The GE CLAS Core focuses on building foundational knowledge and skills with a wide range of courses offered across four areas: Communication & Literacy; Sustainability; Natural, quantitative, and social sciences; Culture, society, and the arts.

All undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to complete the GE CLAS Core.

In this section, we provide some resources instructors can use as they design, redesign, propose, and/or teach general education courses. While general questions about the general education requirement may be directed to clas-curriculum@uiowa.edu, Center for Teaching staff are available to assist faculty with designing or redesigning courses.

Defining Academic Expectations

This PDF outlines the TILT framework for transparent instruction, helping instructors clearly communicate course expectations, assignment details, and assessment criteria to support student understanding and success.

Feedback and Evaluation

This PDF highlights strategies for providing timely, formative feedback to guide student growth, including low-stakes assessments and actionable insights to improve future work and learning outcomes.

Teaching and Assessment Strategies

This PDF offers guidance on using varied teaching and assessment methods to enhance student engagement, including interactive lectures, peer mentoring, and diverse assessment formats like essays and podcasts.

Building Assignment Complexity

This PDF explains how to structure assignments that build in complexity, using low-stakes tasks to prepare students for larger projects involving research, analysis, and critical thinking.

Writing and Communication

This PDF provides insights on teaching students the unique writing and communication methods of your discipline, offering techniques for modeling, practicing, and assessing these essential skills.