A student with a bachelor's degree should be able to comprehend written and spoken communications – from simple narrative to scholarly exposition, novels, and poetry – and should be able to use and apply abstractions, principles, ideas, or theories to concrete situations. Content as well as form is important to a baccalaureate education. The student should have broad familiarity with the social sciences, humanities, sciences, mathematics, and oral and written communication. Through the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience, a distinctive feature of a UIS education, a student will have the opportunity to make a difference in the world by recognizing and practicing social responsibility and ethical decision-making, respecting diversity, valuing involvement, and distinguishing the possibilities and limitations of social change. The University of Illinois at Springfield encourages a special understanding of public affairs in the broadest and most humanistic sense.
Goals and learning outcomes for baccalaureate education
By emphasizing scholarship skills in the service of the public good, UIS prepares students for lifelong learning and engaged citizenship. UIS prepares students to discover, integrate, apply, and communicate knowledge for the benefit of individuals, families, and communities.
1. Discovery of Knowledge
UIS graduates should be information and communication technology literate, exhibiting a strong proficiency in locating, reflectively comprehending, and synthesizing appropriate college-level readings, toward the goal of knowledge creation.
Competencies include:
a. Reading baccalaureate-level materials effectively, reflecting comprehension and synthesis;
b. Exhibiting a knowledge of and ability to effectively locate, evaluate, interpret, and use information; and
c. Exhibiting a knowledge of and ability to use information and communication technologies.
2. Integration of Knowledge
UIS graduates should be able to evaluate and integrate information and concepts from multiple disciplines and perspectives.
Competencies include:
a. Engaging in critical thinking by analyzing, evaluating, and articulating a range of perspectives to solve problems through informed, rational, decisionmaking; and
b. Differentiating the approaches that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, history, or social and behavioral sciences.
3. Application of Knowledge
UIS graduates should be able to apply knowledge to address meaningful problems and issues in the real world.
Competencies include:
a. Exhibiting a knowledge of and ability to use contemporary technologies;
b. Identifying, interpreting, and analyzing quantitatively presented material and solve mathematical problems; and
c. Constructing intellectual projects independently and work effectively in collaboration with others.
4. Communication of Knowledge
UIS graduates should be able to communicate knowledge and ideas effectively both orally and in writing.
Competencies include:
a. Expressing ideas, facts, and arguments in a written format that depicts competency in the use of syntax, organization, and style appropriate to the audience; and
b. Exhibiting effective oral communication skills, paying attention to content and audience.
5. Engaged Citizenship
UIS graduates should be able to engage in questioning and critical thinking that leads them to explore peoples, systems, values, and perspectives that are beyond their usual boundaries. Students should engage in active and integrative learning to become ethical, responsible, and engaged citizens in a democracy.
Competencies include:
a. Recognizing the social responsibility of the individual within a larger community;
b. Practicing awareness of and respect for the diversity of cultures and peoples in this country and in the world;
c. Reflecting on the ways involvement, leadership, and respect for community occur at the local, regional, national, or international levels;
d. Identifying how economic, political, and social systems operate now and have operated in the past;
e. Engaging in informed, rational, and ethical decisionmaking and action; and
f. Distinguishing the possibilities and limitations of social change
General Requirements: Bachelor's Degree
To earn a bachelor's degree from UIS, students must fulfill the following requirements:
Minimum Academic Components & Credit Hours Required |
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General Education These requirements include coursework in written and oral communication, mathematics, science, humanities, and behavioral and social sciences |
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Major Program Requirements The number of required hours in this category depends on the specific major selected. For example, the B.S. in Chemistry requires 30 upper-division credit hours in the discipline, whereas the B.S. in Clinical Laboratory Sciences requires 59 upper-division credit hours in the discipline. Most degree majors at UIS require between 32 and 36 credit hours of program-specific, upper-division core and elective coursework -- see individual program information for specific majors. Core & Elective Courses within the Discipline |
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Engaged Citizenship Common Experience Categories for this set of core courses include U.S. Communities, Global Awareness, Engagement Experience, Elective, and Speakers Series |
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General Electives These are courses taken to fulfill prerequisites for a degree major, requirements for a degree minor, or for student interest. |
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| Minimum Total Number of Credit Hours Required | 120 |
Time Limitation
All credit earned at UIS to be applied toward the completion of a bachelor's degree must be taken within seven consecutive years of the first course taken at UIS in pursuit of that degree.
Undergraduate Admission
Undergraduate admission to the University of Illinois at Springfield includes first-time freshmen with fewer than 12 transferable semester hours; freshmen with between 12 and 29 transferable semester hours; and transfer students with more than 30 transferable semester hours at community colleges or other regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. In addition, the campus offers alternative admissions, a senior learners program, and special admission for students not seeking a degree. Each of these admission options is discussed in detail below, along with other important admission requirements. Write to the Office of Admissions, University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, MS UHB 1080, Springfield, IL 62703-5407, to request an application form, or apply online at www.uis.edu. The toll free number is (888) 977-4847.
Please note: Admission to UIS does not constitute entry into a particular degree program. Some programs have special entrance requirements; others have limited enrollments. Contact individual programs for specific information.
Freshmen Admissions
The University of Illinois at Springfield seeks to enroll as Capital Scholars an academically well-qualified first year class of students who have pursued strong college preparatory curricula while in high school and demonstrated the ability to be successful in their pursuits, both academic and nonacademic. The best qualified of each year's pool of applicants to UIS will be admitted as space permits. Priority consideration for admission will be given to students whose applications are completed and postmarked by the priority application date (March 15, 2008). Admissions decisions will be made, and official notifications mailed, on a rolling basis (biweekly timeline).
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
College preparatory curricula and academic coursework
Students should pursue rigorous and challenging college preparatory curricula. Grade trends and the rigor of courses completed throughout high school will be considered. Minimum academic coursework requirements are:
Standardized test scores, grade-point average, and class rank
The following credentials will be considered:
Personal Statement
Applicants must provide written evidence of their ability to perform at a high academic level by submitting a personal statement. This statement should address any circumstances (positive or negative) that may have affected the student's high school experience and that are not readily apparent from academic records or standardized test scores. The personal statement should be viewed as an applicant's opportunity to speak on his or her own behalf. Generally, the personal statement should be approximately 500 to 750 words and should reflect the student's best work – structure, accuracy, and overall quality will be considered.
The Honors Program
The Honors Program is a selective program combining high standards and an emphasis on excellence. The Program currently enrolls about 100 freshmen each year and is housed in the Lincoln Residence Hall, the locus of UIS' living-learning community. Honors students will participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum designed to prepare them for their majors as well as to serve as an introduction to the intellectual skills that society expects from future leaders.
Each of the courses in the core curriculum is integrated with the rest so that together they provide a broad understanding of the world. Many courses are interdisciplinary, exposing students to the views of scholars from several disciplines. Each course includes topics and draws on authors that reflect the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity of America, and also the broader cultural diversity that exists in the world. Honors students participate in learning teams for many course assignments, learning not only the assigned material, but also how to participate effectively as a member of a team. The curriculum-wide focus on collaborative learning emphasizes leadership an as integral aspect of collaboration.
Admission to the Honors Program is competitive and selective and is based on an overall evaluation of high school coursework and grade-point average, class rank, SAT or ACT scores, and personal and academic statement. The personal and academic statement should address reasons for interest in the Honors Program, intellectual and career interests, creative and leadership potential. A personal or telephone interview with a member of the admissions committee (made up of faculty and program administrators) may also be a component of the admission process. Students interested in applying to the Honors Program should express this interest during the application process. Specific information on the Capital Scholars Honors Program is available at www.uis.edu/capitalscholars, or contact the program directly at cap@uis.edu or (217) 206-7246.
Undergraduate Transfer Admission
Students other than Capital Scholars may be considered for admission to UIS as transfer students if they have earned at least 30 transferable semester hours (remedial or developmental courses are not accepted) from a regionally accredited institution. Those who have earned an associate of arts or associate of science degree from a regionally accredited Illinois community college or other regionally accredited institution may be admitted to UIS as a junior if they have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
Advanced standing as a senior may be granted to those who transfer with 30 semester hours of upper-division credit beyond the 60 hours required for junior status. Only transfer credit hours with a grade of C or better are acceptable for advanced standing. Students entering as seniors must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours at UIS and must complete all program and campus degree requirements to graduate.
Please contact the Office of Admissions regarding materials and criteria that are required for consideration for admission. The toll free number is (888) 977-4847. Check the Admissions website at www.uis.edu/admissions/ for additional information.
Lower-division Courses Used for Degree Credit
Community college students can transfer up to 60 semester hours of credit to UIS. However, community college transfer students may include an additional 12 semester hours of lower-division credit toward a bachelor’s degree if their adviser, a program representative, and the appropriate dean approve. A grade of C or better must have been earned.
Students who have earned lower-division credit at UIS and would like to have that credit used for degree credit may do so with the approval of their adviser, a program representative, and the appropriate dean. A grade of C or better must have been earned.
Coursework completed at community colleges and lower-division coursework completed at four-year institutions will transfer to UIS as lower-division credit, even if the equivalent UIS course is offered as an upper-division course. Lower-division transfer coursework will still satisfy general education requirements even though the equivalent UIS course is upper-division.
Community College Articulation and Transfer
Loss of credit that may occur when students transfer from lower-division schools to UIS can extend the time needed to complete the baccalaureate degree. By participation in the Illinois Articulation Initiative and development of two-plus-two agreements and other articulation agreements with community colleges and lower-division schools, UIS has made considerable efforts to ensure that students have the best chance of transferring all their credit hours.
Students in most programs at UIS can earn a baccalaureate degree in two years beyond the A.A. or A.S. degree with no loss of credit earned in an associate degree program. About one-third of UIS’ bachelor's degree programs have no specific course requirements for entry. The remaining degree programs, however, do have certain prerequisites in place. Transfer guides for all Illinois community colleges are available in UIS' Office of Admissions to help students plan their courses of study.
Many UIS undergraduate programs have also entered into articulation agreements (two plus two agreements) with academic programs at community colleges, making it easier for students to plan an entire four-year course of study while still enrolled at the lower-division. Interested students should contact the transfer center at their community college for additional information.
Illinois Articulation Initiative
The Illinois Articulation Initiative is a statewide agreement designed to allow students to transfer general education credit, as well as credit earned in select majors, between participating institutions. UIS has participated in IAI since the summer of 1998.
The IAI General Education Core Curriculum is a package of lower-division general education courses that can transfer from one participating school to another to fulfill the lower-division general education requirements. The core curriculum package consists of at least 12 to 13 courses (37 to 41 semester credits) in five fields or categories. Completion of the entire IAI General Education Core Curriculum satisfies lower-division general education requirements for a bachelor’s degree at UIS. Students may use one performing arts course to meet humanities lower division requirements, even though performance courses are not accepted by IAI.
UIS also participates in certain IAI Baccalaureate Majors Recommendations, which means that students may be able to transfer courses in the major between participating institutions without loss of credit. Contact an academic adviser for additional information or go to www.iTransfer.org.
Joint Admission Program and Partnership Agreements
The Joint Admission Program is limited to students who are pursuing the associate of arts or the associate of science or the associate of arts in teaching degree, in compliance with the Illinois Articulation Agreement, and is not intended to replace the normal articulation agreements already existing between UIS and community colleges. Instead, it focuses on advising and socializing students to ease the transition between the two-year and four-year college. Students who choose to enter into a Joint Admission program with UIS are entitled to receive academic advising each semester from UIS, invitations to social and cultural activities, financial assistance newsletters, and an advanced registration date.
UIS currently has joint admission agreements with many Illinois community colleges and partnership agreements for UIS online programs with community colleges across the United States.
Alternative Admission
Alternative admission at the junior level is available for students who have a minimum of 12-15 years of life/work learning experience (beyond high school) that may be considered in lieu of traditional classroom learning acquired during the first and second years of college. The admissions committee provides individual assessments of an applicant's eligibility based on 1) a written narrative; 2) three letters of recommendation; and 3) demonstration of competency in the areas of general education. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities where credit was attempted or earned are required and students will be expected to participate in undergraduate assessment activities. Contact the Office of Admissions for additional information.
Admission for International Students seeking Bachelor's Degrees
International students must meet all requirements for undergraduate admission. Additionally, international students will need to submit official TOEFL scores and documentation required for issuance of an I-20.
All students who are not U.S. citizens must have a tuberculin skin test done at the Campus Health Services office on arrival before registration. Students who test positive must also have a chest x-ray. Students who have been treated for tuberculosis disease or infection elsewhere must provide medical records, which must be accompanied by a certified English translation. There are no exemptions from this requirement. Tuberculin skin tests or chest x-rays done outside the U.S. will not be accepted.
International students seeking admission to the University of Illinois at Springfield are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Non-degree Admission
Undergraduate non-degree seeking students are not required to file all documents necessary for admission to a degree program, but will be asked for clarification of their educational intent before exceeding 16 semester hours. Non-degree students are subject to the same probation and suspension policies as degree-seeking students.
Students who later choose to become degree candidates will be required to meet all admission requirements of their program. With the degree program’s approval, up to 16 semester hours taken as an undergraduate non-degree student may count toward the degree. Non-degree students are not eligible for financial assistance.
Online Student Admission
Students who choose to pursue some or all of their studies online should contact the program for information concerning admission requirements. Interested students are encouraged to visit the UIS website at www.uis.edu for more information. A list of online course offerings is available on the website.
Senior Learner Admission
The senior learners program is open to those who are at least 62 by the relevant registration day. There are two options.
For non-degree credit, senior learners can audit courses of special interest and enjoy campus library privileges for $40 per term, plus parking fees. Senior learners are also responsible for all course-related fees, including online fees. This option does not offer academic credit and does not require graded tests or papers. To register, contact the Office of Records and Registration.
For degree credit, a tuition waiver program is available for persons 65 or older with incomes of less than $12,000 per year. Students must meet regular class expectations to earn academic credit, though they pay only UIS fees; tuition is waived. This program must be arranged through the Office of Financial Assistance.
Financial Assistance for Undergraduate Students
The UIS Office of Financial Assistance coordinates federal, state, institutional, and private financial aid programs for all students. Assistance is available in the form of grants, tuition waivers, assistantships, scholarships, loans, part-time employment, and veterans' benefits. For detailed information, see the "Financial Aid" section of this catalog.
General Education Requirements
To ensure educational breadth, accredited U.S. institutions generally require completion of courses in several disciplines or areas - usually oral and written communication, mathematics, science, social science, and humanities. This constitutes the institution’s general education requirements.
General education is an important part of the distinctive UIS degree and consists of more than a series of distribution requirements. The UIS General Education Curriculum provides structure for the whole baccalaureate experience while allowing the flexibility transfer students need to enter the institution and the curriculum with ease. General education coursework helps student achieve the goals and outcomes for baccalaureate education listed above.
General education courses are usually 100- and 200-level offerings, and consist of the following categories:
Written Communication (2 courses, 4 hours each; courses must be passed with a grade of C or better; students who transfer to UIS with 30 or more hours may use 3-hour courses taken at other institutions to meet this requirement)
Oral Communication (1 course, 3 hours)
Math (2 courses, 3 hours each, one in math skills and one in applied math; students who transfer to UIS with 30 or more hours are responsible for only one 3-hour math course)
Life and Physical Science (2 courses, 3 or 4 hours each, one in physical science and one in life science; one course must include a laboratory)
Humanities (3 courses, 3 hours each; one course should be from the visual, creative, or performing arts and at least one from other humanities; students enrolling as freshmen at UIS are responsible for one Comparative Societies Humanities course)
Behavioral and Social Sciences (3 courses, 3 hours each; courses must be taken in at least two disciplines; students enrolling as freshmen at UIS are responsible for one Comparative Societies Social Sciences course)
Students entering UIS as freshmen, with 0-29 hours of college credit, will take two Comparative Societies courses at the 100 level, one in the humanities and one in the behavioral and social sciences. Comparative Societies courses are designed to give students an idea of the historical complexity as well as the diversity of beliefs and practices in the human social experience.
Courses fulfilling general education requirements may be used as prerequisites or requirements in the majors. Students may fulfill general education requirements through placement tests, AP credit, CLEP credit, transfer credit, and other approved substitutes, provided the credit meets UIS criteria for college-level work.
Test |
Test Score |
UIS Course |
Credit Hours |
| Freshman College Composition (essay section is required) | 60 or higher Score of 10 or higher on essay prompts invitation to submit writing portfolio to gain proficiency credit for ENG 102 |
ENG 101 ENG 102 (possible with score of 10 or higher on essay and submission of writing portfolio |
4 4 |
English Composition (version with essay is required) |
60 or higher on multiple choice Score of 10 or higher on essay prompts invitation to submit writing portfolio to gain proficiency credit for ENG 102 |
ENG 101 ENG 102 (possible with score of 10 or higher on essay and submission of writing portfolio |
4
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The fourth semester of a modern language may be used to meet a humanities requirement, provided it meets the standards of the IAI General Education Core Curriculum (H1 900 Foreign Language IV).
Transfer students may satisfy general education requirements in one of three ways:
Transfer students in some degree programs may use a limited number (no more than 12 hours) of 300- or 400-level courses to meet general education requirements. Students should consult with faculty in the major for further information. The 300- and 400-level courses used to meet general education requirements must be on the approved list. The list of approved courses is available under "General Education Course Lists" at www.uis.edu/generaleducation/curriculum/courselist.html.
Remedial or developmental courses do not count towards general education requirements.
Engaged Citizenship Common Experience
All undergraduate students are required to take a minimum of 13 hours in the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE), a set of courses tied to UIS’ heritage, mission, vision, and values. These courses provide a distinctive element to the baccalaureate education at UIS, and encourage a commitment to making a difference in the world. Most of the coursework in this category is interdisciplinary and is designed to help students recognize the value of multiple perspectives. ECCE categories help students meet the Goals and Learning Outcomes for Baccalaureate Education listed above, particularly Goal 5.
The Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) consists of 200-, 300-, and 400-level courses and includes the following categories:
U.S. Communities (1 course, 3 hours)
Courses in this category aim to broaden students’ knowledge about substantial, distinctive, and complex aspects of the history, society, politics, and culture of United States communities.
Global Awareness (1 course, 3 hours)
Courses in this category help students to understand and function in an increasingly interdependent and globalizing environment and to develop an appreciation of other cultural perspectives. They foster awareness of other cultures, polities, or natural environments, past or present.
Engagement Experience (3 hours)
This category offers students structured opportunities to integrate knowledge, practice, and reflection in the context of an engaged citizenship experience. Students may fulfill this part of the ECCE curriculum through an Applied Studies Term, Credit for Prior Learning, a service-learning course, a research project, a group project course, or study abroad, among others.
Some degree programs may require students to take particular ECCE courses. Students should consult with advisers in the major for further guidance.
Students who desire or are required to complete a 6-hour Applied Study Term may do so by combining 3 hours of Engagement Experience and 3 hours of ECCE elective.
ECCE Elective (3 hours)
This category is designed to provide flexibility in the ECCE curriculum by offering students various opportunities to expand their Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. Electives fall into two areas:
ECCE Speakers Series (1-2 hours)
For one semester, students will be required to participate in a series of campus-sponsored lectures by speakers who will exemplify engaged citizenship. Students must take one hour of Speakers Series, but may take an additional hour in a different semester if desired.
Courses taken to meet the 13 hours of ECCE requirements cannot be used to meet general education coursework, but they may count toward requirements, electives, or prerequisites in the major and minor.
Assessment of General Education
Assessment of general education will involve both direct and indirect measures of student learning based on the Goals and Learning Outcomes for Baccalaureate Education and on the established criteria for courses in the curriculum. Students are required to participate in general education assessment.
Majors & Areas of Study
UIS awards the following baccalaureate degrees:
Accountancy (B.A.)
Biology (B.S.)
Business Administration (B.B.A.)
Chemistry (B.S.)
Clinical Laboratory Science (B.S.)
Communication (B.A.)
Computer Science (B.S.)
Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Economics (B.A.)
English (B.A.)
History (B.A.)
Legal Studies (B.A.)
Liberal Studies (B.A.)
Management (B.A.)
Mathematical Sciences (B.A.)
Philosophy (B.A.)
Political Studies (B.A.)
Psychology (B.A.)
Social Work (B.S.W.)
Sociology/Anthropology (B.A.)
Visual Arts (B.A.)
Note: Students may pursue certification as an elementary or secondary teacher by enrolling in one of UIS' teacher education minors, which is taken in combination with an appropriate academic major.
Assessment in the Major
Most academic programs assess their students' ability to meet program learning outcomes. As these outcomes will differ, so will the means of assessment. Students are required to participate in program assessment.
Double Major
To earn a bachelor's degree in two major areas of study, all requirements for each major must be completed. Courses from one program may be used as electives in the other if prior approval is obtained. All UIS requirements for the bachelor's degree must be met.
Minors
UIS offers 24 minors that allow students to study outside major degree programs. Approved minors currently are:
Accountancy
African-American Studies
Anthropology
Biology
Business (general)
Chemistry
Communication
Computer Science
Criminal Justice
Economics
English
Environmental Studies
History
International Studies
Management Information Systems
Mathematical Sciences
Philosophy
Political Studies
Psychology
Sociology
Teacher Education – Elementary
Teacher Education – Secondary
Visual Arts
Women and Gender Studies
Obtaining a Second Bachelor's Degree
Those who have already earned a baccalaureate degree and seek a second one from UIS must complete all hours toward the major that are required by the academic program. A minimum of 30 semester hours toward the second degree must be completed at UIS. If the first degree was earned at another institution, the student must meet UIS upper division general education requirements.
Other Academic Opportunities
Thematic Activities explore current issues and problems through multidisciplinary courses, research, conferences, experiential learning opportunities, and community outreach. UIS currently offers a thematic option in astronomy/physics.
Modern Languages offer elementary and intermediate courses in French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Spanish that emphasize understanding and speaking skills. Courses are taught by native speakers and, as a rule, are limited to six students per section to ensure individual attention. Students must obtain permission to register for a course section, and should contact the secretary for the Modern Languages Program at (217) 206-8224. Online assessment tests may be required to determine placement at the most appropriate level.
University Courses are a variety of courses, for example Library Research (UNI 401), that provide knowledge and skills in academic areas that are not established components of the curriculum. UNI courses, with descriptions, are published in the course schedule each semester. Credit earned in some UNI courses may not count toward degree requirements.
Applied Study and Experiential Learning Term stresses practical experience, professional development, and self-directed learning by providing an academically sponsored learning experience (internship) that is an opportunity to learn from the community. Many internships are paid; others are voluntary. Only degree-seeking UIS students can participate.
Internships are available at local businesses, nonprofit organizations, health service organizations, state agencies and legislative offices, and educational institutions. Some programs have their own experiential component integrated into the curriculum. The variety of curricular options is described more fully in the AST section of this catalog.
ASTs fulfill portions of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. (See section above.) Students may combine the Engagement Experience and the ECCE Elective to create a single 6-hour AST opportunity. The AST faculty will assist students in securing a placement. Consultations should be scheduled at least one semester in advance.
Credit for Prior Learning enables qualified students to receive academic credit for college-level learning acquired outside the classroom and is particularly valuable to those with an extensive background in a profession, in workshops or seminars, in community service and volunteer work, in relevant travel or hobbies, and/or in independent research. Credit for Prior Learning may fulfill portions of the Engaged Citizenship Common Experience. (See above.) Interested students should contact the CPL office as early as possible or visit www.uis.edu/cpl/.