BA in Interdisciplinary with Emphasis in Black Studies
Degree Program Description
Students in Black Studies learn about the varied experiences of people of Africa and the African diaspora from various fields, including arts, humanities, social sciences, sciences and technology, public policy, education, and law, to name a few. This interdisciplinary field focuses on African Americans, Africans, and other people in the African Diaspora. A BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Black Studies challenges students to learn about and critically analyze the global experiences of people of African descent, including conditions that have shaped their past as well as their present lives. The degree provides knowledge in the following: critical thinking skills to understand and effectively articulate experiences and contributions of the people who share a common heritage; ability to critically think, research, write, and analyze the Black experience; communication (both oral and written), problem-solving, strategic planning and a range of research skills. Students acquire such skills while they develop in-depth knowledge that is beneficial to careers in multicultural, cross-cultural, and diversity consulting, all of which are critical in 21st-century employment. In addition, our graduates often pursue employment or graduate studies in academic fields such as Social and Intellectual Movements, Politics, Sociology, Literature, Psychology, Music, Art, History, and many others.
Major Program Requirements
Students may earn a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Arts and Science with an Interdisciplinary Studies major and an emphasis in Black Studies.
A student majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Black Studies emphasis must complete a total of 30 Black Studies credits. In addition, students must complete all university graduation requirements and Arts and Science Foundation Requirements. A minimum grade of C- is required for each course taken in the major. A minimum cumulative GPA in all major coursework is 2.0.
Emphasis core requirements
- Completion of an interdisciplinary area of concentration of at least 30 credits in Black Studies and related courses.
- Courses cross-listed with Black Studies receive Black Studies credit.
In selecting a second language to meet general education requirements in the College of Arts and Science, students are encouraged to consider Spanish or French.
In addition to University, general education, and College of Arts and Science requirements, students must also meet the following major program requirements. All major requirements in the College of Arts and Science must be completed with grades of C- or higher unless otherwise indicated.
Students must take a minimum of two additional courses (6 hours) in one of the areas of concentration to total 9 hours in one concentration area.
- A minimum of 15 hours numbered 2000 or above, 12 of which must be completed at MU, are required in the major.
- A minimum grade of C- or above is required in each major course.
- A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all combined major coursework is required to earn the major.
- The major must include one writing-intensive (WI) course numbered 3000 or above.
| Required Coursework | ||
| BL_STU 1000 | Introduction to Black Studies | 3 |
| BL_STU 2975 | Traditions and Concepts in Black Studies | 3 |
| BL_STU 3977 | Black Studies Methodologies | 3 |
| BL_STU 4977 | Black Studies Capstone | 3 |
| Students must complete at least one course (3 hours) from each of the following areas of concentration: | ||
| Area 1: Black Politics | ||
| BL_STU 1704 | Introduction to Black Politics | 3 |
| BL_STU 2704 | African Political Thought | 3 |
| BL_STU 2804 | Black Political Thought | 3 |
| BL_STU 3200 | Black Freedom Movement, 1955-1973 | 3 |
| BL_STU 3230 | Studies in Black Sexual Politics | 3 |
| BL_STU 3850 | Gender, Hip Hop, and the Politics of Representation | 3 |
| BL_STU 4130 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| BL_STU 4303 | Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender, and U.S. Policy | 3 |
| BL_STU 4415 | African Americans and American Justice | 3 |
| BL_STU 4640 | African Politics | 3 |
| BL_STU 4720 | Third World Politics | 3 |
| BL_STU 7303 | Black Studies in Race, Class, Gender, and U.S. Policy | 3 |
| BL_STU 7415 | African Americans and American Justice | 3 |
| BL_STU 7604 | Advanced Studies in Black Politics | 3 |
| Area 2: Arts, Literature, and Culture | ||
| BL_STU 1250 | World Theatre Workshop | 2 |
| BL_STU 1335 | Introduction to Soul and Country | 3 |
| BL_STU 1705 | Introduction to Black Studies in Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 1720 | African-American Theatre History | 3 |
| BL_STU 2150 | African-American Cinema | 3 |
| BL_STU 2310 | Literature of the African Diaspora | 3 |
| BL_STU 2400 | Introduction to African Diaspora Literature | 3 |
| BL_STU 2601 | Languages of Africa | 3 |
| BL_STU 2604 | Caribbean History and Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 2715 | Studies in Black Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 2720 | African-American Visual Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 3100 | African American Psychology | 3 |
| BL_STU 3303 | Black Athletes | 3 |
| BL_STU 3400 | Survey of African American Literature, Beginnings to 1900 | 3 |
| BL_STU 3410 | Survey of African American Literature, 1900-Present | 3 |
| BL_STU 3420 | Periods and Genres in African Diaspora Literature | 3 |
| BL_STU 3427 | Periods and Genres in African Diaspora Literature, 1603-1789 | 3 |
| BL_STU 3428 | Periods and Genres in African Diaspora Literature, 1789-1890 | 3 |
| BL_STU 3429 | Periods and Genres in African Diaspora Literature, 1890-Present | 3 |
| BL_STU 3625 | Comparative Approaches to Black Studies in Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 3705 | Themes in Black Culture | 3 |
| BL_STU 4181 | Themes in Literature by Women | 3 |
| BL_STU 4220 | Religion in Afro-American Literature | 3 |
| BL_STU 4352 | Historical Studies in African Music | 3 |
| BL_STU 4407 | Studies in African Diaspora Literature, 1603 to 1789 | 3 |
| BL_STU 4408 | Studies in African Diaspora Literature, 1789 to 1890 | 3 |
| BL_STU 4410 | Major Africana Diaspora Writers | 3 |
| BL_STU 4480 | Major African Diaspora Women Writers | 3 |
| BL_STU 4487 | Major African Diaspora Women Writers, 1603 to 1789 | 3 |
| BL_STU 4488 | Major African Diaspora Women Writers, 1789 to 1890 | 3 |
| BL_STU 4489 | Major African Diaspora Women Writers, 1890 to Present | 3 |
| BL_STU 4530 | Caribbean Women Writers | 3 |
| BL_STU 4710 | Themes in African Diaspora Folklore | 3 |
| Area 3: Africa and African Diaspora Studies | ||
| BL_STU 1410 | African American History | 3 |
| BL_STU 1790 | History of Early Africa | 3 |
| BL_STU 1800 | History of Modern Africa | 3 |
| BL_STU 1801 | Introduction to Africa and the African Diaspora | 3 |
| BL_STU 1810 | History of South Africa | 3 |
| BL_STU 2210 | The Black Americans | 3 |
| BL_STU 2570 | Black Religion | 3 |
| BL_STU 2701 | Black Dionysus: Greek Drama in Africa and the African Diaspora | 3 |
| BL_STU 2750 | Black Religion in America | 3 |
| BL_STU 2904 | Black Studies in Slavery and Freedom | 3 |
| BL_STU 3022 | Peacebuilding and Peacemaking in the Modern Caribbean | 3 |
| BL_STU 3590 | Religious Biography: Black Religion | 3 |
| BL_STU 3670 | Global History of Black Power | 3 |
| BL_STU 3804 | Resistance in the Black Atlantic | 3 |
| BL_STU 4270 | African-Americans in the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| BL_STU 4835 | Race and Politics in South Africa | 3 |
| BL_STU 4875 | Black Studies: Study Abroad-Humanities | 3 |
| BL_STU 4877 | Black Studies: Study Abroad-Social Science | 3 |
| Area 4: Gender, Race, Sexuality, Class | ||
| BL_STU 2200 | Social Inequalities | 3 |
| BL_STU 2410 | African American Women in History | 3 |
| BL_STU 2425 | Race and the American Story | 3 |
| BL_STU 3024 | Black Diaspora Women and Reproductive Justice | 3 |
| BL_STU 3700 | Black Studies in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Class: Advanced | 3 |
| BL_STU 3800 | Women in African History | 3 |
| BL_STU 4020 | Studies in Black Feminist Thought | 3 |
| BL_STU 4230 | Women, Development, and Globalization | 3 |
| BL_STU 4300 | The Black Family: Past, Present and Future | 3 |
| BL_STU 4335 | The Wire: Race, Urban Inequality, and the "Crisis" of the American City | 3 |
| BL_STU 4418 | Major African Diaspora Writers, 1789 to 1890 | 3 |
| BL_STU 4489W | Major African Diaspora Women Writers, 1890 to Present - Writing Intensive | 3 |
| BL_STU 4420 | Africana Womanism | 3 |
| BL_STU 4804 | Historical Studies of Black Women | 3 |
| BL_STU 4904 | Historical and Contemporary Slavery | 3 |
- **
Consult the Black Studies Department website for other course options.
Departmental Honors Requirements
To graduate with departmental honors, you must be an undergraduate majoring in Black Studies, have a 3.5 GPA or above in Black Studies coursework, have a 3.3 GPA overall, and complete the Black Studies Departmental Honors Program's three-course sequence:
- Required: BL_STU 2975 Traditions and Concepts in Black StudiesTraditions and Concepts in Black Studies
- Required: BL_STU 3977 Black Studies MethodologiesBlack Studies Methodologies
- Choose one of the following, depending on your goals and track:
- BL_STU 4975 Black Studies InternshipBlack Studies Internship
- BL_STU 4977 Black Studies CapstoneBlack Studies Capstone
- Complete a presentation of your project or experience at a venue approved by your faculty advisor and/or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
We also offer minors the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Distinction by completing all minor requirements in addition to doing one of the following courses:
- BL_STU 4975 Black Studies InternshipBlack Studies Internship
- BL_STU 4977 Black Studies CapstoneBlack Studies Capstone test
Semester Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BL_STU 1000 | 3 | BL_STU 1800 or 1790 | 3 |
| ENGLSH 1000 | 3 | MATH 1050, 1100, or STAT 1200 | 3 |
| Social Science (MO STATE LAW) | 3 | Second Language | 4 |
| Second Language | 4 | Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Behavioral Science | Writing Intensive 1000+ | 3 | |
| 13 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BL_STU 2975 | 3 | Black Studies Major | 3 |
| Bio/Phys/Math Science course | 3 | Bio/Phys/Math Science Course | 3 |
| Social Science | 3 | Social Science | 3 |
| Second Language | 4 | Humanitites and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 | Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BL_STU 3977 | 3 | Black Studies Major | 3 |
| Black Studies Major | 3 | Black Studies Major | 3 |
| Biology or Physical Science Lab | 3 | Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 | Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 |
| Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 | Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| BL_STU 4977 or 4975 | 3 | Black Studies Major | 3 |
| Black Studies Major/WI 3000+ | 3 | Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 |
| Behavioral Science | 3 | Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 |
| Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 | Course in Minor or Second Major | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
Degree Audit
The degree audit is an automated report reflecting a student’s academic progress toward the completion of a degree.
MU students can request a degree audit by logging in to myDegreePlanner. Students may also access myDegreePlanner via myZou, in the Student Center, click on the Academic Progress Tile, then select Request Degree Audit. The audit automatically pulls in the student’s MU course work, transfer courses and courses in progress. This is available to current students, admitted students, and those who last attended less than three terms ago.
Past MU students can request a degree audit by contacting the Academic Advising Unit of the division in which they were last enrolled at MU. For contact information, go to https://advising.missouri.edu/contact/.
Prospective students, can access a preliminary MU degree audit via https://www.transferology.com. Information on the college credits already earned will have to be manually entered before it can be evaluated against current degree requirements.
For additional details on degree audits, go to https://registrar.missouri.edu/degrees-audits/degree-audits/.
Major and Career Exploration
The University of Missouri has many resources to assist you in exploring majors and career possibilities. For guidance, visit the Majors and Careers website or view specific resources below.
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If you are considering a change of major or are exploring multiple majors, schedule an appointment with an advisor in the Discovery Center by calling (573)884-9700 or through MU Connect Discovery Center service in you success network.
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If you have decided on a major, visit an academic advisor in the School or College that you are interested in to discuss the process of declaring the major.
- If you would like to learn more about your career interests, abilities, values and talents, visit the MU Career Center. No Appointment is necessary to explore career options with one of our staff members.
- If you would like information about MU majors and degree programs, visit:
- the Degrees, Majors (Degree Programs), Emphasis Areas, Minors and Certificates page in the catalog,
- the MU Majors website.
For additional major and career exploration resources, visit Major & Career Exploration in the catalog.