Ethnic Studies B.A.

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View information for the Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Ethnic Studies , including Learning Objectives for the department and its programs.

The Ethnic Studies major is a multidisciplinary program that provides students with critical skills to explore the roles, functions, and lifestyles of U.S. ethnic groups in order to understand our ever-growing multi-ethnic communities. The Ethnic Studies major will enable students to participate and function optimally as culturally sensitive citizens and professionals by providing them with an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that enhances their professional career opportunities. The Ethnic Studies major examines the cultures, socioeconomic conditions, educational patterns, geo-political experiences, and literary and artistic production of Chicanas/os, African Americans, Asian Americans and Native Americans. A major goal of the Ethnic Studies major is to offer the perspective with which these major ethnic groups perceive their own socio-cultural narrative through their scholarly and artistic production. The Ethnic Studies major also stresses critical examination of Ethnic Studies theories and scholarly research and will encourage students to explore and evaluate critically intersections of variables/categories such as national and transnational spheres, the juxtapositions of race, class, education, identity construct, religion, and gender; also movements of forced labor, voluntary migration, contract-labor movements, movements of displaced persons and refugees, and the racialization of these core groups in the U.S. Critical inquiries in the Ethnic Studies major provide students opportunities to develop avenues for socio-cultural awareness, community service, and positive social changes in a diverse world.

Ever-changing U.S. demographics have created a demand for professionals with multicultural skills and an understanding of our multiethnic and diverse populations in order to work effectively and productively in education, business, law, health, social and public service, and in many other fields. A major in Ethnic Studies can also provide students with awareness and knowledge to create bridges of cultural understanding and respect for diverse ethnic groups and a desire to become agents of change through community service and partnership. Promoting a greater understanding of diverse ethnic experiences and perspectives is the central mission of this Ethnic Studies major.

Requirements

1. Complete the University General Education Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree

(51 units)

Click here to view General Education requirements.

2. There are no additional GPA requirements

for admission to and continuance in the program other than the University’s minimum standard of a 2.0 average.

3. In order to enroll in upper-division courses

students must complete/pass the introductory course in Ethnic Studies (ETHS 2050) before taking additional courses in the major. However, exceptions can be made for students who want to take this course in conjunction with an upper-division course in the program during their first semester.

4. Prerequisites

for the community service-learning course ETHS 4910 are the introductory course (ETHS 2050 ); two of three contemporary courses (ETHS 3000 , ETHS 3100 , ETHS 3200 ); and the course on minority families: ETHS 4000 , ETHS 4010 , ETHS 4030 (no prerequisites for the family courses in the ETHS major track). Major advisers will assist students with their course selections and course requirements.

5. Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses which count toward the major.

The Major

(37 units)

Required Core Cluster

(22 units)

Students can choose “Track A” with a socio-cultural emphasis in ethnic minority families or “Track B” with a socio-political focus on ethnic minority movements of resistance.

Track A: Socio-cultural emphasis in ethnic minority families.

Introduction to the study of the role, function, and lifestyles of Chicana/o/Mexican American, African American, and Asian American groups.

1. Complete the following core courses:

2. Complete two of the following:

3. Complete two of the following:

4. Complete capstone course:

ETHS 4910 - Cooperative Education
*

The major’s objective is that no ethnic group’s experience shall be circumvented. Therefore, the 12 units from the 2000 ETHS level (6 units) and from the 4000 ETHS level (6 units) must be strictly spread among all three ethnic groups. No exception allowed.

*Community service learning component (currently ETHS 4910 “Cooperative Education”) will be negotiated between student and professor. Capstone course must be taken during the last two years of major.

Track B: Socio-political focus on ethnic experiences.

1. Complete the following core courses:

2. Complete two of the following:

3. Complete two of the following:

4. Complete capstone course:

ETHS 4910 - Cooperative Education
*

The major’s objective is that no ethnic group’s experience shall be circumvented. Therefore, the 12 units from the 2000 ETHS level (6 units) and from the 4000 ETHS level (6 units) must be spread among all three ethnic groups. No exception allowed.

Elective Cluster

(15 units)

Note:

*Elective course only for Track A

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Describe the fundamental concepts, theories and methods of research of Ethnic Studies such as critical race theory, historicism, push-pull migration factors, forced migration, and identity construct.
Explain the major historical and global events like imperialism (colonialism), conquest, slavery, and war that have contributed to the formation and development of major ethnic communities in the US.
Identify social policies relating to issues like immigration, racial segregation, ethnic internment and language exclusion that affect these communities and will connect scholarly inquiry to practical applications.
Investigate topics in Ethnic Studies on library and Internet databases and formulate critical analyses.
Critically connect—within interdisciplinary contexts—the ideologies, philosophies, and artistic/creative manifestations of US ethnic minority groups through the writings and artistic production of their scholars, writers, and artists.
Participate effectively in California’s broad array of cultures and understand their specific needs and socio-cultural issues through internships, volunteer, and community service learning activities.