Labor Studies
Division of Labor Studies
Certificate, Minor, and Degrees

Labor Studies

As a discipline, labor studies deals with work, the workplace, and workers and their organizations. It advances a body of knowledge that reflects the concerns of modern labor organizations.

As a program, labor studies enables participants to serve more effectively as members and leaders in their organizations. Participants can also gain a sense of the past and present contexts of work and unionism. Because union leaders need to be familiar with economics, communications, and other subjects, labor studies can assist them in mastering a broad range of learning.

The program encourages participants to make socially useful choices in carrying out the many responsibilities of union membership, union leadership, and community citizenship.

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Division of Labor Studies

The Division of Labor Studies traces its origin to the establishment of the Bureau of Industrial and Labor Services on the Bloomington campus in 1955. Renamed the Labor Education and Research Center (LERC) in 1964, this unit had a small staff conducting noncredit courses, conferences, and institutes around the state.

In the early 1970s, LERC grew and began to establish offices on other Indiana University campuses. In 1976, LERC became the Division of Labor Studies within the School of Continuing Studies. Programs were established leading to the Certificate in Labor Studies and to the Associate and Bachelor of General Studies degrees with concentrations in labor studies. In 1985, these two degree concentrations were extensively revised and became full-fledged majors in Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees. In 2000, the Division of Labor Studies became an independent division.

The Division of Labor Studies continues to offer an extensive noncredit Union Education Program (UEP) to meet the needs of unions throughout the state. Additional information about the UEP is in the Union Education Program section of this bulletin.

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Certificate, Minor, and Degrees

Through the Division of Labor Studies, Indiana University offers a Certificate in Labor Studies, a minor in labor studies, an Associate of Science in Labor Studies degree, and a Bachelor of Science in Labor Studies degree. See page four for the requirements for these programs. Each combines work in a core of labor studies subjects with courses in other disciplines.

The division has a long history of working with unions in the state of Indiana to develop and deliver educational programs. These programs are coordinated by members of the Division of Labor Studies faculty. They, along with associate faculty members, also instruct the courses. Faculty qualifications typically combine academic credentials with union backgrounds.

Labor studies programs are also available to people who cannot enroll in classroom-based courses on Indiana University campuses where the program is offered. By enrolling in labor studies courses through correspondence study, one can complete a growing number of courses. The Division of Labor Studies works closely with the Division of Extended Studies in the School of Continuing Studies and its Independent Study Program.

Both classroom and correspondence methods offer the ability to transfer course work completed at most other accredited colleges and universities to Indiana University. On-campus participants have the option of applying for credit for self-acquired competency (SAC) by completing a substantial portfolio and an interview. Credit for military service and for successful completion of College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests in several subjects is available. Participants may also mix classroom and correspondence study courses.

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