 Introduction to Keyboarding (1 s.h.)
ADM - 108 Keyboarding Skill Development (1 s.h.)
ADM - 123 Document Formatting (3 s.h.)
ADM - 131 Office Calculators (1 s.h.)
ADM - 162 Office Procedures (3 s.h.)
ADM - 215 Medical Office Procedures (3 s.h.)
BCA - 100 Computer Literacy (1 s.h.)
BCA - 129 Basic Word Processing (2 s.h.)
BCA - 136 Advanced Word Processing (3 s.h.)
BCA - 152 Comprehensive Spreadsheets (3 s.h.)
BCA - 155 Introduction to Web Design (3 s.h.)
BCA - 215 Computer Business Applications (3 s.h.)
BUS - 121 Business Communications (3 s.h.)
BUS - 122 Emerging Business Practices & Technologies (3 s.h.)
BUS - 130 Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3 s.h.)
BUS - 152 Creating a Company (3 s.h.)
BUS - 161 Human Relations (3 s.h.)
BUS - 162 Workplace Professionalism (3 s.h.)
BUS - 269 Insurance and Risk Management (3 s.h.)
CIS - 119 Introduction to Programming (4 s.h.)
FIN - 100 Introduction to Finance (3 s.h.)
HIT - 210 Basic Medical Insurance and Coding (2 s.h.)
HIT - 242 Coding I (ICD-10) (3 s.h.)
HIT - 247 Coding II (CPT) (3 s.h.)
HSC - 120 Medical Terminology I (3 s.h.)
HSC - 121 Medical Terminology II (3 s.h.)
HSC - 155 Laboratory Tests (2 s.h.)
NET - 134 IT Essentials (4 s.h.)
NET - 292 Information Technology Capstone (5 s.h.)
NET - 304 Windows Workstation Operating Systems (4 s.h.)
NET - 324 Windows Network Management (4 s.h.)
NET - 613 Information Data Assurance (3 s.h.)

Ed-to-Go Courses

(limited to 3 s.h. maximum of Ed-to-Go Courses)

General Education Diploma

To earn a Diploma, a student must complete a minimum of 3 s.h. of credit in any one of the categories listed below. Requirements vary according to the academic program selected. Please consult with an advisor or a faculty member for further information.

Students may choose from the General Education courses and/or the courses listed on this page, unless following a prescribed program curriculum. Requirements vary according to the academic program selected. Please consult with an advisor or a faculty member for further information.

Possible general education courses for Associate in Applied Science Degrees and Diplomas: