Pictured | Victoria Sculati | Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Sports and Exercise Science | Mishawaka, Indiana (hometown)

Mission

The teachers, scholars, and writers of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences 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 School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences are 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. School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences offer 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, our 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 School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural 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. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences prepare 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 School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences prepare 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 

Your academic advisor is a critical partner in fostering your success at IU South Bend and beyond. Your advisor will help you explore academic majors and careers, plan your degree, choose classes, learn about internships and study abroad, and much more. To see who is assigned as your advisor, visit your Student Online Advising Record in one.iu.edu. For more information about advising at IU South Bend, visit the website for the Center for Undergraduate Advising.

Final responsibility for meeting degree requirements rests with the student.

Questions about advising? Email sbadvise@iu.edu or call (574) 520-4550.

The Student’s Responsibility

All schools 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 Readmission

Good Standing | A student whose cumulative grade point average (CGPA) is 2.0 or higher is considered to be in Good Standing.

Academic Probation | A student who has completed one or more IU GPA hours and has a cumulative grade point average below 2.0 is placed on Academic Probation. A probationary student remains on probation until the CGPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

Critical Academic Probation | A student who is on Academic Probation and does not achieve a semester (fall, spring, or combined summer session) GPA of at least 2.0 will be placed on Critical Academic Probation. According to campus policy, academic units may impose additional enrollment restrictions on such students. In the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences when students go on Critical Academic Probation they are restricted to part-time enrollment (no more than two classes or eight credit hours per regular semester, no more than one class or five credit hours per summer session). 

Students who can demonstrate that they have prepared themselves to succeed while taking additional credits may  petition the College of Arts and Sciences Student Affairs Committee for an increased maximum limit.

Academic Dismissal | A student who is on Critical Academic Probation and does not 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 regular (fall or spring) semester has elapsed. Students who are dismissed multiple times must remain out of the university for at least two regular semesters and must apply for readmission by the established deadlines (August 1 for fall, December 1 for spring) to be reinstated.

Readmission

• Readmission will be the decision of the academic unit to which the student petitions.
• The School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences do not readmit academically dismissed students for summer sessions.
• Students who are dismissed multiple times may be required to show proof of successful completion of 15 credit hours from another college during their time away from IU South Bend.
• A student who is readmitted following Academic Dismissal will be on Critical Academic Probation until their cumulative GPA reaches 2.0 or higher.

Registration | The School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences probationary students 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 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 requirements.
• Some degree programs have additional stipulations in their bulletin listings.

Credit Hour Requirements

A candidate for a bachelor’s degree in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural 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 School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural 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 School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences require 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). 

School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences (except General Studies):

Credit by Examination: School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences normally follow 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:

School of Humanities and Social Sciences and School of Natural Sciences encourage 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 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.