Vision

To provide students at the Black Honors College with the necessary academic, professional, and social skills to become advanced productive contributors to society.

Purpose

The Black Honors College provides a rigorous, specialized educational experience for students interested in Black history, life, culture, and contributions. The College is designed to equip scholars with the necessary academic, professional, and personal skills needed for economic empowerment, self-determination, and courageous leadership.

Enroll and Experience the Following Benefits:

• Enhanced Carefully Designed Co-Curricular Program that enriches your academic experience and fosters personal growth
• Tailored Specialized General Education Pathway for Cohorts
• Priority registration – Honors students register for classes on the first day of registration
• Smaller class sizes
• A major of your choice in any area and department into which you are accepted
• Direct access to dedicated professors who are committed to your success and bring a proven record of excellence in teaching
• Carefully Designed Mentorship Program
• Internship Opportunities
• Assistance in accessing a variety of scholarships
• A dedicated physical space that brings together all the educational resources you need in one convenient location
• A Living and Learning Community in Student Housing designed to foster collaboration, connection, and growth among cohorts
• A well-equipped lounge with both study and relaxation areas, supporting both productivity and wellness
• A fully equipped kitchenette allowing you to prepare meals or snacks between classes
• Access to desktop computers and a printer to support your academic needs
• Flexible Laptop Lending Program for both short- and long-term use

Scholar Expectations

• Minimum GPA for Applicants: 3.5 *
• Minimum GPA for Continuing Scholars: 3.0 *
• Bi-Weekly Seminars: Mandatory attendance at scheduled seminars
• Weekly Study Hours: Participation in 3 study hours each week
• Monthly Mentor Meetings: Scholars must meet with an assigned mentor at least once a month
• Co-Curricular Program: Required participation/attendance in BHC designated co-curricular programming
• Transfer, Juniors, and Sophomores: Enrollment in one of the four BHC designated minors is required

*Extenuating circumstances may be considered on case-to-case basis

BHC Curriculum Design

First-year BHC scholars complete at least 43 units of General Education—34 lower-division and 9 upper-division—as part of their academic pathway. Typically, in the first three semesters, each scholar is expected to enroll in 12 General Education units per semester, with additional units determined by major or pre-major needs. GE unit totals and sequencing may vary depending on a scholar’s degree program. Transfer, junior, and sophomore students are required to participate in the Minor Programs.

BHC scholars are cohorted in the following GE Classes:

Area 1A: English Composition
ENGL 5: Accelerated Academic Literacies

Area 1B: Critical Thinking
WGS 25: Introduction to Gender and Sexuality

Area 1C: Oral Communication
COMS 4: Introduction to Public Speaking

Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning
EDUC 18: Mathematical Practices Across Cultures
STAT 1: Introduction to Statistics

Area 3A: Arts
ART 1A: Art, Religions, and Power before 1400
Theater 1: Introduction To Theatre

Area 3B: Humanities
HONR 3: Foundations and Legacies of Arts and Ideas of Premodern Global Cultures

Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences, Select up to 6 units
ANTH 101: Cultural Diversity
ECON 1A: Introduction to Macroeconomics Analysis
HIST 17B: United States History, 1877-present
POLS 1: Essentials Of Government

Area 5A: Physical Science
CHEM 1A: General Chemistry

Area 5B: Biological Science
Anth 1: Introduction to Biological Anthropology
ENVS 10: Introduction to Environment Science

Area 6A: Ethnic Studies
ETHN 70: Introduction to Pan African Studies

Additionally, all cohorts are enrolled in BHC Seminar ETH 98 courses
ETHN 98: BHC Seminar
HONR 150: Leadership Seminar

BHC Minor Programs

Minor in Leadership (12 units)

The Minor in Leadership requires students to complete 12 units that consists of a combination of coursework and internship. This minor equips students with the leadership capabilities needed to create positive change in their communities and professional careers.

• HONR 3: Foundations and Legacies of Arts and Ideals of Modern Global Cultures
• POLS 112: Current Political Thought
• HONR 150: Leadership Seminar
• BHC 195A: Internship in Leadership

Minor in Leadership, Land & Real Estate Development (12 Units)

The Minor in Leadership, Land and Real Estate Development requires students to complete 12 units that consist of a combination of coursework and internship. The Minor exposes students to concepts, principles, and career opportunities in the field of land and real estate development.

• CM 10: The Construction Industry
• CM 15: Fundamentals of Construction Management
• FIN 19: Real Estate Principles
• HONR 150: Leadership Seminar
• BHC 195B: Internship in Leadership, Land & Real Estate Development

Minor in Leadership in Aging and Health (15 units)

The Leadership in Aging & Health minor consists of 12 units of gerontology and 3 units of leadership courses addressing the changing health needs of older adults while examining direct service, public policy and advocacy roles in working with Older Adults, their caregivers, and families.

• GERO 10: Aging Issues in Contemporary Society
• GERO 103: Care Management in Gerontology Practice
• GERO 131: Gerontology Capstone Practicum
• GERO 125: California Aging Policy
• HONR 150: Leadership Seminar

Minor in AI Management

The Minor in AI Management provides students with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) and its strategic role in business decision-making. This interdisciplinary program equips students with technical and managerial knowledge to effectively oversee AI-driven initiatives, ensuring ethical, responsible, and impactful AI adoption in organizations.

Through core courses, students will explore the fundamentals of business information systems, programming essentials, and the responsible use of AI, including ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks. Elective options allow students to tailor their learning to specific AI applications.

Required Courses (9 units)

• MIS 15: Introduction to Business Programming
• MIS 101: Computer Information Systems for Management
• MIS 130: Responsible Use of AI

ELECTIVES (6 units)

Select two of the following:

• MIS 181: Machine Learning Applications in Business
• MIS 183: Business Intelligence Applications
• DS 102: Foundation and Tools for Business Analytics
• DS 110: Data Mining for Business Analytics
• HROB 159: Special Topics in Organizational Behavior
• DS 115: Advanced Business Analytics
• MKTG 115: Marketing Analytics
• FIN 160: Student Investment Fund Management