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.
