2004-06 IUPUI Campus Bulletin

Labor Studies Certificate and Degree Requirements

Courses from three groupings are used by students to complete certificate and degree requirements. These groupings are: labor studies courses, required areas of learning, and electives. The chart below shows the credit hour distribution required for each certificate and degree in labor studies.

Additional Requirements

For the Associate of Science in Labor Studies degree, at least 12 credit hours must be earned from Indiana University, 10 of these after admission to the School of Continuing Studies. No more than 15 credit hours may be earned within a single subject other than labor studies. For the Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies degree, at least 24 credit hours must be earned from Indiana University, 20 of these after admission to the School of Continuing Studies. No more than 21 credit hours may be earned within a single subject other than labor studies. Thirty (30) credit hours must be earned in 300- and 400-level courses, and at least 12 of the 30 credit hours must be earned in labor studies courses. Credits earned by self-acquired competency, DANTES, and CLEP cannot be applied to these requirements.

For the Certificate in Labor Studies and both the associate and bachelor’s degrees, an overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C) must be maintained. Courses in which grades of D are received may be counted only as electives. For the associate and bachelor’s degrees, courses within a major area must be in at least two different subjects. For additional standards, see the section of this bulletin titled ‘‘Academic Policies.’’

A minor in labor studies requires the completion of 15 credit hours consisting of 6 credits from our list of core courses and 9 additional credits to be determined through consultation with the campus faculty.

Required Areas of Learning

Following are representative subjects and courses falling under each of the three major areas of learning listed under certificate and degree requirements. Note that ENG W131 and one additional writing course within the arts and humanities area are required for degree programs. Also, only one computer technology course applies to the science and mathematics requirement. Additional courses in computer technology count as electives. For information about subjects not listed here (for example, women’s studies) and about specific courses, contact a Division of Labor Studies office.

Labor Studies Credit Hour Requirements

Group	Subgroup	Certificate in Labor Studies	Associate of Science in Labor Studies	Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies
Labor studies	Core courses	15	15	15
	Additional labor studies	3	12	27
	Arts and humanities	3	121	121
	Social and behavioral sciences	3	92	122
	Science and mathematics	3	63	154
	Additional credit hours from one area above	3		12
Electives			6	27
Total credit hours		30	60	120

Note for Labor Studies Credit Hour Requirements: ENG W131 and one additional writing course required One course in economics required; microeconomics recommended One course in computer science/technology recommended One course in computer science/technology required

Arts and Humanities

Afro-American Studies
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
English
Fine Arts
Folklore
History
History and Philosophy of Science
Journalism
Music
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Speech and Communications
Theater and Drama
All language courses

Sciences and Mathematics

Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science/Technology
Geology
Mathematics
Physics
Zoology

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Linguistics
Political Science
Psychology
Sociology

Electives

Students may select any of the courses offered by Indiana University to fulfill elective requirements. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisors and to concentrate their elective course work in related subject fields.

Application and Admission

The certificate and degree programs in the Division of Labor Studies are open to all qualified high school graduates or persons with the General Education Development (GED) certificate. Adults over 21 who do not meet these requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis and may apply for regular admission upon successful completion of 12 credit hours. Applicants must submit the following:

1. A completed application for admission to the Labor Studies Program.
2. A nonrefundable application fee payable to Indiana University, if the applicant has not previously been admitted to Indiana University.
3. A high school transcript, if there is no college work.
4. An official transcript of previous college work, mailed by the college.

Applicants should forward all application materials to the Division of Labor Studies office on the campus where they intend to enroll. For addresses, see the list on page 12 of this bulletin. Applicants who do not live within commuting distance of a campus and who wish to participate through Independent Study by Correspondence should send materials to the Bloomington office, attention External Study. International students should request the international application for admission and related materials from the Bloomington office.

Citizens of other countries, including those in the United States on immigration visas, must also submit TOEFL scores and a 300- to 500-word handwritten essay. The essay is to be written on a topic of the student’s choice and may include autobiographical information. Students who intend to pursue the degree on an Indiana University campus must also submit the international application for admission.

Transferring Credit

When official transcripts are received, they will be forwarded to the admissions office for evaluation. Within a few weeks the applicant should receive official notice of admission and a credit transfer report indicating which courses are accepted at Indiana University (generally those in which the applicant earned grades of C or better from accredited institutions). The Division of Labor Studies office will then prepare a summary of how these courses apply to labor studies certificate and degree requirements. At this point, if not before, students should proceed to plan their programs in consultation with their advisors and to enroll in courses. Students should check with the Division of Labor Studies office on the campus where they plan to enroll for schedules and directions.

Correspondence students should contact the Bloomington office for advising and should use the booklet titled Independent Study University Courses.

Application Fees

Applicants who have not previously attended Indiana University must pay a nonrefundable application fee at the time they submit their application. Application fees vary from campus to campus and are subject to change. Current fees for U.S. citizens/international students are as follows: University-wide (non-campus-based) $30

IU Bloomington $35

IUPUI (Indianapolis) $35

IU Kokomo $30

IU Northwest (Gary) $25

IPFW (Fort Wayne) $30

IU South Bend $35

International Students $50

Deadlines

Students who wish to take regular on-campus courses should check with the Division of Labor Studies office on that campus for any application and enrollment deadlines.

Progress Options

One or more of the methods listed in this section may provide the labor studies student with a means of receiving Indiana University credit without taking conventional classroom-based courses. This allows accelerated progress toward a labor studies degree. With prior approval, a maximum of 6 credit hours of graduate-level course work can be applied to the Bachelor of General Studies degree. The application of more than 6 graduate credit hours must have the dean’s approval.

College Level Examination Program

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) has tests available in a variety of subject areas. Students whose scores exceed a certain level on tests accepted by Indiana University receive credit (3 credit hours for most exams). CLEP brochures are available at Division of Labor Studies offices.

Independent Study by Correspondence

Students who do not have access to an Indiana University campus may take courses through Independent Study by correspondence. Campus-based students may also complete degree requirements through correspondence study. The Indiana University Independent Study Program offers more than 200 university-level correspondence courses. Students enrolling in independent study courses receive a learning guide that contains reading assignments for the required textbooks, discussion sections, and written assignments. Lessons are sent to an instructor, who comments on and grades student work. Most courses have one or more examinations, which must be taken under supervision at an accredited school. Students are allowed one year to complete a course.

External labor studies students should request course listings and enrollment forms from the Bloomington office. This office advises and maintains academic records for all persons not based on an Indiana University campus.

Credit for Military Service

Depending on the length and type of training received, students may receive up to 6 credit hours based on military service. Additional credit may be awarded for special training programs in the military. This credit can be applied only as elective credit for the labor studies degrees. To apply, students should present their DD-214 form and, if applicable, training completion certificates to the Division of Labor Studies office.

Credit for Self-Acquired Competency

Upon successful completion of 12 credit hours in labor studies, students may apply for up to 15 hours of self-acquired competency (SAC) credit to go toward the Associate of Science degree and up to 30 (including any applied to the associate degree) toward the Bachelor of Science degree. SAC credit can be awarded for learning gained outside the university and may be based on a wide variety of experiences. Labor studies students can apply for SAC credit on the basis of learning derived from their union activities. Self-acquired competency refers to learning, or competency, that can be documented. SAC credit is not granted simply for ‘‘time served.’’ Thus, it is not granted on the basis of the number of terms served as a union officer. Nor is it multiplied by the number of times the same experience has been repeated. A secretary-treasurer who has performed the same functions for four terms is not likely to receive significantly more credit than one who has performed the same functions, and has learned as much, from one or two terms.

SAC credit is of two types:

1. Course-specific credit is granted where the applicant’s competency is substantially equivalent to the competency that is expected after completion of an Indiana University course. Credit for the specific course is awarded.
2. General credit is granted for competency that is not the exact equivalent of competency gained from completing a specific IU course but is nevertheless the equivalent of college learning. This is the only form of SAC credit available outside of the Division of Labor Studies.

Tuition for SAC credit is the same as for Independent Study courses.

In general, the following procedures and limitations govern the awarding of credit for self-acquired competency:

• A student must be admitted to the Labor Studies Program, have successfully completed 12 credit hours in Labor Studies, and be in good standing before any credit for self-acquired competency is awarded.
• A maximum of 15 credit hours of self-acquired competency credit may be applied to the Associate of Science in Labor Studies and a maximum of 30 hours of credit to the Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies.

How to Apply

The process of building a SAC portfolio is time-consuming. It begins with the development of a resume and the listing of experiences that may have led to college-level competency. The portfolio is then organized and phrased to demonstrate the connection to specific labor studies courses or to general areas of knowledge in labor studies. Finally, appropriate documentation is added. Each portfolio is evaluated by two members of the Division of Labor Studies faculty, who also interview the applicant. Supplementary materials and counseling are available from labor studies faculty on campuses offering the program. Students applying for SAC credit may be required to come to an Indiana University campus for an interview as part of the SAC evaluation.

Transfer of Self-Acquired Competency Credit within Indiana University

Self-acquired competency credit awarded by the faculty of one Indiana University campus is recorded and explained on the student’s permanent record. Such credit will be honored, therefore, on any other Indiana University campus to which the student may transfer in order to complete the associate or bachelor’s degree in labor studies. The student should be aware, however, that such credit will not necessarily be honored by other degree programs of Indiana University or by other institutions.