Rod Library-----Special Collections and University Archives

Vocational Education Department Names

Descriptive Overview

One could make the argument that just about any course of study at UNI is vocational education, in the sense that it will prepare students for some sort of work. This was especially true at least until 1961, when the sole mission of the school was the preparation of teachers. All courses of study were aimed in this direction. But for the purpose of this brief essay on the history of instructional department names, Vocational Education will take a more restricted and limited view to include only Industrial Arts, Home Economics, and Library Science. Business department names will be treated elsewhere.

The Manual Training Department first appears in the college catalogue in 1903. In 1904 the department was called the Manual Training and Domestic Science Department. In 1907 the name was simplified to the Manual Arts Department, and in 1909 the Home Economics Department emerged as a separate department. The Home Economics Department name proved to be one of the most stable instructional department names in the school's history. It continued until 1992, when the name changed to Design, Family and Consumer Sciences. This department is a member of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The Manual Arts Department name persisted until 1922, when it was combined with the Art Department to become the Art and Manual Arts Department. In 1935 the name was simplified to the Arts Department. The curious combination of instructional faculties persisted until 1948, when the department split back into its original constituencies: the Art Department and the Industrial Arts Department.

The Industrial Arts Department became the Industrial Arts and Technology Department in 1966. The name was simplified to the Industrial Technology Department in 1975. It is a member of the College of Natural Sciences.

The history of names for the Library Science Department is straightforward. It was established in 1947 and kept the same name until it was discontinued as a freestanding department in 1991. Its programs were subsumed into the Curriculum and Instruction Department in the College of Education.

Chronology

1903-1904
Manual Training

1904-1907
Manual Training and Domestic Science

1907-1909
Manual Arts

1909-1922
Manual Arts
Home Economics

1922-1935
Art and Manual Arts
Home Economics

1935-1947
Arts
Home Economics
Library Science

1947-1948
Arts
Home Economics
Library Science

1948-1966
Industrial Arts
Home Economics
Library Science

1966-1975
Industrial Arts and Technology
Home Economics
Library Science

1975-1991
Arts
Home Economics
Library Science

1991-1992
Industrial Technology
Home Economics

1992-present
Industrial Technology
Design, Family and Consumer Education

Links to Other Pages about Subject Area Department Name Changes

Art and Music Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Business Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Education Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Language, Literature, and Speech Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Mathematics Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Physical Education Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Science Department Name Changes, 1876-present
Social Science Department Name Changes, 1876-present

Links to General Pages about Instructional Department Names

Alphabetical List of Department Names, 1876-present
Chronological List of Department Names, 1876-present

General Navigation Aids

Copyright © 2003 University of Northern Iowa, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

Rod Library Special Collections and University Archives
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613-3675
Telephone: (319)-273-6307
Fax: (319)-273-2913
Email: Gerald.Peterson@uni.edu

http://www.library.uni.edu/speccoll/DeptNamesVocEd.html
Initially placed on Web: April 9, 2003 (GP)
Last modified: April 11, 2003 (GP)