Undergraduate
Labor Studies BS
Labor Studies (LS)
The Department of LS (DLS) offers online courses and degrees to meet the needs of students seeking distance education opportunities. The wide array of online course offerings is designed to be flexible and are offered on all IU campuses. Enrollment through our online application is easy. The tuition and fees for LS courses can be found here.
Introduction
With 160 years of leadership in LS and labor education, Indiana University continues to pioneer innovative and quality educational opportunities in this field. The program caters to students with diverse backgrounds and educational needs -- from adult learners to traditional students -- in the areas of work, the workplace, organized labor, labor and social movements, the impact of global markets, and changing institutions.
The DLS prepares students to assume leadership roles in the workplace and in communities. The program is designed as an interdisciplinary major for college students and working adults seeking a university-level education. Online LS classes are offered on all Indiana University campuses. The mission of the LS Program is to:
- Provide credit and non-credit university-level education for current and future workers to increase knowledge, understanding, and critical thinking about work and labor organizations within today's global context
- Broaden access to the university for working- class and other underserved constituencies and provide opportunities for life-long learning and college degrees.
- Collect, systematize, and create new knowledge in collaboration with our students.
- Examine the global socio-economic system and the impact of its inequalities on working people.
- Promote respect for workers and understanding of working-class histories, experiences, perspectives, and knowledge.
- Empower our constituents to be engaged citizens and social and political agents of change who will create a more just and equitable world of work.
The vision of the Department of Labor states:
- Indiana University LS will be the leading, collaborative program in labor and work issues in interdisciplinary scholarship, education, training, and empowerment nationally and internationally.
It is within the parameters of this mission that we devote our energies to excel in education, research, and service. We offer online courses for the Minor, Certificate, Associate of Science (AS), and Bachelor of Science (BS) in LS degrees.
Admission
Eligibility:
- High school graduates (diploma, GED, HISET)
- Students admitted to Indiana University (IU)
- Students who have completed at least 12 college credits of course work
- International students
Enrollment to the DLS requires formal admission to IU and an application to DLS. Online application forms to DLS are available here.
For more information, please contact the LS Student Services Coordinator via our toll-free number: 800-822-4743 or email pahill@iupui.edu.
Grades
An overall minimum grade point average of 2.0 (C average) must be maintained. Course grades of D or lower in LS courses or in courses under “Required Areas of Learning” do not count toward the LS degree but are accepted as electives.
LS Required Areas of Learning
The following list includes representative disciplines in the three major required areas of learning:
Arts and Humanities
African American Studies
Classical Studies
Comparative Literature
English
Fine Arts
Folklore and Ethnomusicology History
History and Philosophy of Science
Journalism
Languages
Music
Philosophy
Religious Studies
Speech and Communication
Theatre and Drama
Physical Science and Mathematics
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Geological Sciences
Mathematics
Physics
Psychology
Zoology
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Anthropology
Economics
Geography
Linguistics
Political Science
Psychology
Social Work
Sociology
For the AS and BS in LS, courses within each major area must include at least two different disciplines.
Degree Requirements
Degrees and Minor
Bachelor of Science in LS (BS-LS) 120 cr.
A major in LS requires competition of general education requirements with a grade of C- in each course.
- The IU Indianapolis campus wide general-education curriculum (30 cr.)
- LS Required Areas of Learning/additional general education courses (21 cr.)
LS Required Areas of Learning (12 credit hours)
- To be completed within the General Education core courses (30 cr.) or in the remaining general education courses (21 cr.).
- ENG-W 131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry 1
- One additional 200/300 level writing course (Visual Literacy: Eng-W-231 or W-270)
- One economics course (LSTU-L-230 Labor and Economy meets this requirement)
- One computer course
• Major concentration (42 cr.)
• LS 100/200 level courses (15 cr.) except L190, L199, L290, and L299
• LS 200/300/400 level courses (27 cr.)
There are no pre-requisite or co-requisite LS courses. Students may take LS courses in any order, although, we do suggest a logical progression (100 level, 200 level, 300 level, etc.) and in consultation with the DLS advisor to desired degree goals.
- Electives (27 cr.)
Please note: Within the 120 credit hours required for the BS- LS degree, students must have a minimum of 30 credit hours at the 300 or 400 level. In addition, concentration requirements must be completed with a grade of C- or higher.
