Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Certificate

Program: Certificate
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LBGT) Program
College of Arts and Sciences

Liberal Arts Building 153 ~ 260-481-6019

The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

• demonstrate knowledge of issues relevant to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and communicate this knowledge effectively to others;
• identify and apply the methods of inquiry for the disciplines that examine issues relevant to LGBT individuals and use those methods to evaluate information about LGBT individuals and other issues pertinent to sexual orientation and sexual identity;
• recognize harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, and identify appropriate legal resources used to assist victims of such harassment/discrimination;
• develop citizenship skills and knowledge of LGBT resources in the community;
• investigate companies’ policies and organizational cultures to determine attitudes toward LGBT employees.

A certificate in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) studies is available to all IPFW students earning undergraduate degrees.  Courses totaling 19 credit hours are required to meet the requirements for the certificate. Students must obtain a C- or better in all courses that fulfill the requirements for the certificate. An introductory course and a culminating capstone course in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues are required of all students obtaining the certificate.

The program consists of three major areas of study, the first is specific to LGBT issues, the second is sexuality issues, and the third is gender issues. Students meeting the certificate requirements must complete three courses from the LGBT Courses group, two courses from the Sexuality Courses Group, and one from the Gender Courses group.

One required course in the LGBT Courses group is an LGBT course beyond LGBT 20000, or a course cross-listed as a GNDR course focusing predominately on an LGBT topic, or an independent study from any academic department focusing on an LGBT topic, this course must be at the 200 level or higher. The two courses selected within the Sexuality Area must be from different academic departments.

Furthermore, two courses fulfilling the LGBT Certificate requirements must be at the 400 level or greater.  At least 12 credit hours must be taken at IPFW. No courses may be taken on a pass/not pass basis.