College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Mission
The teachers, scholars, and writers of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) collaborate with peers and students in free inquiry to create new knowledge and provide transformative learning experiences, leading students to become engaged, informed, creative, and adaptive contributors to the local and global society.
General Information
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) is the nucleus of all undergraduate education at IU South Bend. Through studies with the faculties of the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences departments, students have the opportunity to broaden their awareness and knowledge of the major areas of the human experience. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) offers programs of study that lead to certificates, the Bachelor of Arts, the Bachelor of Science, the Bachelor of General Studies, or master’s degrees. Minors are available in a large number of disciplines as well as several interdisciplinary programs. Courses are offered in a variety of areas in which degrees are not presently offered. In addition, CLAS faculty deliver the vast majority of courses in the General Education program, serving virtually every student who matriculates on campus.
After selecting a major, minor, or certificate in one of the Liberal Arts and Sciences disciplines, students will engage in learning designed to provide in-depth understanding in their chosen field. Students will sharpen their imaginative and creative skills, hone critical thinking and disciplined inquiry abilities, and recognize the joy that follows mastery of communication skills, self-knowledge, and tolerance for ambiguity and difference. CLAS prepares students for the lifetime of learning and rapid change that characterizes today’s job market. Students will find the space to practice the flexibility necessary to utilize constantly changing technology and to develop the capacity to enjoy modern life in all its diversity.
Academic Regulations
All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences should familiarize themselves with the Academic Regulations and Policies described here. A number of specialized regulations apply to the college.
Occasional changes in the graduation requirements for liberal arts and sciences majors may lead to uncertainty as to which IU South Bend Bulletin is applicable for a given graduating student. For the general-education requirements and other academic matters, the student may choose either the IU South Bend Bulletin in effect at the time of matriculation to IU South Bend or the IU South Bend Bulletin in effect at the time of graduation. For meeting requirements of the major, the choice is between the IU South Bend Bulletin in effect when the student certifies into the college and the IU South Bend Bulletin in effect when the student graduates.
Academic Advising for CLAS Majors and Exploratory Students
College policy on advising requires that students meet with their academic advisors at least once each year, and in some departments, prior to each semester’s to enrollment. Advising holds are placed on all CLAS students prior to advance registration and are released following advising appointments. Academic advising for each student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is available prior to each semester’s enrollment by a faculty member from the student’s major area(s) or from an advisor in the college’s Advising Center.
Faculty in CLAS advise all students with a declared major in the college. Students are advised in their academic departments. To determine who your advisor is and how to contact them, see Onestart.
The CLAS Advising Center is the academic home for students who enter IU South Bend undecided about their academic focus, or subsequently change their major to Exploratory. To schedule an advising appointment, contact the Advising Center at 574-520-4537 or sbadvise@iusb.edu.
Advising for General Studies Students
General Studies students will find advising at (574) 520-4537.
The Student’s Responsibility
All colleges establish certain academic requirements that must be met before a degree is granted. These regulations concern such things as curricula and courses; the requirements for majors and minors, and university procedures. Advisors, directors, and deans are available to advise students on how to meet these requirements; each student is individually responsible for fulfilling them. If requirements are not satisfied, the degree is withheld pending adequate fulfillment. For this reason, it is important for each student to be well acquainted with all requirements described in this bulletin.
Academic Probation
A student who has completed one or more IU South Bend grade point average (GPA) hours and has a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) below 2.0 is placed on probation. A probationary student remains on probation until the CGPA reaches 2.0 or higher. If a student who is on probation fails to achieve a semester (fall, spring, or combined summer session) GPA of at least 2.0, he or she will be placed on probation with impact and restricted to half-time enrolment for the following semester. If a student who is on probation with impact fails to achieve a semester (fall, spring, or combined summer session) GPA of at least 2.0, he or she will be dismissed from the university. Students who are dismissed for the first time cannot enroll until one regular calendar year has elapsed and must petition the CLAS probation committee by the established deadline to be considered for reinstatement. Students who are dismissed multiple times must remain out of the university for at least two calendar years and must petition by the established deadline to be considered for reinstatement.
Academic Renewal
Academic renewal for prior Indiana University coursework may be requested by students who did not register for courses at any Indiana University campus for at least three consecutive calendar years after the period for which academic renewal is requested. Contact a College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advisor for more information.
Grades
Students must have a minimum CGPA of 2.0 and complete all requirements in their major and/or minor departments with a C– or higher. (A minimum CGPA of 2.0 is required in the student’s major and minor departments.) Any course in which the student receives a grade of 'F' does not count in the credit hours accumulated for graduation. Any course in which a letter grade of D is received does not count in a student’s major or minor.
Credit Hour Requirements
A candidate for a bachelor’s degree in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 120 credit hours in courses offered by the college or by other academic programs of the university offering bachelor’s degree programs.
Transfer Credit Hours
Ordinarily, the maximum number of transfer credit hours that may be counted toward graduation in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is 96, including credit(s) earned at other campuses of Indiana University. Not more than 60 credit hours earned at accredited junior colleges may be applied toward a degree.
Testing Out of Requirements
Students may test out of the general-education requirements Quantitative Reasoning and Computer Literacy by
passing appropriate proficiency tests. For testing out of part of world languages, see World Languages Placement Examination information.
Upper-Level Coursework
A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed in 300- or 400-level (junior-senior) courses. To satisfy campus general-education requirements, students must pass at least one 300-level core course (i.e., A 399, B 399, N 390,
or T 390).
Residency Requirement
At least 26 credit hours of the work taken as a senior and at least 10 credit hours above the first-level courses in the major subject (not necessarily during the senior year) normally must be completed while in residence at IU South Bend. The 10 credit hours in the major subject must be taken in courses approved by the major department.
Correspondence and Special Credit
By special permission of the dean, a maximum of 12 credit hours may be earned toward a degree through correspondence study or by special credit examination. Any correspondence courses in the student’s major must also have the approval of the departmental chair. (SPCH-S 121 Public Speaking may not be taken by correspondence.)
Time Limit for Completion of Requirements
A student is expected to complete the work for a degree within 10 years. Failure to do so may require passing of comprehensive examinations on the subjects in the area(s) of concentration and fulfilling the general requirements in the current IU South Bend Bulletin.
Graduation Deadlines
An application for a degree or certificate must be filed in the office of the coordinator of student services, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, not later than October 1 for May and August graduations, or March 1 for December graduation. All credit hours of candidates for degrees, except those of the current semester, must be on record at
least six weeks prior to the conferring of degrees. Credit hours by correspondence must be on record at least three weeks prior to the conferring of degrees.