Iowa Wesleyan College

The mission of the Human Studies Division is to provide to all students, regardless of future profession, the background, understanding and facility for dealing with both personal and social issues that will enable them to be successful in our changing global environment. Specifically, the programs in the Human Studies Division will enable students to:

• Identify and assess their own values;
• Offer reasonable and critical explanations of life’s varied situations;
• Communicate their perspectives and opinions effectively; and
• Assume successfully their social responsibilities.

The faculty will help students develop these life skills in order to discover their place and function in the larger human drama of which they are a part.

The Division of Human Studies offers majors in church leadership, Christian studies, history, philosophy of religion; and, in the Behavioral Sciences, criminal justice, human services, psychology, and sociology. Minors are offered in church leadership, criminal justice, history, philosophy, psychology, religion, and sociology. These programs provide excellent preparation for a number of careers in such areas social services, health care, government, business and teaching (in conjunction with the education major or an advanced degree). The majors in the Division of Human Studies also provide excellent preparation for those who plan to attend law school. In addition, students wishing to continue their education at the graduate or professional level in the behavioral sciences will find that these programs provide a solid foundation for both.

Internship opportunities are included in each program and offer real life experiences in preparation for future careers.

Student majoring in history or any of the philosophy or religion majors will receive the B.A. degree. Students majoring in the behavioral sciences have the option of receiving a B.A. or B.S. degree. All students receiving a B.A. degree must complete the modern language requirement.

In addition to core courses required of all graduates of the College, students completing a major in this Division must complete the following:

• MATH 171 Elementary Statistics with a grade of C- or better for Behavioral Science students (Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice)
• HUMST 499 Senior Seminar

The following courses are recommended, but not required for all Human Studies students:

• ENG 311 Expository Writing
• COMM 147 Introduction to Public Speaking
• At least two courses in the Human Studies Division outside of the major (excluding REL 300 Religion in Western Civilization)

Each student pursuing a major in this division shall complete any course specifically required by the major (including “major” courses, required “support” courses, and “prerequisite” courses) with a grade of not less than “C-” (1.70). All majors must have an average of “C” (2.00) across all courses specifically required by the major (including “major” courses, required “support” courses, and “prerequisite” courses) in order to graduate.

Second Major in the Human Studies Division
The Human Studies division is committed to students finding jobs in their chosen major, and is aware that one of the foremost considerations of employers in determining whom to hire is the applicant’s experience in the workplace (more important than grades, subjects studied and academic research). It is, therefore, the Division’s policy to discourage students from pursuing a double major within the Human Studies Division unless the student is able to complete a 240 hour field experience project for each major. The Division does, however, strongly recommend that Human Studies students pursue minors in one or two other fields, whether within the division or outside of it, as a means of broadening their intellectual horizons. Exceptions to this policy will be considered only in rare circumstances.

Transfer Credit: Students who transfer to Iowa Wesleyan College from other colleges and who have already completed courses in criminal justice, history, psychology, sociology, or religion will be given credit for courses with a “C-” or better. A maximum of 15 credit hours transferred from other institutions may be counted toward a Major in Human Studies at Iowa Wesleyan College; a maximum of 9 credit hours from other institutions may be counted toward a Minor in Human Studies at Iowa Wesleyan College.