The BI in Women’s and Ethnic Studies combines the focus of a WEST degree with additional training in entrepreneurship and business skills, teaching students to innovatively transform society by thinking critically about the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, disability, nationality and other hierarchies; to understand history, culture and society from a range of perspectives, including those emanating from individuals and communities whose stories and lives have been marginalized; to advocate for human rights and social and environmental justice; and to develop consciousness about multi-ethnic and gender issues locally, domestically, globally and transnationally.

Students completing the BI in WEST fulfill the 30 credit hours of courses required of WEST BA majors, plus 24 credit hours of the BI Innovation Core and 15 credit hours of a BI Cross-discipline Core (Business, Engineering Technology, Globalization, Inclusiveness Education, or [for veteran/transfer students only] a Custom Core).

Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of WEST coursework, including at least 21 credit hours of upper-division WEST courses, with a grade of C or better in each course. These courses must include the following 12 credit hours of core requirements:

• WEST 1010 Introduction to Social Justice Studies
• WEST 3300 Methodologies in Women's & Ethnic Studies (Spring only)
• WEST 3400 Contemporary Theory in WEST
• WEST 4950 Capstone Senior Seminar (Spring only)

Of the remaining 18 credit hours of electives, students must successfully complete one course each from the following three substantive areas: Transnational/Global Studies; Creative and Artistic Expression; Social Movements, Communities, and History, plus at least nine credit hours of upper-division WEST courses.

In addition, BI students must complete the following BI Innovation Core courses:

• BLAW 2010 Business and Intellectual Property Law
• ENTP 1000 Introduction to Entrepreneurship
• ENTP 4500 Entrepreneurship and Strategy
• INOV 1010 The Innovation Process
• INOV 2010 Innovation Team: Analyze and Report
• INOV 2100 Technical Writing, Proposals, and Presentations
• INOV 3010 Innovation Team: Research and Execute
• INOV 4010 Innovation Team: Design and Lead

BI students must also complete 15 credit hours within one of the Cross-discipline Cores:

• Business
• Engineering Technology
• Globalization
• Inclusive Education
• Custom Core (for veterans and transfer students only)

For program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.