The Essence of Good Citizenship
A History of General Education at the University of Northern Iowa: from Normal School to University
A Common Education for Citizenship and Health, 1892-1916
Part 1: The Origins of General Education at UNI
This exhibit explores the origins of general education at the Iowa State Normal School (now the University of Northern Iowa) from 1892 to 1917. Even within a highly structured teacher-training curriculum, the school introduced shared requirements like military drill and later physical education for all students. These changes reflected broader national concerns about health, citizenship, and gender roles, with physical education seen as a way to build both personal well-being and the civic values needed for participation in a democratic society.
From World War I Through the 1930s
Part 2: The Origins of General Education at UNI, continued
From World War I through the 1930s, the roots of general education at UNI were shaped by national crisis and changing ideas about citizenship. Wartime programs like the Student Army Training Corps and “War Aims” courses reflected a growing belief that colleges should prepare students not just academically, but for informed democratic participation. In the decades that followed, concerns about specialization, global instability, and the rise of fascism led to new required courses in science, current events, health, and social behavior — marking a shift toward a broader, more intentional general education curriculum designed to equip students for life as engaged citizens.
The Heyday of General Education: 1940s-1960s
Part 3: The First Comprehensive General Education Program at ISTC
From the 1940s through the 1960s, general education at UNI reached its most expansive and influential form, shaped by World War II, the Cold War and rapid changes in higher education. Driven by concerns that democracy depended on an informed and engaged citizenry, faculty developed the institution’s first comprehensive general education program in 1951 — a highly structured curriculum shared by all students. Over time, global tensions and technological change prompted revisions that added new emphases on science, psychology and non-Western cultures, reflecting a growing recognition that understanding an increasingly interconnected world was essential to both national security and democratic life.
Student Voice and Student Choice: Late 1960s-1970s
Part 4: A New Model of General Education
By the late 1960s, students at UNI were calling for a greater voice in university life — including what and how they learned. Their growing involvement helped reshape general education, leading to a new program in 1971 that reduced required hours and gave students more flexibility to choose courses across the humanities, social sciences and sciences.
The changes reflected broader movements reshaping American society and higher education, from civil rights and opposition to the Vietnam War to expanding ideas about equality and individual rights. New attention to cultures historically left out of the curriculum and challenges to gender-based physical education requirements showed how changing ideas about citizenship were transforming general education at UNI.
Back to Basics: Skills and Competencies for a Globalizing World: 1980s-2022
Part 5: Rethinking General Education for a Changing World
By the 1980s, concerns about students’ foundational skills and the purpose of a college education prompted another major rethinking of general education at UNI. A new program adopted in 1988 placed greater emphasis on writing, oral communication, math and foreign language, while creating more shared experiences across the humanities, sciences and global cultures.
The changes reflected a broader effort to prepare students for a world increasingly shaped by technological change, globalization and shifting career demands. Renamed the Liberal Arts Core in 2002, the program continued to emphasize the broad knowledge and adaptable skills students would need beyond their majors — a framework that remained largely intact until 2022.
Accountability, Practicality and Flexibility: UNIFI, 2022-Present
Part 6: A New Framework for General Education
In 2022, UNI introduced UNI Foundational Inquiry, or UNIFI, a redesigned general education program built around shared student learning outcomes. Developed in response to growing expectations for accountability and assessment in higher education, UNIFI also created a more streamlined and flexible curriculum, reducing required credit hours while giving students greater choice in how they complete their general education.
Organized around skills and perspectives ranging from critical thinking and communication to scientific reasoning, ethics and understanding diverse communities, UNIFI reflects changing expectations for what a college education should provide. Its emphasis on practical skills and flexibility responds to concerns about cost, career preparation and transferability, while continuing a tradition that has shaped general education at UNI for more than a century: preparing students to participate thoughtfully and responsibly in the world around them.
