School Description
Provided by Luther CollegeIn the reforming spirit of Martin Luther, Luther College affirms the liberating power of faith and learning. As people of all backgrounds, we embrace diversity and challenge one another to learn in community, to discern our callings, and to serve with distinction for the common good.
As a college of the church, Luther is rooted in an understanding of grace and freedom that emboldens us in worship, study, and service to seek truth, examine our faith, and care for all God’s people.
As a liberal arts college, Luther is committed to a way of learning that moves us beyond immediate interests and present knowledge into a larger world-an education that disciplines minds and develops whole persons equipped to understand and confront a changing society.
As a residential college, Luther is a place of intersection. Founded where river, woodland, and prairie meet, we practice joyful stewardship of the resources that surround us, and we strive to be a community where students, faculty, and staff are enlivened and transformed by encounters with one another, by the exchange of ideas, and by the life of faith and learning.
Luther College
From Wikipedia, The Free EncyclopediaLuther College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Decorah, Iowa, USA. Founded as a male seminary in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther admitted women beginning in 1936. A Phi Beta Kappa institution, Luther currently enrolls more than 2,500 undergraduate students working toward the Bachelor of Arts degree.
History
The path to founding Luther College began on October 10, 1857, when the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church decided to create a college to supply ministers for Norwegian congregations in the Upper Midwest. Until the college was completed, students would study at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 14, 1859, the Rev. Peter Laurentius Larsen was appointed professor to the Norwegian students at Concordia by the NELC.
Upon the closing of the seminary in April 1861, at the start of the Civil War, the NELC decided to open its own college that fall in a former parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wisconsin, just north of La Crosse, Wisconsin and close to present day Holmen, Wisconsin. On September 1, 1861, classes officially began with an enrollment of 16. The following year classes moved to Decorah, Iowa, with NELC Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm Koren successfully arranging the college's relocation and permanent settlement.
It did not take long for Luther to build an exceptional music program. In 1905, Dr. Carlo A. Sperati, an 1888 graduate of Luther, became the music director of the college and developed the Luther College Concert Band, founded in 1878, on the model of the wind ensemble pioneered by John Philip Sousa. Under Sperati, the band undertook several tours of Europe, their first in 1914, earning international acclaim for their musical talent. Sperati remained on the faculty until his death in 1945.
Quick Facts
- Location:
- Midwest
- Setting:
- Small Town Setting
- Type:
- Private
- Affiliation:
- Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Size:
- Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
- Mascot:
- Norse
Students & Campus Life
- Undergraduate Enrollment:
- 2,565
- On Campus Housing:
- Available
- Full Time Students:
- 99%
- Athletic Programs:
- Available
Degree Programs at Luther College
Bachelor's Level Programs
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Arts & Humanities
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
A general program that focuses on the English language, including its history, structure and related communications skills; and the literature and culture of English-speaking peoples.See more schools with programs in English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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Film and Theater
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Film and Theater
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Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
A program that focuses on the general study of dramatic works and their performance. Includes instruction in major works of dramatic literature, dramatic styles and types, and the principles of organizing and producing full live or filmed productions.See more schools with programs in Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
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Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts
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Foreign Languages
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Foreign Languages
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Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
This program focuses on the extinct Semitic and/or Non-Semitic languages spoken in the ancient Near East, including those used to write historical Jewish and Christian religious texts. This major could include language instruction in Egyptian/Coptic, Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Aramaic, Cannanite, Phonecian, Samarian, Ugaritic, Syriac, Mandean, Hattic, Elamite, Hurrian, Hittite, Urartian, Lydian, Luwian, Lycian, Palaic, Sabaean/South Arabian, and other associated languages, plus allied disciplines such as philology, epigraphy, papyrology, numismatics, and textual studies.See more schools with programs in Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
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Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
Students of Classical Greek study the language and literature from its origins through the fall of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire. Programs may focus on the language as a secular and/or theological subject, with instruction in Greek philology, Attic dialects, Hellenistic dialects, Koine (Biblical) Greek, and Medieval or Byzantine Greek.See more schools with programs in Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
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Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
This general program focuses on the literary culture of the ancient Graeco-Roman world and the Greek and Latin languages and literatures and their development prior to the fall of the Roman Empire.See more schools with programs in Classics and Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
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French Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the French language and related dialects and creoles. Includes instruction in French philology, Metropolitan French, Canadian French, African and Caribbean Creoles, French regional dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.See more schools with programs in French Language and Literature
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German Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the German language and related dialects as used in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, neighboring European countries containing German-speaking minorities, and elsewhere. Includes instruction in German philology; Old, Middle, and High German; Plattdeutsch and other regional dialects; and applications to business, science/technology, and other settings.See more schools with programs in German Language and Literature
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Latin Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the Latin language and literature from its origins through its decline and its current ecclesiastical usage, as a secular and/or theological subject. Includes instruction in Latin philology, related Italic dialects, Late Roman and Medieval Latin, and modern Church Latin.See more schools with programs in Latin Language and Literature
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Spanish Language and Literature
A program that focuses on the Spanish language and related dialects. Includes instruction in Spanish philology, Modern Castillan, various Latin American dialects, regional Spanish dialects, and applications in business, science/technology, and other settings.See more schools with programs in Spanish Language and Literature
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Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics
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History
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History
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History
A program that focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. Includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.See more schools with programs in History
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History
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Music
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Music
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General Music
A general program that focuses on the introductory study and appreciation of music and the performing arts. Includes instruction in music, dance, and other performing arts media.See more schools with programs in General Music
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General Music
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Philosophy
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Philosophy
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General Philosophy
A program that focuses on ideas and their logical structure, including arguments and investigations about abstract and real phenomena. Includes instruction in logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, metaphysics, symbolism, and history of philosophy, and applications to the theoretical foundations and methods of other disciplines.See more schools with programs in General Philosophy
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General Philosophy
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Religion/Religious Studies
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Religion/Religious Studies
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General Religion/Religious Studies
A program that focuses on the nature of religious belief and specific religious and quasi-religious systems. Includes instruction in phenomenology; the sociology, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, literature and art of religion; mythology; scriptural and textual studies; religious history and politics; and specific studies of particular faith communities and their behavior.See more schools with programs in General Religion/Religious Studies
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General Religion/Religious Studies
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Visual Arts
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Visual Arts
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Art/Art Studies
Art and Art Studies is a general, introductory program that focuses on the study and appreciation of the visual arts. Students of these two or four year programs receive instruction in art, photography, and other visual communications media.See more schools with programs in Art/Art Studies
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Art/Art Studies
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English Language and Literature
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English Language and Literature
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Business
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Accounting & Related Services
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Accounting & Related Services
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Accounting
An accounting program provides the tools to practice accounting and to perform related business functions. This program includes instruction in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.See more schools with programs in Accounting
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Accounting
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General Business
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General Business
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Business Administration and Management
Generally, this program prepares individuals to plan, organize, direct, and control a firm or organization. To aid them in taking a leading role in business, individuals in this program study management theory, human resources management and behavior, accounting and other quantitative methods, purchasing and logistics, organization and production, marketing, and business decision-making.See more schools with programs in Business Administration and Management
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Business Administration and Management
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Information Systems
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Information Systems
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Management Information Systems
A program that generally prepares individuals to provide and manage data systems and related facilities for processing and retrieving internal business information; select systems and train personnel; and respond to external data requests. Includes instruction in cost and accounting information systems, management control systems, personnel information systems, data storage and security, business systems networking, report preparation, computer facilities and equipment operation and maintenance, operator supervision and training, and management information systems policy and planning.See more schools with programs in Management Information Systems
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Management Information Systems
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Accounting & Related Services
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Accounting & Related Services
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Communication & Media
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Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
A program that focuses on the scientific, humanistic, and critical study of human communication in a variety of formats, media, and contexts. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of interpersonal, group, organizational, professional, and intercultural communication; speaking and listening; verbal and nonverbal interaction; rhetorical theory and criticism; performance studies; argumentation and persuasion; technologically mediated communication; popular culture; and various contextual applications.See more schools with programs in Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
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Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric
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Education
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Teacher Training
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Teacher Training
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Elementary Education and Teaching
A program that prepares individuals to teach students in the elementary grades, which may include kindergarten through grade eight, depending on the school system or state regulations. Includes preparation to teach all elementary education subject matter.See more schools with programs in Elementary Education and Teaching
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Elementary Education and Teaching
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Teacher Training
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Teacher Training
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Fitness, Recreation and Leisure Studies
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Physical Fitness
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Physical Fitness
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Health and Physical Education
A general program that focuses on activities and principles that promote physical fitness, achieve and maintain athletic prowess, and accomplish related research and service goals. Includes instruction in human movement studies, motivation studies, rules and practice of specific sports, exercise and fitness principles and techniques, basic athletic injury prevention and treatment, and organizing and leading fitness and sports programs.See more schools with programs in Health and Physical Education
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Health and Physical Education
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Physical Fitness
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Physical Fitness
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Health & Medical Services
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Athletic Training/Trainer
Athletic Training program can be two or four years in length. Individuals in these programs work under the supervision of physicians to prevent and treat sports injuries. This major program includes topics in the identification, evaluation, and treatment of athletic injuries and illnesses; first aid and emergency care; therapeutic exercise; anatomy and physiology; exercise physiology; kinesiology and biomechanics; nutrition; sports psychology; personal and community health; knowledge of various sports and their biomechanical and physiological demands; and applicable professional standards and regulations.See more schools with programs in Athletic Training/Trainer
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Athletic Training/Trainer
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Nursing
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Nursing
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Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
A program that generally prepares individuals in the knowledge, techniques and procedures for promoting health, providing care for sick, disabled, informed, or other individuals or groups. Includes instruction in the administration of medication and treatments, assisting a physician during treatments and examinations, Referring patients to physicians and other health care specialists, and planning education for health maintenance.See more schools with programs in Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
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Nursing - Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN)
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Diagnostic & Treatment Technician
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Interdisciplinary Studies
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Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
Any instructional program that is derived from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.See more schools with programs in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
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Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies
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Life Science
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Biology
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Biology
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Biology/Biological Sciences
Students in this program study general biology at an introductory level. This major provides students with a broad overview of biology and includes instruction in general biology and programs covering a variety of biological specializations.See more schools with programs in Biology/Biological Sciences
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Biology/Biological Sciences
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Biology
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Biology
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Mathematics and Statistics
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General Mathematics
A general program that focuses on the analysis of quantities, magnitudes, forms, and their relationships, using symbolic logic and language. Includes instruction in algebra, calculus, functional analysis, geometry, number theory, logic, topology and other mathematical specializations.See more schools with programs in General Mathematics
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Statistics
A general program that focuses on the relationships between groups of measurements, and similarities and differences, using probability theory and techniques derived from it. Includes instruction in the principles in probability theory, binomial distribution, regression analysis, standard deviation, stochastic processes, Monte Carlo method, Bayesian statistics, non-parametric statistics, sampling theory, and statistical techniques.See more schools with programs in Statistics
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General Mathematics
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Natural Sciences
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Chemistry
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Chemistry
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General Chemistry
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of matter, including its micro- and macro-structure, the processes of chemical change, and the theoretical description and laboratory simulation of these phenomena.See more schools with programs in General Chemistry
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General Chemistry
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Physics
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Physics
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General Physics
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of matter and energy, and the formulation and testing of the laws governing the behavior of the matter-energy continuum. Includes instruction in classical and modern physics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, mechanics, wave properties, nuclear processes, relativity and quantum theory, quantitative methods, and laboratory methods.See more schools with programs in General Physics
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General Physics
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Chemistry
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Chemistry
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Social Sciences
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Anthropology
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Anthropology
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General Anthropology
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human beings, their antecedents and related primates, and their cultural behavior and institutions, in comparative perspective. Includes instruction in biological/physical anthropology, primatology, human paleontology and prehistoric archeology, hominid evolution, anthropological linguistics, ethnography, ethnology, ethnohistory, socio-cultural anthropology, psychological anthropology, research methods, and applications to areas such as medicine, forensic pathology, museum studies, and international affairs.See more schools with programs in General Anthropology
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General Anthropology
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Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
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Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Gender Studies
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African-American/Black Studies
African-American Studies focuses on the history, sociology, politics, culture, and economics of the African-Americans. The program focuses on the African-Americans of the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean but also including reference to Latin American African-Americans.See more schools with programs in African-American/Black Studies
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African-American/Black Studies
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Economics
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Economics
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General Economics
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of the production, conservation and allocation of resources in conditions of scarcity, together with the organizational frameworks related to these processes. Includes instruction in economic theory, micro- and macroeconomics, comparative economic systems, money and banking systems, international economics, quantitative analytical methods, and applications to specific industries and public policy issues.See more schools with programs in General Economics
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General Economics
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International Relations and Affairs
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International Relations and Affairs
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General Political Science and Government
A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies 0f specific political institutions and processes.See more schools with programs in General Political Science and Government
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General Political Science and Government
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Psychology
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Psychology
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General Psychology
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. Includes instruction in the principles of the various subfields of psychology, research methods, and psychological assessment and testing methods.See more schools with programs in General Psychology
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Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
A program that focuses on the scientific course study of the biological bases of psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems. Includes instruction in functional neuroanatomy, neural system development, biochemical neural regulatory mechanisms, neurological biophysics, memory storage and retrieval, physiology of cognition and perception, physiological bases of psychopathology and behavioral disorders, psychopharmacology, comparative psychobiology, and specialized experimental design and research methods.See more schools with programs in Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology
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General Psychology
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Sociology
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Sociology
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Other Social Sciences
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Sociology
A program that focuses on the systematic study of human social institutions and social relationships. Includes instruction in social theory, sociological research methods, social organization and structure, social stratification and hierarchies, dynamics of social change, family structures, social deviance and control, and applications to the study of specific social groups, social institutions, and social problems.See more schools with programs in Sociology
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Other Social Sciences
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Anthropology
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Anthropology
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Social Work
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General Social Work
A program that prepares individuals for the professional practice of social welfare administration and counseling, and that focus on the study of organized means of providing basic support services for vulnerable individuals and groups. Includes instruction in social welfare policy; case work planning; social counseling and intervention strategies; administrative procedures and regulations; and specific applications in areas such as child welfare and family services, probation, employment services, and disability counseling.See more schools with programs in General Social Work
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General Social Work
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Technology
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Information Systems Operation and Management
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Information Systems Operation and Management
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General Computer Science
A general program that focuses on computers, computing problems and solutions, and the design of computer systems and user interfaces from a scientific perspective. Includes instruction in the principles of computational science, and computing theory; computer hardware design; computer development and programming; and applications to a variety of end-use situations.See more schools with programs in General Computer Science
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General Computer Science
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Information Systems Operation and Management
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Information Systems Operation and Management
Students
General
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Full-Time vs. Part-Time
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Men vs. Women
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Race/Ethnicity
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Geography
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In State vs. Out-of-State
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Top States for Incoming Freshman
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| Percent of Students International: | 3% |
Housing
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 86% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
Athletics
| Member of: | NAA, NCAA |
| Sports Include: |
Football (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf) Basketball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf) Baseball (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf) Track (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conf) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 24,570 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 3,250 | 21% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,401 | 58% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 8,618 | 96% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 3,762 | 76% | |
Any Aid: |
99% |
Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)
| Acceptance Rate: | 75% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| SAT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting SAT Scores: | 15% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Verbal: 550, Math: 550 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Verbal: 670, Math: 670 |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 92% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 22, Verbal: 22, Math: 22 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 28, Verbal: 29, Math: 28 |
Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
