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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 declares their major 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 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 One.IU.

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.

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.

Probation, Dismissal, and Reinstatement

Probation | A student who has completed one or more IU South Bend 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.

Probation with Impact | A student who is on probation and fails to achieve a semester (fall, spring, or combined summer session) GPA of at least 2.0 will be placed on probation with impact. According to campus policy, academic units may impose additional enrollment restrictions on such students. In the college, when students go on “Probation with Impact” they are restricted to part-time enrollment (no more than six credit hours per regular semester, no more than three credit hours per summer session). If the student is making academic progress, advisors may recommend return to increased semester hours.

Dismissal | A student who is on probation with impact and fails to achieve a semester (fall, spring, or combined summer session) GPA of at least 2.0 will be dismissed from the University. Students who are dismissed for the first time cannot enroll until one year has elapsed and must petition by the established deadline (July 1 for fall, November 1 for spring) to be reinstated. Students who are dismissed multiple times must remain out of the university for at least two calendar years, may be required to show proof of successful completion of 15 credit hours from another college during their time away from IU South Bend, and must petition by the established deadline to be reinstated. The college does not readmit students to summer sessions.

Reinstatement | Reinstatement will be the decision of the academic unit to which the student petitions. A student who is reinstated will be on probation with impact until the CGPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

Note | Students who are on academic probation must be advised and registered for classes at least 30 days before the start of the semester.

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

The following conditions apply: 

• Students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.0.
• Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 calculated from all courses used to fulfill major, minor, and/or certificate requirements and a minimum grade of C- in each of those courses.
• 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, minor and/or certificate.
• Some degree programs have additional stipulations in their bulletin listings.

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

The maximum number of transfer credit hours that may be counted toward graduation in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is 90, including credit(s) earned at other campuses of Indiana University. No 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 Common Core course (i.e., A 399, B 399, N 390,
or T 390).

Residency Requirement

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences requires the following:

• At least 30 credit hours of work must be completed while in residence at IU South Bend.
• At least 12 credit hours of work taught by IU South Bend faculty must be upper-division (300- and 400-level) courses in the major that are approved by the major department/program.
• Minors must include a minimum of two courses, totaling at least 6 credit hours, taught by IU South Bend faculty.
• Check the department’s requirements for any additional residency requirements specific to the major or minor.

Special Credit

Special Credits in General Studies (BGS):

With permission of the Director, students majoring in General Studies may earn up to 30 credit hours for successful completion of external exams such as AP, CLEP, DSST and Regents College. Additional credits may be earned with successful completion of university exams as approved by IU South Bend. Additional credits may also be granted for successful completion of exams and training documented from military service and from accredited licensure examinations as approved by the American Council on Education (ACE). 

CLAS (except General Studies):

Credit by Examination: CLAS normally follows campus policy and procedures for credit earned through College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations, Advanced Placement examinations, and other nationally recognized instruments.

 Please note that many medical schools and other health care programs do not accept credit by examination for required courses (although some programs do accept Advanced Placement credit to satisfy pre-med admissions). If you are interested in a health care pre-major (medical, dental, pharmacy, optometry, veterinary school, physician assistant, etc.), please contact either the department chair of Biological Sciences or the department chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry in order to make an appointment with an academic advisor who will guide you through course requirements for these programs.

Study Abroad Credits:

CLAS encourages students to study abroad. Up to 15 credit hours may be earned through travel programs from any IU-sanctioned study abroad program without special permission. Be sure to consult with your major department and academic advisor about additional hours and/or to understand how any study abroad credit hours might be applied to your overall degree program.

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 Student Services Office of the 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.