Degrees and Minor

The Labor Studies program offers a Bachelor degree, an Associate degree and a certificate degree. A minor in Labor Studies is also available. We have Labor Studies degree granting programs on the following IU campuses: Indianapolis, Bloomington, Kokomo, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Northwest. For students wanting degree information on the Columbus, East or Southeast campuses, contact the Labor Studies Student Services Coordinator at IUPUI via our toll free number: 800-822-4743.

All of the Labor Studies courses are available online and depending on the IU campus, many are offered in a face-to-face version. The Labor Studies courses are offered as a full semester course and many as compressed (8 week) courses. There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for the Labor Studies courses. Course selection is at the discretion of the student, however we offer full-time advisors to assist those interested in the Labor Studies program via the toll-free number listed above. 

Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies (BS-LS)

 Students must earn 30 credit hours in 300- and 400-level courses, and at least 12 of these 30 credit hours must be earned in Labor Studies courses. At least 24 credit hours must be earned from Indiana University. No more than 21 credit hours may be earned within a single subject other than Labor Studies. Credits earned through prior learning, DANTES (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support), and CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) cannot be applied to these requirements.

Labor Studies Core Courses: 15 credit hours

Labor Studies Additional Courses: 27 credit hours

Arts and Humanities courses: 12 credit hours (ENG W131) and one additional writing course required.)

Math and Science courses: 15 credit hours (One computer course required)

Social and Behavioral Science courses: 12 credit hours (One course in economics required. Labor Studies L230 meets this requirement.)

Additional Credit Hours: 12 credit hours (Courses must be from one of the three required areas of learning which include: Arts & Humanities; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Social and Behavioral Sciences.)

Elective courses: 27 credit hours (Any course offered by IU fulfills elective requirements. Students are encourage to focus their elective course work in related subjects to complete a minor concentration.)

Total credit hours: 120

Required Areas of Learning

The following are representative subjects in the three major required areas of Learning:

Arts and Humanities

• Afro American Studies
• Classical Studies
• Comparative Literature
• English
• Fine Arts
• Folklore and Ethnomusicology
• History
• History and Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Speech and Communication
• Theatre and Drama

Physical Science and Mathematics

• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Geological Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology (Psychology P101 may be applied as either Science and Mathematics or Social and Behavorial Science, depending on the campus.)
• Zoology

Social and Behavorial Science

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• Linguistics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Associate of Science in Labor Studies (AS-LS)

At least 12 credit hours must be earned  from Indiana University. No more than 15 credit hours may be earned within a single subject other than Labor Studies.

• Labor Studies Core courses: 15  credit hours
• Labor Studies Additional courses: 12 credit hours
• Arts and Humanities courses: 12 credit hours (ENG W131) and one additional writing course required.)
• Math and Science courses: 6 credit hours (One computer course recommended.)
• Social and Behavioral Science courses: 9 credit hours (One course in economics required. LS230 meets this requirement.)
• Additional Credit Hours: None required
• Elective Courses: 6 credit hours (Any course offered by IU fulfills elective requirements. Students asre encouraged to focus their elective work in related subjects to complete a minor concentration.)

Total credit  hours: 60

Required Areas Learning

The following are representative subjects in the three major required areas of learning:

Arts and Humanities

• Afro American Studies
• Classical Studies
• Comparative Literature
• English
• Fine Arts
• Folklore and Ethnomusicology
• History
• History and Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Speech and Communication
• Theatre and Drama

Physical Science and Mathematics

• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Geological Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology (Psychology P101 may be applied as either Science and Mathematics or Social and Behavioral Science, depending on the campus.)
• Zoology

Social and Behavioral Science

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• Linguistics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Certificate in Labor Studies

Requires 15 hours of core Labor Studies courses and 3 credit hours in Labor Studies additional coures, and 3 credit hours in each of the remaining required areas of learning.

• Labor Studies Core Courses: 15 credit hours
• Labor Studies Additional courses: 3 credit hours
• Arts and Humanities courses: 3 credit hours
• Social Behavioral Science courses: 3 credit hours
• Elective courses: none required

Total credit hours: 30

Required Areas of Learning

The following are representative subjects in the three major required areas of learning:

Arts and Humanities

• Afro American Studies
• Classical Studies
• Comparative Literature
• English
• Fine Arts
• Folklore and Ethnomusicology
• History
• History and Philosophy
• Religious Studies
• Speech and Communication
• Theatre and Drama

Physical Science and Mathematics

• Astronomy
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Geological Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Psychology (Psychology P101 may be applied as either Science and Mathematics or Social and Behavioral Science, depending on the campus.)
• Zoology

Social and Behavioral Science

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Geography
• Linguistics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology

Minor in Labor Studies

For a Minor in Labor Studies, students must complete a total of 15 credit hours in Labor Studies courses. Six of these 15 credit hours must be in core Labor Studies Courses (100-200 level), which provide students with a foundation for further specialization in areas relevant to their individual career interests. The remaining nine of the 15 required credits are drawn from a broad range of additional 200, 300, and 400 level Labor Studies courses. These nine additional credit hours should be selected in consultation with the campus Labor Studies advisors or faculty.