BA with a Major in Black Studies
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete university, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Black Studies degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| Major Requirements | 30 | |
| General Education and Electives to reach minimum Total Hours | 90 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
General Education
See General Education and Writing-in-the-Discipline in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for information on meeting these requirements.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Black Studies a,b | ||
| Introduction to Black Diaspora Studies c,d | ||
| BLST 206 | Black Studies and the Production of Knowledge e | 3 |
| Select two of the following history courses: | 6 | |
| Racism: Global Perspectives a,c | ||
| The Atlantic Slave Trade: Violence, Exploitation, Resistance c,d | ||
| Black Diaspora Studies | ||
| Precolonial Africa in World History c,d | ||
| History of Modern Africa c,d | ||
| Black Lives in Historical Context b,d | ||
| African American History to 1877 b,d | ||
| African American History since 1877 b,d | ||
| Black Intellectual History a,d | ||
| Select six BLST elective courses in consultation with a departmental advisor (distributed in the following way): | 18 | |
At least 6 semester hours at the 300 or 400 level | ||
No more than 6 hours at the 100 level | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- a
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
- b
This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.
- c
This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category.
- d
This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category.
- e
BLST 206 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
Recommended Plan of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning course | 5 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| BLST 100 or BLST 101 |
Introduction to Black Studies or Introduction to Black Diaspora Studies |
3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| BLST 1XX or 2XX a | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BLST 206 | Black Studies and the Production of Knowledge b | 3 |
| BLST 2XX (designated BLST history course) c | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3-5 | |
| Hours | 16-18 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BLST 2XX (designated BLST history course) c | 3 | |
| BLST 1XX or 2XX a | 3 | |
| Foreign Language | 4 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BLST 2XX a | 3 | |
| BLST 2XX a | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| BLST 3XX or BLST 4XX a | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Requirement course/Elective | 3 | |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| BLST 3XX or BLST 4XX a | 3 | |
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- a
Students are required to take an additional six courses (an additional 18 hours) in BLST selected in consultation with a departmental advisor, and distributed as follows: at least 6 semester hours at the 300 or 400 level, no more than 6 semester hours at the100 level.
- b
BLST 206 satisfies the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.
- c
History courses include: BLST 207, BLST 221, BLST 229, BLST 241, BLST 242, BLST 246, BLST 247, BLST 248, BLST 263.