Bachelor of Liberal Arts
Director
Program Description
The School of Humanities and Social Sciences offers the Bachelor of Liberal Arts (B.L.A.) degree for individuals who seek an understanding of the social sciences and an appreciation of the humanities. The B.L.A. is an alternative to the B.A./B.S. degree programs and is for individuals who do not wish to commit themselves to a specialty, whose aspirations are not served by a traditional major, and who desire maximum flexibility in course selection.
Students who have found the B.L.A. degree particularly beneficial are those who have matriculated into the six-year medical program and pursue the combined B.L.A./M.D. degrees and those students wishing to apply to the UMKC School of Law through the 90+ Program (also known as a 3+3 Program).
Potential for Graduate Study
Students completing the B.L.A. degree have the potential to pursue graduate study in many areas. Students completing the B.L.A. degree who wish to continue their education at the graduate level are strongly encouraged to seek counsel from a graduate advisor in that discipline early in their undergraduate career.
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that is designed for incoming first-time college students. The 31-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a course in Culture and Diverse Perspectives; a course in Civic & Urban Engagement; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; a Math Pathway course; and a Constitution Course that meets the Missouri state requirement. Students with prior credit entering UMKC should meet with their academic advisor to select which General Education curriculum best suits their needs. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found on the General Education Requirements page.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Develop scholarly questions based on evidence and approaches from more than one disciplinary area.
- Appraise scholarly literature needed to answer research questions.
- Evaluate cultural identities from multiple perspectives.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| GEFSE 101 | First Semester Experience | 1 |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Subscore of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Subscore of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH): Satisfied in program requirements below. | ||
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS): Satisfied in program requirements below. | ||
| Culture & Diverse Perspectives (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 22 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelor's degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
School of Humanities and Social Sciences Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Intensive Course (300-level or above): | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
BLA Requirements
Hour Requirements and Eligibility
A 2.0 GPA is required to declare intent to pursue the B.L.A. and a 2.0 overall GPA is required by the University of Missouri for graduation.
The credit/non-credit option is not available for students pursuing this degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from two of the emphasis areas below. | 6 | |
| Teamwork | ||
| Dialogue Across Difference | ||
| Group Dynamics | ||
| Race and Ethnic Relations | ||
| Professional and Technical Writing | ||
| Podcast and Audio Production | ||
| Diversity in Health | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Inequality and Inclusion in a Changing Society | ||
| Fundamentals of Medical Practice II | ||
| Critical Problems | ||
| Principles & Practices of Criminal Courts | ||
| Foreign Policy | ||
| Racial and Ethnic Politics | ||
| Race, Class and Justice | ||
| Sociology Of Death And Dying | ||
| Terrorism And Political Violence | ||
| Leadership | ||
| Persuasive Communication | ||
| Ethics | ||
| Ethical Issues in Policing, Law, and Corrections | ||
| Military History of the U.S. | ||
| Social Movements | ||
| Campaigns And Elections | ||
| Labor and Community Leadership | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Cultural Foundations | ||
| Social And Political Philosophy | ||
| Culture, Emotion, and Identity | ||
| Language and Culture | ||
| Colonial North America, 1492–1763 | ||
| Kansas City: History of a Regional Metropolis | ||
| Museums, Monuments, and American Life: An Introduction to Public History | ||
| Women in Early America | ||
| History Of The English Language | ||
| Cultural Expressions | ||
| Bible As Literature | ||
| Arts Of African and New World Cultures | ||
| Asian Art | ||
| The Modern Novel | ||
| American Literature I | ||
| British Literature I | ||
| History Of The Film Industry | ||
| African American Images in Film | ||
| Contemporary American Literature | ||
| Contemporary Culture and Society | ||
| Digital Games and Society | ||
| Culture and Society | ||
| Sociology Of Gender | ||
| Theoretical Foundations of Race, Ethnic, and Gender Studies | ||
| Social Theory | ||
| Social Stratification | ||
| Theories of Communication | ||
| Media Ethics | ||
| Queer Theory | ||
| Clinical Practice of Medicine I | ||
| Coursework in the Humanities Area (At least one course must be designated GECRT-AH to fulfill the GECRT-AH requirement) | 6 | |
| Coursework in the Social Sciences Area (At least one course must be designated GECRT-SS to fulfill the GECRT-SS requirement) | 6 | |
| Any minor offered at UMKC with no overlap with major coursework (including at least 6 hours taken at UMKC) | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
A minimum of 12 hours at the 300-level or above must be taken at UMKC and can include the minor coursework above.
Coursework must be taken from at least two subject codes in each division. Students should consult with an advisor in selecting coursework to ensure that they receive proper credit in the various divisions required for the degree.
In addition to fulfilling general education requirements, UMKC Essential courses may be applied to the B.L.A. as follows:
- GECRT-AH may be applied to the Humanities Area
- GECRT-SS may be applied to the Social Sciences Area
General Electives
Students must take elective credit hours to meet the minimum credit hour requirement for their degree, including at least 36 credit hours of coursework at the 300-level or above. The minimum required by the university is 120 credit hours, of which at least 30 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, but some degree programs require more. Students may choose either general electives or options available within their major to fulfill the general elective requirement.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives | 56 | |
Minimum GPA: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
Year 1