Race, Religion, Gender, and Multidisciplinary Studies

Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences (BLAS)

Overview

Imagination and knowledge are both key components of the best college education. The ability to immerse yourself in a specific discipline through rigorous and extensive study is crucial, and learning to make creative and imaginative connections across different fields of study will prepare you to contribute to and take on leadership roles in your community and the wider world. Offered on the WIU-Macomb and WIU-Quad Cities campuses, the Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a multidisciplinary degree that embodies the spirit of a liberal arts education and helps students develop skills that are relevant to a variety of careers that value adaptability, flexibility, and innovation.

View the specific degree requirements and course descriptions in the Undergraduate Catalog .

Options

The degree includes two options, both of which require an introductory course on LAS; a reading and research course (LAS 395, Evidence, Truth, and Action); an experiential learning course; and a senior capstone. Students in the African American Studies Option will also take 33 credit hours (11 courses) specifically in African American Studies, starting with AAS 100. Students in the Paired Minors Option complete two approved minors in the humanities, social sciences, sciences or other fields in the College of Arts and Sciences to create a multidisciplinary major. Both options offer students the opportunity to complete an internship as part of the major.

Careers

The LAS degree is designed to prepare students for a productive life, equipping them with the transferrable skills most valued by employers: the ability to think critically, to communicate cogently and persuasively, to analyze situations and synthesize information, and to approach and understand things from a variety of perspectives. The LAS degree can prepare students for careers in journalism, social services, public relations, politics, advertising, human resources, and many other fields. Students who complete the LAS degree may also consider graduate studies in English, History, Journalism, Law, Biology, Psychology, Sociology, Communication, and other professional disciplines.